Unwrapped My Story From a Year Ago
By: Kiwi Peng
Tags: 2020, Careers, Self-awareness, Mindset, Productivity

For the context purpose, here’s a bit recap of the “revenge-like” story:

Last December, I resigned from a company that I used to have many respects via email (no explanation, just a straight-plain-email). Two weeks prior, the so-called management team set up a meeting and finger pointed at me for the things I’ve never done. After a year of barring endless working hours and accumulated pressures, my mental state wasn’t on an okay spot (just like most of my then-colleagues were). That meeting was like a time bomb finally hits the “00:00” point — it blew up all of my hidden rages😠🔥💢.

My impulsive thought was to leave right away. My second thought was to gave myself a bit of time to validate my ideas. I chose to follow my later feeling. During the two weeks, I invited my then-clients to coffees and explained my decisions to raise their awareness of the leftover project’s upcoming change. I went to lunch one by one with my close colleagues — for the same reasons, to give them a heads-up about my sudden departure, and asked for their pieces of advice. I also called my dad and told him why I wanted to leave and how I wanted to end it. My “immature plan” got a YES from him (Dad, I love you so much). I contacted every human-being involved in my decisions and asked for their understanding, besides the “management squad team.” I was surprised by how alike everyone’s perspectives were, from the client to the colleagues — people knew what I was referring to, and some were proud of me for doing the things they were unable to do.

At 1:23 am on December 17th, 2019, I hit the “send” button, and I immediately broke out of the mental prison and had a sweet dream that night.

The rest details can be saved to my memoir when I am sixty years old and run out of content to write. Otherwise, they were not worth mentioning here. What I wanted to highlight was that I would never treat people the opposite they treated me. They got what they deserved.

There isn’t a winner in the whole story. I never wanted to WIN anything. I also don’t regard myself as a loser by sending a virtual resignation letter then disappeared the following day. I was aware of my “wrongs,” and I still chose to do it. I trusted my gut. Fairness was all I was asking, which apparently, none of those folks understood how to treat people with empathy. No doubt, money is their best friend.

Do I still feel hurt by them? Perhaps yes, in early 2020. Do I regret my irresponsible act? No. I am aware that I was challenged by a group of cold blood people, so I don’t feel sorry about how I made them feel. Can I move on now? Hell yes.

The most valuable lesson I learned from that winding journey was that:

I discovered how much I love connecting brands with influencers via online platforms. I’m passionate about writing email pitches to talented people, and their responses give me a mental high (every time!). And I also realized how exceptionally organized I was — to the extent that it has become the first impression people have about me.

Knowing the sparkling spots of oneself wasn’t easy, especially when we frequently face judgments from society and people around us. It took me years to finally accept my assets and regard them as my ultimate leverage in the dynamic working environment.