20 May 21 – Have you ever been in a situation that seemed too good to be true? Many times. Have you ever been in a situation that was so good that it didn’t seem real? Many times. Have you ever been in a situation that seemed too good to be true that was actually real? I have, and I currently am.

For twenty-five years, I worked in places where everyone was out for themselves. Everyone was always out for themselves and only cared about making themselves look good. It didn’t seem to matter where I worked, who I worked for or who I worked with – I always found self-serving people that made my life miserable. The passive-aggressive personalities were everywhere.

If you’ve read any of my blog posts, you know that I have set really high standards for myself. Although I do not hold others to the same standards, I have a tendency to go into every situation expecting excellence. When people don’t do what they are supposed to do or do it but not to the necessary standards, I have never been someone who can just sit and let things go; I have to redo it or help it reach my standards. If my name is associated with it, then I want it to be the best it can be. Throughout my work life, I have found that everyone has different standards and that I can’t do it all myself, so sometimes I have to settle for good enough.

I have had many jobs in my life.

The jobs in the left-hand column were fine and caused me no real issues. Except for babysitting, they all lasted a year or less. Those in the right-hand column are a different story. I loved each of them for different reasons, but they all frustrated me for the same reasons. In each case, some people cared only about themselves and not about what was best for the project. When people act that way, they cause various issues. They cause division with coworkers because they care so much about making themselves look good that they are willing to throw others under the bus and take credit for things they had nothing to do with. Further, management holds everyone to different standards and often, there is no accountability. I worked like this for twenty-five years because I figured that was what it was like everywhere.

In February of 2020, I started helping a boutique marketing firm with their proofing. I worked about 5 to 7 hours a week, and everyone I had contact with in the company was so pleasant and easy to work with. When I decided in January 2021 that I was going to change my life, I asked the owner if she had a place for me full-time. She did, and I went to work for her full-time in February 2021. CH and her company have changed everything for me, including my perspective on the workplace. I now work as a jack of all trades. I do a little bit of everything. I proof, write, build websites and create social media posts and work reputation management. During all of this, I am learning about the processes and ways we can become more efficient. It is a wonderful job.

Like every company I have ever worked for, this one has core values. The difference, this company and everyone who works for it lives by these core values. These values include: NO client is more important than anyone on our team; It’s not about us, it’s about serving others; we value meaningful work; we try, we make mistakes, we learn from our mistakes; we are a team, always! I have only been full-time for three months but this team is incredible. Each person embodies these values every day. I see it.

I have become so cynical that when a team member thanks me for something I have done, I wonder if they are being sarcastic. That’s all on me because they are truly thanking me. Everyone accepts comments as just that and not criticism. Everyone does great work and does it efficiently. I have NEVER felt like I needed to do something to fix others’ work or that I needed to step in to be sure something got done. Everyone on this team holds themselves to a higher standard. I have never felt so appreciated or so valued. I also have never felt so unneeded. Unneeded not because I don’t do good work or have value, unneeded because everyone steps up when necessary and everyone is fully capable. This job is a blessing on so many levels. This job is not only real but it is real good.