There’s so much that has happened during the last two weeks. I have plenty of things that I’ve seen online that I want to blog about. Yes, I am opinionated, thank you! There’s cool articles, evil corporations, and everything in between to give my two cents on. Right now though, the thing in my life weighing the heaviest on me is my career situation.
Over the last two months, actually even longer than that, I’ve given much thought to the idea of stepping down from my position. I don’t let on about who I work for in any of my entries. It’s just a precaution, not a corporate policy that I have to comply to. It just makes sense. I will say that I work in retail and for the past six years I’ve held a job in the Operations side of the business as an Inventory Auditor. For the past three of those six years, I’ve held the distinct honor (and stress) of the title Inventory Audit Lead. While being a good position for an experienced, organized and responsible individual to get into, the job does have more than its fair share of aggravation. Mind you, it does have its perks. The company values that position highly, for not being salaried management, and it carries great respect if you’re the individual that deserves such. Oh and it pays kinda well, too. However, the last year was a time that I saw myself growing steadily disenchanted with the Auditing side and the problems I’ve had to endure. It’s such a rush to find and solve problems with inventory numbers, but not when the same stupid mistakes keep cropping up over and over again! The flexibility that the position demanded, while being fresh and challenging at first, eventually started to take its toll on my mental well-being. If you give yourself enough chances to recoup in a job and you still can’t see yourself doing it for another year, you’d better find a way out before any negative thoughts grow and start to hurt your performance. In a leadership position, that can not only hurt your performance, but it can also hurt your team as well. I cared too much for my team, and my company’s facility, to let that happen. I knew several months ago that I needed a change… and soon!
At that time, I told my regional officer about this. He said he’d keep me in his thoughts and see what comes up. Forward to a few weeks ago. He called me up and asked me if I still needed a change. There’s a facility that needs someone in their Claims department. The areas of expertise that I have in my fifteen years is well-known to the management that know me, and that is an area that I had proven myself in before as an assistant. Needless to say, I did some heavy thinking and prayer for guidance on the matter. A week later, I made my decision.
Yesterday was my last official day as an Inventory Audit Lead. I handed over the reins of the team to one of my teammates. She is a very capable, mature individual who has just as much time in the company, if not more, as I do. More importantly, she’s run the team while I was on vacation and, for the better part of a year, she has helped me in watching over the team while I did the administrative aspects along with the more time-consuming research. She’s also one of the individuals in my work life that I more than respect… I admire. She has taught me so much about the finer points of leadership and discipline and I told her yesterday that I value those teachings and I’ll be sure to take them with me for life. She reciprocated and told me that she has learned more from me than most of the leaders she’s worked with. This shocked me, even though she had said it before, and I had to think about whether she was “just saying that”, or being “for real”. After thinking about it, my heart melted; she’s not the type of individual to say such things lightly, nor does she flat-out lie. I’m proud to have had a positive impact upon such an individual. I know there’s not much of any chance of her reading this, but just in case her or her family stumble across this entry… Chrissy Spear, thank you very much for everything! I’m sure, and I sincerely hope, that I’ll collaborate with you sooner or later in life or work. 
Anyways, the rest of my team is made of quality people. They have good hearts and minds and I think they’ll do my teachings justice. My former position won’t be vacant for long, either. Not only did Ms. Spear apply for my position, but a couple of other Audit Leads from other facilities applied as well. My former job and team will be in good hands no matter what. Of course, she made the promise (threat?) of calling me if she needs advice or help. I promised I’ll always help as much as I can. That being said, I now lay my past to rest and focus on the future.
I’ve had to help out at this other facility for three days out of the past three weeks. It’s a good place, but it’s a older facility and kinda ramshackle. I’m familiar with the staff over there, including the Audit Lead. I’m looking forward, and dedicated, to taking over their Claims department and making it my own. The good thing about my new position is the fact that I’ll have my own little area to worry about instead of an entire facility. That alone is worth the step down without a dramatic drop! Time will tell, however, if this place is more accepting of me, or not, than my now-previous facility.
I’ll try to write a bit more frequently in this blog about my experiences in my new position. I can’t make a guarantee about that one! Like I said, I try not to write about work, mainly for precaution’s sake. Rest assured, it’ll be very interesting no matter how I portray it!
Wish me luck… Cheers!
The Receiving Lead I mentioned had been very helpful in letting me know what’s going on and what she’ll do to help. 
