By Katrice

Actually, the title should read the last two weeks in hair. It's the eve of my wash day and I was scrolling through my IG timeline and realized that, though I always feel so uncreative with my hair, I actually wore a gamut of styles the last two weeks. Hm. Go me. 

By Katrice

Today I read a statement in my Twitter timeline that caused me to stop for a few minutes. Someone I follow tweeted that next year this time or not long after they will no longer be working on "this plantation." And I immediately said to myself, 'yes, you will.' 

It's not the first time I've seen or heard someone refer to the company they work for as a plantation and it's not the first time I found it in poor taste. But, today, it struck me because I've been thinking a great deal about perspective for the past few months. And so, I realize the reason it always bothers me is because I believe the person is missing the point of where they are in the moment; I dare say their perspective is a bit murky.

This afternoon, when I stopped I thought back to all the positions I've had throughout my career — since receiving my bachelor's degree. I won't go over my course now, as I've written about it here before ... But, I will say the path was winding and involved quite a few of what I considered, at a time, valleys. I'm saying this now and in response to the tweet today because I believe so much of what I've been able to accomplish professionally was because I looked into every stop along the way for an opening to "next" — from my first position as a stringer at the local newspaper to working as a desk clerk at the YMCA a few years later. Of note, I worked at the YMCA for nearly a year after receiving my master's degree and with six years experience as a journalist. You could call my former supervisor from the Y today and, I assure you, she would say that I was one of the best desk workers she ever had there, and I'm not bragging. What I'm telling you is that yes! I wanted a better job ... one actually in my career field and one that paid better and one that I didn't feel like I had to explain to everyone who came through the door and knew either that I'd just graduated with an advanced degree or simply that they'd read my byline as a beat reporter for several years. I wanted to be working in a position that my two degrees earned me. I digress, you get my point. Even with all of that, I worked like I was the CEO of the YMCA because no matter where I was working, I never wanted to be mediocre. Zechariah 4:10 says, despise not small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin ... 

I feel as if I've written this post a hundred times here (I have written about this subject a few times) and I'm okay with that because I don't believe it can be said enough that the way you do anything is the way you'll do everything. Keep the right perspective.

Whatever you're doing, be excellent. Be so excellent that you work yourself out of that position and that company; It's possible. Be humble ... You're not too good for what you're doing. If you think you are, step away because there are so many others who need that job. Understand that every station along the way is a place of cultivation. Be deliberate about finding something there that will be useful where you're trying to go. Consider even your setbacks motivation; Setbacks are proof that you're making attempts at progress. Give. Sow what you want to reap (and everyone doesn't need to know what you're sowing). Be kind. Attitude is half the battle. Learn to encourage yourself. So many times, people won't understand where you are and they won't be able to imagine where you're trying to go. But, your dreams are your responsibility so toughen up. 

And always, always keep going. Little becomes much with the right perspective.

By Katrice