Haaawhoof!
That approximates the exact sound I made at about 10:55 this morning.
I had a “meet and greet” with the boss of my boss, a high ranking and incredibly powerful woman.
I mean, she’s brilliant. Has a degree in chemistry and another in finance. Worked for an oil company in Houston for many years and then made her way west. The continuing upward steps in her career are admirable.
Her background is deep, diverse and amazing.
Let’s just say this: She is a force to be reckoned with.
And as a new employee in her organization, I got the chance to have an hour of her time so she could get to know me and so I could get to know her too.
I was told by my mentor that I should, “come with an agenda, don’t leave open air”. Her time if valuable, to be sure. And so I did. I came to the table with a print out of questions I jotted down and I noticed she took note that I had.
I asked her about her background, her management philosophy and what I can do to be effective here at the company. And she answered very candidly.
I even asked her what is her nitpick so that I can manage to that. She told me two.
That’s some managerial self-awareness!
So it was an intense hour, but good, meaningful and filled with useful information.
When it was over, I came out of her office pitted out (meaning, I needed a Right Guard moment, raise your hands if you’re Sure, etc).
So, for me, the life moments that cause me to get pitted out all get measured on the scale of completing the orals for my Master’s degree.
Wearing a suit, in front of my professor committee, at the marker board, explaining economic theory. Yeah, despite two coats of D.O., I was WAY pitted out that day. That was the worst.
So if we call “Master’s Orals” a 10, today’s moisture was about a three. So low, but still…
I musta been more nervous that I even thought going in.
When all was done, I came out of the boss lady’s office, went up two floors to my office, ripped off my cardigan, and uttered a long drawn out “haaawhoof!”
You know the sound. The one you make when you’ve finished your laborious taxes. The one you make when your shaky team is up by one with three seconds on the clock in a playoff game and they manage to win.
The one you make when you want very much to make a good impression on someone who could literally make or break you and your career.
Haaaaawhoooooof!
