One Step Backwards Two Steps Forward

I have wanted to write this article for a long time and was encouraged to do so lately.

There have been times in my life that taking a step backwards has meant that I have moved forward in some profound way. It has taught me that taking losing some ground actually made me gain ground overall. It has taught be to look long term rather than short term.

In my teens, my family doctor at the time recommended that I either take up some sport or take up a musical instrument to improve my young lung capacity. I was playing guitar a lot at the time, but obviously that was not going to help. I took up Australian Rules football and joined a local club. For weeks, I trained a few nights a week with the team (mainly running a lot of laps) and was picked to play a few games. My father watched me train and came with me to the games to encourage me. My last game I played with them I earned my first salary but acting as a substitute boundary umpire. I figured out that my career with the team was limited. Luckily at the time my high school ran a music program where you could rent out an instrument and play in the local school band. I took up clarinet (really I wanted to play saxophone but they were all gone) and it was the best few years of school. I gained a greater appreciation of music, which I still carry today. I made a lot of new friends and got to play in places you could only imagine. Those included, the back of a mine sweeper, the Sidney Myer Music bowl, numerous competitions and even an afternoon playing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Concert hall. This was my first example of stepping back and moving forward. I never regretted the decision and benefitted from it. By the way, I recently started playing guitar again to rekindle my first love of music.

My next experience was life altering. I completed high school but due to bad days at my final exams, I just failed two of my key subjects. Those days exams were what defined you, not what you did during the year. If you had a bad day, you were screwed. While I had enough points to get a university entry, it meant I effectively did not complete enough of my secondary education. I was accepted to a university degree but I did not feel complete. I made a key decision. I deferred my university degree for a year and enrolled in a Tertiary Orientation Program. It was the same as the last year of high school but more like a university in its attitude. It meant I could explore subjects I wanted to do rather than those chosen for me. It was a breath of fresh air for me. I dropped things I hated and chose subjects new and exciting (including computing and biology). In that year, I made new friends, I discovered my life passion in computing, and the pressure was off me. I had a place in university and I could excel in what I wanted and I jumped at that possibility. Also the course prepared me for life at university in ways you could not imagine. I remember the university admissions clerk telling me I was stupid to defer but it was worth it. I found university so much easier and was able to excel. This was a great example of taking a step back and making the best of it.

My next one was at work. I got a job at the local telco. The pay was lower than the market rate but my career prospects were excellent and training was abundant at that time. I rose through the ranks in various projects and ended up in a prime technical role in one of the units of the company. My executive boss at the time moved to a new project for the company and I was offered his executive role for a trial period. While I liked the new responsibilities and team, I felt it was not for me when the senior executive offered me the role full time. I felt I would be better served back at my old job. Again, stepping back was the best decision. I was able to refine my consulting skills and my new boss became a mentor to me showing me new techniques and new skills I still use today. It was a satisfying experience for me. I would of stayed on in the role but the writing was on the wall for the group and I really had satisfied all my goals for the job. I moved to SPL WorldGroup, which Oracle bought in 2007 and never looked back. I put all those skills to good use in my new role and am now a Product Manager.

The last example is a very personal one. I was diagnosed with cancer (leukaemia) in 2016. A truly horrid year for my family with my father and my father in law passing away as well as my cancer treatment. I remember the old doctor coming to me in the emergency room and without taking a breath telling me "You have cancer. It is curable. You will need 5 months of treatment. It will change your life". All of those statements held true. Over the treatment period, I realized life is too short and that I would try and learn from the experience rather than just mope around. I would worry less, work within my limits, and enjoy my life more. I changed my attitude and outlook on life. I also found that when I was finally in permanent remission, I had a new spark of inspiration that has driven me these last few years.

I suppose out of all this I wanted to make a point. We are always looking forward and ignoring situations that might push us back. I embrace the situations that push me back as they tend to push me even further. I recently heard a presentation where the presenter stated, "Sometimes it is important to look at things from a 3048 meter perspective" (3,048 m = 10,000 ft).

Enjoy life.