Groundhog day, sometimes

I just wanted to write down how I felt earlier yesterday, my first day in another job, another company, another set of people to work with, another set of rules to live by and another risk taken. I've moved from company to company since I've started working at age 19 and an orientation in a new company may seem like something to become jaded about...but there is always an element of excitement for me, no matter how many times I've gone through it.

For now I will hold off talking about this current company of mine since I've yet to see how it goes and prove to myself how I can handle this major change. Some would say I must be mad, trading off something familiar with something uncertain, regardless of how the company's brand stand out, and I can probably hear about the line in playing to your strengths instead of going after the weaknesses. Of course, having the company's office within walking distance of one's domicle is a plus factor!

However, not only was the environment, the culture I've heard about, and the first day of orientation group dynamics good enough to make me happy about my decision to take the plunge but during the day while watching a couple of videos about the company, as well as about the antics of its people (ngek, may spoof pa kay GMA, and The Ring, complete with authentic Japanese dialogue subtitles, made by the employees and starring the employees and which pokes fun about the work they do, makes you wonder if they just do videos the whole day!), at some point it made me teary-eyed, metaphorically speaking of course.

I got reminded me of the videos and case studies about this company in B-school. As I walked back home, all I could recall after the day was done was of how one of the major founders emphasized how important it was to take risks. He said it more magically than I ever could, but the idea was the same. This line reverberated inside me as I walked home. To think that they put themselves at risk to do something which would turn out to make things better for people, that is something I would like to do myself again and again. I've tried to start something like this in my previous companies and although its not in the magnitude of these guys but its humbling to think I may have the measure of success they have in the future, who knows?

It is inspiring, it is terrifying to step up to the plate, but in the end, if one surpasses that particular hurdle, no other feeling can compare with it. And to see, years later how one's particular actions inspired other people and practically spawned an entire new paradigm...all I can say is..."wow, awesome, coolness!"