Status Snob! (Am I an Associate Director??)

 Hahah... so there's this quote in The Mindy Project where she comically says, I love exclusive things. Don't we all! Well, probably not all.

But apparently, I am a status snob, somewhat. 

I literally just hours ago was lamenting about how unfinished my career felt since leaving the Call Center.

Then I had a meeting this morning with my new manager and in going over how to fill out the mandated development goals she was like your long term goal would be Director level since you're an Associate Director.

I didn't say anything the first couple times she said it, but then it was revealed that my title actually just says Writer.

Apparently based on my salary band (alone), I should be an Associate Director!

Game changer! Literally, the exact same job but my oh my, what a difference a title makes!! Who knew! I guess re-branding really can have some psychological effects.

I went from feeling bottom of the totem pole (which was fine given my need to disconnect the over-achiever in me) and hoping to coast to FIRE under the radar to quite some puff in my chest. Let me tell you! 

It's slightly bittersweet because I thought the rank was:

Writer

Manager

Associate Director

Director and so on...

And I thought if I was getting paid this much as Writer, then my oh my what room for salary growth! 

But I'm already near the top! I can't be bothered with that just yet.

I'm an Associate Director (AD) y'all!

I literally remember when I was applying for some of the Med Info jobs in the dark ages, I was noticing 5 years out, a lot of my industry peers were ADs. I think it was 5 years, yeah, it was 5 years. I remember thinking how accomplished they were and how much responsibility and respect from the company they must have. 

But alas, it's just another #Officelie.  

Side note - I was reading posts on askamanager.org and she said something to the effect of having to speak "Office" in some of these office communications. I love that! 

Anyway, the narratives I spin with Office milestones.

I guess this must be what it's like when I watch all those "Wives" reality shows and they make such a big deal of going from girlfriend to wife... eventhough no one was waiting to do anything differently outside of the marriage as in it. 

Yes, friends. Just like that I feel some responsibility to perform and take action and ownership of things. 

I'm an AD, y'all! It feels awesome!! 

In case you can't tell, it feels really really good! 

For whatever reason, it's changed my entire perspective. Like maybe the last 6 years weren't for nothing. I know it's solely based on pay, but I had to do work to command that pay, right?! It was the recognition I was looking for! It's what I've maintained from Old Job - all she had to do was tell me I was the best and give me a dollar of her own me, is what I would glibly say because it was essentially true. 

Even if I'd gotten a title change in title only with same level of (over-worked) responsibility, it would be something to acknowledge my hard work, you know! I literally said it to her! 

This is it! 

This feels awesome! 

I spend so much time trying not to feel good because the fall is so great, but I'm soaking in this moment to the fullest. Especially after reading an entire year's worth of grumblings and groans!

Today, I feel blessed.

And it's great too because I can create this awesome narrative in my mind and on my career profile to make it look like I was "promoted" after 2 months. I'm going to include it in our company profile as Writer - Aug 2021 and AD - Oct 2021 eventhough it essentially should have been AD from the beginning... hehe... 

Hey, for consolation prizes... this is the BEST!

This is literally what I asked for!