July 24, 2004

Sometimes Dreams Come True

I was taking a break from "puttering" and happened to find one of my all time favorite movies in life on - Working Girl. As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I HAVE to watch this movie if I come across it. I own it - both tape and DVD and I still will stop my channel surfing and settle back if I see it on T.V.

Just what is it that I love so much about this movie? It's the last few scenes, that's what.

I love that the lead character is a secretary hell bent on making it over that chasim between clerical and management. I love the way she thinks, completely out of the box. I love her courage and fortitude. I'll even admit that I get chills during the scene where she meets the woman she thought will be her boss, but ends up being her assistant. When she calls the girls she used to work with to tell them she made the leap - well, let's just say I can see myself doing that in a heart beat.

I have worked very hard over the years. Taken many chances, made decisions that many couldn't understand. When I changed career paths or industries I always had to take an entry level position - usually the lowest of the clerical - and then trust that hard work and imagination would prevail. They would notice what a bright and shiny gem I am and voila - promotion.

Gotta tell you, life doesn't work like that. And because of that I've spent years in dead-end jobs, being praised and awarded but never promoted. When I would leave it was only to discover that because of where I started so many positions no one really cared about where I ended up. They couldn't see past that "staff assistant" on my resume.

It took a company that was desperate (if we're really honest) to take a chance on me. They were going through a major over-haul and needed fresh minds in positions they were creating to meet customer demands. It was luck on my part - pure and simple. Lucky that I had the opportunity to develop good relationships with some of these customers, lucky that they weren't shy about telling our management how they thought my role should play out. Lucky that my management listened.

I remember the day I made the leap, officially. The first thing I thought of was the very last scene in Working Girl. I called my friends to tell them "I made it!"

Posted by Tammi at July 24, 2004 04:14 PM | TrackBack
Comments

You are so right. In all the big companies, they can't get past the title on the resume. It takes a small company or a 'godfather' in a large company and it is tough to find a 'godfather'.

What a great feeling that you got your break!!! :) Now really the sky is the limit...

Posted by: Boudicca at July 24, 2004 07:23 PM

I love this movie too --and You've Got Mail...It's so corny but I would be embarassed to admit just how many times I have watched it! They cover 'upllifting' and 'romantic' and then there's Stella or Stepmom when you are in need of a good tear jerker...or Gladiator when you need to see Russell Crowe in a mini skirt...haha
Have a great night! Glad you made it!

Posted by: ALa71 at July 24, 2004 10:18 PM

My fav in that genre is "Two Weeks Notice".
But other chick flicks I really enjoy are "Sliding Doors", and "City of Angels". Ugh, that one is awesome. I can't watch it anymore, but I loved it.

Posted by: _Jon at July 25, 2004 12:48 PM