sowhat_alex

My kids are back in school now on a hybrid mode, 50% online/50% in person, which equals 100% ineffective. The bottom line is, it is not working. The technology is halfway there, still has long ways to go. Teachers and school districts (overall) are not trained to deal with it. Kids do not have the discipline either. But, it is what it is, and all I can do is try to compensate it by using some of the time with them at home to teach things that the school will not cover (e.g., cooking, financial literacy).

First of all, sorry to hear about going through hard times in your personal life. We are not machines, all facets of our lives related to each other. My first advice is: be kind to yourself. You are not alone, we are all broke one way or another.

As for the job, I used to be a director in a large global financial institution, and every now and then an younger colleague would approach on tips to be a leader. I will give you the short version answer: if you want to be a leader, someone that does work that matters, that is emotionally engaged on the work at hand, then just be it. Leadership is not given, it is taken, it is an attitude.

Seems like you have the potential to be and want to be a leader, but was derailed for one reason or another.

Rethink where you want to go. Set your priorities right. You are the CEO of YOU (https://sowhat.substack.com/p/hiring-the-ceo-of-you)

Best of luck!

Improve the culture. Processes, tech stack, productivity, these are just tasks. If there is a culture of continuous improvement then those tasks are always being improved. Better is not a destination, it is the journey.