Perspective

Sometimes I underestimate myself. It's not that I forget I'm pretty smart, or even that I possess an IQ above MENSA-level, but I do tend to forget when I've (consciously and purposely) put myself in challenging situations. Since I've always been on the bright side, I have minor mental freak-outs when something doesn't come easily to me in an instant. I'm not some heavy over-achiever, but I do have the desire to learn about absolutely everything that interests me (aye, that's the rub!) and tend to soak things up quickly if there's even the least bit of interest.

Yesterday (first day on the job)-- "Holy crap! So much stuff! How am I going to learn this all? Why haven't I figured out all of the intricacies and inner workings of all projects and applications? I've read all the manuals and not everything is sticking (this was at the point when I didn't even have all the access I needed nor even my own computer-- I'd hijacked someone else's for the day).

Fast forward to today (second day on the job)-- "Oh, hey, look-- it does that. Oh, and that! Oh, and hey, look over there-- the stuff I couldn't find yesterday because I hadn't figured out the details of the hierarchy! (Mind you, I still didn't have my own computer today. I was squatting in someone else's office while they were out. AND, she'd made upgrades to her system that made half of what I was trying to do inoperable... but I could see the details and how it would work if I could). Ooooooooh, I think I get it! I at least get things on a conceptual level, which is important. I also have to keep in mind that I'm not on the technical team and no longer have to know how to do everything from analysis to support to development ;) (although you know I'll be perusing the sys admin guide as soon as I can get my hands on it, haha).

Of course, these are all pieces to the puzzle at hand, but I made some good steps. The differences between this and former systems with which I've worked are beyond nuances. And when talking to the other BA on my team (my counterpart) and had asked her a question, she'd pointed out something we'd been talking about earlier that I hadn't associated to the practical objects. I gave an, "Oh, of course! That makes sense now (because it did). I just hadn't placed it with anything tangible. Ugh."

She gave me a "you're crazy" look and said, "Hey, you're already getting the terminology down, that's GREAT! It's only your second day!"

Of course, in my head it's. "Oh, no! It's already my second day!". It's all about proper perspective. Did I mention the other BA goes on vacation for two weeks beginning next week? Yeah.

So, I'm feeling far less hammered than yesterday. Tomorrow I'll even have my own computer on my desk and can start setting things up and begin to "move in", so to speak.