I love to see people’s reactions when I say I’m in sourcing.
“That’s boring!”
“I bet you have no issues to deal with.”
And the sarcasm continues. Following 2020, there were factors that contributed to the global supply chain crisis. Long story short, factories were closing because of new COVID policies but the demand for items were increasing.
Looking back on my posts, it occurred to me that I had not posted anything since the end of 2020. Makes sense in hindsight. 2021 was a rough year for me: personally and professionally. If I could pick one year to do over again in my life, it would be 2021. But you don’t get do-overs. You have to pick up whatever pieces you have left and move forward. You have to know how to recognize and learn from your mistakes so you don’t repeat them again.
It is painful. But it would be even more painful to cut through an open wound.
LISTEN
Professionally, I was tasked with leading an SAP implementation for my function for our site. We were supposed to backfill my position but it didn’t work so well. I ended up doing two full-time jobs. Personally, I was invincible. I can take care of my family and even grow it. My husband disagreed.
Or at least that’s how I saw it in the midst of things. He didn’t really disagree but he saw a reality that consumed me beyond belief. I could barely keep up with being present with my current loved ones since I was working 60+ hours per week. I heard him saying I was incapable and it triggered a lot of heartache, unnecessary at times.
If I had I only listened to what he was saying or trying to understand what he saw, I would’ve realized how unbalanced my life was. Unbalanced because the weight of work held me down.
SEE
I needed to open my eyes. It’s not easy to stop in your day to see what you’re doing or not doing. But if I had only stepped out of my self (so to speak), I would’ve seen my actions.
I would’ve seen myself working on my laptop during playtime in my daughters room. I would’ve seen myself choosing to do some laundry versus sitting and watching a 20 min show with my husband. I would’ve seen myself talk to people with an attitude who was only trying to be hospitable.
When things are tough, which they constantly can be in todays supply chain World, I tend to stop and do a sanity check. How is my behavior? Where are my priorities? This helps me correct my behavior before it harms myself or others around me.
SPEAK UP
This one was probably my biggest lesson from 2021. I even put it in my employee review. Pre-2022 Tima would take it all on. Extra project, sure! Ballet practice, of course. Favorite home cooked meal, priority. That new supplier line down issue, who else?
But now I ask for help. It scarred my ego the first few times I had to stop and say “I can’t do this right now” or “if it’s needed, what can I stop working on?” Personally, reaching out to my husband for support and even five year old daughter was a test of my humility.
There are only so many hours in the day so why aren’t we more keen on how it’s spent?
I can’t turn back time. I can only make the best of time I have. It’s definitely hard to listen to feedback when the sound of a category 5 hurricane is escalating beside you.
It’s hard to see who you have become or who you are hurting when there are thousands of assignments piling up on your desk.
Just when you think you’ve become a superhuman superhero, it’s definitely hard to stop and say “I need help.”
The global supply chain crisis is here to stay for at least another two years. My family won’t wait on the sidelines much longer so balancing my life is even more important now than ever.
It’s critical for me to listen to them, see myself and speak up. A line down costs a company thousands of dollars or even millions, depending on how or where the backlog is. But the cost of losing what matters most to you is incalculable. Prevent yourself from getting to that point.
