As we throw 2023 in the rear view mirror and charge towards 2024, its time again for my annual reflection. This year has been a steady year, for the most part.
On the work front, started off the year by wrapping up Project Robin. I was then miraculously plugged into Project Keystone (though my hunch is Joydeep had a big hand in this). Luckily, it turned out to be a good move as I was able to impress both Joydeep and Ram. Getting high praise from Ram definitely is something I would like to keep in my “bag” considering he is the only M&A PPMD in Detroit and the fact that he is the practice lead for MAR MO. Of course, it meant I also sealed Joydeep’s (my practice lead) continuing support through the year as witnessed by his push towards me getting my next gig, project Redwood. I was extremely excited to join this project. For one, I was able to get wind of this project through Jill Irwin, someone I wanted to make a connection with. Secondly, this was an Aerospace and Defense project, the one industry / sub industry that I really wanted to get some exposure to. Thirdly, this was an opportunity to work with Bernardo, my main goal for this year, professionally. Joydeep brokered my first interaction with Bernardo through an interim coach role when Chris went on paternity leave. This was not very successful as I was unable to breakthrough a sort of mental barrier with him (maybe, that barrier was just in my mind). I was hoping project Redwood would give me the opportunity to shine in Bernardo’s eyes, just like in Keystone. That certainly did not happen. I was close to miserable on the project. After two good projects, this one felt like a drag and very lonely. I was glad that it was just 90 days but then found out that its been extended to July. There has been extensive drama since that revelation which was of course covered in my previous post. Finally, throughout the year, there has only been one focus for me – the bid for a promotion next year. I’ve had to abandon thought that my work should do the talking for me. It is taking a lot out of me because of the pressure to constantly focus on what I will write in those 3 impact statements at year end. Let’s see how the final versions of those statements turn out. A couple of important acknowledgements –
- Tom Marchant – my first coach who went on paternity leave which led to Chris becoming my current coach.
- Kunal Gupta – a new SM in ERI who has become a friend, confidante and hopefully an ally in the coming year
- Dan De Majo – while i have worked with Chris longer, Dan has been my SM in two projects. He is definitely a kind and gentle leader and a supporter but I am yet to believe if he will be an equal sponsor. For some reason, I feel my relationship with Kunal is stronger than that with Dan.
- Siddhant Suman – While he has been my USI counterpart in all 3 of my projects at Deloitte, we have only just begun to become friends. We have opened up and started talking and getting to know each other.
On the personal front, it was a wonderful year! Babi came to stay over in March. This time, he stayed on until end of June. It was a wonderful feeling. Having lived alone since August 2014, I had forgotten what it felt like to actually live with someone again. Its funny I even say that considering most of the time he was here, I was traveling for Keystone. But weekends, the weeks when I was here, it felt great again to have someone in the house to go have lunch with or go grocery shopping with. The dogs, goes without saying, were also extremely happy to have another person to get attention from, play around with and grab food from! Of course, the high point of the visit was our Disney World trip for his birthday. Even if it was only for a week, it was a very welcome break and of course, it lived up to its reputation as being the “happiest place of earth”! While he was here, I had originally planned to take him to the Jaguar showroom to look at the F-Pace which I would get once my lease would end. However, he made a point that I should not just aim to achieve what Daddy and he did, I should aim to cross it so he set my sights on the Range Rover. I researched the vehicle of course as I had never even thought about this. It was of course not the best rated vehicle but obviously, as soon as I sat in that vehicle in the showroom, I knew thats what I want! So, I actually ended up terminating my least early and going for the Range Rover Evoque! It took some getting used to to drive but now, I love it! While he was here, he also pushed me to initiate a home renovation project we had been thinking about for a while – the bathroom in my bedroom upstairs. It turned out to be quite the costly project but we are almost done and I can’t wait to move back upstairs and enjoy my new bedroom + bathroom! This year, I went home, after 4 years, during Pujo! Did not do the full Pujo experience this time round. It was more of a quiet affair at South City. I did realize though that I definitely will not be going home again for Pujo. Christmas is certainly a better time with more vacation time! Time with Mum was fun. Finally, another year of loving my two most precious family members – my Whisky and my Luca! Whisky celebrated her 7th birthday this year and Luca his 5th! Whisky is starting to grey around her snout but she is showing no signs of slowing down, thank god! I am constantly worried about her arthritis progressing but luckily thats a problem for another day! My Luca is as cute as ever! I just look into his face and immediately melt with the cuteness overload! These two are the only source of pure joy in life! Here’s to another year of cuddles and snuggles with these two!
I have a lot of hopes for 2024 – hopes for a promotion, hopes for a new international vacation, hopes for a happy and healthy year for Whisky and Luca, hopes for a few more months of staying with Babi together with the dogs, hope for some peace and quiet on the work front! Let’s see where we land same time next year!
Happy 2024!
Musings of a confused nut! 