YOU Earn Respect, not YOUR TITLE!

ARGH the word “Professional” I have issues with; who made this word up? Who decided the rules for how a professional should behave, dress and conduct themselves? My time in the “Professional” environment was great! I had a blast but mainly because I didn’t think I fit in or went out of my way to behave the way corporate culture expects you to; I saw everyone as an equal, whether you’re the CEO, MD or the cleaner; to me you’re a human, period. No title or no hierarchy will get to me and make me believe I have to behave a certain way or arse lick my way to the top, just simply not interested in that. Manners is a different thing, as is respect. Respecting people for working hard and recognising their achievements is different and should be handled in a different manner.

Times are changing and people are slowly seeing that you do not need to wear a blazer and tie to be successful, you don’t necessarily need that university education. The world is still so far from changing to a new way of thinking! We still haven’t embedded this attitude into the school system, the system still tries to churn out professionals to which some children, like myself, didn’t quite get. Yes, we want to be successful but my clothes and the way I speak shouldn’t define that. I don’t think by me approaching the MD of a company and talking about their family or what they do in their spare time should be frowned upon. I once had a joke with an MD about going to Amsterdam and people were shocked in the office, shocked as if to say how can you ask him that!?! Eeeerrrr because I can!?!

All this behaviour in the office space once again baffled me, I questioned if I was to fit in this world, but in those years where I felt down, I thought I didn’t belong because I didn’t do what the others do; even though I knew I didn’t understand their behaviour. I worked with Project Managers who spoke to us juniors in such a horrible way; why not try and help us, why not make us aspire to be as good as you are at your job, but seeing people behave like that actually did the complete opposite- it turned me away from wanting to be that position and that job, because I saw it as, “If that’s what I have to be to get to that position, then I would rather not”.

My 30’s completely woke me up, granted I left jobs for the reason above, but being 30 made me practice what I thought which was, I won’t stay somewhere where the corporate culture is wrong and where people are obsessed with a hierarchy; I understand that some people can thrive in that competitive environment and that is absolutely fine, but it just wasn’t for me.

When I have considered entering the world of blogs, it also made me question whether or not I fit in “that world”, this might sound mad to some people to read or even understand but it just the way self-doubt works! You convince yourselves of theories that may just not be true. I have always wanted to write a blog and be a life mentor to people, however again I assumed people who do blogs and help mentor in regards to life, they are vegans and do yoga (however, I do, do yoga), they connect with earth differently! They have qualifications, which means they can write or speak about feelings or the psychology of it all and do life coaching courses, I had to really talk to myself and say the biggest life coaching course you can do, is to have lived life and facing the struggles you have and coming out of it. Being able to understand others situations and not judging. I am all about learning, doing courses and developing yourself, knowledge is power and can give you great independence, so keep on learning, but on your terms. Never let a piece of paper define you and what you may already know.

Anyhow, I felt like I couldn’t fit into the circle of blogging, motivation, self-development and just general life mentoring because I am not the things above; however, with time and building my confidence I realised I can be exactly who I want to be and that is someone who LOVES reality shows! Eats meat! and just believes in herself enough to know that she has helped so many people through their struggles.

I am learning that you may not “fit” into any specific circle, but whatever you want to do don’t change yourself for that role or job and especially for other people, I never did change but I also knew I never fit. Until I find my perfect fit or my version of the “professional” job/business I want; I won’t stop and I won’t settle. I may even create my own perfect world to work in, so I can dance to my own beat. Keep on manifesting that lifestyle, environment and job that you want, the best is yet to come.