Jumping the gun!

Do you ever feel like there's more to life? Not to be controversial, or make myself seem like I'm better than anyone else, but I often think, I can do better and be better than what I am today. Right now, I am not the best Yolanda I could've been. Yes, probably due to all the bad decisions I've made, but all I can do now, is pick myself up and move on in the right direction.
I've just started a new job. I'm a credit controller for a property management company. It's been two weeks, and I can honestly say, I can see myself growing here...

My previous job - I was a junior accountant for 11 months. After being there for 3 months, I was bored. Doing the same thing over and over is just not for me. There was no challenge. I told my mom about it, and she told me to be patient. Another 3 months later, nothing had changed. It only got worse. My performance and growth was directly proportional to that of my senior. I was told, I could only do more complex work, attain more responsibility and get a salary increase ONLY if my senior increased revenue for the company. It made me hate my job. I was stuck. How long would it take to wait for someone else to decide I needed to grow? It was then that I started looking for another job.

I explained the situation to my (very opinionated) uncle. His response was, "That's life and that's what the work environment is like. We don't always get what we want. Do you think we all enjoy going to work everyday? That's the problem with your generation! You have a sense of entitlement. You think everything should just be easy, but you're not willing to work hard for it!"
So.... that conversation wasn't leading anywhere productive. I hate being given a response that is of a generalized nature, when I'm talking about a personal issue. I thought about what he said. I tried to be objective, but I realized, I'm young, and there's no point tying myself to a company that doesn't give me the value that I know I'm worth. More over: I'm a lion. Not a sheep in the herd. It's not fulfilling for me to have my growth and success be dictated by someone else.

The worst was when they were looking for a new junior accountant. The salary offer was R500 less than mine. R500!!! Are they really saying the value that a new person would bring only has a R500 difference with the 10 months of experience and value that I added there?
It made me sick. I worked really hard and felt so unappreciated. I went to two unsuccessful interviews. Then finally. By the Grace of God, I received a job offer.

I knocked at my Boss' door, and he signaled at me to come in.
"What can I do for you Yolanda?"
 "I received a job offer, and I want to take it. How do you feel about that?"
"Well, we all have our own agendas in life, and if what we're offering you here is not in line with what you want, then I can't keep you here. It's just that you are not patient Yolanda."

His response aggravated me, but kept me unresponsive at the same time. It was easy for him to say that. He didn't know how it felt to struggle to make ends meet every month. Or getting to work without knowing how I'd get home that very day. It was stressful. Going through a hard time whilst having a clear plan is motivating. As opposed to struggling with no end in sight. Nevermind that patience has never been one of my virtues - I just reached a point where I decided I was too young to be unhappy with my job. Something had to give. My mom thinks I made a mistake. She says, I was at a well established company and she agrees that I should've been patient. She could be right. Maybe I did jump the gun, but right now - things are looking up and that's all that matters.