I admit, there was a second where, as the introduction was read, I thought: “Hey this person is doing a lot of work like I do, that’s funny.” But then it dawned on me, the person reading the description was my manager’s manager, my director; wait, was that suggestion from my manager that I ‘be sure to be at the all-hands on Monday’ more than just a pull for team turn-out at the big conference facility…”

And there it was, I was called up, I shook hands with people whose names I read in the industry press. I had a photo taken and was given a sharp-looking certificate and a new Flip camera UltraHD (Cisco owns Flip). I was lucky enough to be sitting next to my friend Jason who’s known me, at work, for 8 years now. It was really nice to be among so many friends and smiling faces. I got a lot of congratulations (not to be confused with the ‘alot of congratulations’) thereafter and it felt really good to know that people in the organization think I do good work, that I make a difference.

What more could make a Type-A happy?

After the meeting was over I went back to my building, back to my desk and opened the email box and I found dozens of congratulatory emails waiting. One of my co-workers said something so awesome to me it made my week (possibly my year).

[The award is] for those who Collaborate, Learn, Execute, Accelerate, and Disrupt. I think you did all of them and it is a well deserved award.

I have to say that while meeting the senior leaders was great, knowing that my peers think I add something to their every-day world, made me feel so appreciated I can only be humbly silent.

I’ve never been a team captain or the guy who made the 3-pointer at the buzzer, but today I knew the truth that they always say at the end of the championship: it’s not about me, it was the team that made it happen. Those wonderful people I work with who tolerate my questions and ignorance are the reason I happened to have had a bit of glory today. I thank them for their esteem.

]]> http://stevengharms.com/a-special-day-at-work/feed 0 http://stevengharms.com/i-believe-in-crystal-light http://stevengharms.com/i-believe-in-crystal-light#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:36:32 +0000 steven http://stevengharms.com/i-believe-in-crystal-light At my megacorp we now have Crystal Light in the breakroom. These ‘single use’ crystal packs are to be added to bottled water ( boo bottled water! ) so that instead of having another bullet of brown sludge you can have a nice lemonade.

I, for one, welcome this change.

In that spirit, I provide an advertiser’s wet dream by repeating this mantra:

“I believe in crystal light / I believe in me.”

I’m still on California time, so it’s almost 2am and the conference starts at 9. Ugh.

I’m going to head to bed now, after I brush my teeth.

So far what I’ve seen of it leads me to the following statements:

• It’s hotter here than in Austin. I’m going to remember that next time some Trinangle-r asks me about the weather in ATX.
• It has beautiful trees and space like Texas, this is something I missed in the golden state.
• There’s a hint of Georgia about what I’ve seen so far, and I did like Georgia.

My old boss ( we now have intersecting interests in town this week ) sent me an email and we’re going to go out and maybe catch up a little.

Upon arrival to my parking lot I saw another doe and a baby fawn crossing the lot.

“Humans! They’re not supposed to be here this early!”.

I’ll try to remember to put my camera in the car so that I can get a photo.