And I finally got the promotion that i've been looking for since I started in this job in 2012.

I say 'finally', but this is actually the first time I applied for it. There have been positions previously, but I didn't bother, because I didn't think I had enough experience (or enough pairs of trainers).

But a few months ago, I was asked to voluntarily move from backshift to dayshift - voluntarily take a pay cut, basically - and I agreed to.

I remember this raising a few a eyebrows at the time, not least among the Nigels of this world. Or more concisely, among Nigel. Why would I voluntarily take a pay cut?

And I said that I was playing the long game, and that I hoped doing it would stand me in good stead when promotion opportunities came up.

Four months down the line, and I can conclusively say it has. The plan worked. Some positions came up lately, I applied, and was successful in getting one.

I mean . . . I wasn't just down to me voluntarily agreeing to change shift. I've also worked my f*ckin' arse for three years now, been a model employee, and so on. And those efforts have been rewarded.

I know that sounds very right wing, and I feel uncomfortable saying it. I still believe there is no correlation at all between corporate concepts of what hard work and worth is, and the reality and complexity of peoples' lives.

But within that corporate framework, i've been exemplary, and this promotion is worth an extra £400 a month after tax. Which isn't peanuts.

And the trainers . . . going to work in a new pair of trainers every once in a while probably does help set the right impression. Again, within a superficial corporate framework.

But it worked. It worked. And here I am now.