[Poli]

Three months ago my boss was looking for any way he could to let me go or make me resign. Things were pretty tough for me in October and November...even early December. I was kinda hating life in the work-related capacity. I was fairly open to others that I was looking for something else at that time. I spoke to our lead technician about it. I spoke to other co-workers about it...even the foreman. I wasn't happy and I was pretty frustrated.

I get my end of year review and it wasn't very pretty but I still had a job. I expected some sort of bogus PIP plan. A plan that, at my company, is just a way for them to get a reason to let you go. Surprisingly, I didn't get it.

Three days later my boss calls me. When he calls, I automatically assume it's because he doesn't like something I've done. Instead, he's in dire need of a technician to respond to a customer about an hour away from St. Louis. The customer, a hospital, had a major problem with an antiquated HVAC controls system. My company was already in the process of negotiating a major upgrade to the system...easily a 6 digit big-money sort of upgrade. In the midst of it all, the system goes down.

The timing couldn't have been better. Just before Christmas. 3/4ths of the staff are on vacation. The only reason I'm not on vacation is I've burned through all my vacation days when I was short on work. The boss calls me basically because I'm his last resort. That's probably the only way I get that call.

I get them up in running in two days...through the snow on Christmas Eve no less. The customer is super impressed. Tells the boss they want me as their service technician when they go through with the upgrade...and now they're 100% positive they want the upgrade thanks to the quality of the service.

The day after Christmas I receive a call from the Edward Jones Dome the day of the last Rams home game. They're having a problem controlling the lighting there...and it's 40 minutes before game time. I'm at church. I take the call and talk the guy through. From there he's able to figure out the problem. He calls my boss to tell him that my help was very much appreciated.

Last week I got an "atta boy" from the same boss at the safety meeting and a "service reward" (read: gift card) for work at a local hotel. Outlook at work: A little better.

I got a call today from one our mechanics. He works at one of our biggest customers. Looks like I'm in line to pick up a day a week there working on their control system. I've got to meet with them some time this week.

Life is grand.