Promise: My Performance Review

"Mommy, Who is God's PROMISE to us?" Edward asked me one day. I replied rather hesitantly, "Jesus?" His eyes glowed, "Good job!" I couldn't help but smile in pure wonder. My five-year old just quizzed me on the advent wreath! If this is what he's learning in Kindergarten, then all the sacrifice is definitely well worth it!

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I had my annual performance review at work, when a ray of PROMISE shone upon me. First my boss asked me to self-evaluate. I told him, "I can honestly say, sitting on this same chair last year, that I know more now than I did then. Back then, I was working more on the administrative area. So it's been very interesting so far because I've learned a lot about the insurance side of the business."

He then asked me what I enjoyed the most about my job. This was when I took a moment to really, really look within. I was thankful that my thoughts and feelings were even considered at this evaluation! The inner teacher in me was screaming out! So, I told my boss that I loved training our new team members, creating a "curriculum-based" training program, organizing, and meeting with them on a regular basis to talk about work flow... and that I also liked the client contact because I get to know our clients better (they are not just names in our database anymore)!

That said, my boss went on with his evaluation on me. I got "good grades" and I was happy. But what really got me was when he highlighted the fact that I enjoyed "staff education, training, and development" and he encouraged me to take some management courses! I was psyched! He also gave his pitch on why it was important for me to learn the investment side of the business: it was after all, the core of our business... and if I were to train and manage new staff, I better know about it!

So I praised God upon this enlightenment! Up until that moment, I couldn't make sense of why I should be involved in the investment side, when two other team members (that includes my sister) had been handling it all along. So at the end of the evaluation, when my boss and I were setting my 2008 Goals in relation to our team, I didn't hesitate (like I'd always done) when one of the goals was to get cracking with the investment exam that I needed to take.

"We all gotta find our niche in this office," he said. That day, I finally did!

Dear God, I praise and thank You for giving me a ray of promise at my workplace. Thank You for giving me a boss, who is very considerate and supportive of what I am truly passionate about. And thank You for Your even greater Promise: Kuya in my life!