Working (and Walking) in 2014
Yesterday was my last day. My last day at the Office Park. My laptop had already closed for the holidays by early morning, freezing every one minute. And I am not exaggerating. I wrote the first part of this piece on my notebook.
A little later, we had a team lunch courtesy of Fred, my boss. (I still find it hard to refer to him as that. I would go with employer but then that is even weirder.) A little earlier, I walked up the Ring Road hill more leisurely, more slowly, taking in the scenery. You know how I tend to be overly sentimental about such things. For once I noticed the city clock at the junction of Riverside Drive and Ring Road move its minute hand. Those are things you don’t see on normal days when hurrying to work. I closed my eyes to absorb the sun’s rays. You know how that sun has been burning this December? It’s like it’s Njaanuary already!
A little earlier in the week, I made my dad drive me to work. Daughter perks. 😉 Before this, he didn’t know where I worked in 2014. Anyway, that night he could not stop talking about it to the rest of the family. Apparently, he was shocked that I walk that whole distance to work. He was so impressed, I felt a bit proud about myself. As it stands, he is glad he did not raise an obese daughter who would not make it to walk 2km to work. And he made me reflect on my first year at a full job. (As I typed this, he has walked over and asked me why I am still working. He wants to know whether I have made a decision on where I am going next.)
2014 was my first career year. I interned for most of last year at two places. One I hated to bits and the other I really wanted to get but ended up not fitting in. I can stick out like a sore thumb in many instances. Ask anyone from Brand2D who was there back then. 😉 So when the year hit 1st of January, I prayed hard. I was not going back to work there. I prayed. I thought. I waited. Do you believe in miracles? If not, you had better start now.
On January 4th, I received a message on Google+ with an offer to join Belva Digital as a web content and social media manager. Needless to say, I was too eager to say yes, almost unprofessionally eager. And do you know how he found me? This blog. He read my blog. When we opened at Brand2D, I didn’t say a thing to anyone since I was not sure I was leaving. Eventually, I did do my research and decided to leave. First of all, the folks at Brand2D made me cry. Boss man hugged me. Who does that? Like seriously. I cried like a baby and I had only been there for three months. Nice folk, those. 😉 What did I learn from that experience?
Do not burn bridges, people. I made friends there, lifelong friends who still chat me up and refer me to jobs etc. Like seriously people, I repeat, do not burn bridges. You may not fit into a workplace but make sure you glean as much as you can and cherish the friendships.
I joined Belva Digital and it was all systems go. Small team, big dreams. I continued to learn big time. I got to work with my favourite writer. I understand Bitcoin more than I ever thought I would. I had a lot of leeway. There’s something about having responsibility bestowed on you without someone monitoring you all the time. Sometimes, I did things that were a little off the mark because I can be stubborn. One of the things I have been reminded is that I do not and will never know everything. I should be ready to incorporate other people’s views into what I do. You know what Proverbs 27:17 says;
As iron sharpens iron,
so one person sharpens another.
Something else, if you do not like something at work, say it. Tell your boss. Otherwise there’s no point badmouthing them with your colleagues if you did not say anything. Like I wrote here, only you can create the conditions you need to work in. Yes, sometimes your boss will not fulfil promises because of circumstances beyond control or for whatever reason, but at least you did something about it.
I am leaving to my next job in 2015 after receiving an offer letter. I am not certain about it but I am doing my due diligence in the meantime. Sometimes you get options and it’s up to you to decide what you want. 2014 was also the year I began blogging seriously. I still do it as a hobby. It will remain a hobby, this blog, because it helps me escape to another world for a few minutes, where I meet you guys and you share your thoughts and stuff too. Makes me so happy, you have no idea.
I will leave you with five other lessons from this 2014 at work:
- You do not have to be employed. Shed that mentality while you are still in school. We grew up while being taught to study to be employed. A year has taught me that I have the power to do my own thing if I embrace a learning attitude. Watch this space. Also, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- You will meet people of different cultures and temperaments as you work. Some will do strange things. Some will act like they are better than you. Some will only warm up to you after months. I know I will miss my deskie, Tish. Dude is awesome but I thought he was weird the first day he showed up.
- Do your best, cliché or not. Someone may not appreciate it right where you are but you never know who is watching. They just might approach you for your services. Plus what is the point of waking up every morning to go waste time kilometres away from your home? Wouldn’t it be better if you just slept and grew fat? Enough said.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24.
- Do not overwork yourself. Do not be a busybody. There is a life beyond your job. When is all said and done, you are human, not a machine. A human being with family and friends who need you to be fully there, not always checking your email and stuff like that.
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:11-13.
- Who says you have to do what you studied in university? Nobody, my friend. Out here, you figure out what you can do and run with it. Hizo zingine ni details. In fact, what ushered me into what I do today is the work I did for a campus club. So you see, university is not only about what you hear in the lecture rooms. Do not be stuck in a rut. I will not even master in what I majored in for my first degree. All the same, my major gives me an edge, knowledge-wise in my career. It is that serious. Be versatile.
The 2014 recap continues…
Listen to this beautiful song on your way out.
This is what I have experienced in the past three months of working. I learnt about building bridges and yes, you don’t have to work according to what you studied in campus. It’s been a great year for me. Looking forward to 2015! And I enjoyed your posts this year. I must say that your narrations are better. Ni kama unanipigia story hapo kwa verandah hehehe
Lol. Thanks Martin.
I like this. I also found what I like while under employment, took it and resigned back in March. So, I do relate
Awesome!
It been great reading your posts every one of them have never escaped my eye, grest staff indeed gifted ,sky is the limit happy 2015.and all the best in your next move. Baraka tele
Thanks Silas! God bless you too.
I will miss you too deskie rember “sina saa zako”
Haha! Kuzoeana tutaacha nani.
si unajua iyo iwezi isha
Those verses are so timely! 😀 so glad to have met you. My deskie at work always wonders why I love reading blogs and especially when one particular day when my browser refused to open your webpage… tihihi! He had to download the entire post and email it to me.
Can I ringa a little?! 😀 You are definitely one of the people who makes me so happy after putting my thoughts in here this year.
Ahhhhhhh…spoke my mind. Ata sijui niseme.
One of my favourite bloggers by a mile.
(From Chiromo, not)
Haha! That joke is not lost on me. 🙂
This is awesome Ciku!!!esp the not burning bridges part…very insightful..keep at it!!
this is awesome..being a former moi university student /09 tech I have been enjoying all your articles from the moment I came across one of them..Gal you are talented in blogging..al the best at Google kenya…
Thank you Mr! Not sure where you read the last part though. I don’t work at Google. 🙂