Well! In my last post I declared I was going to put my hot iron to good use and brand the very a$$ of my fears and adversaries. Ha! I did not know how I was going to do this, or when, but for some reason I felt the opportunity could be coming my way soon. Everywhere I looked, from a bus stop sign, my daily reading and even the dark horse of my office; all I could hear was “take courage”, “do not fear” and “you are too polite, sometimes you are just going to have to come across as disrespectful because that’s your job!” Well, the last point was expressed in much stronger words than I am willing to write here; but I am sure you get the picture and what ever your interpretation, if it works for you then so be it.
Actually my colleagues struck a big cord right there when describing that I need to be more assertive; aggressive in some instances. They asked me not to let my culture get in my way. This is something I have spoken about before when it comes to issues of culture and up bringing. My dark horse colleague said to me, “I know where you come from you are taught to be respectful and submissive because you are a woman, young and men rule, but don’t let that get in the way of what you need to deliver. Rock on girl and do what you have to do because this is why you have this job!”
Well! Who would have thought huh? This left me with a lot to muse about in my thoughts. Time came for me to speak up in the face of adversity only a day or two later. I spoke up! I kept calm and held myself together and after all was said and done, I got a welcomed pat on my back for standing up for myself, and in some ways, an apology for all my past griefs when I knew I was right but never spoke up or had the sort of support I needed.
I will leave it at that. I have learned over the past 18 months that there is a limit to what one divulges in the public domain, so that is all you are hearing from me before I say too much!
