Old vs New

Hey guys,

I normally don’t write blogs in back to back weeks but wanted to share about an experience from last week.  Over the last few months, I’ve shared that I am currently working in a contracting role for the same company I had started with as a temp employee a year ago.  I’ve been contracting for about 3-4 months.  The plan is for me to be in this contracting role until the company released the hiring freeze between March-July 2021.  We’ve now come close to that time.

Last week, I had a conversation with one of my managers about the permanent role they’d like to hire me for.  Originally in August of 2020, we spoke about a role in Sales Operations as I’ve been working on various continuous improvement projects and new system rollouts.  However, the role they want to hire me for is in Marketing.  It’s a good thing my Zoom camera was off during this call as the look on my face was confused and shocked.  As my manager explained the role, I came to understand this was the greatest need on the team and one they felt they could get approved.

There is just one thing, I’ve never taken on a marketing role in my life!  I graduated from college almost 20 years ago and have been in either customer management or sales operations roles ever since.  I was in utter shock – Marketing?? Me??

I was uncomfortable.  I mean who doesn’t like taking on roles where they get to do what they do best and excelling at them?  Marketing will be a challenge, something I’ll have to work to learn over time.  The more I prayed about it and talked to a couple of others about it, I realized God has decided to do a new thing.  It is up to me on the perspective I am going to take.

That’s when I thought about my son who is in his first year playing basketball in college.  He was asked to switch roles this year from shooting guard to point guard.  For those of you not familiar with basketball, it may sound like a simple transition, but it really is not.  As a point guard, you are responsible to facilitate on the court and be the team’s leader.  He was asked to do this as a freshman, while trying to figure out how to play on this new level for himself.  It was challenging for him initially, but he picked up on it quickly with prayer and wisdom he’s gained along the way.

And guess what?  He’s doing just fine.  He’s transforming right before my eyes into a point guard.  I said to myself, “If he can do it, so can I!  So, what I’ve never been in marketing before.  My managers have confidence that I can do it and I believe God has brought me here for a reason, so while it may take some time to learn, I can do it.  It’s also a chance for me to be well-rounded.”  My perspective shifted from, “This is going to be too difficult” to “I can learn and I will be ok as long as God is with me”. 

This past Sunday I was listening to a message from  TPH One Church LA titled, “Be-Hold”.  The key verse was from Isaiah 43:19 which states, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.  Now it springs up.  Do you not perceive it? I will make a pathway in the wilderness.  I will create a rivers in the desert.”  This verse resonated with me especially after my conversation last week.  I don’t know of the official approval date of the marketing role, but I’ll be ready when it does become available.

Therefore,  I just want to encourage anyone reading this today and say it is never too late.  Never too late to start something new, never too late to leave something old behind even if its been 20 years like me.  As long as God is leading you, there is no need to fear.  Will you allow Him to do a new thing in you today?

Have a great week!

~Felicia