My 2024 in Review: Excellence and Community Still Win

It’s hard to believe I started the year looking at the wrong side of a PIP. But the best comeback stories start from the bottom.

I was in my first formal performance review after 2 years of being my last employer. We had a decent working relationship so far, but my new manager and the incoming HR manager weren’t sure what to do with me.

That’s a scary position when struggling to support my family.

Yes, I take responsibility for not putting in discretionary effort. And moping about a salary that was 20% below market rates didn’t help my cause.

But I wasn’t going to wrestle with my last manager to let me do the job they hired me for, either. Long story short: he tried to run all the big projects himself while managing the department…until his health gave out.

Back at the review, I had little to show for my time. But also not many opportunities to prove myself. The reality was startling enough for me to call other project managers I was working with so I could plan to hand off my workload if things went any further south.

Shot at Redemption

Then, an opportunity did happen. My new manager went out for surgery and I was tasked to run part of the department. I had two options: merely keep things running until he came back, or make the improvements the last manager wouldn’t.

Never waste a good opportunity, right?

So I took over the morning meetings with the crew. I found chances to take my technicians out to vendor events to see how new tools could improve our service level. I even had to issue discipline and let someone go.

Meanwhile, projects from my normal job were still executing. My team was able to turn over a new packaging system to the operators, even with a lot of delays and fine tuning. I got a new chiller installed despite miscommunications between vendors. And equipment I earmarked from shuttered plants was making its way to the production floor.

Things seemed to look up by the middle of the year. Then I had to review goals with the plant manager.

Another Chance?

Remember what I told you about the lack of formal reviews? Well, that carried over into frustration on his part when he realized there weren’t any goals to review. We had to reschedule, but not before I told him the rest of the situation.

A couple weeks later, I was back in his office with the HR manager again. They had a raise in hand this time, but not a good answer on how to close the rest of the gap with the market.

“We all wish we could make more money,” the plant manager said. “But we will keep an eye out for opportunities, even if they’re not here.”

At this point, I lost the will to describe how much I had to dig into savings for the privilege of working there. And this was a company that prides itself on their associates bringing their whole selves to work.

But he at least gave me an honest answer. The opportunities I needed weren’t there and I appreciated the transparency.

Making the Best of It

So what could I do in the meantime? Continue executing with excellence. No one was going to hire a slouch. And how would I adjust to the work cadence at a new job with the right challenge?

I kept looking for opportunities inside and outside the company. I checked in regularly with an accountability group focused on my success. And I kept asking mentors for input on what the next step could be.

It led to building a lot of relationships, growing my marketing clientele, and stretching into advising startups. And other job opportunities came up that didn’t fit, but were worth applying to for the practice. All while still building my team’s competencies and executing on more projects.

And you know what? The hard work paid off.

Right after the lights came back on from Hurricane Helene, I applied at a place where I interviewed before and was turned down. The interviewer told me he was thrilled to have me applying to this position where a senior engineer could retire soon.

An hour after I left the plant, I had a much better offer. One that afforded me enough resources for my family.

What a turnaround for the year!

What Will 2025 Bring?

So what does that mean for you for next year?

If you’re stuck and need to make a change:

• Keep executing at your normal job with excellence
• Know what level of change you need to live the life you want
• Stretch yourself with new challenges
• Find an accountability group or a good coach to get you to the next level

Here’s to a great end for 2024 for you and a prosperous 2025!

Are you curious how an accountability group can help you? I and many others who use Tom Woods’ School of Life have had great personal and professional breakthroughs this year.

Learn more through the button below. I look forward to seeing you there!

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