Day 670: One door closes and another one opens

In late August, I completed my Master Black Belt. It's official, I'm done the program! I received the coveted Crystal Pyramid of PowerTM and was sworn to use my new-found powers for good and not evil (but would join Elon Musk in a bombing run to Mars if invited).

I was very happy to have completed the progam, but that last week was really mentally and emotionally exhausting. As a super procrastinator, I really topped myself, and was still finishing up my workshop the day before presentation (ssshhh don't tell anyone - ooops!). But I got through, and then immediately went on vacation. We all went to Toronto to visit with family, and I took advantage of the time away from work to think about "what next?" (and see a Jays game)

Conveniently, what was next pretty much fell into my lap. I had an offer to join an organization that needed my skills, that was growing, and that was in a sector that I adored (aerospace). So when I returned from vacation, I handed in my notice. It was in many ways one of the easier decisions I've had to make in my career, not because the current company doesn't have a lot to offer, but because I needed to do something dramatically different and to have a better work-life balance. So when this offer showed up, and it ticked almost all of the boxes, I jumped.

So today is my last day at my current organization. And as I walk the hallways with a giant bowl of candy, saying thank you and goodbye to everyone, I know I will miss everyone here. But I am also super excited about what lays ahead. And this organization could use the space that I will leave to fill it with new ideas, new people, new processes. 

Sometimes, we need to make space for change to happen. We do it in our personal lives buy cleaning out the closets, by dropping activities that don't mean much to us, by stopping doing certain things. I gave up Facebook over 2 years ago because it was not really contributing much to my life. I was putting time and energy into it and wasn't getting a lot of value back. Likewise, I'd had acquaintances that took time and energy and didn't give a lot in return, so I chose to not spend that time and energy in that relationship. By giving up on those time-wasters, I have more time for things that bring me joy - like coaching, like trying new activities and pushing my boundaries, like family.

So I leave Alpha hoping that I created at least a foundation for its future, that I left it in a better place then when I found it, and knowing that I am leaving space for future growth of its people.

AMac

PS: I will probably keep writing this blog, so stay tuned...