Need to Get Away?

Less than 2 years ago my work environment was so “toxic” it made me feel ill.  No, it didn’t have harmful chemicals spilling out all around.  What I mean by toxic is that the negativity of the management (1 person) created a very stressful, quarrelsome and disengaging work environment, office and laboratory for me (and 2 others).  I’ll call him, the management, “The P.I.”.  The P.I. wanted everything to be out of balance.  Why you ask?  I have yet to understand.  He would pit employee against employee by talking about us in private with other employees.  He would spy on us as if we were not to be trusted.  He complained about out work ethic and used meetings to berate us in front of each other.  As you can imagine, we were miserable at work.  Just to add a little more perspective.  A previous employee of The P.I. had a heart attack and is now considered disabled. He worked with The P.I for over 5 years. Yet, another employee (he had been with The P.I for approximately 8 years before I started there) had suffered and survived a cancerous brain tumor. Needless to say, this environment was affecting me and my family life.  I was so stressed and depressed that I neglected taking care of myself.  I was not exercising, I was using wine to dull the pain and had gained over 20lbs.  I felt miserable and stuck!

I  Vowed Not to be The Next Victim.

Although I knew that I had my mentors’ support, they really questioned why their colleague would behave in such a manner.  They probably thought that some of the situations that I described were incredible.  I knew that I had to leave this environment.  I prayed that I would see an opportunity to move into a better laboratory.  Within a month’s time, two things happened. 

1.  I explained my situation to my mentors and they used their network to help me seek different options. 

2.  Valerie Young of ChangingCourse (www.ChangingCourse.com) came to speak at my place of employment on her newly entitled book The Impostor Syndrome.  The results of these two events were that I moved to a  much better laboratory, and I received training as an Outside the Job Box Career Expert with Valerie Young.

Your Agenda or Mine?

In hindsight, It is kind of funny to think about the antics that he designed and how much effort The P.I. put into sabbotaging our research efforts especially since we were really working to move his agenda forward.  But it was this traumatic experience that pushed me to start a business where my agenda could be at the forefront.  It helped me realize that I had real talents and interests in different areas that I had neglected.  It made me realize that I was ready to pursue my dream of Entrepeneurship as an Outside the Job Box Career Expert!

My business as an OJB Career Expert allows me to help women in similar circumstances to overcome their circumstances and begin living the life that they design.  I know that this is a very empowering stance.  And it makes me feel so good to able to give support to people that are determined to change their circumstances, live a joyful life and work smart to meet their goals.

With Ideas in Mind,

Rosalyn
Idea Transformer and Dreambuilder
Rosalyn@CreativeCareerLab.com