The flashback, oddly, transported me way back to my first job. I was fresh, green, naive and eager, to some extent. I believed that if I worked hard, learned fast, gain my superiors' and team's trust & respect, I'd get somewhere in the company. I would never let myself be contented with my performance, beat myself up over any sort of mistakes I have made and just basically, earn myself a place in the team.. Well, no prizes to how that went in that company but I moved on to another firm and advanced in the field.
At that time, immersed in the working culture and getting caught up with how things work, I always felt.. never ever good enough. It's not enough that I just closed a juicy sales deal with high compliments from the clients, I have to work on the next deal and the next and the next.. It's not enough that I've finally negotiated, bit and chewed, my way through for a fair enough rate with a new client, I got to expand and get more clients. The list goes on and on.. It never ends.
We used to have a saying - " you're just as good as your last deal.. and uh, when was it?" ..
Now.. disclaimer being that I'm now in one of the smallest towns in the land of fjords, I haven't felt the same pressure from the guys here. At least, on the surface, everything seems to be well taken into pace. There may be the occasional, "OMG" rushing around the office, trying to get the relevant people to get the necessary done but aside from that, they really take it in their stride. What they could do in that 7,5hours, is what they could do. Period.
I don't know exactly how it works yet but if one is burnt out from work or recovering from a major sickness and so on, one can get support and help from local social services agencies and government-related employment services agencies. They would be there for the transitional period and even assist in looking for another job in a different field.
When I first heard about this, and I was speaking to one who works in the local social services agencies (she works with those that are recovering from major illnesses & etc and be there for them whilst they get back on their feet in life, be employed and stay employed), I was surprised. Maybe, there were similar services back home but if there were, they weren't supremely widely known and I don't think anyone expected major help or support, other than from their own immediate family...
I guess coming from the first mentioned environment and coming into the latter mentioned environment, makes me wonder, sometimes. As I'm adjusting, which one actually suits me better or rather, which would bring the best out of me or push me to do things that I'd never would have done, otherwise. What about you?
In the meantime, do check NAV out, very useful agency to know for employment & unemployment situations.
Imens, ha en fin sommer,
ABE