Time for Change | Time to Reflect

Reflection

On Saturday, F.G.O. proudly presented Bellini's rarely performed masterpiece Norma. It was a triumph by every definition of the word: vocally, dramatically, theatrically... Critics and audiences have been raving. Many have said that this is the best show FGO has ever performed, and I would have to agree. 

I am proud to have spent two years with this organization, and it does sadden me to think that I will no longer be playing an active role in this organization. Opening weekends are always thrilling–either riding the waves of an exhilarating triumph or anxiously anticipating a negative review. Opera truly is a rollercoaster, both on stage and off. This intense sense of pride in your team is addictive and deeply gratifying. 

Leaving this organization after such an accomplishment has really made me stop and consider whether or not I made the right decision. Opera has been, and will continue to be, a huge part of my life and the thought of not being a part of it hurts. However, when I think about my "9-5" (okay, more like 8:30-6:30), I was so unfulfilled (and, oftentimes, very unhappy) that I do think my decision to move on is best.

(Plus, I can always continue to work for FGO in a volunteer capacity. After all, non-profits are always looking for dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers. Who better than an ex-employee?)

Below are my reasons for wanting to move on...

Specialization

One of my primary reasons for seeking other opportunities is my desire to specialize in a field. It is one of my long-term goals, and I had it listed under an "unofficial New Year resolution." However, you never would have guessed this by my current job responsibilities. 

People around the office would often say "This is Brittany... she does everything." For a while, I took a lot of pride in being the "Jane of all trades" of the office. It was never boring, and I got to work with a lot of different people on a wide variety of tasks. However, after about a year of this, I found that when you are good at everything, you are simultaneously great at nothing.

My Public Relations efforts were satisfactory but far from noteworthy. My Social Media Marketing was engaging, but because my attention was being split in so many directions, I could not engage with our fan base as consistently as necessary. Finally, my day-to-day schedule fluctuated so significantly that I could not plan ahead and often returned home completely burnt out.

This vicious cycle of simply getting things done all day, and returning home exhausted, left me with little energy to develop my skills. Even if the energy was there - which skills do I develop? Public Relations was part of my title, but I honestly had little interest in that. Digital marketing was a field that really fascinated me, but we had someone else in the organization that could manage our campaigns (even though I was called in on a regular basis to assist). Web design, video editing, graphic design, copywriting... the list goes on. Where to narrow my focus?

When the position to be "Digital Marketing Specialist" at the Humane Society of Broward County presented itself, I knew that I, at least, had to try. Thankfully, they are willing to take a chance on me, and I start this new chapter of my life next Monday.

Shedding An Old Reputation

Earlier today I had my exit interview, which was a bittersweet experience. It was nice feeling so valued and appreciated, but it saddened me because it took me quitting to have these sentiments come to light.

One of the talking points that came up during this discussion was how, although I had matured as both an individual and an employee, my workload and employee relations didn't really reflect this. I had been hired by FGO as an intern, promoted to an assistant in both Marketing & Development, and finally promoted to PR Manager. However, despite all of these promotions, I did not lose any job responsibilities. Plus, I was still being treated like an assistant.

When you are promoted to a managerial position, a certain amount of autonomy is assumed. Unfortunately that was not the case with my promotion. I felt as though my job title should either be "Dumpster" or "Fire Extinguisher," for 60-75% of my day consisted of having job assignments dumped on my desk OR people begging me to assist with an urgent task.

Of course, I tried to say "no," but when your immediate supervisor is #1 culprit, you reorganize your schedule to make it work. Needless to say, this led to burnout and resentment.

Speaking of Reputations...

If I may speak candidly, I was also not very proud of my team here at the opera. We regularly (bordering on almost always) miss sales goals, and yet we hardly ever experimented with new marketing techniques or ROI tracking to increase effectiveness.

My team had a bad reputation, and no amount of effort on my end seemed to impact my team's efforts nor the outcome of our "efforts." They are satisfied with what they are doing, but I am not.

In addition, not everyone on the FGO staff actively believes in the organization's mission. Some actually speak vehemently against it. When we're fighting tooth and nail for every donation dollar, the last thing anyone should be doing is working against the mission of a benevolent organization.

However, I cannot 100% blame these individuals. Not long before I arrived, the organization was under terrible leadership and the organization's reputation suffered. The past 2-3 years have been an uphill battle towards regaining the respect of our South Florida community, and it hasn't been easy.

We're making great strides, and most facets of the organization are improving. But, there are teams (such as marketing) which are still operating like it's 2008, and I want to be part of a team that's forward-thinking, (dare I say) hopelessly optimistic, and driven towards a bright, successful future. 

- - -

Like I said, I am sad to be leaving this 75-year-old organization that I have grown to love. When asked in my interview if I would like to return someday, I honestly responded, "Yes." However, I added that I would only return if my job responsibilities and team evolved and improved. Thankfully this comment was met with understanding.

I am glad to be leaving on such a candidly honest note. I am even more grateful that it was as well-received as it was. These past two years have been some of the best in my life. They have also been the most challenging. I've made lifelong friends, met countless visionaries, and learned more skills than I could possibly master. 

My time at this company has made me stronger and more confident, and I cannot wait to see what this next opportunity has in store for me.