living the CAN life

There's so much more I need to write for background, here, but to cut to the chase, I quit my job back in March and started working for Ball Corp., makers of satellites and aluminum beverage packaging. My life is immensely different, in so many positive ways.

Leaving my former employer was a very hard decision but in the end, it was surprisingly easy. I do miss seeing my dear friends there, and there are times I miss the fun things I got to do (filming line crews on a super nice day in the Colorado sunshine, for example). But for a multitude of reasons I will save for the book, it was time for me to go. The universe just lined up like it always does to present me the perfect exit, and a near simultaneous presentation of My Next Step.

My Next Step was easy at first. All new things are easy, all new people are easy - everything seems normal until you get to know it/them. I was so happy to be part of such a great organization that truly supported it's people - backed by the presence and involvement of the entire C-staff at an employee event. This was leadership from the top, it wasn't lip service, they were living it and were very clear about how they expected us to live it, too. My team was fantastic. I liked them immediately - one a former colleague I get along (and work with) extremely well, sharp fun managers, and the others just honestly helpful and genuinely good people who are interested in our collective success.

All that being said, the job itself is hard. Very hard for me especially, as I hadn't been in the finance world in quite a few years and the beverage packaging industry was completely new to me. So I dug in and got to work - too much work, honestly - to figure it out. Again to cut to the chase, my new eyes found things that didn't function, things that worked unexpectedly and things that needed to be completely revised. And all this in different countries, currencies, operating systems and time zones. Six months ago I had no idea where Serbia was, and now I know that mosquito season in Hyderabad has the potential to wipe out the staff you rely on in August. Our team lines up financial reporting and planning for the entire 18,500 employee organization that makes 300 million cans per day. I didn't understand many of the requests we were getting, then I was told I am the person responsible for implementing them and also communicating with internal and external auditors for the controls surrounding them. Every time I have thought "I can't do this job" the universe immediately, resoundingly responded "YES YOU CAN, KEEP GOING!" I cannot tell you how many prayers I have said - and I'm not the praying type - but all of them were answered within twenty-four hours, and every time the response is black and white that I'm in the right place, doing the right thing.

My last job taught me the importance of setting healthy boundaries between work and my personal life. It took me about four months into my new job to figure out how to put that into practice - i.e. stop with the 'too much work' part. Since then, I have been a lot more successful in my new role. I love my new job. I love the people. It is a hard job but I love the challenge (most days, and on the days I don't I can laugh with my team about it). My team is as grateful for me as I am for them, it's a super positive environment. That's not specific to our group, the company as a whole truly appreciates the employees. Our execs know we work hard, they work hard with us and they make sure we all play hard, too. I feel truly fortunate that I leaned into the signs I was getting from the universe to leave my old work life and start this new one - because this is hands down the hardest and best job I've ever had. I'm just grateful for the opportunity, and happy to feel so much more like my upbeat, optimistic self again. I sing because I can. :D

p.s. Stop using plastic bottles. I am absolutely going to harass you about it. Metal recycles forever.

p.p.s. I have no idea who gets the credit for this awesome can choir photo, but a friend sent it to me from Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Pareidolia/comments/cgdqib/they_sing_because_they_can/