The Difference at Work

Earlier this year I changed my job. From marketing a product to marketing an events portfolio. Stepping from behind the desk to be beholden to exhibitors and visitors alike. Removing the safety net and offering an injection of fear into my day.

The events industry was decimated during the pandemic. With a core business that was heavily people based, switching to virtual really was not the same and so most bunkered down.

Employees were furloughed and most decided to change their careers at this point. Take on a different challenge ahead of the world opening up.

From March 2020 to March 2022 little happened. From the end of 2021 change began to occur and a few pilot events with social distance and masks emerged but most decided to wait until the start of this year. Testing the water and adapting as we move forward, I believe that there is still a place for events and am thoroughly enjoying the challenge.

My Probation

Whenever you start a new job you are placed on probation. It is not a nice position to be in as you feel constantly judged, however, it is the world in which we live and I do understand the reasoning behind it.

Rather than add employees on a permanent basis from day one, you need to monitor how they approach the job, as whilst you may be qualified, it doesn’t always translate into success.

Attitude and team fit are every bit as important as knowledge and experience. This is why the probation process exists. To offer employees and employers the chance to get to know each other much like a date.

You wouldn’t sign up for a first date and immediately expect marriage. You have hopes but sometimes things simply do not work out and you need a way out.

I have now passed my probation and whilst it took four months rather than three (I had a month off for my honeymoon), I have passed with flying colours.

I can now start to plan for the future on the back of a successful first event and for the first time in my career I feel proud. I feel successful in the sense that I planned communications, promotional outlets and other than feedback, executed alone.

For the first time, I feel as though I truly believe that I deserve to be in the position that I find myself in today. I have achieved more in the last three months than in the three years that proceeded it. Something that is said in recognition of my previous positions and their limited nature.

I have no animosity towards my previous employers and in fact, learned a great deal but they were limited in their scope.

The Future

The future is an undiscovered country. The chance to craft a unique narrative for myself outside of the control of others and steer in the direction of my choice.

It is as exciting as it is scary and now I feel in control of proceedings. Able to make a plan and execute it to my liking outside of the influence of others and this is exciting.

I am a married man with a permanent role that he relishes waking up for. I have hobbies that bring a smile to my face and goals that I wish to tick off and this provides me with something that I have never had before and that is motivation.

Purpose is a consideration that many employers forget to provide to their employees. They treat them as pets with little to no rights and only raise their heads when they are challenged. When those essential pillars of your workplace decide that enough is enough and the owner/employer has to take notice, as they have no plan B.

We are all unique and need to consider our futures based on the opportunities placed in front of us. We should not judge the motivations of others and be respectful of what is offered to us. We should never leave things to chance and as a direct message to employers, we should not take our teams for granted and always ponder the future of the company.

If you have no future plans and rely on individuals then when they walk out the door, years of knowledge is lost and that can be crippling.

A Final Thought

I am happy. This is not to say that at the same point next year I will still be happy. I could be miserable as management has changed. I could have been offered the chance to work within a different team and it has not worked out.

I have no idea and do not wish to know what will happen tomorrow, as that would alter how I approach my day. What I wish to do is make the most of the time which is provided to me and a key way by which to do this is to find an employer that will push me forward. It is something that I am proud to say I have found.

I have achieved more in the last three months than in the last three years and this provides all the explanation that you will ever need.