If I Don’t Believe in Myself, Then Who Will? By Malinée Ponselius
For many years ago in one of my 1-1 meetings with a former manager, I got the feedback “Malinée you’re not a people person and therefore we don’t think you are suitable to take the next step. And btw you don’t have a bachelor's degree and that is a must”. This employer said so many things and that's history. This might sound strange but I would not like to be without the experience. Maybe a cliché but it has shaped me to who I am today.
In the beginning of my HR career I wanted to become HR Manager… and thank god it’s not too late to change. During my last year I understood that projects and change management is my thing linked to HR. My story isn’t unique in any way. To say no or you can’t to me, obviously triggers something and If it’s good or bad, I'm not sure. It’s like saying “No one puts Babe in the corner”. Is it good or bad? The answer will probably vary depending on who you ask.
I have always liked to work a LOT. To have a “normal” working load is nothing for me. I get so bored and have no energy. Put me towards a really tight deadline with challenges and I will sparkle. My colleagues long for the weekends and vacations and me I long for Monday mornings. Going to work became my own “me-time”. While writing this I just realized that for the first time I decide over my time and future and this is big. It’s huge to realize that I actually have my future in my mindset and in my hand.
Who am I?
For the first time in my life, I have a lot of time to do things I really enjoy doing (just for myself).
My top 5 used skills every day (works both home and at work)
Communication
Sort between feelings and facts
Learn to focus really fast
Problem solving
Take action/deliver in time even though the I only have 24 hours a day
I live in Sundbyberg outside Stockholm with my family (David and our 3 soon to be young adults (15,16,19) and 2 cats. I started to study HR courses remotely during my second son’s maternity leave. During this period, I decided to reach my goal - to get my bachelor's degree. I studied a lot, and it took some years (with parallel studies, few hours of sleep and more than full time work) and in 2014 I reached my goal !
Friends and colleagues say I have so much energy and that I’m such an early adopter… maybe I am, however not for SoMe. It was not long ago I found out that I had messages on Instagram. Yesterday I had a colleague that said that I was so modern when I sent her a voice message. Maybe that says more of our age than anything else….and hey it’s not to late to learn something new!
My decision making
During Q4 2021 I took the decision to say no to an offer with my previous employer because it was not in line with what I wanted for myself. For the first time I actually stood up for myself and I said NO and resigned. Why did I do it? I know I can do so much more. I want to do more, I want to work with the topics I thrive for. I want to learn more! I’m too curious to be “caved”.
I should lie if I said I wasn’t scared. Some minutes it was like jumping on a roller coaster from hell but most of the time I was relieved and calm. I did the right thing for me, right? Who the hell resign first without having a new job or assignment to go to? - Yepp that’s me.
Was it a good decision you might wonder? Yes, the best ever! There will be ups and downs of course, but the most important thing is that I’m willing to do what it takes. I don’t think I would be where I am today if it wasn’t for my grit, discipline and my curiosity.
My latest milstones
December 22nd 2021 I had my last day as an employee and at 15.00 the same day I signed my first assignment for a year as Project Manager.
January 15th 2022 I went out as a consultant to my own customer, and what a feeling that was.
I think my “usp'' is my bridge between HR, different stakeholders, my experience of implementation of HR systems and my curiosity, getting things done in time and people.
I add value through my knowledge within HR Projects and ordinary HR, change management, digitalization and project management and by building trust.
Personal change happen when I started the program TIR (Thinking Into Result) with Palwasha Feizi as my coach in January 2022. A few months in the program I took my first big Quantum Leap (reached my first money goal). There's so much to learn and today I’m trying to put the material into practice every day. On top of this I got the questions to be Palwasha’s Successor Advisor (so outside my comfort zone… but I took the opportunity and said Yes (since I know what the program did for me).
Recently I started a side-track to my ordinary business within social commerce.This is also out of my comfort zon. Let's see what the future will take me. I’ll see it as a good journey along the way to reach my goal. The future is bright and I’m looking forward to meet and collaborating with like-minded people in various constellations.
Reach for the STARS and DREAM BIG
To sum it up - Believe in yourself, stick to your plan, be with like-minded people, do things that give you energy, ask for help, get inspired and be persistent, do your best and walk the extra mile whenever you can!
If something is difficult, don’t wait, just do it, solve it! Don’t wait. Act even if it’s a small baby step. One baby step forward is better than not doing anything at all. The most important thing. Nurture your good thoughts. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?
Don’t be shy - ping me if you want to ask me something, take a digital break or meet IRL.
Malinée Ponselius | LinkedIn
www.dufvebolconsulting.com
Until we meet - The only way is up🚀
Malinée
