Employee of the Quarter

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What an awkward thrill, yet guilty reflex, to receive this honor. I was extremely surprised as I walked into a room filled with a few departments, I knew something must be going on. Then when all eyes sprung to me and my boss pulled out a paper the edges of my mouth started to tick and my eyes started sprinting around the room not sure where to stop. It is always a relief to know that others see your hard work, but once they acknowledge it for me, the relief turns to guilt.

I immediately started remembering the hour and a half lunch break I took last week, and that mistake I made on a recent project, and the times I’ve checked my Facebook during work hours. All my mistakes and moments of slacking come to the surface as I try to fight through the muck as my boss is validating and complimenting the ways I have contributed to the team.

Team…yes team, so many people on our team, is management sure I deserve this achievement more than anyone else? Will anyone become resentful? Does anyone think I don’t deserve it? How can I thank everyone for giving this to me?

Don’t get me wrong I love compliments, but I am hard on myself so if you give me a compliment I take that as a challenge. Now not only do I have to live up to that compliment, I have to do BETTER than the compliment you just gave me…

And now since I’m parked right in the front I feel obligated to come to work a little early, stay a little later, and make sure I’m living up to the praises others said I contributed. The pressure is now greater, that I place on myself, even though the thanks was for my hard work, I feel as if I need to work harder.

As I keep striving to be the best person I can be, in that process I let myself down continuously. I also reward myself, guilt myself, confuse myself, and doubt myself. Thank you SLD employees for your shown appreciation to all of my successes and failures, I take the achievement humbly, and am loving the reserved parking spot so close to the entrance during these cold temperatures!

Hailey Schultz

What Mike Wazowski will teach you about your career path

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Mike Wazowski in Monsters University

Photo snatched from: (http://weheartit.com/entry/65770931)

 

If you have seen Monsters Inc, I’m sure you are one of the millions that fell in love with the little one-eyed green creature named Mike Wazowski. Awesome movie, everyone should watch it if you haven’t already…then came Monsters University. I am always leery to watch sequels/prequels, but occasionally I give in to the temptation as I did with Monsters University. Although the film wasn’t up to “Despicable Me’s” impressive animation, I still give it a thumbs up for the underlying message that comes across.

Quick summary for Monsters University: Mike Wazowski dreamed about becoming a scare monster since he was in elementary school. He was a leader & studied harder than anyone else, his blood, sweat, and tears ozed with an appetite to scare... But in the end Mike was not the right fit for a scare monster, he just wasn’t scary. Although it had been Mike’s life-long dream he was able to courageously step down. He realized alone he couldn’t live his childhood dream, but with Sully and himself working together, they were an unstoppable force.

If this were real life I would scoop up Mike and promote him as a CEO! When someone realizes his or her dream has changed, that is something to be admired. Your dreams can change, and likely should! The more you learn about yourself, the more you should evaluate your future goals. One of the first hits I took in my life was giving up architecture. I realized after 7 devout years my dream wasn’t to be an architect anymore, and that was a tough thing to say out loud. After investing so much time, money, and effort into a dream it can be disheartening to reassess.

Are you the part? Or are you forcing it?

Mentally and physically there are blockades in the road. Sometimes they are worth tearing down, sometimes it is best to find another route. Personally I related to Mike on the physical level. Obviously I’m not a little green monster, but physically I have every indication for the stereotypical uncultured, spoiled, young ditzy professional that you might catch yourself rolling your eyes at. I will be the first to admit I have a young vocabulary, I have a tremendous amount of growing to do, I look 20, my voice sounds like an 8 year olds, and at this point if you are an older male it is fairly easy to intimidate me if you try. But you shouldn’t take your eyes off me because this façade is hiding a sponge beneath it. I know my limitations right now, but once I find my Sully, I’ll be something to compete with.

Go find your Sully, whether it be the perfect job, the perfect boss, a degree, or even a new found confidence in yourself. I’ll let you know what mine is when I find it, best of luck!

Hailey Schultz