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The team has spent almost the entire week defining what we do, where we are, what is our focus and planning for 2023. This involves backfilling for a colleague who followed other opportunities (same role as I have) and opening a position for a new role that hasn't existed earlier. We have found the "new me" already and today, I think I identified, informed and created interest to very quickly internally fill the new role. 

This role is something that the people it effects (internally), expected I was going to fill, as I have been laying the ground work, building the program and winning the "hearts and minds" for what is to come for the last six months in my "spare" time. As if I have any of that. But, I have effectively been told that I am not the person for this, not because I can't do it, but because I am needed where I am , as there is no one yet able to replace me.

>Irreplaceable


![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/tarazkp/23wMYCFKv1HppvQDt4ooRTiCqvp6kSaxTqEq8dEMf6dty4gZPXtCUzHhH8xqSAZPMhKks.png)


What a load of crap that is. 

*We are all replaceable.* The past is littered with the bodies of the irreplaceable, yet here we are, continuing on without them. So, why is it that if I was to die they could replace me, but if I want to move to a new role, they won't?

>Convenience.

Now, I am not even sure I would want to do the role anyway, even though I could do the role and many might want me to do it, but I don't like the idea of having options taken off of my table because it is convenient for others. And, because I have already done the groundwork of building most of the program, so they would be walking into a far easier situation than they would otherwise. 

After the colleague left a few months ago, I discovered that much of what they said they had done over the prior six months was actually *not done* at all. And, since I am now having to do their job, I have to go through it all and make sure that it is done, so I don't look incompetent when talking to the same people they used to connect with. Because they put all the effort on dealing with the people and none on the backend, people thought they were really good at the position, but they weren't in the position long enough for it all to catch up to them. Now I am there, just in time for it to catch up. 

But, perhaps this is the way I like conditions, because I seem to keep ending up in these kinds of circumstances. Perhaps I am seen as a type of "clutch player" - or probably more likely, a workhorse. Nothing wrong with that in the short-term of things, but it is unsustainable in the longer view, because unless there is progression of career and experience, it becomes a form of job slavery - too important to lose, not important enough to reward.

>There has to be a payoff. 

Employment is trading time and skills for money, as well as other rewards like status and opportunity, as well as stability and reliability. It is an agreement of terms and in general, it has to be that the employer gets more value than the employee, otherwise the business model fails. However, the model is also built to give rewards to others too, and this is how many businesses fail, by over-rewarding some, while under-rewarding others. Eventually, people who feel under-rewarded leave and there are not enough people who can actually do the necessary work left, no matter how much they are paid. Then they have to rehire, and that comes with its own set of problems, especially if they have earned the reputation of not being able to retain talent. 

The company I work for doesn't have this problem for the most part, because there is a fair amount of nurturing talent going on, where investments are made into growing the skillsets and opportunities of employees, as well as offering a generally good working environment. However, when there are times like these where there are limited options, concessions have to be made, on both sides. 

Despite the work, for now, I am "happy enough" in my role that I would keep doing it anyway, especially considering the current economic environment. Moving for money or an easier role might be possible, but there really aren't that many companies out there that care much for their people, despite what their advertising says.

By the looks of things, 2023 is going to be another incredibly busy year for the small team I am in, but there are also a few potential opportunities I see arising. But by then at least, I definitely won't be "irreplaceable", so more options will be back on the table. 

If I make it that far. 

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]


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