Some Additional Thoughts on Passion

This is going to be one of those posts where I ramble a bit about what's meaningful to me and matters in the way I view life. I know some of my readers like these posts, connect with them and that some of you are just waiting to find out what's going on with Dr. Mario; but writing these posts is important to me and, in a way, has to do with why I quit my job those many months ago.

A few things have happened in the last week that have really opened my eyes a bit to who/what I want to be. Very much like the conference I went to a few weeks back (see: Reaffirming Conferences?) these things are helping me to see what's truly important. The details aren't important but I will tell you that I planned an event for my job - something we'd never tried or done and I was nervous to the point of freak out about how well it would go. I also helped a friend with a project of hers that means a lot to her and has grown to hold a dear place in my heart too.

Like I said, the details aren't important. It doesn't even matter necessarily how many people I touched/reached/brought together. What does matter is how I felt about these things and what they have shown me.

I am a passionate person - I'm sort of known for over-emoting - but there are a few things that really dig deep for me, that connect with a part of me that lives in my core (and because it is so core, sometimes might get overlooked). I am really good at connecting with people and I really love it. I love to bring people together around a cause - whether it's 2 or 10 or 100 people - and I love to connect people to each other, to me, to a cause, to... whatever they need to be connected to.

There are career paths and things that are always important to someone who is ambitious - money, title, management experience, etc. - but it's important to remember that there is a life path too. A life of passion, happiness, and engagement... a life that is full of purpose and focus... how do you account for that when you calculate your net worth?

It's something that I admit, I'm not great at remembering when I think about success. In a world where we accrue value in a very monetarily driven way, it can be easy to de-value emotions and connections. The moments when you see those things - those emotions and connections - is beyond valuation.

Reaffirming Conferences?

I haven't posted since 3/2!? That is absurd. But, I assure you there has been no resting on my laurels. Things have been pretty intense lately. The pile of books I have read - and not written about yet - is growing; the Dr. Mario world record seems... well... far off. And GMAT? Oh right, I put that down as a goal. Yikes.

Before I dig back in though, I had to write about a conference I went to last week. Through the not-so-new-anymore new job, I was shuttled off to Austin for SXSH - an unconference focused on healthcare and social media. Now I know that "unconference" is the hip, new way to have a conference but this was structured enough not to give me an aneurism but allowed for some great impromptu conversations. P.S. I even spoke at the conference! But that's not my focus for today.

The conference itself was little unnerving for me at first - all those people I didn't know, talking about something that is new to me, etc. But that one day did more to invigorate me and reaffirm my choices than something has in quite awhile. I've always known that I am the type of person that thrives in these types of environments - I always leave with roughly a million ideas to implement - but this was a bit different for a personal, rather than job-specific, reason.

I've been struggling a bit lately with what I see as my "life plan." Don't get me wrong, I love what I am doing and where I am but I'm always looking forward, thinking about my next steps and where I want to be. Goals - you know I love them. And honestly, I've felt a bit lost lately. What do I want to do? What are my major goals? I think about school a lot but I'm not entirely sure what to study and I don't want to go back to school just to have a step.

SXSH was, ironically, a great place for me to be with this state of mind. It's great to be in a room full of passionate, like minded people but more than that, a life path was unveiled to me that... well, I guess I hadn't let myself linger on in the past. It's easy for me to get caught up in definites - "I want to be a VP of marketing," "I want to own my own company." But, I have been known to choose goals based more on notoriety and "success" than my own true callings.

What did I learn? Something that I probably already knew and that might be obvious to those of you who already know me. I do not really want to be a traditional VP of Marketing (though owning my own company still appeals to me!). The things that I do that speak to me, that get me going are the types of consumer/patient advocacy that I have been lucky enough to implement in the last couple of positions. I want to build communities but even more than that, I want to activate people. I want to change the way a person feels or thinks or acts by my interaction with them. I don't have to start a movement or anything but I have to be honest - I'm not all that excited about writing creative briefs.

Is it weird to say that customer service and interaction might be what I want to do for real!? Customer Service + Community Building + Ownership of Consumers.

Job Search To Dos

This morning I read an interesting post at Applicant on the 7 Things You Need to do Each Day When Searching for a Job. It brought me back to the time when a giant post it note with 3 columns ruled my life... when it became clear to me that I absolutely needed to leave my job, I went about it in the way I go about most things by making (an incredibly anal-retentive, over-achieving, neurotic) list.

My list was simple:
1. Apply for a job
2. Make a connection
3. Think something positive

EVERY DAY. For me, this worked great. Yes, I didn't do every thing, every day, but the focus kept me moving forward. I always felt like I was making a step forward every day (whether or not I actually was). Applying to a job every day was fairly easy - don't get me wrong, they weren't all targeted but it at least got my name out there consistently.

For overall job searches, I found that using today's tools really helped me. I created RSS feeds for many of my job searches and every day I was bombarded by listings. Again, it doesn't mean that they were all good postings but it really helped beat the job search ennui that threatened to overtake me on a regular basis. I also connected with anyone and everyone I thought reasonable and possible. I reached out and made connections everywhere I went. Suffice to say, I was exhausted a lot of the time.

What are your job search tips? Anyone?

Check out these links for more great job search tips:
Applicant: 7 Things You Need to do Each Day When Searching for a Job
Help Wanted Hawaii: 10 Recession Job Search Tips
About.com's Job Search Tips

Review Time!

I know I haven't spoken much about The New Job - mostly because there have been other things to focus on (like getting the world record in Dr. Mario). That said, The New Job has been going pretty swimmingly. I like the folks I work with, I'm learning a ton, I'm challenged and engaged, I don't hate my commute and there's always something going on downtown to watch from my window.

I have noticed that it's hard to kick the reactions that are beaten into you through an abusive workplace. I find myself being a little skittish and unsure of myself sometimes here (things I am not readily identified with in normal life) and I'm trying to get over it, put it behind me, etc. Everyone has been exceedingly positive and I have to guess that they're pleased with my work - fingers crossed - because they don't seem like big fakers to me but...

All of that aside, I angled for a 90 day review in my offer letter (I'm not getting down to specifics but it had something to do with compensation) and tomorrow I am having my mid period check in (45 day review?). I am pretty at ease about it but there's a little part of me that is nervous... what ifs, ya know? I wouldn't say this is particularly abnormal for me - I tend to get nervous about things a lot. Maybe I am paranoid? And they usually turn out fine.

So, think of me tomorrow during your lunch hour. Constructive criticism is a great thing when done right and I'm fairly confident that it will be handled well. Eating a BLT during the pre-review review certainly can't hurt!

Corporate America is Missing the Trust

Hello dear readers! Today is the last day of my first week at the new job - say that three times fast - and it feels like the perfect day to say shame on you to corporate America for the lack of trust they seem to show their workers. Now, I have to admit that the caveat to this is I've never really worked for corporate America. I've only spent 6 months at a company that had more than 75 employees and yes, it was the worst.

However, generalization isn't always wrong.

I'm sure you're all familiar with the first week at a new job phenomenon wherein you don't check your facebook page or your personal email or anything else online in order to appear the fastidious, hardworking employee you promised them you were. I admit, I started the week that way myself but then I experienced something unexpected. My new company actually said to me "we find it helps if you have gmail up all day."

Whaaa?

I mean, okay. If they want gmail up all day, I will have gmail up all day. Has it significantly distracted me from work? No. Has it prevented me from learning and absorbing all week? No. If anything, it's helped me to relax. I don't have to panic and hide my email each time a coworker comes near. I don't have to strategically plan my email checking. I actually get facebook updates from coworkers during the day!

So corporate America, listen up. Maybe instead of obsessively watching your employees internet usage and scanning their emails for "inappropriate" words and generally making them feel like bad people for not being automatons during the work day, loosen up. Instill a little trust in your employees and vice versa. It might even turn out that by acknowledging the fact that folks have a life outside of work (especially when you're asking them to work upwards of 40 hours each week) might even make people want to spend more time at work.

We can dream anyway.

Opening a Door

So one thing I do know about the blog is that I don't really want it to be about my new job. Besides getting really boring for all of you by the second week, a job is not really the essence of Quitsville (obviously).

However, a first day is much more in line with what Quitsville is all about. And today, is my first day at this new job. It feels very reminiscent of a first day at school in a new year. This weekend I went out at the request of the new job and bought a new computer (it's red) to use at work. At my own behest, I bought a new notebook. I've pre-packed my lunch and pre-planned my outfit. I've studied the bus time table and allotted extra time for the trains... If I weren't myself I'd think it was fairly cute.

It's the beginning of something and that feels great. There is an excitement and an expectancy in my gut that I haven't felt in quite awhile. Nerves and anxiety too but let's hope that's first day only.

Coming Clean

It's time to come clean to you my dear readers. I have excellent news! My dream date job actually offered me a job - the one I originally interviewed for! The second interview apparently did go extremely well and they seem to feel about me the way I feel about them (it's nice to be wanted!).

This happened about a week ago and I know you're probably confused about why I haven't mentioned it yet. It's great news no doubt but... it does pose a slight problem about the blog. What happens to Quitsville now? I've loved writing a post every day but without the adventure of making rent every month (and not having a steady job), the original purpose of the blog is... well... gone.

I'm hoping to transition to new topics but we'll see how it goes. Everyone has been amazingly supportive and I'm extremely lucky to have everything work out this way. It sounds a little cheesy but I think quitting really did put me in the right mindset to find my next step.

I start the new job on Monday. So... this week... I'm doing my best to do nothing.

My Apologies

Hello dear readers - I apologize for the few days of radio silence.

It's been an interesting time in the town of Quitsville.

Last week saw my very last company wide meeting with the current company. It really could not have been a better way to end my time here. I was reminded of all the support I've received from the various members of the company and of all the things I've learned here. Luckily, it also really reinforced my decision to leave since I don't get those feelings even weekly anymore.

And as you know, I also heard back from my first date job interview folks who (I thought) had gone with another candidate. I'm not entirely certain of the specifics of how that played out but they did invite me back last week to meet with the VP there and discuss projects/my background/etc. It went really well and I maintain that it would be a great place for me. Great energy and opportunities...

More on that to come(fingers crossed).

Letdown is a part of life

You all read about my great first interview about a week ago. I still maintain that it was a great interview - that I was completely myself and that I connected with the folks at this company. It would have been a great next step for me. Sadly, I heard from them this week (ironically on Thursday) and they've decided to move forward with another candidate. The woman I interviewed with was extremely complementary and asked that we stay in contact because they are growing and would like to consider me for future positions. She was lovely about the whole thing but of course, I was disappointed and honestly, the part of me that is anxious about my future grew a little more anxious with this loss.

With a few days distance, I have more clarity on the experience. Of course I'm still disappointed but this seems to me the downfall of looking for a new job in this economic situation. When I tell people I am interviewing they are inevitably surprised that I am even getting interviews but the more I look, the more I am finding that I have no trouble getting interviews - it's finalizing the process that is more tricky. With more and more qualified and competent employees finding themselves without a job, more and more of them are willing to take a position that might have previously seemed too junior. As a result, those like myself are finding fiercer competition for the positions we're interested in.

It's a tough climate out there and I see that one of the hardest challenges of this new life path will be to not get discouraged when I'm not chosen for a job. Given that I am going to be discerning about my next step and wait for a position that I really think is right, it might be awhile before I find something that meshes for both myself and my future employer.

In the meantime, I'm on the lookout for exciting or interesting money making schemes... and I am open to suggestions.

New Beginnings?

Hello intrepid readers. In my quest to no longer be at the job I no longer love... I have been interviewing. Thus far, my interviews have not turned into job offers because of various factors (budgets running dry, general incompatibility, etc.).

Today though, I had what I think was a very good first interview. Sure, I'd talked to the person on the phone and connected there but you never know what you will find when you interview with someone in person - and other people are usually involved. This was one of those first interviews that's like a great first date. You mesh, you connect, they laugh at your jokes, you both ask insightful questions, etc. I left feeling great. It's a job I would actually really like and one that I know I would excel at. The question is - do they see that?

It's the same with dating. You go on a great first date and you see yourself already in a full fledged relationship with the person. You imagine all the steps therein and all the smug enjoyment you'll get from being so happy in your relationship. This inevitably leads to a nervous anxiety that they don't feel the same way, that you were vain or stupid, that they pitied you! The same, of course, can be true of great first interviews. I haven't hit the anxiety wall yet and I hope when I do, I remember to trust my gut. My gut says it went well. My gut is probably right.

*Fingers crossed*