Today I celebrated my one year work anniversary as a project manager with a local sign company that works with several major national retail companies. The past year has been very challenging as I’ve adjusted to a new job in a new industry. It’s a fast-paced environment, and there’s a lot of new elements and responsibilities that I'm still getting used to—even a year later. My new role has really pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’ve learned a lot about myself. When embarking on a new journey like this, it can be very overwhelming for awhile as I adjust. It can be easy to get swept away by all of the information and responsibilities.
I’m a perfectionist and a people pleaser to a fault. In recent months, I’ve realized (in my personal life) that I often do whatever I can to appease or impress other people to avoid conflict, disappointment, or any negative reaction. What I’m learning is I need to give myself more credit for learning a lot of new things at once. I need to recognize my talents and strengths. Becoming more confident in myself and my abilities will help me more than the focusing on the downside. As a perfectionist, I often criticize myself—personally and professionally—instead of building myself up and recognizing what I do well. I’ve learned that I need to be more patient with myself and extend myself some grace to make mistakes or not get something perfect on the first try.
As a first-time project manager, I’ve been challenged in new ways and put to the test in many ways this year. I won’t sugarcoat it: it's been a difficult year. Professionally, I’ve been challenged in ways I’ve never been before and I’m learning something new everyday that makes me better at my job. Over the past year, I’ve learned so much about myself in a personal sense too; adjusting to a new job and environment is never easy especially when my mental health is struggling. Nevertheless, I’ve achieved a lot this year. I’m really grateful to be at a company that pushes me to grow while also supporting me every step of the way. Being welcomed by peers and leaders who mentor you is truly a wonderful feeling. I can’t wait to grow even more in the sign industry!