Thanks again hvert! I do appreciate your thoughts.

I'm feeling a lot less like quit quitting. At this point I'm doing everything I can to keep busy and not think about all of that stuff. Thinking about it isn't changing anything and only really hurting me.

I hear you about keeping this in perspective and thinking the worst. I've struggled with that in other areas as well. My ability to predict the future is pretty terrible. So, I'll let this process do what it needs.

I work in a professional office setting, but being in IT I normally just dress business casual. Yesterday I wore a sport coat. That caught a bit of attention. If I get the position I want and need to feel more professional and authoritative for my department and the business we support. If I don't get it, I still need to feel that, but additionally for other groups in the company and other companies. It felt good yesterday, so going to keep doing that.

So, by stopping thinking about the promotion and focusing on the only thing I do control, me, I've been feeling better and things are working in my favor to be more visible across the company. No matter what happens with the promotion I should be OK. I will be disappointed that the "American dream" of hard work leading to advancement, doesn't actually work that way. But they are leaning on me for help which is an awesome feeling.

Thanks hvert!