High Hopes for 2012

I think 2012 is going to be my year.  I feel a bit ungrateful complaining about the other years, but there have been some challenges.  The biggest challenge for the last year or two has been the lack of time, resulting from my job.  It’s not my company’s fault…I take full responsibility, but I got myself into a situation that I had a tough time getting out of.  I had my “day job,” managing my team of 6, and with my other blog I had created my “night job,” teaching people about building code requirements (and other door-related stuff) and answering questions for people around the world.

The work I did in my night job was very beneficial to my industry and company, but it was not my official job.  The information that I provide is almost impossible to find elsewhere, and I couldn’t turn away people who needed help.  But between both sets of duties, my family, and my attempt at sleeping 6 hours per night (instead of 4), I couldn’t manage it all and this blog has suffered.  Since I see this blog as a family chronicle, it pains me that I haven’t been able to keep it up.  The memorable moments and funny situations are still happening, and I hate that I’m not capturing and sharing them.

Well, things are looking up.

About 2 weeks ago I asked human resources for a meeting to discuss making my “night job” my official job.  I explained what I do and why it was valuable to the company, and the additional work I’d be able to do if it was my “real” job.  I had no idea that they were in the middle of planning a reorganization, and that I would be receiving an offer for an expanded role the following day.  Bad timing.  As thankful as I was to receive the offer of a promotion, I knew that it would leave me with even less time to do everything else.  So I asked for a decision on the new job I proposed before making a decision about the job I had been offered.  It felt a little risky to be the fly in the ointment but I needed to know.

Just over a week later I was offered the job I had asked for, reporting to a great guy that I’ve know since 1984 and work very well with.  I don’t have any people to manage, and my boss only has me to manage, so we’re a team of 2.  It’s up to us to decide what I should work on next, so I will have a lot of control over what I’m doing.  I wouldn’t change one thing about the job, and I’m so excited to be able to have a job doing what I love to do.  It’s very validating to have the company support me and understand how the things I do add value for our customers.  I’ll still be working hard but I hope it will be a little less overwhelming and give me more time for the things that have fallen by the wayside.

On a related note, my other blog was chosen from among the other President’s Award winners to be considered for a Chairman’s Award.  I think it’s a long shot that I’ll win, but the exposure has been great and just being nominated is an honor.

I didn’t make any New Years’ resolutions this year, but I have high hopes that I can make some progress on reclaiming the house from the pack-rats and the marker-wielding graffiti artist, continue to improve my physical and mental health, and get back in the habit of sharing our family’s events – big and small – with you.  It looks like my other project, the long-awaited book related to my work, is going to be used as the text-book for an upcoming industry course, so that’s added motivation to get it done.  I’m just waiting on the course outline so I can put the information in the proper order. 

I think 2012 is my year.  I hope it’s your year too.