The Interwebs Strike Back

After years of manipulating the internet however I've seen fit - and fading in an out of anonymity at will - the past 2 weeks have shown me the error of my hubris. 

First - I received a completely unsolicited email from someone I've never met and do not know even a little bit (or whose name I had ever heard) who found me on Linked In and determined that I held the secrets to him getting my old job. Now, let's be honest, I don't actually WANT someone to have my old job. I'm not that big a person. I know it'll happen, but unless I've hand selected you, there is no way that I'm just handing out insider information - or really anything to imply even vaguely that you have my endorsement. I am arrogant enough to believe firmly that no one will ever fill that position exactly the way that I did. That's right. I said it. I do, also, however, want the absolute best person possible to get that job and to cross-their-heart-hope-to-die promise to take care of my people the same way that I did. And I'm sorry scary internet stalker man - I've decided based on your ridiculous note to me (and your sheer audacity at even penning such a note) that you are not it. I don't know how this ranks with karma, and eventually, I'm sure I'll respond in a vague manner, but not without also letting my old bosses know that I in no way shape or form endorse this foolio. 

Secondly....I actually don't even want to talk about it. Suffice it to say that my cell phone number is out there and even drunk people (at least I'm hoping that's what that was) can text. Le sigh.

New Beginnings (kinda...)

so with post 201, I've decided to chat about the big change that happened in my life a week and a half ago.

I started a new job - which is kind of a big deal for me due to the fact that I tend to put down roots and get really comfortable in places. And once I'm comfy, inertia takes over and I am pretty much an immovable force (witness the number of weekends I have spent on my couch). Add to all of this the fact that the job I was doing I basically created so it was exactly how I like it. I worked with people I liked (some I loved more than others, but liked them all) and the people at work that I didn't work with, I still enjoyed and basically I was the go-to person on my team for all things everything. In short, kind of a dream situation...so why leave? Well, essentially, I was at a point where I was on autopilot. I had down to a science how far I could push things before I got "in trouble" which wasn't really trouble at all. For example...I wore flip flops around a conservative corporate office for an entire summer. I knew it was against the rules. I had "big girl shoes" at my desk "just in case", but really I had developed a bad attitude.

In my 30 years on this earth, I have become quite self aware. I knew that the next thing to happen was that my work was going to suffer. Not "OMG this project was a failure!" type of suffer, but I wasn't motivated to put my normal 110% into things. I let things slide that I normally would have been really upset about....and that wasn't fair. Not to me and my professional reputation. Not to my agency partners/co-workers who were expecting my best work (as they should), and not to my company. Inertia, however, kept my job "hunt" to more of a job "mildly interested browsing" - until I got a text that forced me to sit up and take notice.

My absolute favorite co-worker ever who I would follow to the ends of the earth and who is on my short list (by short I mean there are 2 names on it) of people that I want to work for (I'm willing to work with pretty much anyone...but I have a very very complex wish list for bosses) shot me a text asking me to call him. Weird, but I did. Turns out that he was looking to fill a position on his team. A position I wanted, but was in no way, shape or form qualified for. His ideal candidate was someone who (among other things):

1) had 8-10 years experience (I'm about 4.5 years into my corporate work life)

2) had extensive international experience (um....nope)

3) well versed in B2B marketing (strictly a B2C girl here)

I also knew that this was one of those rare once in a lifetime opportunities that I would absolutely kick myself if I didn't at least throw my hat in the ring for. I expected absolutely nothing to come of it except maybe a courtesy interview (which was all I was hoping for - I needed the interview practice for when I decided to ramp up my job search). I even sent resumes in for friends of mine that I felt met the requirements far better than I did. I wanted my friend to have the absolute best team possible and if I could introduce some awesome people into his world, then that was fine by me.

Well....weeks went by and I didn't hear anything. I wasn't overly disappointed or surprised (for the aformentioned reasons). I figured I'd find out who got the job sooner or later (I work in a ridiculously small niche of a ridiculously small industry), and knew that whoever was selected was going to be getting an amazing boss and an amazing job opportunity.

And then...out of the blue, I got a random call on my cell phone from HR, and a few short weeks and a day full of interviews later, I found myself putting in my 3.5 weeks notice. And a week and a half ago, I had my first day of not commuting to the suburbs, but instead taking the bus a short ride down the street to my new fancy downtown office digs.

Overall, it still feels very surreal and fake, and I keep waiting for the day that I have to go back to the burbs to my old job b/c this was just a field trip. I have never been in a situation where I am simultaneously completely in over my head having to learn everything anew and can also pinpoint where I can immediately jump in and help add value. This promises to be a wild and crazy adventure and I still can't believe that I (out of I shit you not 1,000 applicants) am the one holding this job and working for one of my favorite work people ever.

I can, however, promise that I am going to have a ton of new material that just might get documented on this very site. Stay tuned!

And almost 6 weeks later....I've clearly forgotten about that last post. Le sigh.

Time to get back on the blogging horse

I think it might be time for me to get back into the blogging game....stay tuned!

update!

SO its been a million billion years since I last posted - my bad. I would say its because FB and Twitter have taken over my life (like everyone else in the world) but in reality, i'm just lazy and haven't felt particularly witty over the last 8 months. Actually, i've been QUITE witty over the last 8 months, just never in a situation where I could blog about it in a time appropriate manner.

I have, however, finally decided to actually move into my apartment (i've been living amongst packing boxes for a year and a half....) and bought a desk and chair at IKEA the other day - and let me just say that the next time I decide to go to IKEA by myself, please beat me about the head. The furniture was relatively simple to put together (hooray swedish furniture!) though my fancy new desk chair has a wobbly back - which i'm pretty sure has to do with the fact that I got tired of my "allen wrench" and figured that it was good enough and I'd deal with it again once I fell off of the chair or it collapsed due to poor assembly. 2 weeks later - we're still going strong!

Today, I'm getting an entertainment center delivered - that i have to put together. Not sure why I have to have a large flat box delivered to me, but that is how crate and barrel rolls, apparently. I've found the directions online and its awesomely IKEA-tastic in its assembly instructions AND in the fact that all i need is a phillips head screwdriver and an allen wrench....that they supply :) And in true form for me, even though I'm technically off of work today, i've spent all morning on email and actually had a really good conversation with one of my favorite agency partners (its kind of like kids - i shouldn't have favorites, but i do).

that's all i have for now - i'll post pictures and blog about my current obsessions in the very near future....

If you have a second, check it out.

Fun List about the best songs in olympic commercials....

Fantastic Song