Coming Up

"Coming up" could mean a foreshadowing of events, such as telling you right now that I have been really busy these past few months. "Coming up" could also literally mean an escalation of a phase in life, to which I'm also foreshadowing.

So I haven't posted in a while. I've been busy.

November through March had been really tough months for our team, especially since there were a lot of code changes that would impact specifically the product area I handled. There were also slow days, where I got to take more time to myself, not really trying to be a linchpin. I didn't help out others as much during those times, as it was not my responsibility, after all. Though I could have, and that would have made a difference.

Sometimes I guess you just need some time to breathe.

I guess these were also the thoughts of the technical lead, who resigned and left the company on January 1. This was troublesome for the team, as now several people would have to chip in to fulfill the tasks of the missing person. An opening for the role finally came in March, and management was looking for a replacement.

At first no one dared step up, not even me. I don't really want to brag. I mean there are others who would be qualified to take the role. But really looking at it, I really seemed like the most qualified -- I knew the product area, I knew the process, and I loved the type of work that the role would be doing. I was reluctant at first, but seeing that I could use the promotion money for my family, I applied. Yes, it may not be the linchpin way to think about the money, as it just really follows. But realistically, I was already feeling a bit depressed that i couldn't give my family what they deserve, and that my amortization rates would go up this year. So I applied for the money. 

During the interview process, they never told me how much of a salary increase I would get if I were to take the role, until after all the interviews get completed, the selected candidate identified, and the offer extended. I don't mean to brag. But I believed I was really the best candidate, and that the interview would just be a formality, and that I would be chosen. I was right.

My second child was on the way, and I couldn't start work immediately. After my paternity leave, I was onboarded, and I started thinking of ways I would do the work of a technical lead. I created my own saved search, which could help out with speeding up case resolution. Then 2 weeks later, I was asked to be part of a project that covers the entire regular customer support line of business (having to do with analytics), and also cover another product area, which would total me handling 19 other people directly.Already so much is being asked of me because management knows I am multi-skilled in CRM, SuiteBuilder, and Analytics. Yes, I have tasks in each of the subjects I am an expert in. It's quite heavy, but so far bearable. My SuiteBuilder tasks are just temporary by the way. Management is concerned enough that they don't want to give me too much to handle. Or maybe they're just concerned that each area wouldn't get enough of me (haha). And yes, I agree with the people that already told me. I should get an even bigger raise.

It's been a few weeks since I started in the role, and it is exhausting. I now have to, more than before, deal with people that don't want to take things off your plate, even though they should (and are assigned to do so). In any case, I still get to do the work I want to do, which is helping others in their technical concerns, and more - training, leading, projects, etc. I can say that this step-up to becoming an even greater linchpin has been fulfilling thus far.

While that's what's next for me, I continue planning on sharpening the axe. My thoughts for meditation are, one, how do I automate my new tasks in a way no one has done before? And, two, how do I work/ship even quicker? Perhaps I should read Blink again. I should pick up a thing or two from that book.