Great things never came from comfort zones!!!!
On 1st of June I started my new job with a clear mind to accept the challenges that life would throw at me. I got to the office to meet all the new recruits and have a great journey ahead. As it was the first day, a lot of reading and induction was done by the General Manager of Etihad, who was working in the background for many months before employing staff.
She introduced the team members and we sat at our respective tables to read. Time flew by as there was a lot to read and understand. For a first day, I felt great to have known so much. As I drove back home, I became more focused with what needs to be done and understood the vast difference between living by the book and practical implementation. Days went by and in no time the General Manager took us to the field to meet travel agents – I was known due to my past experience with Jetlink. Here we were shown the processes that were in place for the work flow.
Days turned to months and months to years. And with this came other changes too. Processes changed as well as management exchanged 3 pair of hands. The first General Manager pushed us to maximise sales revenue on an aircraft as empty passenger seats meant revenue lost forever. With time we grew with the knowledge and experience that we acquired and so did the airline.
My turning point came when the 3rd manager came to lead. With time I figured that she never liked me because I am a person who is groomed to work and deliver. It was a roller coaster with her, and as months went by the hard work that the team had exhibited wasn’t acknowledgd nor appreciated. We were made to feel that we had never done the right thing and yet all we did was to grow the airline.
I felt demotivated and it came to a point that the manager would get into personal accusations at meetings and used performance as a get away.Questions were raised about the authenticity of my Certificates and how I got a job in an international airline like Etihad. Such insults went on for 3 months and got my stress levels higher and higher. I got more frustrated when I was put under a Performance Indicative Plan (PIP), which is an indirect company policy tailored to get rid of employees. After the first PIP was over I figured the reason for the 2nd one. I mastered courage again and spoke to my colleagues and decided to end the journey with Etihad.
The whole journey overall was a wonderful and one that my heart weeped knowing I was going to leave behind friends who became family. This also meant termination of the bonus of meeting new people while travelling to local destinations for work conferences and the world at large. The journey was about to end soon for me but it also taught me to be more humble towards so many things in life. Hard work was never a challenge to me but I had learnt to move from the comfort zone and achieve great things. This gave birth to the baby I have today:
GLOBETROTTER AGENCY LIMITED.
31 Comments
Pravin Shah
A very sad story. They let go a gem of a person like you without releasing what they have lost.
Keep your spirits up. You are doing a very good job.
Best of luck for your future.
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you for the kind words…
Dennis warui
You are a go getter girl.that’s how you rise from the ashes
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you its makes me what I am in life today
Minal Shah
I know Vidya for many years and always knew she was destined for great things. Best wishes Vidya in your journey to success and happiness.
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you for always supporting me…
Meenal
I salute your courage. Its very true indeed that success comes to those who rise above their failures.
Vidya Jethwa
thank you
Mohammed
Wish you the best
Mohammed
Wish you the best in life
Vidya Jethwa
asante
Tejal sheth
Reading your story I remembered mine which is something similar…keep it going vids..
Vidya Jethwa
I am sure many have gone through this and not managed to explain and lived in guilt for years. I hope the world sees that everyone struggles
Balkrishna Prabhu
Awesome journey …but waiting for your another blog..i believe grooming up this new baby..to have lot to say…And will be waiting for your nxt one Blog i mean
Vidya Jethwa
watch out next week it is
Mushtaq kassam
Painfully true. How so true. Before joining employment one must understand two rules , no 1 the boss is always right . No 2 refer to rule no 1. Employment is never easy and never appreciated!!!!!!
Vidya Jethwa
well true said… But I wish people knew how to treat people in any organisation !!!
Pankaj
Interesting narrative.
Perhaps that was what she may have been hired to do.
And the upside is…you went independent!
Vidya Jethwa
thank you and true said
Bindiya Sheth
A true example of hard work always pays off. Well done.
In a way, your manager was a blessing in disguise because if it weren’t for them,then you would still be working there and your own business would not have existed.
Vidya Jethwa
yes I pushed myself to be where I am…. see u soon
Arun Kumar Shah
Feeling so proud of you my daughter
Things don’t come easily in our life ,you have to work for it and you did it
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you….
Steve Ng'aari
Nice…..learned from this article that challenges today sets someone for better things in the future.
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you
pauline wangeci
wow. this so encouraging ….learned never give up no matter what i go through in this life.there is still a bright future ahead.Keep it up.
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you
Robert Okumu
Hi Vidya…..the experience you went through brought out the best in you and proves that in addition to your resilience, greatness resides in you. I think you can achieve so much more in future
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you
Dinesh Shikotra
Dear Vidya,
Hard work rewards well. Wishing all success in your professional career and personal life. Feel great knowing you
Dinesh
Vidya Jethwa
Thank you so much