By Ariel Frechtman
One year ago today, I began my career with Jewish National Fund. And by "began my career" I mean: flew to New York for a 3 team day retreat, as the partially (okay mostly) terrified "new kid," without a having a single friend or even having read an employee handbook. (Relax, Karen from HR - they emailed it to me by the time I landed)
Here's what I've learned in the past 366 days (leap year; not a typo):
1. "Love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life" is a myth. I love what I do and I work hard every day of my life. What's important though is that I feel loved back and seen for my hard work.
2. Workplace trauma is really, really real. A toxic work culture will stay in your blood, brain, and body for a long time, and no matter how many times you try to "sweat it out," those toxins stick. However, a compassionate boss who leads with empathy will honor your trauma and support your healing - by standing next to you, not looking down at you.
3. It's okay to be a small (okay, maybe medium) fish in a big pond. Being the big fish in a small pond is all fun and games until you realize there's no room to grow. Enjoy being among the bigger, wiser fish. Follow them upstream, let them help you hunt for nourishment, let them shield you from the occasional predator, and, of course - "just keep swimming."
4. As it turns out, work-life balance is not a myth, and it's not just turning of email notifications on weekends. Work-life balance is the feeling that your life is more than "just" your work; understanding that no one will die on the operating table (thank you healthcare workers) because you didn't answer a call at 6pm ; knowing that if there's a fire while you're on vacation, someone will put it out and fill you in when you're back "on the clock"; that you are trusted not to punch a time card; that your boss (and your boss's boss, and your boss's boss's boss) care just as much about your personal well-being as they do about your professional results.
5. Your worst days don't define you. Working in a healthy work environment, in the absence of constant pressure to stretch yourself at every single moment means you can be both a professional and a HUMAN who makes mistakes. As long as you acknowledge, own and learn from those mistakes, you will still retain the respect you earned before your worst days. Every day is a new day; shake. it. off.
6. Not all bosses are created equally. If there is a soulmate version of a supervisor, I found mine (and not just because being born on the same day means our horoscopes align). Thank you Steffanie Altman for empowering me to be the best version of myself (professionally and otherwise), laughing with me, tough-loving me, and always, always, having the right thing to say. ✔️
7. Just like any new endeavor, working at new place is a marathon, not a sprint. Although I'm no longer the new, friend-less new kid (#WorkFriendsAreTheBestFriends), no one looks at me to know everything; I'm not expected to work until I breakdown; I'm not pressured to rise to the top or race to the front of the line; and so, I'm not exhausted. I'm healthy and happy, so the past 366 days have truly flown by.
I feel so lucky that Jewish National Fund found me. I started this job with very low expectations, having completely lost confidence in myself. I never thought I could end up in a workplace like this one, because I had let myself get to a place where I genuinely didn't think I deserved to. But every time I screw up; every time I lose; every time I'm wrong; every time I'm right; every time I win - I learn. I grow.
Thank you Jewish National Fund for such a special year! Here's to many more memories, mistakes, lessons, and adventures.
Ariel Frechtman lives in Atlanta and is the JNFuture Campaign Executive for Atlanta and Washington D.C.
