The Measure of Success
As I get a little bit older and realize that I am bound to be solely responsible for the financial security of my children, I am becoming more of a career-minded person. I am furthering my education and have recently been through salary negotiations. I am probably more focused than I have ever been.
My company is undergoing significant changes – department realignments, facility moves, and really a change in philosophy. Never has the concept of embracing change been more at the forefront. It has amazed me how much motherhood has really prepared me for all the jockeying for position that is currently occurring.
The unanticipated changes that might have concerned me in my pre-kid days are much more easily put in perspective. After a few years of having my best laid plans interrupted by one of the many illnesses that passes through daycare, I always have a “contingency” kind of attitude.
The ability to change course and refocus my efforts on the things that are physically (and mentally) possible to accomplish with a sick child attached to your hip has proven to be invaluable. The many sick-kid issues I have encountered (my children do seem to be the type that will bring home each and every germ) have reinforced the importance of humility, integrity and accountability in the workplace. When my children decide to start screaming the instant I get on a business call from home, all I can do is apologize and do my best to respond effectively to the needs of the caller. It is an extremely humbling experience where accountability is truly unavoidable. Of course, I have also learned to return as many calls as possible during naps or after bedtime (contingencyplan).
As a working mom who has unavoidable “real-life” issues, I think it iscritical to establish a reputation for responsiveness, honesty, and customer service. Without that, I do not think customers or coworkers would be as likely to excuse – or, as I have found, empathize – with the delays or interruptions in my normal workflow.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of being a working mother is being afforded the opportunity to prioritize. Yesterday I had one such opportunity. I received notice of a restructuring that I believe could either be extremely positive or terribly negative. As I was distractedly mulling over the implications and trying to formulate a plan to ensure a more positive outcome, I received “the call” – from daycare. This time, my son (who had no other signs of an ear infection) appeared to have ruptured his eardrum. In an instant, my career path – important as it may be – was not nearly as critical as the well being of my child. With an about-face, I switched to mommy-mode and resigned myself to the fact that my workday had been sidelined.
Contingency plan – respond to the time sensitive issues as quickly as possible and play “catch-up” after bedtime. Take care of the little guy and still get the job done. I will always work hard and strive for excellence, but my dedication to my family comes first.The job by which I will ultimately measure my success is motherhood.
Kathy+2
My company is undergoing significant changes – department realignments, facility moves, and really a change in philosophy. Never has the concept of embracing change been more at the forefront. It has amazed me how much motherhood has really prepared me for all the jockeying for position that is currently occurring.
The unanticipated changes that might have concerned me in my pre-kid days are much more easily put in perspective. After a few years of having my best laid plans interrupted by one of the many illnesses that passes through daycare, I always have a “contingency” kind of attitude.
The ability to change course and refocus my efforts on the things that are physically (and mentally) possible to accomplish with a sick child attached to your hip has proven to be invaluable. The many sick-kid issues I have encountered (my children do seem to be the type that will bring home each and every germ) have reinforced the importance of humility, integrity and accountability in the workplace. When my children decide to start screaming the instant I get on a business call from home, all I can do is apologize and do my best to respond effectively to the needs of the caller. It is an extremely humbling experience where accountability is truly unavoidable. Of course, I have also learned to return as many calls as possible during naps or after bedtime (contingencyplan).
As a working mom who has unavoidable “real-life” issues, I think it iscritical to establish a reputation for responsiveness, honesty, and customer service. Without that, I do not think customers or coworkers would be as likely to excuse – or, as I have found, empathize – with the delays or interruptions in my normal workflow.
Perhaps the biggest benefit of being a working mother is being afforded the opportunity to prioritize. Yesterday I had one such opportunity. I received notice of a restructuring that I believe could either be extremely positive or terribly negative. As I was distractedly mulling over the implications and trying to formulate a plan to ensure a more positive outcome, I received “the call” – from daycare. This time, my son (who had no other signs of an ear infection) appeared to have ruptured his eardrum. In an instant, my career path – important as it may be – was not nearly as critical as the well being of my child. With an about-face, I switched to mommy-mode and resigned myself to the fact that my workday had been sidelined.
Contingency plan – respond to the time sensitive issues as quickly as possible and play “catch-up” after bedtime. Take care of the little guy and still get the job done. I will always work hard and strive for excellence, but my dedication to my family comes first.The job by which I will ultimately measure my success is motherhood.
Kathy+2
posted by RmrJmrGrl @ 12:12 PM
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