On April 19, 2014, I celebrated 10 years of employment at WB. Wow! I truly never thought I would work there that long, mostly because that’s longer than I’ve ever worked anywhere. As I reflect on this milestone, especially the day before Easter Sunday, I know that it is only by the grace of God that I made it. Yes, I believe I am smart, strong, capable. A good lawyer, able to withstand great pressures. But those are all blessings from God. Thinking back over these past 10 years of work experiences, all the ups and downs, I am feeling grateful. Feels like an understatement to say it. I am more than grateful. I feel so blessed to have had all these opportunities, all this growth and development, all these experiences. The highs have been just as important to me as the lows — though you couldn’t have convinced me of that during those lows! Before I arrived at WB to begin my dream job, I was single with no prospects, hoping to find love, so sure of many things (like my right to have a husband and kids, chuckle). Over the past 10 years I’ve met and married my soulmate, birthed a beautiful loving smart daughter, had 2 more nieces to bless our family, and become a certified professional coach. I also lost my dear father and uncle within months of the same year. I dealt with an extremely difficult supervisor at work and learned much about my professional self. And I had great highs at work including participating in one of the most important sexual harassment cases in the state of California, even attending the Supreme Court argument in Sacramento, and being promoted to Senior Employment Counsel and later Vice President. I have become so comfortable speaking in front of tough audiences because of the hundreds, yes hundreds, of training sessions I have conducted, even some in Spanish. I have had fun times with friends and co-workers on the lot, found a sponsor/mentor/friend who helped me survive some of the toughest times in my life, worked with celebs and received their accolades and gratitude, screened movies, visited television sets. And surviving corporate America, especially in the entertainment industry, has taught me much about being politically savvy, diplomatic, and not taking things too personally. Even with the tough times and resulting tears, I would not change a thing save for losing my father and uncle. I would not be the lawyer, coach or speaker I am today without those experiences. All in all, as I reflect on these years and wonder how I made it this long, I come back to this feeling of thankfulness. My dream job has been so much more than I ever expected or dreamed. And it has prepared me for whatever the next phase may bring, that much I know. So many people have been congratulating me (LinkedIn reminders are a wonderful thing) and I am tickled pink, proud and pleased. Thank you to everyone for those kind words! Most of all, though, I feel highly favored and blessed in the words of my pastor, Bishop Charles E. Blake. What a journey–can’t wait to see what’s next!
If you are coming up on or just passing a milestone like this, I hope you’ll be able to look at the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, all of it together, as one experience that is worth it and crucial to your growth and development. It’s so easy to focus on what’s wrong but so much more peaceful and freeing to direct your focus to the upside.
