Yesterday I received the best letter I ever received from my company. It is an annual increment letter. No, this is not the first letter I have received. Neither was it the biggest increment I ever had. In fact, the increment that I received could not beat the current inflation. Still, this is the best letter that I ever received. Here’s why…
I have been with this company for more than 12 years. 13 at the end of this year. My path for the first 8 years was fruitful. As with many other companies, you put in your hard work, you get recognized, you get promoted, you become a supervisor and you begin to manage people. You feel a sense of satisfaction, job accomplishment. That was me, at least for the first 8 years of my life here.
Then things start to change…
Suddenly, I felt lost. I did not know where I was heading. The path seems ‘fixed’. I needed to explore. So I asked for a transfer. I tried other roles in my company to find where I can belong. I wanted to find my passion and continue to contribute to this company that ‘brought me up. Yesterday, when I received my letter, I then realized one thing… I simply cannot find the passion I long to have here.
What happened?
I believe my increment tells me one thing – that my performance is not ‘good’ in the company’s record. I admit it is my fault, and I have nothing against anyone. I wouldn’t even call it my fault. I’d just say that I have truly discovered that I have since a long time ago taken this to be a job and nothing else. I am very happy today that I have received this letter because it kind of asked me what am I still doing here when there is no passion for the work here. Please do not be mistaken that this is denial. It is simply a choice that I made. I choose to think that this happened for the best, my best.
I have made a decision.
Yesterday, I made a decision. The decision is to truly find my passion. My decision is to find ways of making money that I am passionate about and that I will leave this company by mid 2011. I am committed to make this happen. This decision is made not because I am upset or disappointed. This decision is made because I want to live my life as I should, as I can. And I want to be happy because I know that the decision I make today is what moulds my life in 5 to 10 years.
I am glad that I received the best letter from my company in 12 years.
