Acts of Kindness
First, thanks all for the positive words. It is a stressful time for all State employees, and I'm actually more concerned about others than myself ... my parents and I have talked and they can float me for a bit (months). Many others are NOT so lucky, and they really should be the focus.
I did mention something (jokingly) to my staff this morning about how they now make more than me since I'm minimum wage and they are exempt as hourly emergency response workers. They were so incredibly kind ... three of them IMMEDIATELY offered to give me an interest free loan until I could settle things down.
WOW!
Talk about WOW!
I know how much they make, and like me, they too are trying to make ends meet ... but when your staff offers to help you out you know you've done something right. I didn't do it then, but I did have to sneak off to allow a tear to my eye (JAMES robots can cry too). ;)
A month ago I had debated applying for another job which would have been a promotion. It was a make-believe state classification ... a scam some other manager was running to bump up one of his staff, and legally had I applied I could have blocked the position. That would have been easy, but dick. Instead I rationalized to myself that I have a team I trust and more importantly BUILT. I have a management that values me (and apparently an Exec branch too -- another story), and experts / mentors on hand to pass their decades of experience to me. These mentors are the best engineers I've met.
Anyhow, this is a very timely and welcomed reminder that I made the right choice.
I did mention something (jokingly) to my staff this morning about how they now make more than me since I'm minimum wage and they are exempt as hourly emergency response workers. They were so incredibly kind ... three of them IMMEDIATELY offered to give me an interest free loan until I could settle things down.
WOW!
Talk about WOW!
I know how much they make, and like me, they too are trying to make ends meet ... but when your staff offers to help you out you know you've done something right. I didn't do it then, but I did have to sneak off to allow a tear to my eye (JAMES robots can cry too). ;)
A month ago I had debated applying for another job which would have been a promotion. It was a make-believe state classification ... a scam some other manager was running to bump up one of his staff, and legally had I applied I could have blocked the position. That would have been easy, but dick. Instead I rationalized to myself that I have a team I trust and more importantly BUILT. I have a management that values me (and apparently an Exec branch too -- another story), and experts / mentors on hand to pass their decades of experience to me. These mentors are the best engineers I've met.
Anyhow, this is a very timely and welcomed reminder that I made the right choice.