To My Fabulous Colleagues – THANK YOU!

I truly believe the wireless mouse was invented so people at work had one less thing to hang themselves with.
- Mike Vanatta

I’ve been self-employed for many years and in the process there have been many contracts. By and large I’ve worked remotely and made myself available for meetings in order to avoid the ugliness of the corporate world which quite frankly offends me to my core. Watching corporate animals trying to destroy each other for career advancement makes my blood run cold. I’ve spent a lifetime believing that every human being deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and as a result I’ve avoided the corporate jungle.

Eighteen months ago I began a new contract in a major corporation. I needed the cooperation of others to get my job done so I spent more time onsite than I normally would. Amidst the swirling winds of corporate intrigue, the team that I landed in was like Fantasy Island - an oasis of calm where people liked and respected each other and came to your aid before you even knew you needed it. My manager is the most wonderful you could imagine – a human being of the highest order who is somehow able to survive among the corporate vultures nipping at her heels. She sincerely has the best interests of her staff at heart and her modus operandi is to encourage and nurture, bringing out the best in everyone - totally contrary to the common corporate practice of “rule by fear; divide and conquer”.

As a contractor, I’ve always worked alone, until now. I was fortunate enough to begin a collaboration and friendship with a U.S. colleague that transcends the border and will continue after I’ve walked away from this contract. One of the happiest parts of my week were our Wednesday afternoon video chats where we discussed our business at hand (yes, we really did get our work done) and then chatted about anything and everything under the sun. Thanks to video we were able to play “show and tell” with our latest shopping acquisitions, hairdos and nail polish colours. I think I’ll miss these video chats most of all!

Over the last year and a half I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and becoming friends with my Toronto colleagues. We all share a love of travel and enjoy a variety of ethnic cuisines. I love seeing the photos of our resident world traveler who with his family sets off to exotic locales. I am definitely “shopping simpatico” with one of my colleagues; we share a love of bargain hunting. And I adore our resident free spirit who moves through life in her own special way. She lights up the room every time she walks in. I love learning about all of their lives and hearing about the latest additions – in this case it was an adorable puppy. Regrettably my time has been too short with my U. S. colleagues but I’ve enjoyed working with each of you and the time we spent together.

A few nights ago my manager was in town and 9 of us went out for my farewell dinner. I’ve never had a farewell dinner before so this was all new to me. It was at my favourite French Bistro. Quite frankly, I’m still a little stunned. They had cards and gifts for me with lovely notes from all of my colleagues on both sides of the border and other people in the organization that I’ve worked with. In the past when one of my contracts ended, I just rode off into the sunset without looking back. I realized that next week I’ll be walking away from my contract, but not from my friends. And, I will look back. You have all in your own way enriched my life in ways you can’t even imagine and for that I will be eternally grateful. I guess that all there’s left to say is THANK YOU!

It’s true that hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?
- Ronald Reagan

Make someone smile today.

Geri