HR Ringleader: Reloaded In 2010

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January 1, 2010

Twenty-ten

It’s not just a new year, it’s a new decade.  Instead of looking back at 2009, I’ve spent some time today looking back at my last decade.  Many things have changed since then, some great and some heartbreaking.  Here’s a brief timeline:

2000- Carefree.  I was working at PwC and having the time of my life.  I was studying diligently in graduate school and had a new puppy at home.  I had the world on a string.

2001- Accomplishment.  My job was going well and I earned my Master’s in HR Management.  My beautiful nephew Nicholas was born and my family was on cloud nine.  I also adopted my 2nd pup, Annie, and she brought such joy to my life.

2002- Humility. Life had been going so well but I learned that I was not likely to have children.  Devistating blow because I had always wanted a big family.

2003- Resilience. This was my monumental year.  We built our 2nd home and moved early in the year.  And, after going through infertility treatments for months, I was blessed to learn I was having twins.  It was also the scariest year because of the difficulty of carrying the twins to term.  I ended the year with two tiny, perfect little babies.  This was the year I learned that miracles really do happen and that family and friends really do mean the world to me.

2004- Sacrifice.  This was my year with little to no sleep.  Seriously.  It was also a year full of all the “firsts” for the babies.  I also enjoyed a flexible work arrangement with PwC and learned that there are companies that really care about their employees.  A real highlight was the birth of my niece, Halle, almost exactly one year after the twins were born.  I also loved that my cousin (and pseudo “big sis”) moved to live by me.

2005 &  2006- Contentment.  These were the years of growth, both at work and at home.  I had some ups and downs, but mostly great times.  I began volunteering as the Family Teams chairperson for the St. Louis March of Dimes. I completely focused on being a great mom and might have lost sight of “me” a bit.

2007- Hope. We bought a new house.  On the day after I learned we sold our house, I was laid off.  I quickly found what it’s like to have the rug pulled out from under you.  I used my time focusing on my family, making my new home wonderful, and rebuilding my career. I landed a new job and learned what it means to be grateful.

2008- Adjustment and Perseverance.  Learning the ropes at a new company after being at the old company for so long was challenging.  I was also adjusting to living in a new suburb with new neighbors.  It was a year of many new friendships.  It was also a year where I had a major health scare and came close to losing my life.  During a “routine” scope procedure, a doctor punctured my esophagus and I nearly died.  It took time in ICU and months on an all liquid diet to begin the healing.

2009- Relationships.  This was a year of extreme highs and lows.  I realized I was unfulfilled and missing something.  I knew it was on a personal level because I craved challenge and self development.  I had spent so many years focusing on everyone else except me.  So, I dove into social media and met some wonderful people.  My gratitude goes to three special people who pulled me in and led me down the path:  Mike Krupa, Steve Boese, and Michael Long.  I learned more about my profession, technology, and relationships in one year than I had in my entire life.  I came out of this year stronger, more self-motivated, and inspired.

So, that brings me to today.  What’s in store?

What I know is that this is my year of RELOADING and I’m  focusing on three things: Learning, Collaborating, and Community. Everything I do will be with those things in mind.  The result I hope to achieve is that by the end of the year I will have some new, tangible relationships and projects I can look back at and be proud of.

If you want to collaborate and have a great idea, hit me in the comments.  Let’s do some great things together!

17 Comments

  • What a great idea! Looking back at your ups and downs has helped crystalize my approach to looking at my year in review and finalizing my personal goals and objectives for 2010.

    I feel like I know you better. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.

  • That is so funny! I have a post on 2010 and collaboration scheduled for the coming week. Looks like we’ll both have a ready partner. 🙂

  • Trish

    This is the best post that I have read in a long time. Thank you for sharing your journey with us over the last 10 year. What an exciting time for you and looking forward to see all your accomplishments over the next 10 Years. I am glad Twitter has connected is.

    Best
    Chernee

  • happy new year, trish. your decade and mine track amazingly well. 2000 – birth of 2nd child and return from UK to US to live. 2001 – move to philly from boston area. 2003 – laid off in a firmwide downsizing and the decision to form my own firm. and so on…in 2010 i’m continuing to focus on the things i isolated about a year ago, after my own retrenchment: learning in various spheres, experimenting and validating, and giving back.

    f

  • Very nice post Trish and thanks for the mention, I think that we all learn from each other when we participate in the discussions and in the community. Have a great 2010!

    • @Peter- You’re right, I would add ‘serving’ too. By participating in the community you have to be willing to serve others. Thanks for commenting.

      @Felix- You’re welcome. I find that by sharing more about who I am and where I come from, readers start sharing more with me and that is how relationships are built. Have a happy 2010.

      @Lisa- I plan to start my year of “UPs” with you my friend!

      @Ben- So many times we are on the same path. That’s why I like you so much.

      @Chernee- So glad we connected too. Hope we are able to meet in 2010.

      @Fran- Sounds like we did have some similar experiences in the last decade. I like how you talk about retrenchment. Learning, experimenting and giving back are definitely the way to go.

      @Steve- You’re welcome. There are so many people on Twitter who make collaboration seem easy. Thanks for being one of those people for me.

  • Thanks for sharing this Trish. I am spending the year looking back on the “first half” of my life and what shaped me to what I am today. You have had more in 10 years! Congrats on such a fulfilling year!

  • What a great post. I’m too old to remember my last 10 years so there! So happy to meet you in 2009 and have our long, long, long cell phone calls in the car. Glad I could help. So for 2010, I’m leaning on you so I can be stronger, more self-motivated, and inspired.

  • What an interesting post! Lots of changes in a decade 😉

    You are doing great things for the industry Trish! Your energy and enthusiasm is contagious!!!

    Congrats on your success and I look forward to great things from you in 2010 and on in to the future!

  • Trish, I admire the incredible amount of openness and vulnerability you shared in this post. No doubt, you are a relationship builder. I would love to meet you this year. ~Karla

  • One of the highlights for me in 2009, with social tech as both the catalyst and vehicle, was the new colleagues (friends-in-process like you) with whom I’ve connected, from whom I’m learning, and with whom I’m hoping to share more of what I know in 2010. The best is yet come!

  • Trish,

    What a great post as I learned so much more about you. You are an amazing woman. I’m looking forward to some collaborating in 2010 for sure!

    Jessica

    @blogging4jobs

Comments are closed.

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About Trish

A former HR executive and HCM product leader with over 20 years of experience.

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