If Today was your Last DayFor those of you not aware, I used to write a weekly blog for the HR team in A&NZ. It seemed somehow appropriate to finish my time with one final edition.
I was driving in to work this morning. Not too early, you understand, but still early enough to catch the last of Sonia and Todd on Mix 106.5 FM. Anyway, I was coming down the freeway and just driving on to the Bridge when a new song from the “Dark Horse” album by Nickleback came on.
Now I am sure you can appreciate, as tomorrow, my last day with the Company, has drawn ever nearer, my thoughts have perhaps inevitably turned inwards and centred on things achieved and not achieved, successes and failures, fun and frustrations. I have also been thinking about how to celebrate all that we achieved together and a way for me to say goodbye. As I think the majority of you know by now, I am a firm believer in everything happening for a reason. Whether that be not being able to buy the house you had set your heart on, or missing the train, or indeed heading off to find another role. So picture this. There I was, pulling on to the Bridge (that’s the Harbour Bridge, in case you were wondering) and wondering how best to take that next step and what it might look like when the song came on. The song is called “If Today was your Last Day” and the first three lines of the lyrics answered everything for me in one perfect moment.
“My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind”
Have a watch of the video:
(Sadly to watch the actual music video you have to go to YouTube direct. Here's the link)
Too often in our lives we spend too much time either worrying about the future or wishing we could change the past. Too little of the time, do we spend living in the present. We should celebrate and recognise the past for providing all the events that have made us who we are today. We should also recognise that the future is uncertain and with that recognition, deal with it when it happens rather than worry about it before it does. After all, it may not happen the way you think it will.
We are all being impacted by change. We are implementing it particularly with the current changes and this will occupy you all in ever increasing ways over the coming months. Don’t lose sight of how this can affect you as individuals. Try and become more aware of how you react in your dealings with people. We need to continue to empathise with our customers, staff and team members and in doing so, help them to make the changes that will drive success, both personally and professionally.
I will close by just saying this. I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside you all. In everything that we have achieved, I have never once had cause to doubt that the team could, and would, do it. We embarked on a journey and, although the brand and the path of that journey may have changed, the philosophy must not. We must continue to recognise that by acting as a business and not a bureaucracy, HR shifts the paradigm. We become the trusted advisor that creates value within the Business through the targeted solutions and services that we deliver. By understanding the business imperatives and adopting a commercial bias, we prove ourselves as true partners.
Thank you for your unfailing support, guidance, humour and, above all, your teamwork.
And Finally…
With another cold weekend forecast, wrap up warm, relax and get ready to keep doing that voodoo that you do so well next week! I leave you with a quote by that famous Greek author, Anonymous:
“Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we’re here we should dance”
All the best
Jim
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