You are You. You are not Your Job.

I recently received an SOS from a colleague. For a moment, I had a flashback to 2011, when I made a similar call to a trusted colleague finding myself in a similar, very emotional and distressful situation.

My colleague had been recruited to a company, which she served well. She is an accountant, and the company utilized her throughout the tax season. She was participating in projection meetings for the upcoming fiscal year, and even though she had shared with me how off the rails things were for her she was completely blindsided.  

Why? After mistreating her for the entire time that she was in their employ, and being rewarded with her working overtime and trying to calm the waters, they called her in at the end of the day projecting the next fiscal year's forecasts and abruptly dismissed her.

Having experienced this first-hand I can share how disempowering, and how debilitating this is. At the lowest point for me, I actually made the decision to simply end everything. Permanently. Prior to this event, I was the person who always thought that anyone who resorted to that was selfish, self-absorbed, and a terrible person all around.

As with so many other lessons I've learned in my life, I had to stand in that space, occupy those shoes, and after living through it, simply through the grace of God and divine intervention, rethink everything. I was not selfish that terrible day. I was so disconnected, so alienated, and in such a place of desperation, I simply lost all perspective and truly thought that not being around anymore would be the best thing for not only myself but for everyone else. I will always be so thankful to the friend and colleague who knew something was amiss with me that dark day and came to my home to find me and save my life.

I wrote a book about it. I was terrified to release it as I thought it demonstrated weaknesses and would scar my reputation. I was wrong.

I cannot count how many people have shared that it resonated with them. Including the colleague, I referenced in this post. And for me? If it helps one person along with their journey that is the reason why I wrote the memoir.

Employers, take note! There is never a reason to be so disrespectful to employees or to take lightly the decisions you make regarding their positions and ability to take care of their financial responsibilities. Absent dangerous or criminal behavior, there is never, ever any reason to treat anyone with such disregard and disrespect.

Employees, take note! You are not your job. I once was at a very low point, where I internalized being treated so badly, and even went to the place where I thought, "Even as bad as XXXXX is, they STILL don't want me!"  That is because I was not supposed to be there. Remember that. Are you supposed to be where you are? If not, there are avenues to change the course of your life. You are you. You are not your job. Remember that if you find yourself in a negative situation. You don't lose your skill sets and abilities because you switch positions. Your sum total is so much greater than the position you currently hold. Or ever will hold. Embrace who you are. Look up. The daybreak is coming.