HI everyone!
This blog today is being actually WRITTEN about 5 months after my last blog, as opposed to my last blog being POSTED in July. I was in Roatan late Feb to early March…now I have been back at work for about 5 months, so first, as I write this current blog: a) I am less than 3 months from my retirement date now (YEAH!), and b) this blog and going forward will be written from the perspective of final preparations for actual retirement, and observations about myself and others in this time frame of final preparation for the big “R”!!
First, it is interesting to note how my perspective is different today, in July, even compared to that from being in Roatan. More experiences, actual announcement at work that I will retire in October, finalizing a few of the nitty gritty details, all makes this now EXTREMELY REAL! EXCITING, though I will admit, a little bit scary!
When I got back from Roatan, it was very much “business as usual” at work. I hadn’t finalized my actual retirement date yet, but my team knew it was coming up this year. We devised a plan for me to work with my successor, someone I had been working with for a few years already, to train with me to take over my job duties. From my return through June, we have really only been able to meet once a week for me to do a “download” of overall information. That has been necessary and good but was only really in preparation for her to actually “do” the work. She is still in deep throes of fulfilling her current job obligations, so time is limited. However, it is getting pretty real now; we have worked together on a few items, so she is starting to get her feet wet. She gets copied on everything and is getting to know the teams I work with, so that is all good. She will do great, and that is a relief to me, knowing I am leaving it all in good hands. Plus, she will have support from our larger team as well till she gets HER successor up and running!
A job posting was made to backfill for her position, and interviews have started. Hoping to find the right fit soon, so I can help her train that new position, AND get more in detail on training her for mine.
Lots of balls in the air!
With all of that, my team has been very supportive, very happy for me, but sad to see me go. I have been blessed with a wonderful team of co-workers! While I am definitely ready to leave the stress of the actual job behind, I will miss the people a lot! I want to leave them all as prepared as possible…and it has all been part of our team goals during this year. The new person in my job and her successor will put their own mark on things, which is a good thing, but of course, they all need to understand where to start! LOL!
Such is part of these final realities for me!
More observations and realities for me next time. For now, take care!
Mary