You say goodbye

…I say thank you.

On Friday, I sent my last email as an employee of Standard Life Aberdeen. I’ve received many of these goodbye messages over the years, and it’s been a bit odd writing one for myself. However, it’s great to be able to say thank you.

Here’s what I wrote to the folks at work.

Thanks for all the joy – and challenges – of working with each and every one of you!

It’s been 8,344* days since I started working as a direct temp in the claims department for Executive Pensions. I had no idea what it was like to work in an office. Never mind knowing what a pension was. I was meant to be a musician, for goodness sake!

The joys of collecting and filing microfiche and original documents – and checking Guaranteed Minimum Pension calculations were my starting point.

Twenty managers, fifteen role changes and eight buildings later, 31 May is my last working day for Standard Life Aberdeen** – and I leave with a lot to be grateful for.

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” (Douglas Adams)

I have worked with some brilliant, bright and bonkers people over the years. There’s always been the zoomers but we’ll not dwell on them too long… 

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to grow my skills in communication, marketing, digital development and leading teams (I’d agree with those who’d say I have plenty more to learn in each of these areas!).

My family have had a roof over our heads, food to eat and a place to sleep. And a whole lot more too.

There’s been plenty of happy memories as I’ve reflected on all those great days. As you’d expect, there’s a number of things that I’d do differently having learned from it the first time around!

I really have nothing to complain about. It’s all life and it’s all learning.

It wouldn’t be an email from me without a set of bullets, so here’s a few work things that I remember with a smile:

  • Being part of a team trusted to come up with a plan on improve how our department looked after customers and making it happen (“customer’s needs and expectations drive our actions”
  • Those full-on, immersive TCF events and countless strategy meetings and huddles
  • Staff contribution award nights
  • Staff and family barbecues at Silverfield
  • Taking seven weeks off in 2015 to visit New Zealand with Jenny when she was finishing her Midwifery degree (I heartily recommend taking a career break when you can!)
  • Being involved in some of the biggest client Corporate Pensions wins
  • Surviving auto-enrolment and the period from 2011-2014
  • Being part of 56° and working with Capability Scotland
  • Working with developers, writers, designers and content managers to create new components and launch multiple websites over the years (mostly under crazy project names!)
  • And through it all, getting to work with some brilliant people and hopefully shining a little light in the process

I know I‘ll be looking for new things to do in the near future, but for now, there will be a little time to enjoy being Husband and Dad –  then we’ll see what happens next.

Please receive this as a heartfelt *thank you* for being part of the journey.

I pray you know hope, grace and peace and we can keep in touch if that’s something that you’re up for.

“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

All the very best for the future. Life is short, live it well. There’s a lot to look forward to…

Andy Weir

* 5960 working days, give or take a few

** I’ll be available for new work from the middle of August, in case you’d like to know. I don’t know what that will look like but get in touch if you want to chat about that!

7 Replies to “You say goodbye”

  1. Hi Andy, at 64 having had businesses and all the stresses that go with it, neither do it. Yet apart from the house it’s refreshing not to be apart from all that goes with it. However, in amongst what I’d call a depressurising time, my self worth has taken quite a battering. I hope you don’t suffer this.
    i wish you well on the next stage of life and am enjoying the blog !
    P

  2. Thanks Paul – I hope to avoid that crash you’ve experienced, and value the encouragement/warning!

    Grace and peace,

    W

  3. All the best for the future Andy. I certainly enjoyed my time working with you. Take care 😊

    1. Thanks Angie. A really positive memory of my early time in the business was that team we helped build!

  4. A fine sign-off, Andy. Enjoy the rarity of a peaceful, open-ended few weeks while you choose “where next”! Enjoyed our real beers tonight – quite a novelty!

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