Last week, I held my first performance evaluation meeting of the year with myself, and I had a look on my annual and mid-term goals. My list includes various goals related to personal life, learning, health, and of course, work. Among these, the one I'm most eager to achieve is what I call the "Bushmills feeling".
But what exactly is this goal, and why do I consider it to be the Holy Grail?
Last year, I participated in an organized trip to Ireland, where our group visited the oldest whiskey distillery in the country. Circumstances led to the group being split, and I volunteered to translate the factory tour for one of the groups. I thought, "I've done the same many times in ESAB colors, I have experience, let's do this." The factory was stunning, clean, organized, automated, but what impressed me even more was the enthusiasm of our tour guide.
Unfortunately, I don't remember her name; she might have been 28-30 years old, full of energy. Every word she spoke showed knowledge and passion. It was clear she understood every aspect of what she was talking about—the production processes, the products—she was professionally perfect, and on top of that, she loved what she did and was incredibly proud of representing that centuries-old facility. She was incredibly professional, kind, and her positive energy practically swept the whole team off their feet.
As I observed her, I pondered how great it must be to work like that—to feel competent, accepted, recognized, to love what you do, and to be proud of it. And then it hit me, that I knew this feeling, I had it once when I led factory tours long ago, and compared to that, how I've been struggling for months now. I definitely cannot see a similar energy, when I look in the mirror 😫
I usually keep hoping for things to improve for quite some time; and I need moments like these gut punches to get me moving. Since then, I've been working on to find my way, and although I have still many open questions, but one of my main goals is to keep going until I rediscover that "Bushmills feeling,”. In something or within myself.
I am often told that I am naive, the vast majority of people do not work this way, there is little chance that I will be able to achieve this again. Of course, it is also clear that this is not a constantly present state, but hours and days when it appears, and then the next difficulty comes. But it can be so good, it gives so much energy that it would be a shame not to look for it.😎
Have you been radiating lately?
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