He was strong he was talented and he had more to offer than most of his peers. However, Andrew was stuck for seven years in an entry-level position within his dream company. He had the credentials, personality, and desire to be the director. The only problem was very apparent to Andrew simply put he was not liked. Andrew said, “surely my boss is intimidated by me.” and what do you know, just like that, the universe shifted Andrew’s paradigm. His boss resigned and moved across the country for an urgent family matter. Surely this was Andrew’s moment to move up.
Simultaneously another post was opened at his company this post would certainly get Andrew closer to his dream position, but it wasn’t his target one. He had considered applying for this which was a director of operations position but, ultimately decided not to, and instead, he pursued his dream role as the director. The director position was never posted internally. Andrew knowing it was open felt the door closing in on his dream. He somehow mustered the courage to reach even higher for his goal. So, he sought out the hiring manager and made him aware of his interest in the position. A couple of weeks later Andrew’s commitment paid off as he was the only internal employee to land an interview for the post.
He had a very impressive resume and exuded confidence in going into the interview. As he went down a list of what made him qualified for the job. The interviewer was impressed. His body posture was upright and strong. His tone steady words were clear and his eye contact direct. Then something changed his eyes dropped his legs crossed and his back arched. Then Andrew went on to narrate all of the reasons why he had been prevented from being promoted. It was like a cloud entered the room and a huge piece of emotional baggage started to weigh him down right before their eyes and suddenly it removed his edge. Andrew had a keen sense of detail and had made very specific notes of all the offense’s made against him he didn’t share one reason as to how any of it added to him. When he finished the interviewer asked him “What could you have done to prevent all of these offenses?” Andrew replied nothing absolutely nothing. The interviewer said someone above really wants to make you patient. On that note the interview ended and as you may have guessed Andrew didn’t get the job.
The truth of the matter is the greatest room that any of us will ever own is “The Room For Improvement”. Andrew had no control over the people he worked for or the circumstances he kept finding himself in. He did however have control over himself, his responses and reactions. No one has to play the role of the perpetual victim. Healthy boundaries must be drawn before bitterness set’s in. Sometimes those boundaries are to give notice to outsiders and other times they are to put us in our proper place. Maybe there’s a need to look at a certain thing from a broader perspective. Maybe a thing is meant to make one uncomfortable to propel that one forward. Maybe there is an opportunity to endure an inconvenience for the greater good of something else. Maybe it the opportunity to coach up for the greater good of many. It doesn’t matter how it’s cut as long as you know and believe that you do have power over yourself and no circumstance and nor individual has the power to truly control you. the cycle of success is to try a thing, fail then, adapt, then grow and repeat this is most important because mastery is practice and failing doesn’t equate to failure if you learn from it.
