17

This month of the year marks my 17 years in the so-called aid industry. I may have not seen much operational/logistical/disaster/funding-related ordeals or have been in many hot spots nor have dealt with nerve-wrecking hardships compared to my colleagues. Trust me, there are other better die-harder aid workers out there, who actually are making a lot of difference and helping the world to become a better place

My top achievements were not about not reaching the top of my career, producing breakthrough deliverables, and earning top dollars. I did not even go to top school for my graduate degree. I am as local as you can get.

My best streaks are doing plain hard work and contributing to human capital that the industry can actually use: I managed to coach a handful of reliable, dependable people.

In year 17, these are what I heard from some of them:

• “I wouldn’t have reached this position if it hasn’t been for you.” (A person who just got promoted following my advice on taking up a degree in tertiary education);
• “Thanks to you, now I have the skills that I’m using to improve myself.” (A person who joined a training I organized many years ago and applied the skills in actual work);
• “Would you give me a reference? I’m applying for this job.” (A former team member, applying for position that is better than mine);
• “That is a really good advice. Thank you.” (A former colleague).

Apart from those expressions of thank-yous and gesture of respect from fellow colleagues, what made my day today comes surprisingly unannounced:

“You are in my top 10 of best hires I made.” – A former employer.

I think when the going gets tough, I shall remember that I made that cut, no matter how big or small the size and ranks of the “best hires”. For me, it’s always the trust that matters.

To anybody who’s interested in aid industry, the world is your oyster. Go get ’em, Tiger!

Image source: https://www.pinterest.com/robyn6667/17/