Promotion

I got my promotion, effective as of 1 July.

Do I feel happy and excited? Yes, I do. I actually feel more relieved than anything. I know this is the best year for me to be promoted, in terms of having a business case and the fact that there are a few clients who came to the firm through me this year when my boss was away on sabbatical. I feel good that I am able to get the promotion without the need to be involved in any major politics.

It seems like people around me are more happier than me about me being promoted. My collegues and bosses send me endless congratulations. My boss even brought me a bottle of wine.

But in my mind, whether I get a promotion or not does not affect my continous thoughts of whether I should continue working in this firm, or even in the industry. Maybe I am a person who likes to experiment with new ideas and new things, and staying at the one place or industry may bore me. The promotion doesn't really change much of what I am doing at the moment, so there is no real added challenge.

But no matter what happens, it is a testament to the fact that I am recognised for what I do and appreciated by the firm and its people. This has erased some of the past hurts I experienced in the early years of my career. Even though the process seems long, I still thank God for giving me the opportunities to learn through trials and develop me into the person that I am today.

I know that I am expected to bill and meet all my targeted fees and time now. I am not really fazed by it. Whether I am able to meet them or not depends on alot of factors outside my control. And it doesn't help that I have taken some pro bono matters on, which is not billable, but I feel really great in actually helping the people in need who have no money to pay fees. Maybe I should reconsider my career? But the issue is always monetary compensation vs ethical satisfaction.