Almost 8 months into my fellowship I can’t say everything has been perfect but I also can’t complain. Moving abroad and starting a new routine in a foreign country can be extremely challenging, especially in a city like New York (my fellow New Yorkers definitely know what I’m talking about) but I’ve also come to realize not everyone runs with the same luck.
Starting new tasks and putting my experience to the test while learning new processes were things I never reflected on while starting this experience, but that has allowed me to run at the same pace as my colleagues in the organization. So, while reaching that mark when it’s time to decide to give it a few more months or end things in the estimated time I realized I was left feeling like I am actually thriving. I’m learning, I’m developing skills, and I feel engaged and extremely motivated to give my best in the assignments given to me. Sadly, talking to some of my peers, that reality wasn’t the same in their own journeys, and that is something no one can predict.
While this meant a sooner goodbye for some and definitely raised some feelings of sadness and disappointment because obviously, I will be missing them, I do hope they’ve taken advantage of this opportunity and taken home with them some of the great experiences, memories, and learnings through several workshops and events we attended together, but I understand circumstances are different for everyone.
For a while, I truly felt guilty for having such a good relationship with my host organization, which also happens to be originally from my home country but again, how could I predict that? And then decided to refrain from cheering and celebrating this accomplished momentum to everyone’s eyes. It also resonated in me this article about quiet quitting, as a great number of people feel completely disconnected from their workplace and simply stop putting in the effort to improve. That term, used over and over in social media these past few months, made me realize that quiet thriving is also a thing, the complete opposite.
While a possible recession coming after the pandemic life, inflation, and massive layoffs in several industries are taking over the US and the world, feeling excited and motivated to commit to your own job and career can feel like being selfish or petty to others. I decided I won’t allow the massive wave of pessimism and despair to take over me, and become a drag to my mentality. If like me, this is your case too, let me give you a couple of tips to keep not just quietly thriving but feel free to enjoy it in your personal way:
- Set an intention: Enjoying your work can be more than just a blessing, it can be a ladder to achieve one or many, of your biggest goals or dreams. If you ever wanted to become a CEO or start your own company, take advantage of the opportunity and focus on making this happen step by step. Ask your boss to connect you with other organizations or introduce you to some of his/her connections that can help you take steps toward the direction you want.
- Build your own network or group of friends: Your coworkers are just as excited about work as you are, that is what I call great timing. Take advantage of that and connect somewhere outside the office, get to know them, let them get to know you, and share things you have in common. There is no better place to know people who share your mentality and drive than work.
- Define rules for improvement: Don’t apply the “Fix it even if it’s not even broken” mantra. Something’s work as they are, don’t waste energy on overworking yourself, you’ll burn. Focus on actual things that need attention and bettering, give your input, and involve other people in the team, don’t take all the credit.
But what if I’m not thriving? Is that a bad thing? If expectations for some reason didn’t meet reality and it’s out of your control? Don’t worry about it, I also have some tips for you.
- Find one thing: Something you really love or something you’ve learned and specialize in it. A new skill, a project, an assignment, give your all to it and make it the star of your fellowship. Don’t center your sight on the negative, those things that didn’t work out or that made you feel stuck, remember the grass always looks greener from a different perspective.
- Take advantage of resources: I’m not saying bring a batch of coffee from the office to your apartment every day, but look into possible connections or events that can benefit you, either from your work or host organization, partners, or the city you live in. Sign up for networking events or even volunteer in local charities, you never know which ties you can develop while experiencing something new or fun.
- Share (and receive) feedback: If your journey wasn’t as smooth as you hoped, share in a polite and clear way with your supervisor or boss why or what made you feel that way. Honesty always goes a long way, so don’t be afraid to suggest or highlight things that can be done better, and be grateful to have a safe space to communicate your thoughts.
Loud or not (your choice) try to make the best of every open door and remember why you embarked on this journey in the first place. Success can definitely mean something different to all of us, but when you feel proud of yourself and how far you’ve come with your objectives, don’t be afraid to share it because the Atlas Corps community will be there to celebrate with you, myself included.
Hoping for many more positive outcomes and happy endings in the near future for all current and new fellows coming!
