Corporate Maturity vs. Life Maturity
Five years ago, I was denied a promotion at the multinational corporation where I worked. The feedback I received was hurtful and at the time I thought it was just excuses. The HR department said I was too good for the position, although they paid more for it. My former boss, and decision maker, said I didn’t have enough corporate maturity.
My first reaction was to complain and disagree. I thought maturity was a single thing, and it could never be segregated that way. I became unmotivated, but instead of stopping my action of the complaint I decided to listen to a friend of mine and seek a professional coach. It changed my career track.
For three years, I dedicated all my time to my career and achieved the maturity required. Though it was not for the position I was denied, but for something much greater. It cost my personal life and time with my family, but professionally speaking it paid off.
I learned that life doesn’t care about your plans. When I reached the point to slow down in my career and enjoy a little of the money that I earned and the time that I thought I had, my son died.
The three years spent on my career was my solo decision, against my wife’s wishes. Right now, I must keep working to raise my oldest son, with a huge hole in my heart that will never be filled.
After a year of missing my son, and a director’s position, I can definitely say that I have both maturities and that they are different. The price I paid to achieve both was far too high. I wish I could go back to when I was naïve at work but fulfilled at home.
Maturity is hard to achieve, it only comes with experience, and experience only comes with time, and time is a precious and limited asset…
