How it started vs. How it’s going

Kelsey…your millennial is showing….

So for those of you that wouldn’t necessarily list “scrolling social media” as one of your favorite post-work past times…There has been a meme going around where the author posts one picture of them or their work when they started a project, job, hobby, etc. and another picture next to it that shows where they are presently, the purpose being to show growth and progress.

I decided to join in on the fun:

I did not expect to feel such a rush of emotion looking at these two pictures next to each other ! I think back to what it felt like to be that 24 year old young lady on the left. I was the definition of “wide-eyed”. Fresh out of school and ready to take on the world, goals abound.

I have written quite a bit about growth- how it looks on the surface, how it looks in hindsight, how it looks in the face of adversity. Time is a consistent variable in growth and when it’s illustrated in a photo like this, I understand why this concept was so widely used and spread in this particular meme format- it’s a story told in two parts, then and now, that a wide audience of social media scrollers like myself can relate to…“It’s better now, look at how much better”.

Only I know the deeper truth between these two pictures, and it’s not explicitly that time and growth has made things “better”. I look at these two photos and beyond the fact that I have been trusted with 3 promotions between them, what I know to be the biggest difference between these two versions of myself comes down to one word: refinement.

Kelsey in 2017 knew exactly what she wanted, with a clear goal in mind- to make a positive impact on the environment by prioritizing sustainability in fashion and textiles. She would take her new job by storm and impress the masses with her unique ideas and innovative technology tools. She was less passionate about her actual role than she was about making her name known and making her mark on the organization. No stranger to an emoji or 5 in an email, 2017 Kelsey also once referred to her boss’s boss as “dude” and often rolled out of bed at the last minute, considering that time frame within five minutes of the start of her shift to be “on time”.

2018 brought Kelsey a new role and a new work environment. It wasn’t the corporate promotion she thought she would see after working exactly one year in entry level management (*2021 Kelsey, rolls eyes heavily*). But it would do ! Another boss to impress, another team to thrust innovation and enthusiasm upon. This role was not a walk in the park for Kelsey. She was being asked to have difficult conversations with her associate team and received feedback every single day on her job performance that made her feel defensive and often made her question if she was a good fit for the position. She experienced tension with her new direct supervisor. Because she was taught to respect and support authority figures ahead of her, she remained loyal to her leader, even when it meant making herself smaller, which lead to feeling burdened by silent resentment.

2018 gave way to 2019 and Kelsey found herself in her director’s office with a box of tissues, admitting, “I think I would just rather manage myself.” Feeling trapped between supporting her boss, and relaying her own perspective and ideas, she confided in a like-minded ally on the leadership team above her, who encouraged and coached Kelsey to speak up for herself. Giving her the confidence she needed helped her learn when to stay quiet and loyal, and when it is important to speak your mind. 2019 Kelsey simply thought it would be rude to do so, but thanks to this support, she was able to re-gain the respect of her director who all but counted her out of being a part of the leadership team. With a new lease and drive to be the leader others saw in her, Kelsey fought to prove that she was a good fit for an available promotion and went after it with the same drive she once felt to push her original agenda. The job became less about what goals of Kelsey’s could be accomplished working at this organization, and more about what Kelsey could add as a leader to help her team reach organizational goals.

2020 emboldened Kelsey’s commitment to leadership. She saw true fear in those returning to work day after day in the midst of a pandemic. She felt an obligation to her team and recognized her own unique ability to make people happy and feel valued. Innovation rejoined the picture, and some of those same ideas that brought her to the company were finally able to be put into action. She felt a full circle moment and relished in the privilege of opportunity. She kept her head down and stayed focused, eventually taking a leadership role that covered all production associates and even three leaders that directly reported to her. She started dressing the part, ditching hoodies and leggings for a more business casual wardrobe, and spent time day dreaming about what being a young professional looked like on her. Accountability and feedback conversations became a part of the job that she welcomed and enjoyed.

At last 2021 arrived ~feeling more confident about her abilities, she applied everything she learned from her previous experience and sought out a new challenge. Kelsey volunteered herself for an interim position in an arena that housed multiple unique opportunities for her own learning and development. Rising to this occasion, she gained hands-on experience and practical knowledge of industrial equipment such as hydraulic baling and tipping machinery and self-contained compactors. She worked to understand the maintenance and safe operating practices of single-operator equipment like forklifts, electric double-stackers, and electric palate jacks. Her team was bigger than ever, and she felt the daily pressure of keeping them safe. When the assignment ended, she returned, an operations manager with a new mission in mind: building and retaining strong teams within the organization- establishing value in individuals, and being a part of positive change by bringing people together under a common goal. It was the greatest and least thing she could do. Her upper-leadership ally became her boss and mentor, and reminded her that deep down she was an alpha-female, girly exterior aside.

Four years have passed and in my mind the Kelsey in 2017 is not so different from 2021 Kelsey. I’m still goal oriented and passionate. I have a great capacity to work when my mission is clear and true. Of course I’ve grown up quite a bit ~ there’s nothing quite so sobering as being personally in charge of the safety and well being of other adults. I’m a little more “put together” and my professionalism extends so that I only use 1–2 emojis per email (😇). But the greater story is what transpired between the two photos. Coaching, leadership, development, frustration, and perseverance lead to a better version of myself. I was personally and professionally refined by a handful of great leaders and my own trial-by-fire experience throughout the years.

So how’s it going you ask ? I think that smile that stuck around from then to now provides more than enough evidence that it is going great. Thanks for asking !