Surprise Progress.

Yesterday my director hauled me into her office. Ok, that’s not quite right. I showed up at a prearranged time. We were due to talk about my plans for the year, and what I can expect to accomplish with my new hire. I’m nervous and excited about my new hire. He’s a talented young engineer, and we’re going to be able to accomplish some exciting things. It’s going to take a lot of effort and I’m scared I won’t have enough for him to do, but I will find ways to make it work.

So, expecting to talk about those plans, I sat down with my boss. She had a different agenda for the meeting. She promoted me. I went from being part of the quality improvement team to being a program manager for my own sub-department for health systems engineering. I hadn’t asked for it specifically, though everyone knows that that’s what I want. She told me my title will change, I’ll get a small raise, and I’ll be responsible for more departmental strategy. Because I have this new hire, I’ll be able to do the same amount of systems engineering, and add in the managerial aspects.

I’m super thrilled. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted, and a year or two sooner than I thought it would happen. I think there’s a chance I’ll be able to make VP by the time I’m 50. Assuming that that’s what I want. Right now, I’m really just excited to be where I am, doing something I love, with job security and a comfortable living. I’m in a good place, and it keeps getting better.