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Change

4 January 2008 2 Comments

It has been said that change is the only thing permanent in the world. To some extent, yes I have seen much of that to be true.

Until recently, I have always been ambivalent about embracing and chasing it. In my life, change has almost always been organic, borne out of sheer
necessity or spontaneous adaptation. From my baptism at age 12, to wearing eyeglasses in high school, even my choice of university and college course — everything has almost always been a by-product of either convenience or mandate.

My career has not been an exception. From being a project systems analyst for SAP reporting and ABAP programs (read: dakilang extra; alalay; pipitsuging saling pusa.. LOL), who would have known that I’d be starting up a team of gung ho IT analysts who break away from the mold and are smarter than the average bear? Me, a people manager? That was unthinkable just 4 years ago, being the turfy and self-serving pushback king that I was. Somehow, I pulled through — and with flying colors at that — with what for me has been my best team to date (naks, javster and wander girl: boladas na to, kailangan nyo na ako bilhan ng Breitling watch nyan :p).

About 2 years back, I had a huge leap of a break in my career when I
was instantly (and surprisingly) offered to lead an account with a
headcount of 100+. That’s when I had to face the test of managing
non-new hires but tenured experts who happen to be several years my
senior both in terms of age and work experience. By God’s grace (and
boy did I need lots of it) and constant support from leadership, we
turned agonizing multi-critsit-call days into glorious, memorably fun
ones. Everyone in the team was the cream of the crop in their
respective fields, and we knocked the client’s socks off with what we
were able to achieve collectively.

I assumed a broader role altogether early last year when the company exploded with growth — again, an organic change. After 4 major go-lives, 3 complicated critsits, and countless employee issues, here I am.. still holding up and not yet snuffed out. Healthier and happier in fact, haha.

But now, at the forefront of letting a cat out of the bag,
I stand and look back. It’s been a trailblazing, fast, and eventful
couple of years so far, but things don’t seem to want me stopping to
smell the flowers. On a mountain hike, I’ve always spent more time
climbing uphill than enjoying a walk in the plateaus. I’ve seen much in
the ascent, and it continues still. Change ultimately demands a lot of
dynamism and flexibility — especially as it gets steeper and tougher.

There
is another cat though, one whose head has been rearing out for several
people who read this to already see. This cat meows to a different
sound — much like a diversion from all the changes I’ve underwent to
date. Like a bold leap of faith, a sharp corner turn; it defies certain
emotional bounds and enlists several habit-altering life adjustments.
It is not organic, but it is also not ill-advised. People who have been
exposed to key pieces of the puzzle might perceive that this is
triggered by a specific incident or a chain of untoward events; but the
thing is, it is something consciously done under solid and clear
guidance. Not organic, but not ill-advised.

Amazing how the turn of events are shaping up.. as if the stars are aligning to conspire for all this. Barely 5 days into the year and I can already sense that it is going to be an extraordinarily memorable one.

Thank God I have His promises to cling on to. He who does not change like shifting shadows has always been and will always be good.

2 Comments »

  • posted on 5 January 2008
    manch said:

    how many cats, exactly, do you have over there? :o )

    [Reply]

  • posted on 5 January 2008
    sinch (author) said:

    Exactly? As many as there are Allans, or even more? Di ko alam! Multichotomy :D

    [Reply]

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