After almost 11 years, I'm finally resigning from Smart.
Whew. That's quite a statement to make, and it still feels 'ground-breaking' to me no matter how many times I have said it so far.
It's been quite a ride, these past 11 years, to think I never thought I'd stay this long in Smart. One of the reasons it took me so long to participate in the voluntary retirement plan is because I was never sure of staying here for a long time. I guess it's the intriga culture or maybe also the frequent leadership changes, but something always kept me from 'committing' long-term, yet here I am more than a decade already in the same company.
What led to this... I guess the long and short of it is that it's FINALLY time to move on. The rest are really details that make up the rest of the story, like this opportunity with VISA landed on my lap quite easily and unexpectedly, and it turns out Buddha had planned it for me all along. Or that my reasons for going back to Smart after TV5 became invalidated in the days leading up to my big decision. The bottom line is I am at peace with this move. I feel like I got Smart out of my system already, and have been able to do my part in helping the company. It's now time for me to proceed to my next professional adventure.
So off I go on the 31st of August, officially out of Smart and now a paying Smart subscriber ;) I thank the company for these past 11 years and for being so good to me and my family. It's given me many gifts over the past years and a number of them meant that my family and I were able to enjoy life in a bigger way. Our condo is in a big way courtesy of Smart. A lot of our trips and big luxurious experiences were also from the generosity of this company. So for that and the many friendships I've made in the office, I am grateful. It's the end of an era, as Guia likes to say (who COINCIDENTALLY is also leaving Smart at the same time as me haha!). I hope the next chapter is even more rewarding, fulfilling, exciting and life-enriching. :)
