Week 5:
It’s a Cruel Summer

July 2, 2022

This was one hell of a week. The unfortunate circumstance we employees at the company faced was that Andrea (the chief executive) caught COVID. Monday was a regular day like any other, but I still felt she was a bit weary. Then on Tuesday morning, I read an email from her that she has fallen victim to the disease and will not be in office the whole week. Right after that, I got notified by my senior co-workers that everyone would have to test themselves for the next two days. As the reader could probably gather, the start to the next few days did not start on a cheerful note. But what was even worse was that the employees’ morale was not as it was last week. It was clear that Andrea’s absence affected their productivity. To make matters worse, there were two tastings this week. Our lead wedding specialist knew how to host a tasting and interact with clients, but she was just nervous; so, I offered to sit in the tasting and face the clients with her. I really did take some pressure off her shoulders, and the tastings, along with the rest of the week, did not turn out so bad. I just hope Andrea is getting well and coming back on Tuesday.

Andrea recommended the book Elevate two weeks ago, and I finished it last weekend; but was not too thrilled to know that I would not be discussing it with her this Tuesday. However, I believe I will get the chance to do so on Monday. I am confident that this book is instrumental to positive change for anyone who reads it as the book helped me improve my mindset. Before reading, I thought it would be about elevating, motivating, and helping your employees improve as an entrepreneur or inspire a positive change in the people around you. Instead, it is actually about elevating yourself, reaching new heights, and building your capacity. It talks about physical, mental, and spiritual capacity and how to improve those areas of your life so you can be your best self for others as well. The book emphasizes improving yourself before influencing others so you can be effective at what you do and people can actually learn from you, and I could not agree more. The quote in the image above emphasizes conviction, and it is what I believe in. This was the perfect book recommendation.

Life outside of the office has definitely been interesting as well. The picture above is one from the last week when I was about to enter downtown, and I recorded the temperature. The picture is a nice one but what is imprinted on it is not entirely appealing. Ever since that day, the temperature has stayed in the 80s, and, on a good day, it is in the late 70s. It is not exactly comfortable walking around when the temperature is like the one present in the image. Still, I managed to get around the city in the last two weeks -and will continue to do so- partly because I am used to the heat being even worse than this back home.

I am used to adverse circumstances, and I know that facing dilemmas are part of life; but it is how you face and respond to those dilemmas that defines you. That, for me, is one of the pillars of self-development, and I am glad to get enough experience as an intern to say that I am improving day by day in all areas of life just as I promised myself.