{Compliments}

So, in my career field I'm often left feeling like an idiot. Everyone I work with is extremely smart. A lot of people I work with have degrees but most of us don't (I'm very, very close to finishing mine). Anyway, in my previous career I worked for a financial firm, handling retirement accounts. I was very good, and efficient, at my job.  I knew what I was talking about and doing.  I was the 2nd person people called when they had questions (that's only because the #1 person was my boss who'd been with the company for 20 years). I was extremely confident in my abilities and capabilities.

After 8 years with this company I decided to join the Air Force.  It wasn't a bad decision, I just always knew it was not for me, not after spending 8 years in corporate world.  I spent 6 years in the AF before being offered a job with Lockheed Martin (I was not getting out of the AF without a J.O.B.).  The person who hired me had has confidence in my own work.  In my career field, there are seriously extremely smart people I work with. For awhile, I was bummed about my decision to join the AF because of my lack of confidence in my capabilities. I was unsure of myself. I felt others were unsure of me. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't the spoiled one in the bunch, just slightly rotten, so I thought. haha

After being certified in my new job for only 3 months (with the company for 7 total), I was asked to be lead. LEAD! Say wha?! That was a huge ego booster. I was still unsure of myself though.  Being lead though came with huge responsibilities (that I was not getting paid for $cha-ching$ wha?). I was stressed. If one particular person was working with me, my stomach would clench up and felt like it was tied in knots (let's just say her favorite book is titled, "Everything's An Argument"). I made mistakes. I worried. I worked A LOT. Did I mention there was not pay raise or promotion with this new role I'd taken on after only 3 months certified at the job?

At almost a year to the day a co-worker mentioned a job in my career field in Hawaii. Uh. Hello. Hawaii?! Yes, please. The contact he had for it was a civilian I'd worked with while still in the AF. I asked him about it but he said it was with a different company. I didn't don't want to leave LM yet since I've not quite been with them a year yet (at this point). He did mention though that a position was available in his section and he thought I was qualified for it, that I should speak with the hiring manager. I thanked him. The next day he emailed me again to tell me of a different position available in his section that he thought I was qualified for also, to speak with the hiring manager. I, again, thanked him for the confidence in me he had. I wasn't looking for a job, but he sure was making me think about it. The stress I was dealing with was getting to me as well. Anyway, a day or two later he emailed me again and said the hiring manager he recommended I speak with already spoke with my manager and, while he wasn't willing to let me go at first, he now is.  Holy cow.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to leave! But his confidence in me totally boosted my ego. I spoke with the hiring manager, put my resume in for the job, interviewed, got the job.

Now, I'm in training for this new position. I've been in training for 3 full weeks. I'm overwhelmed with everyone's encouragement and optimism in me. My trainer mentioned to my lead (the guy with the awesome confidence in me) that she thinks I'm ready. I'm still nervous of course about the new job. What if I screw up? Ugh. But what if I do great? Yeah. After 7 years in this industry, I'm finally beginning to get my confidence back. Funny how knowing what you're talking about boosts the ego.  I don't think I'm ready yet, but I'll take all the training I can get.