Inside Bryghtpath: Who quits a large corporation for a company in Minnesota with a team of four?

The World I Knew

Have you ever looked at your alarm on a Monday morning and dreaded what happens next? Watching my phone change from 6:18 a.m. to 6:19 a.m. to 6:20 a.m. (insert blaring alarm), I knew my countdown to what I considered the start of a normal working week only meant one thing. I accepted that the exploration and newfound admiration, AKA happiness, of my weekend was gone.

Pre-Covid, I would wake up at 5:00 a.m. and conduct my morning routine, which consisted of a 45-minute commute by car, then a brief walk into the office. After badging through a few access-controlled doors, I entered the hallway of unnecessarily bright lights and a strong smell of coffee. Two more access doors and my eyes met an awaiting night shift who was more than ready to turn over the command center. My shift began with me ready to face the banking industry’s never predictable life-safety and security incidents.

Facing Covid like many others, the company made accommodations to transition office-assigned employees to operating in a cloud-based command center. My work routine changed from doom and gloom to appreciating an extra hour of sleep and saving on gas. Nevertheless, my passion for my role waned, and receiving an extra hour of sleep and a promise of promotion was not sufficient. Overall, my job satisfaction was reduced. This was mostly due to feeling like the corporate bureaucracy ceiling was unbreakable in my role. I voiced my wishes to apply for an internal position and received both amazing support and guidance from my Department Executive and Direct Manager. I had proven enough to be selected for the second round of interviews but, once there, I was asked nothing about the role or how I planned to bring success if selected. I felt slighted but ultimately unsure of the reason why I wasn’t selected. I also never received feedback, so the reason I wasn’t selected was left a mystery.

The Light that Flickered, Was Now On

I was far from the office where I would have been posted if Covid had not pushed the “new normal.” It was Christmas morning at 3:00 a.m. and I was helping the 3^rd shift remotely from Houston, where I was visiting family. I knew that one day when the pandemic was over, I would be forced back to working in a cubicle and that could no longer be my reality. I realized the ball and chain office, and my small position in the major corporation was too claustrophobic, especially when I could see the preciousness of life ticking away in the form of a Covid-19 death counter. My position and location prevented me from enjoying milestones where travel was necessary and somewhat living on my own terms.

The perspective was unyielding and clear. Collaborative technology had allowed me to securely interact, train, and respond to incidents with colleagues in various locations both nationally and globally. I wanted a new career where collaborative technology was not just implemented when desperately needed but was also the standard. In my new role, I would still participate in genuine connections, asking for a block of time for guidance, peer bonding through fantasy football, and sharing virtual laughs via collaborative tools like skype or slack. It made no difference to me if I worked from my home or anywhere else in the world that had an internet connection. If there were no more suffocating uncontrollable environments, I would be content because life is too short.

Finding a Bryght(er) path

My search was extensive, and I found the wants I searched for were almost too ambitious. However, news headlines highlighted a few companies that were making working remotely the new employee incentive plan. The downfall was that those same companies felt exactly like the one I planned on leaving.

Like a light shining in the darkness, the job description for an Analyst pulled me in. I read through the role and found the responsibilities were exactly what I was looking for. The call to action was new and free. The monotony of serving in one industry would not be the problem anymore. I found myself smiling and thinking of fighting the business continuity and crisis management battle with the same tenacity for Fortune 50 companies as non-profits and even small start-ups. It was the underdog environment that I preferred and knew so well. I looked forward to an opportunity to interview, hoping the unconventional company would breathe life.

Living while working is possible

Fast forward to now. I type this article from a clearer mind in my new position, with a new life-breathing company. I am removed from the traditional office confines and feel better than ever about my work contributions and what they do for others. While my workload is still at an increasing onboarding level, I know that whenever the stresses of life and work collide at an unhealthy level, I’ll be able to re-energize, strategize, and find peace. Either from a different state or country, the nearest lake, or just a park bench, getting my work done with value and punctuality is who I am.

I found that life in its mysterious form brings challenges; health challenges, career challenges, and family challenges. The list is independently unique and ongoing. Where you are is also independently unique. I find Bryghtpath’s cultural honesty and refreshing approach to be a win for who I am and where I am in life. I am just as passionate about my life as a husband and soon–to be a father as I am about being an employee. When I mention working from a new place for pleasure or necessity, my thoughts are met with restaurant suggestions and historical must-do’s. All because my company understands living and working are possible.

If you found similarities in my journey or want to see what happens next, come along for the ride – be sure to check the Bryghtpath blog for updates.

Wishing you all safety and security. Peace.