It's been ten weeks since I began a role in an industry I wasn't overly familiar with, my skills were transferrable though; I thought so as did those who interviewed and employed me, and it's turned out we're collectively correct. In the ten weeks I've been there I've secured revenue exceeding my annual budget by 30% and with what I have in my pipeline I'll go close to exceeding my annual budget by 140% - I think it's a good start.
Today I was sitting across from the lake with a coffee and toasted bacon and egg sandwich contemplating the last ten weeks and what lies ahead next week when one of the National Managers is coming to my State for a few days. He's a newly made-up national manager, up-jumped from State Manager, and he's not well regarded by the other State Managers. In his first week of his role, disenfranchised all of them even further and shown clearly why he's unsuited to the role. I expect conflict between my State manager and this chap and I wonder how it may impact upon me, if at all.
Last week my State manager released a company-wide email outlining my achievements in the last ten weeks pointing out I had a week spent interstate at head office and a week home with covid-19 out of the ten weeks further highlighting my results - I wish he had not done so as I don' enjoy that sort of attention. Furthermore, reading that email made me feel comfortable and that doesn't motivate me.
It's that which I'm contemplating right now, the feeling of comfort and the possible confrontation this new National Manager may bring along which could destabilise the State which is currently going very well indeed. Don't get me wrong, I like comfort, we all do, but I'll be honest and say it's when I'm feeling uncomfortable that I perform at my best in my job.
Being uncomfortable applies good stress, a little urgency and hunger, to what I do and I find I'm more strategized, prioritise better, far more efficient and more motivated when I'm a little uncomfortable. It's for that reason I set goals, and beyond them set stretch-goals which cause me to reach just a little higher, try a little harder, than I might normally.
I expect a lot from myself in most aspects of life; doing things half-heartedly doesn't sit well with me and I operate with a high tempo. Sure, I know how to back off, to relax and enjoy myself, but I also know the time in which to do so, and when not to do so. I'm not one to accept a mediocre level of performance from myself and so I push into areas of discomfort and I achieve more...Of course, that often means I have high expectations of others but I work to temper that these days.
The results I have achieved make me happy and I own them because the results have come from my own hard work and the many years I've spent building the skills to attain such results. I don't sit back in comfort and rest on those laurels though. Ten weeks is a small portion of the year and it's not in me to sit back and sandbag for the rest of my budget-year banking revenue to draw out for the next budget-year. I will push forward, stay a little uncomfortable and build on the platform I've created.
I've been told this National Manager is somewhat out of his league and has been promoted for reasons outside of actual suitability - He has demonstrated this to me in the last week or so also through communications. I've also been told he has, in the past, tried to take credit that is not his to own and that's not something I'll ever respect.
I don't need medals and awards, I get remunerated for my efforts and that's enough, but my State Manager wanted to ensure everyone in the company knew what was being achieved in the State he manages hence the email. I think it was a nice touch and also sends a message. It also shows his quality and how much he respects what I have done, and our working relationship. I'll be working towards giving the National Manager fellow the benefit of the doubt but he hasn't begun well in my opinion and he'll have to claw back some ground. I just hope he's not too confrontational with my State Manager however egotistical, hubris-loaded people are often that way right?
Next week my State Manager and I have a dinner to attend with that National Manager fellow and the National Operations Manager which I think will be interesting. I'm sure they'll say some They may say some nice things and will want more than I'm currently doing - that's the way of it - in most companies - and I'm also certain they'll ask what I'm doing to gain the success I have (which I'll not tell them of course); I'll probably say it's just magic, with a mysterious look on my face. I can be an annoying fucker at times. 😁
Feeling comfortable is an amazing place to be and I'm certainly comfortable with my results - I know what they mean to the company - this early in my time there. But I like to be a little uncomfortable as it means I'm doing the hard yards, putting effort into areas that are not necessarily easy and that's where the best results are. No one pushes me harder than I do myself and I think it's a good balance, the comfort/discomfort balance I maintain - It's worked well for me.
How do you find it for yourself? Do you work better and more effectively under a little pressure and by having a firm focus on your goals and the steps you need to take to reach them or do you float along hoping the right results will come? Do you set goals and stretch goals to motivate you a little more? Do you need to be driven or are you self-starting and motivated? Feel free to comment below and let me know.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
That's my own image above
My comments are few.
The more I learn about Churchill, the less I like him. Great rhetorical talent often hides a conniving soul, and the ability to acquire political power says nothing virtuous. But damn, he had some great lines.
Is it nepotism, or some other form of corporate rot, leading to this upstart getting in over his head? I am very, very glad I don't have to deal with that kind of nonsense.
Stress takes nay forms. Chosen challenges are good. Imposed burdens are not. The desire to meet the artificial expectations of others is usually downright toxic. As for me, I'm tired of stress.
True, true very true. I loved this statement.
Chosen challenges are those that are derived from our passion, so they keep us moving faster. Imposed burdens give us the feeling of helplessness
I never knew him, but I liked that quote (and many others) and it seemed to fit the context of my post. I agree, he was a great orator.
I didn't want to say too much about it but you seem to have grasped what I tried not to allude to in the first part of your line above.
These days this is what it is for me, back in the day it was more an imposed burden I suppose. And yes, I'm tired of stress also, the stress I haven't self-applied and sometimes just stress in general if I'm totally honest.
It's the usual reason people get promoted above their competence. I've read enough Dilbert comics to see the pattern emerge, LOL!
Haha, yes, Dilbert knows all. ✅
Maybe your State Manager put out the email so that everyone would know about your success, before the National Manager shows up and tries to take credit for himself.
Nothing like a weasel in the wrong position to muck up a good company. I guess he knows something on someone important.
Indeed, I think that was his thought, demonstrate the as-is position prior to that idiot coming along and pinning a medal on his chest for my work. I hate people that do that. Weasle indeed.
Pressure has its way. I have always been the comfort zone type making sure all is in place. Until recently, I realized the comfort zone gets tired of you being in one place and bushes you into the fire. Sometimes deciding to embrace you just to get things moving. Hence beginning to work on becoming a self starter that functions in zones that am not too comftable in.
It's through pushing into those zones, the uncomfortable, than can cause a person to work a little harder, dig a little deeper, and through that effort and ownership extraordinary results can be achieved. Good luck, and thanks for your comment.
It is funny. Hehe. So you are not ready to share your strategies.
I think the gesture of state manager is laudable. Giving appreciation where it is due is important I think. I felt it a bit strange that you drove the feelings like complacency from the response of the manager. I think such an appreciation is a reason for more motivation. You realize that someone has witnessed your skills and now you have more responsibility to maintain that image and expectations.
It's not my job to train the National Manager, if the company decide they'd like to double my salary and add National Manager Trainer to my business card then I'll be happy to divulge over thirty years of experience and expertise to the National Manager.
I liked what my State Manager did, I respect it, but I motivate myself by feeling a little uncomfortable, meaning I don't rest on my previous results. It works.
Makes sense
Sometimes, I liked it to get pressured at work because I get to find my way back on track and regain my focus. When I'm just comfortable most of the time, I tend to get complacent with my performance and I'm not aware that I'm slacking off sometimes. Pressure is sometimes good to push me back on track.
Just based from my experiences, though.
Complacency rarely brings exceptional results so, depending on the level of success one is looking for being a little pressured (in a good way) can help. As you say, it focuses the mind.
I think it's a mix for me personally. There are some aspects such as financial planning where I set tough goals for myself and I take them very seriously, because I want to achieve financial freedom at a certain age. But there are some other areas such as relationships or even fitness/exercise (oops) where I just go with the flow and am not so hard on myself. ;)
I think it's good to have a balance as long as the most important things are moving in the right direction. ✅
First of all, congratulations on your well-deserved achievements through personal discomfort and pressure.
I hope that this meeting will be cordial and that you will smooth things out for the benefit of all, but the reality is that it will be uncomfortable, but you are an expert in that area.
Personally I confess that I hate the pressure that others exert on me, because mine is quite uncomfortable to bear, maybe that's what I needed to be better, to allow pressure from others and deal with it, I have a lot to think about. @galenkp 🤗
Indeed, that's why I don't allow it. The pressure I exert upon myself is productive though.
It will be, we're all adults and professionals.
Thank you, I appreciate it. 🙂
☺️👍😉
Sorry for my late reply I was busy...sleeping.
Even sleeping keeps you busy. Hahaha
Thanks for always responding.
I take sleeping very seriously.
I am that in a nut shell... Nutz
No not DEEZ Nutz... Lmao
My next post is about my nuts. I shit you not.
As long as your nuts are not shitty...
Bring em on I say.
Show us your nuts!
But I warn You, My NUTZ are...
HUGE
I carry them in a sack on my back... Lmao
src
Nut post deployed.