The right person
in the wrong place...
Blog by
Anouk Brummelhuis
For quite some time, I was in the wrong place. The work was fun. It was just the environment that didn’t suit me. But you have to want to see that. What did I do? I worked hard. I basically did four jobs instead of the one I was hired for. Because I enjoyed it, not because I was forced to. After five years, it happened. I became increasingly unfriendly. Restless. I was no longer myself. Overworked. I personally don’t want to call it burnout. But the light went out for a while.
Too much asked…
As a true-born Twentse (from Twente), working at an organization in the West was a fun challenge. I adapted quickly and made new friends. The mentality, however, was different. By nature, I am gentle, helpful, and love to make things easier for others. I started to adapt; I became tougher. If I had been better at setting boundaries, I would still be working there. However, my pitfall is putting others first, and myself second. And setting the bar way too high for myself. A nasty combination. Too much was asked of me, by others and by myself. I couldn’t go on that way.
I have talent!
I sought help. Together with a career coach, I discovered that the work I was already doing really suits me. I have a talent for juggling many and diverse tasks at once. Organizing everything in the background so that everyone can keep doing their own work well. It was a huge relief to learn that I was doing work that fits me. I actually thought I would have to do something completely different. But by understanding my pitfalls, I am now better at guarding my own boundaries. By better understanding that an organization needs to fit me as a person—in terms of values and the type of people. I want to do meaningful work, help people, and experience dynamism and freedom in my role.
Finding myself again
I found that at MEPD. We help people and organizations to further develop themselves. I find that very beautiful, personal, and genuine. The fact that I can contribute to that, even indirectly, makes me happy. There is an open culture, where people pay attention to each other. Issues can be discussed. I have largely found myself again. Looking back, the major dip has given me a lot. Insight into myself, my qualities, pitfalls, and my values. And I’m back in Twente. For now, I dare to confidently say: “The right person in the right place!”
The right person in the right place
What happens when you’re not in the right place… It’s something that still preoccupies me sometimes. When it just doesn’t feel right, do you listen to your gut feeling? Do you dare to give in to the urge to discover what really makes you happy? That’s a tough one. You step into uncertainty, oof… scary. But what is scarier? Staying where you can no longer be yourself. Where your energy is drained. Where there’s no energy left for all the fun things life has to offer? It’s a choice only you can make.
Do you recognize the story above?
Are you also struggling with the question of what really makes you happy? Let me know! Or start a conversation with one of our career advisors. We are happy to help you in your search for the right place. For your talent!
Anouk Brummelhuis
Office manager
With great pleasure, I take care of things for my colleagues, so that they can properly support and guide our clients and participants. It’s a fun, challenging job with plenty of variety.
