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Four years ago on this day I thought my life was over, I literally thought my whole world had come crashing down. I was fired from my dream job 4 years ago on this date and at the time it was the most devastating day of my life, and that's why every Christmas we give, thread
I was working as an IT manger for a local gov agency, I had a fantastic team I had grown and hand picked, my position was influential, we were making a difference, tech to do good, I loved my co workers. Sure, I worked way, way too many hours, sure my life was defined by work
Yes I knew my org did some shady stuff, some stuff I should have reported, but I had never thought reporting a potential data breach would cost my job not did I think the company that caused the breach would be the reason why, let's say the day didn't go as expected
I was given the option, reporting the breach was embarrassing for the org and the vendor, since I made them look bad, I could quit with nothing, or leave with a few weeks pay and uncontested unemployment or leave with nothing but a you're fired letter, tough choices
I cried leaving the building, each of my team members was like seeing the end of something great and we all were broken up pretty badly. I had just finished passing out Christmas bags to literally the HR director right before she fired me. It was traumatizing, I couldn't breath
That night a man who could become my mentor called me, he had heard the news. He comforted me and gave me hope, a month later he hired me on to his small firm, he coached me, gave me new skills, invited me to dinners with his family, spent time with mine, he taught me so much
The things I most learn we from hi, we aren't defined by our jobs, a job does not make up who we are, and working 60 hour weeks isn't worth the trade off, family comes first, self care not far behind that, overwork can become the standard and is rarely rewarded
He also taught me to be passionate and kind in all things, to have fun and laugh often, that it's ok to pause, to breath, to think a response over, and if you can give, give whatever you can. He also taught me most things I know about Cybersecurity, but that was ancillary
Four years ago today I thought my life was over, 4 years ago today, friends, my family, and a mentor taught me it was only beginning. That's why we do the Christmas giving table, not everyone has a Leigh Weber to help them in life get through dark times, I was blessed to
Cc'ing @AldermanSmith43 who also invited us into their lives and am lucky to have met from Leigh, happy holidays to you both, and remember all, give if you can, laugh a lot, be kind and passionate whenever possible
