New Year, New Job, New Outlook on Life

Happy New Year to all, 2016 IS going to be a good year, I have a feeling! I am more than happy to say goodbye to 2015, compared to the previous few years it wasn’t one of stunning highlights, that said I did embark on some very adventurous challenges and came through them all with new knowledge, experience and determination. Hence the desire to make 2016 a year to remember! I made a decision at the end of last year to re-evaluate my career prospects and after getting on the books at 10+ recruitment companies, and having numerous conversations about where I was at, where I wanted to be, and what was needed to achieve those things, I realised it was more of a confidence thing than an ability issue. Confidence is one of those things that everyone possesses when in a comfortable environment, needless to say my last role never quite felt settled or comfortable, although I have made some great friends, got involved with some top spec systems and was involved in numerous challenges which we came out of smiling (eventually)! Without being comfortable we struggle to add anything to ourselves that makes us noticed, respected and useful in the eyes of those above. Throughout my life I have known where my natural abilities lie, and I have always had a crystal clear view of what I eventually want to end up doing/being… unfortunately low self esteem and lack of confidence has perhaps held me back at times, not having the guts to go that one step further and push those above to allow me to progress. Somehow I managed to find out about a company in my home town who do exactly what I wanted to be doing from the age of about 10! (I say somehow, it’s a complex riddle of friends of friends etc. It really is a “not what you know, but who you know” situation!) A few emails and an interview later and I was offered a job 1.3 miles from home, doing exactly the kind of thing I thought I could be good at! Roll on a few weeks, including the Christmas break, and on January 4th 2016 I started my first day at my new company. On Day 2 I was given my first customer, by the second week (last week at time of writing) I had had brought my first bit of money into the business on the back of liaising with my new customer, and had visited another customer, who will be keeping me very busy for the foreseeable future. Already I have made that jump from “running internal infrastructure” to “design, install, manage and maintain infrastructures for multiple business” – in 2 weeks! – All because somewhere deep inside myself I found that little bit of confidence to say “Yes I’d love to come for an interview”, “Yes I’d love to join your company”, and “Sorry, I have enjoyed my time but have found another opportunity I’d like to pursue”. Leaving a job is difficult, starting a new job is more difficult, those who know me well may think I make it look easy, but I promise you it isn’t! On top of the learning new things, meeting new colleagues, following new rules etc. you also have the learning how to fit your personal life in again. Fitting it in around new hours, days out in London etc. can be draining at first (trust me it’s a Sunday lunchtime and I’m still in my PJs!), but I am fortunate that my home life is as stable as possible, a loving wife who understands what I do, why I do it and how it affects what we can and cant do, extended family close enough who we can drop in on last minute just to say hi and use their kettle (Thanks Mom!), Family close enough via Internet that you can speak to them any time of day for a pep talk or just to say hi (Thanks Dad) – Life is great, 2016 will be great and I hope everyone can improve on 2015 whether it was a good one or a bad one is irrelevant, make this one count!

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