View from the Top | WOW, I Thought 2023 Was Going to be Calmer – Silly Me!
"One day, for no particular reason, nothing was going right. Absolutely positively, nothing was going right. So, I decided to go left..."
These are the words in Marc Colagiovanni's book When Things Aren't Going Right – Go Left. The children's book is an enduring message of strength and perseverance. The book reminds readers that they are in control of their own path.
I usually buy books to send to my granddaughters (yes, I said granddaughters) that will help them love who they are, embrace their worth, and understand that they are not on an island regarding everyday life challenges. I usually read them first on my Kindle. I read this book and I said “wow, I really needed this.”
My 2023 really did start with a bang. After returning to work from the holiday break, I entered an office suite that had experienced broken pipes due to freezing temperatures. When the heat (steam) came on, the moisture and heat created one of the most incredible and dangerous science projects witnessed. My first reaction was Jumanji. This was my first time seeing that much mold in one place. And not just any mold, but black mold! Our offices (desk, chair, walls, etc.) were covered. Since then, I have been trying to locate space to accommodate three support departments (estimated 32 employees). We all know office space on a campus is more precious than gold and equally hard to find.
I tell you all of this because, in addition to other administrative issues (paid and volunteer), I will not let this situation when everything seems to not go right define how I will move forward. I have a slide in one of my presentations that states, "Frustration isn't failure – it can be a great reminder of how hard you are working towards your goals!" Setbacks and failures are a natural part of life. I will keep trying and not give up on my goals. Frustration is a glass-half-full situation.
Hang in there, and when nothing is going right, go left!
Authored by Gloria W. Greene, Assistant Vice President, Contracts & Grants
The University of Alabama at Huntsville
SRAI Board of Directors President
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