A few days ago, I realised that 2020 marked my 20th year in the workplace. During those 20 years, I’ve had a really varied career and like many people, have gone in directions I would never have expected (at 42, I’m still not totally sure what I want to be when I grow up.) I also feel incredibly lucky because 2020 has brought me good news on the work front, and I’m now in a role I would never have dreamt of when I left university 2 decades ago.
It’s got me thinking about how on earth I’ve managed to get here, which in turn is making me think of all the people who’ve given me a leg up or believed in me when they really didn’t have to.
“Thank you to the individual who didn’t sack me when I made two pretty major and high-profile cock-ups in my first month (they involved a controversial hymn and a dog wedding).”
These are the individuals who:
I would not be in the position I’m in today without those moments of trust – where people took a chance or thought they saw something in me that was worth encouraging. Some of these people are sadly no longer alive, and I wish I’d told them what an impact they’ve had on me. I hope others might recognise themselves in these words and will know how truly grateful I am for what they did for me.
“Other people have paved the way for me, so I want to pave the way for those who come next. This is particularly important right now, as work is just a lot harder than it used to be, especially for those who are early in their careers and have less opportunity to build their profile in a remote-first world.”
So, in 2020, I’ve thought a lot about how vital it is to pay it forward. Other people have paved the way for me, so I want to pave the way for those who come next. This is particularly important right now, as work is just a lot harder than it used to be, especially for those who are early in their careers and have less opportunity to build their profile in a remote-first world.
I’ve been thinking a lot about what Emily Webber calls ‘assisted serendipity’* and wondering how to make this happen for people I know who don’t have the same chance encounters to build the relationships that lead to these moments of trust and the opportunities to develop new networks. I’ve also thought a lot about how women can find ways to elevate each other at work and push back against gender bias.
I’m wondering about how I can:
I don’t have the answers yet, but I’m committed to doing more about it in 2021.
*Assisted serendipity, Emily Webber
This is the first one!
Thank you for reading! Merry Christmas! 🎄