Hindsite

I received an e-mail from a friend from my old employer. The e-mail was from his personal e-mail address and said "I have some questions for you, could you call me" He then proceeded to give me his Cell phone, not his office number.

Well, I've been just far enough down the road to have an idea why.

After an exchange of messages, we connected and he immediately began asking me about the circumstances surrounding my separation from that employer. He prefaced the question with "I think I'm going to get fired." My only response was simple

"There are much bigger tragedies."

As we talked, I was brought back to the emotions of insecurity, embarrassment, anger, frustration, etc. that I experienced as I went through a vastly similar era of employment with the same employer. There are a few things I counseled him that I think should be learned from (as it took time to learn them from myself).

1. GET HAPPY. My friend isn't happy when he is unfairly judged, and neither was I, so when I said "Get out and Get happy." It made sense.

2. DON'T BE BITTER. In most bad employment situations the vast majority of employees are not the issue, it is a select few that cause the problem. Bitterness never helped anyone, so avoid it all... But, as you have to go through the emotion of bitterness and anger, at least pin point those that truly caused the feeling and release all your friends from the blame that they do not deserve... Besides, prior employers are one of your biggest references. It doesn't do to have them all hate you back. That bitterness also effects your performance, so get out of the bitterness as quickly as you can.

3. JUDGE SITUATIONS BASED ON THE FACTS. "Know thy enemy" is wise council, guessing what is happening and reacting to the guess isn't a good way to make wise decisions. Find out what is really happening and why, then you can make the best decision.

4. INSECURITY IS NORMAL AND IT MAKES YOU ACT STUPID. My friend was obviously insecure as he bragged up his credentials to me... Funny, I remember doing the same thing. I hope he can set aside the insecure feelings and get a grip before he alienates opportunities with FALSE confidence.

Just talking about the experience really got to me, emotions and opinions I thought I had buried came back. That's part of life too.

Leaving that employer has been a real challenge. I have faced new challenges moving back to Utah... I knew I would and yet I don't enjoy them any knowing they were coming. I have had to deal with defeat and learn that everyone who got fired from a job isn't a failure or a bad employee, at least I don't THINK that I'm a bad employee and apparently several potential employers agreed.

The kick in the pants that was the end of my first job out of college was probably exactly the kick in the pants I needed to not settle for mediocrity.

Christ said "...All these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good." (D&C 122:7) Well, I'm not as judgemental, and I am growing again. I guess his promise is kept, whether I appreciate it or not.

I'm grateful that at least one being can see the beginning from the end.

Dodging the bullet

After what seems like an eternity, I'm finally finding what I like to call my "voice". Though, of course, it has very little to do with my ability to vocalize.

I'm going on nearly 2 years in my career and I've finally found some direction. (For anyone who knows me, you know I don't just "go with the flow" very well.) I've found my direction, goals, and I now see the path to achieve my ends.

Now for the history necessary to understand my "here and now".

My Senior year at USU, I realized my utter dislike for the world of "Tax", so I proptly lined up all my tax classes to finish immediately, I then took my last semester free from Tax and focused on Audit.

During my Masters year, I avoided every bit of tax I could. My plan was to simply NOT DO TAXES... Murphy, however, won another feather in his cap as I signed with my current employer. Here in Idaho, I have to split my time between tax and audit.

All things have their benefits, I pesonally find my increased knowledge of taxes and law to be a great asset to my professional world.

I have, however, in recent months, figured out how to diret my own career in stead of letting my company define it for me. Therefore, i have finally gotten to focus more and more attention on Audit instead of tax.

Yesterday, I was finishing up the audit presentation to the shareholders and the partner asked if I wanted to join him. I promptly refused citing my large load of tax work that had stalled on my desk.

Later yesterday afternoon, I ran into one of the shareholders at the store and she told me she was unwilling to go to the meeting because it would be so contentious. "Todd", the partner from my firm "would tell it like it is, and there are too many people there who don't want to hear it like it is."

It turns out, I dodged the bullet.