Holy cow, its been a while. I guess its as simple as clicking the new post button? Going to have to remember that. I actually have a list of things in a note app on my phone that I want to discuss with myself via this forum. Including my first triathlon! And my second! And my third this weekend! Any my current lack of motivation to sign up for something else this fall! See, LOTS to get through!
I was headed to bed early tonight, as in the same time Chad and Megan crawled in, but just not meant to be. I tried crawling right in at 8:30. Might have to wean myself off these 11pm nights a little more slowly than I thought. I swear I get a surge of energy after they climb in bed. Strange.
Anyway...I started a new job, um wow, 4 months ago already. Time flies when I'm having fun? About two months in I was having a freak out moment. Things were going well, really well, and I was headed to a golf outing with some new coworkers that I hadn't yet met and a whole bunch of customers. I put on my company golf shirt, clubs in the car and headed for The Bog in Saukville.
About half way there I had a strange feeling. And no, it wasn't attributed to all the sweating I knew I'd be doing golfing in the 95+ degree temps, around strangers no less. I had recently left a company where I had and thankfully, still have, friends. I worked there 10 years and did not take my decision to leave lightly, I was leaving my work fam. Friends, mentors, running buddies, drinking buddies, people you can discuss bodily functions with buddies, you name it. It wasn't so much the company that was hard to walk away from, it was the people.
In my car on the way down it finally hit me that I had a different golf shirt on and was not going to be golfing with my work buddies who know I kinda suck at golf even though every once in a while I have a good hit. Felt like I had lost my support system. The people that accept me not being an awesome golfer. Gone. I had to make some new friends this day. I called my dad on the way there to express my thoughts. Was nice to be like hey..this is strange and exciting at the same time. Most definitely an opportunity.
The guy that had a lot to do with pulling together the event is thought of as a legend in my work world. I've heard that more than a few times since I've started the new gig. I hadn't met him when he asked if I had anyone I wanted to be
specifically paired up with. Um yeah...my answer was to put me with a
fun group. This would be the first time I'd met him in person. Turns out, he's a normal guy. That works super hard, is super intelligent and has customers that respect, if not, love him. Not unlike most others I've had the opportunity to work with.
So, I pull up to the drive, find a parking spot, take a deep breath and head inside the clubhouse where there was to be a presentation before golf. I walked in and found that I had met and knew more people than I thought. Sweet! I had worked with one guy right when I started and he was in town for the outing too so that was super cool. Milk, you know who you are and you rock. The majority of the customers and vendors that were there were people that I had met somewhere along the way over the past 10 years. This IT world in Wisconsin? Its a small world after all.
I think I knew more customers than I did the people from my new employer. After the presentation, it was time for some golf. My coworker/partner was Stan and we were paired up with two customers. I didn't realize that for a shot gun start, everyone rolls out at once. So, Stan and I were the very LAST people in our cart because I still had to put on my golf shoes and get my clubs in the cart. Yep, awesome. 23 other carts waiting on us.
Stan is pretty awesome. He totally set me at ease and made me feel welcome. After the first hole I quickly figured out that the customers were much better golfers than I would ever hope to be so I settled on not trying to impress anyone with my mad golf skillz (like I had a shot at that and yes that is a z) and set my focus on having fun and getting to know the peeps in my foursome. Aside from sweating my arse off it was a fun 18 holes. Made even more fun when we actually used my ball a few times and I did a cartwheel at a hole without falling on my face. Mhmmm. Cartwheel. Hole 16 I think. 14 holes seems to be about my max. After that all bets are off.
We rounded out the day with a some drinks and dinner. Its a little intimidating looking at room full of people and picking a place to sit. Well, maybe more of an opportunity. Here I am with that opportunity word. Totally. Just had to embrace it. I ended up sitting with a guy I hadn't met before, but had talked with on the phone and another guy that I had met years ago when I called on him a few times. Turns one of the guys is a cyclist, rides a Trek Madone (me too!) lives in the area with his wife and does quite a few rides around the area. Um cool! And the other guy remembered me - or at least said he did - so good to know that even though I lost the business I was trying to get when I was calling on him - at least I formed some sort of bond.
Post dinner, customers started to head out so I was left with my new coworkers. There were probably about 8 of us or so. I was weighing in my head the value of staying later and getting to know my new coworkers or getting home at a decent hour. Yes, I stayed and it was so worth it. After about half hour I was like yep, these are my new peeps. They are all pretty tight, but not once did I feel like an outsider. I felt like I was included and already part of the crowd. I started the day faced with a different sort of realization of what I walked away from and ended the day with the realization of what I had to gain. New people to add to my work family? I think yes.
