Obviously I'm on my own journey towards figuring out how to support my family in Los Angeles in 2009 and now into the teen years of our new millennium. That's how I came to my hammy conclusions and now find myself doing things I really didn't expect to be doing.
In 2006, I left my stable job at CSU Northridge coordinating students in volunteerism. While I loved many aspects of my job and role, I felt like I needed more time with my family after the birth of our third child in 2005.
I also had opportunity. I had two contracts lined up to replace my position. I would work from home and consult and start a great new life. My husband's career was looking bright at this point. Then all sorts of crazy stuff happened and my remaining original contract ended in late 2008.
That was a hard fall and winter, if you don't recall it directly. I remember after being laid-off and seeing that other people were not understanding my stress and concern. After my year without a job, I've now watched a lot more friends and family go through stress. In some ways I enjoy being ahead of the curve now. At least I got over the shock part. Time to develop the new normal and the only time I can live in is the present, right?
I did a lot of soul searching and Oprah watching to distill a few truths for my experience now and what I want from my career now. Things changed in my life and in the world since my career was my priority. Lots to consider.
My three most important factors for finding my own ham during some lean times:
1. I need to work from home
2. I need to feel my skills and experience will go to good use
3. I need a career path that helps to justify my lifestyle here in Los Angeles
These are the three values I've put down as the most important for me right now and they've helped to guide my through a series of hard choices this year. Ours values are most tested in times like these, but it is our values that will help steer us through confusing choices. When you are true to yourself, your chances of finding happiness increase.
Last year, I got a press ( including 30 seconds of me crying on Good Morning America about a job interview) for being laid-off. It was hard to be honest about what we were facing at that time.
We grew up expecting a certain lifestyle and my husband and I thought we had made good career choices. A changing world calls for a changing personal plan and that's what I've had to do this year. I've had to think about my values and think about what is really important in my life.
I wish I could tie all this up with a great "happily ever after" bow and I sure wish I could leverage my press contacts into being a good news story now. But I still feel like a work in progress. My crystal ball got really fuzzy in the last couple of years and now here I am trying to predict a future for myself and my family. I just keep pushing forward and knowing that if I stick to what I know is right, that things will keep happening for me. It may be something big or a series of small things, it is hard to tell at this time. I'm trying to stay patient, open minded and positive. I hope you are trying to do the same!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Focus, grasshopper
At the Job Fair, one thing I noticed with young job seekers was a tendency to be too open minded and broad. Here's the problem right now with the market- there are plenty of applicants for most roles. You have to stand out. How do you do that? What is your "it" factor?
The biggest thing you can do to separate yourself from others is to paint the picture that you want this job SO badly and to illustrate how you are the best match. Any ambivalence to the position ( sending form resumes out in mass) can be spotted by most HR professionals. They are looking for the most qualified and enthusiastic candidates.
You can show how you are qualified by reading their job description and requirements very carefully and tailoring your resume to them. Sometimes the skill they are looking for is buried on your resume. Make sure you put a spotlight on those skills you have that are a match for their needs. This might mean having a few versions of your resume ready to send to different types of jobs you are willing to do. But the resume that they get should seem focused and like you are destined to do X in your next job. You don't want a resume that seems so broad and open minded that you seem to not care what you do. They want to know that your heart's desire is to do the job you are applying to do and that you have a tool kit to back it up. Because they have so many options in this marketplace, you need to stand out as the most enthusiastic and best fit for the position.
You can also use your cover letter to help draw attention to relevant experience in your resume and to tell the story of why you want this position and what you bring to the role. At a job fair, you probably don't have time to write personal letters, but you could plan ahead for companies on the web site and write up those letters with the information provided. If you are coming to a job fair to speak to a specific company, you should tailor your resume ( with an objective that matches the position) and consider writing a cover letter as well. Generic resumes reflect generic candidates. You don't want to attract the wrong type of attention ( scented paper), but you also need to stand out from the pack.
At the Fair, my number one reflection was that people who knew what they wanted and had a clear picture painted about where they want to go and what they want to do are more successful.
Those people that came with a game plan about which companies would be there and had clean, easy to read resumes and a nice appearance seemed happier with their results. Of course, you never know what interesting opportunities will occur at a job fair and so it is a good idea to be open minded, but you want to present a demeanor that you know just where you want to go.
To me, focus and determination are two key factors in surviving a job search right now. The employers want the best, most qualified and hard working employees. You have to sell yourself like never before now.
The biggest thing you can do to separate yourself from others is to paint the picture that you want this job SO badly and to illustrate how you are the best match. Any ambivalence to the position ( sending form resumes out in mass) can be spotted by most HR professionals. They are looking for the most qualified and enthusiastic candidates.
You can show how you are qualified by reading their job description and requirements very carefully and tailoring your resume to them. Sometimes the skill they are looking for is buried on your resume. Make sure you put a spotlight on those skills you have that are a match for their needs. This might mean having a few versions of your resume ready to send to different types of jobs you are willing to do. But the resume that they get should seem focused and like you are destined to do X in your next job. You don't want a resume that seems so broad and open minded that you seem to not care what you do. They want to know that your heart's desire is to do the job you are applying to do and that you have a tool kit to back it up. Because they have so many options in this marketplace, you need to stand out as the most enthusiastic and best fit for the position.
You can also use your cover letter to help draw attention to relevant experience in your resume and to tell the story of why you want this position and what you bring to the role. At a job fair, you probably don't have time to write personal letters, but you could plan ahead for companies on the web site and write up those letters with the information provided. If you are coming to a job fair to speak to a specific company, you should tailor your resume ( with an objective that matches the position) and consider writing a cover letter as well. Generic resumes reflect generic candidates. You don't want to attract the wrong type of attention ( scented paper), but you also need to stand out from the pack.
At the Fair, my number one reflection was that people who knew what they wanted and had a clear picture painted about where they want to go and what they want to do are more successful.
Those people that came with a game plan about which companies would be there and had clean, easy to read resumes and a nice appearance seemed happier with their results. Of course, you never know what interesting opportunities will occur at a job fair and so it is a good idea to be open minded, but you want to present a demeanor that you know just where you want to go.
To me, focus and determination are two key factors in surviving a job search right now. The employers want the best, most qualified and hard working employees. You have to sell yourself like never before now.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Cover Letter- friend or foe?
I think a well written, personalized cover letter is still a nice touch. There are schools of thought on this issue that say yay or ney to the cover letter. My encouragement to you is to read the application process carefully for each company. Some will indicate the need for a cover letter or writing sample or portfolio and some will say not to send any attachments other than the resume. The best rule of thumb here is to know your audience.
I write cover letters when I really want a job and when the position posting seems to indicate that one would be well received. I do think that showing your enthusiasm and energy for a position is a way to stand out from the pack right now. But they can smell a template a mile away and they won't love a form letter. If you are going to write a letter, make it a good one.
For me, my cover letter illustrates my interest in the project or position and helps to draw attention to parts of my resume that might get missed. I use my cover letter most often to paint the picture of how my skills and experience match the needs of the position. Since I have a long career history now, key experiences to the position I am seeking can be lost in my two page resume. My cover letter helps to draw attention to my resume and to flesh out my story for the reader. I try to be specific and enthusiastic.
I keep my cover letter short and to the point and easy to read. Nobody wants to read a book.
You can create templates for your own use, but you need to add personalized touches each and every time. Show them that you read and understood the job description and why you think you are a match. Pay attention to details you think they will value.
Feel free to post opinions about cover letters, what worked and what doesn't work for you.
I write cover letters when I really want a job and when the position posting seems to indicate that one would be well received. I do think that showing your enthusiasm and energy for a position is a way to stand out from the pack right now. But they can smell a template a mile away and they won't love a form letter. If you are going to write a letter, make it a good one.
For me, my cover letter illustrates my interest in the project or position and helps to draw attention to parts of my resume that might get missed. I use my cover letter most often to paint the picture of how my skills and experience match the needs of the position. Since I have a long career history now, key experiences to the position I am seeking can be lost in my two page resume. My cover letter helps to draw attention to my resume and to flesh out my story for the reader. I try to be specific and enthusiastic.
I keep my cover letter short and to the point and easy to read. Nobody wants to read a book.
You can create templates for your own use, but you need to add personalized touches each and every time. Show them that you read and understood the job description and why you think you are a match. Pay attention to details you think they will value.
Feel free to post opinions about cover letters, what worked and what doesn't work for you.
What I learned collecting resumes at a recent Job Fair
I'm helping my friend Angie with her Valley Job Fairs and I recently collected resumes at the front door for the database and research purposes. I collected those for Angie and Valerie to use in their quest to improve the Fairs and help get people around here back to work. I also was able to talk to a lot of job seekers and help people with their plans for their resumes.
I'll be collecting resumes at the next job fair too and talking with people about their career search. I learned a lot from this exercise and I want to share my thoughts on the matter.
Random Resume Commentary
Obviously there are a gazillion websites out there that will help you make and bake your resume.
There are counselors, coaches, therapists and recruiters who will tell you how to craft a resume for optimum success. That's all great, but my experience is that if you take your resume to 10 people, you'll get ten different "right ways" to do it. What you need to find is the right way for you to tell your story in the context that will make sense to whoever is going to read this thing on the other side. What matters most is what that person or company wants from you. But a good foundation of a resume that tells your story is a fine place to start.
When I was collecting resumes at the recent Valley Job Fair, I saw a few blunders:
Anyone who attended a job fair and handed me a resume- I would love to hear your thoughts on how your resume worked for you.
I'll be collecting resumes at the next job fair too and talking with people about their career search. I learned a lot from this exercise and I want to share my thoughts on the matter.
Random Resume Commentary
Obviously there are a gazillion websites out there that will help you make and bake your resume.
There are counselors, coaches, therapists and recruiters who will tell you how to craft a resume for optimum success. That's all great, but my experience is that if you take your resume to 10 people, you'll get ten different "right ways" to do it. What you need to find is the right way for you to tell your story in the context that will make sense to whoever is going to read this thing on the other side. What matters most is what that person or company wants from you. But a good foundation of a resume that tells your story is a fine place to start.
When I was collecting resumes at the recent Valley Job Fair, I saw a few blunders:
- Sloppy papers- never a good plan. Make some nice copies and keep them in a folder
- Sloppy wardrobe- equally a problem at the fair, but I wasn't collecting Job Fair fashion shots
- Too much information- some of the resumes were so dense, nobody is going to want to read it. Always think of the reader on the other end
- Format/page look- easy to look at and read resumes will get looked at and read more
- Remember the reader- your goal is resume writing should be the reader on the other side. All of this information should make sense to them
- Consistency in format- either all sentences or all fractures, but don't mix the two
- Highlight what is most interesting about you on the top- that be all they read
- To staple or not? I say bring both. A stapled resume at a Job Fair might be a better bet for keeping it together. Anyone collecting resumes gets a big stack of resumes. It is true that some companies prefer not to have staples in them. If you do want a two page resume and you want to keep them un-stapled, make sure you put your name on both pages.
- Avoid gimmicks- some resumes were on super fancy colored paper with odors and stuff. While this might be nice, it may not work FOR you in your job search process. The rule of thumb is not to try and be too flashy with resume attention-getters. Many recruiters say it doesn't change when they look at your resume and it doesn't help them remember you in a good way necessarily. Keep it simple- quality paper that looks professional. Things like folders and matching fancy envelopes may only serve to get you mocked.
- Young people with legible resumes and nice clothes- I was impressed by some of the younger job seekers
- Lots of people came prepared this time for the companies represented at the Fair- good job!
- We have a great labor pool in our area with diverse people who reflect a lot of skills and experiences. That was neat to observe. I met people with experience and degrees from all over the world.
Feedback- I would love to get some Resume chatter going. What's working, what's not working with resumes right now?
Anyone who attended a job fair and handed me a resume- I would love to hear your thoughts on how your resume worked for you.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
How to annoy people without a job right now
Here are some things sure to get you into trouble with your out of work friends and family:
1. Complain about your job- overtime, undertime, co-workers, whatever. We don't have any of that. Stop yer whining.
2. Brag about your vacations, new purchases, home remodels. Maybe it doesn't feel like bragging to you, but we're just gonna get agitated listening to all your new, new, new talk. We're busy trying to figure out if we have seasonally appropriate clothes to wear to job interviews that also don't have stains.
3. Give us lots of ideas and tips about how to find work and what we "should" we doing. Out of work people are like Forest Gump- you don't know what you'll get with us when you open that box. So trying to give thoughtful advice will usually lead to pain and suffering. We know you mean well, but we're exhausted. We are still working through the advice we got last week.
4. Minimize our pain. Again, I wouldn't have a clue how stressful this all is except that now I'm living it. Being out of work is really hard. It is confusing and it is complicated. Add in extra stressors like a suck ass economy and three kids and then see what kind of stress cocktail that stirs up. Not tasty. We know we whine a lot, but it still sucks. In fact, it sucks more six months or a year after the lay-offs or change in career. It sucks worse and worse as you move away from the safe harbor of a paying job.
5. Pick on our spending and act judgemental. We know there's stuff we could be doing differently. But we're not. Wah. Bravo Channel is all I have some days. it sucks to be me sometimes. Be gentle with us. We may bite back here.
Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you give an extra hug to your out of work friends this year. We all could be worse off and that's a fact. I'm lucky to have people in my life who care enough to annoy me.
1. Complain about your job- overtime, undertime, co-workers, whatever. We don't have any of that. Stop yer whining.
2. Brag about your vacations, new purchases, home remodels. Maybe it doesn't feel like bragging to you, but we're just gonna get agitated listening to all your new, new, new talk. We're busy trying to figure out if we have seasonally appropriate clothes to wear to job interviews that also don't have stains.
3. Give us lots of ideas and tips about how to find work and what we "should" we doing. Out of work people are like Forest Gump- you don't know what you'll get with us when you open that box. So trying to give thoughtful advice will usually lead to pain and suffering. We know you mean well, but we're exhausted. We are still working through the advice we got last week.
4. Minimize our pain. Again, I wouldn't have a clue how stressful this all is except that now I'm living it. Being out of work is really hard. It is confusing and it is complicated. Add in extra stressors like a suck ass economy and three kids and then see what kind of stress cocktail that stirs up. Not tasty. We know we whine a lot, but it still sucks. In fact, it sucks more six months or a year after the lay-offs or change in career. It sucks worse and worse as you move away from the safe harbor of a paying job.
5. Pick on our spending and act judgemental. We know there's stuff we could be doing differently. But we're not. Wah. Bravo Channel is all I have some days. it sucks to be me sometimes. Be gentle with us. We may bite back here.
Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you give an extra hug to your out of work friends this year. We all could be worse off and that's a fact. I'm lucky to have people in my life who care enough to annoy me.
Job Fairs- the good, bad, ugly
I have been working for my friend Angie with Valley Jobs Fairs this fall. Back in the day when I worked at CSUN in the Career Center, we did a lot of Job Fairs. They were never my speed and usually did not have the jobs I was looking for. But it seemed like some people really got a lot out of them. The employers seemed to appreciate them as an easy way to get a lot done in a day.
Angie decided to start Valley Jobs Fairs as a way to solve a local problem that used her background and connections very well. She's clear on what she wants to accomplish and she's assembling a great team to help. I like to call my role "career ministry" because mostly I like to listen to stories and help people with particulars like resumes and how to navigate Fairs. I enjoy helping other people with their job searches and I find my own career quest bothersome sometimes. Other people's problems are so much more interesting than my own!
Because of my "Year Without A Job" and my background at CSUN, people will ask my opinions about whether Job Fairs are a good idea or not. Here are my thoughts on the matter:
I would love to hear your thoughts and stories about Job Fairs! Please share!
Here's the link for my local Job Fair. You can also find Fairs via Career Builder.com, Idealist.org ( non-profit) and many other places.
http://www.valleyjobfairs.com/
Angie decided to start Valley Jobs Fairs as a way to solve a local problem that used her background and connections very well. She's clear on what she wants to accomplish and she's assembling a great team to help. I like to call my role "career ministry" because mostly I like to listen to stories and help people with particulars like resumes and how to navigate Fairs. I enjoy helping other people with their job searches and I find my own career quest bothersome sometimes. Other people's problems are so much more interesting than my own!
Because of my "Year Without A Job" and my background at CSUN, people will ask my opinions about whether Job Fairs are a good idea or not. Here are my thoughts on the matter:
- Not all job fairs are created equal- do your research
- Networking and practicing selling yourself via a Job Fair is a good way to grow
- You never know who you will meet and see at events like Job Fairs- friends old and new
- Pay attention to trends - Job Fairs are a good place to see what's happening with jobs nearby
- Learning what you don't want in a job is as important and that can become clear at a Fair
- Being open minded is part of how you get hired in this economy, so you never know!
- It is never a bad idea to get dressed up, polish up the resume and hit the streets
- Attending Job Fairs can help warm you up in your job search process and with your quick responses to seemingly simple questions that feel hard at the time
Sure, there are lots of reasons Job Fairs are hard. I don't like polishing up my resume and putting myself out there for rejection. It is not easy. I find that I get very snotty about what I see at Fairs, but one of these days I may want a different experience and because I saw a company at the Fair, I may think of them. Also, usually when a company is at a Fair, that means they have jobs and where there's one job there may be more. It pays to talk to these outreach people and get on radars. It's also important to see the options out there and take a reality check. Many people are making hard choices in this economy. It's not a good idea to turn up our noses at any opportunities. You just never know.
I would love to hear your thoughts and stories about Job Fairs! Please share!
Here's the link for my local Job Fair. You can also find Fairs via Career Builder.com, Idealist.org ( non-profit) and many other places.
http://www.valleyjobfairs.com/
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What's in a hammy name?
In my year without a job, I've had to come to terms with who I am in the current context of my skills, my family needs and this economy. Sometimes it is easy to pay attention to the chatter of the world and all the things I should be doing in my job search. Sometimes it is easy to get myself crazy with thinking about all the "what ifs."
The simple truth is that you need to do what makes you happy and then the money will follow. My experience has been that while I understand this idea, I don't really know how to get from point A to point B. I was doing something that made me happy ( working in non profits) and then realized that I couldn't support my family doing this anymore. In my case, the job leads dried up.
After I started analyzing my career, I realized that in my current life with three kids, I could not support my family on my salary alone, even after two decades of work improving myself as a professional. Uh-oh.
Now what? At first, I did a lot of soul searching and reading and wallowing in self pity. That last part was really fun.
After trying to understand who I am now versus any fantasies I had about it, I had to center back on the one truth I know in my gut- do what makes you happy and the money will follow.
But I still wasn't sure how to get there from here. Given the current economy, doing anything risky seems, well, risky. I needed a job that paid and I thought I wasn't picky about what it was. I learned that I'm pickier than I knew and that I do have criterion and boundaries, even in these times. Compromises are just that- a change in what I will accept in my life and for my family.
I had to get clear about where I stood and not let all the voices out there influence my course.
I needed to get connected to my own passion.
Somewhere in all of this navel gazing I was doing, I watched Paula Deen on Oprah. She was discussing her own process as a wife and mother trying to support her family and all the barriers and fears she had to conquer. She centered on the idea that she had to do something she loved and was good at doing. She was determined and persistent and centered on who she was and what she was willing to sell of herself in order to make a living. Paula Deen got a lot of attention early on for her work selling ham for Smithfield by creating recipes, talking with people and being who she was. She found her ham- something she was comfortable selling that was a match for her.
http://www.smithfield.com/paula/
After I saw Paula on Oprah, I though, heck, I can find my own ham too. That inspiration led to the name Find Your Ham. I'm working on baking my ham and I hope you are too!
The simple truth is that you need to do what makes you happy and then the money will follow. My experience has been that while I understand this idea, I don't really know how to get from point A to point B. I was doing something that made me happy ( working in non profits) and then realized that I couldn't support my family doing this anymore. In my case, the job leads dried up.
After I started analyzing my career, I realized that in my current life with three kids, I could not support my family on my salary alone, even after two decades of work improving myself as a professional. Uh-oh.
Now what? At first, I did a lot of soul searching and reading and wallowing in self pity. That last part was really fun.
After trying to understand who I am now versus any fantasies I had about it, I had to center back on the one truth I know in my gut- do what makes you happy and the money will follow.
But I still wasn't sure how to get there from here. Given the current economy, doing anything risky seems, well, risky. I needed a job that paid and I thought I wasn't picky about what it was. I learned that I'm pickier than I knew and that I do have criterion and boundaries, even in these times. Compromises are just that- a change in what I will accept in my life and for my family.
I had to get clear about where I stood and not let all the voices out there influence my course.
I needed to get connected to my own passion.
Somewhere in all of this navel gazing I was doing, I watched Paula Deen on Oprah. She was discussing her own process as a wife and mother trying to support her family and all the barriers and fears she had to conquer. She centered on the idea that she had to do something she loved and was good at doing. She was determined and persistent and centered on who she was and what she was willing to sell of herself in order to make a living. Paula Deen got a lot of attention early on for her work selling ham for Smithfield by creating recipes, talking with people and being who she was. She found her ham- something she was comfortable selling that was a match for her.
http://www.smithfield.com/paula/
After I saw Paula on Oprah, I though, heck, I can find my own ham too. That inspiration led to the name Find Your Ham. I'm working on baking my ham and I hope you are too!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Getting there from here - Find your ham
When I was growing up, back in the blissfully self-indulgent '80s, I got the message that I could be anything I wanted to be and in doing so I would happy, have enough money and life would be good. What I did not comprehend at that time was what some choices would mean in my life.
I chose the non- profit sector as my career path because I wanted a mission centered career. In the early years of my husband's "leap of faith" into full time writing, my salary in the sector was enough. Three kids later and I need more money and less stress in my career. And my career should be fulfilling. And I should be able to balance a million other factors at the same time. And survive in Los Angeles without a Los Angeles' sized salary. And did I mention the economy tanked somewhere in the midst of all of this? Egads.
In the last year since I officially lost my job title in this world, I've had to learn a lot. While I still believe that the best way to success is to follow your passion and dreams, I've also become aware that there's not a road map for this process that works given the current economy. The world is a changing place. With each month I've been off work, I've had to explore new strategies and reconfigure my plan. Sometimes I think I'm going to lose my mind over the stress of it all.
Platitudes of career search
This year we tried a couple different tactics which seem to be working.
Bill actually stopped the treadmill of trying to get gigs (since it was pretty clear there were none) and started writing original content again (scripts and novels). He is now shopping those around and using them as samples to get work. His first novel is in the hands of his publisher now and should be going out into the world anytime now.
I’m living life more one day at a time these days. I had to become open minded and patient to figure out what to do with my career at this time. That is tough to do. I pretty much shook out the tool kit and started playing with each tool to see where else it might fit in the economy puzzle. I spent a lot of time this year on self improvement and research which will hopefully set me up for more success now as I proceed.
I chose the non- profit sector as my career path because I wanted a mission centered career. In the early years of my husband's "leap of faith" into full time writing, my salary in the sector was enough. Three kids later and I need more money and less stress in my career. And my career should be fulfilling. And I should be able to balance a million other factors at the same time. And survive in Los Angeles without a Los Angeles' sized salary. And did I mention the economy tanked somewhere in the midst of all of this? Egads.
In the last year since I officially lost my job title in this world, I've had to learn a lot. While I still believe that the best way to success is to follow your passion and dreams, I've also become aware that there's not a road map for this process that works given the current economy. The world is a changing place. With each month I've been off work, I've had to explore new strategies and reconfigure my plan. Sometimes I think I'm going to lose my mind over the stress of it all.
Platitudes of career search
- Do what you love and the money will follow
- Follow your dreams
- Focus on your true passion
- You can be anything you want to be
This year we tried a couple different tactics which seem to be working.
Bill actually stopped the treadmill of trying to get gigs (since it was pretty clear there were none) and started writing original content again (scripts and novels). He is now shopping those around and using them as samples to get work. His first novel is in the hands of his publisher now and should be going out into the world anytime now.
I’m living life more one day at a time these days. I had to become open minded and patient to figure out what to do with my career at this time. That is tough to do. I pretty much shook out the tool kit and started playing with each tool to see where else it might fit in the economy puzzle. I spent a lot of time this year on self improvement and research which will hopefully set me up for more success now as I proceed.
What I put out to the universe about what I need from my next job:
Work from home ( the most important factor for me)
Leverage my skills
Justify staying in LA
For me, learning to state what I wanted and needed from my career was really rough. It is easy to say "I'll take anything," but I've learned that is not true for me. Unless we're talking about a lot of money, just earning a paycheck is not enough for me. Never has been and never will be. But money is one of those necessary evils in life. Feeling dejected and unwanted after being laid-off, it was easy for me to lose sight of who I am now professionally, what I want next for my career and how to get there from here. Intuitively, I know what I need to do, but the chatter of the world and all the pressures on me at this time make it hard to listen to what I know is true- patience and determination will prevail in the end.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Welcome to my hammy world
When I left my job at California State University, Northridge in 2006, I left behind the safe choices I had made earlier in my career. I made a bold choice to branch out and become a consultant in the non-profit world, specifically education. It was a seemingly natural transition at the time. I had contracts lined up and the path seemed clear. Then things started changing and each year since then, bad has gone to worse in terms of my timing. But when I left CSUN, it was in part to find myself again and to forge my path in this world a little more effectively. I've certainly had time to do that this year which is what brings me to finally getting the Blog going.
My year without a j-o-b has taught me a lot about myself. I've learned what I will and won't do for free. I've learned what money really means to me. I've learned my boundaries about what is a good and bad career choice considering the needs of my whole family. I've learned all sorts of things this year and now I feel like sharing. Yay for Blogs!
This blog will chronicle pieces and parts of my journey this past year. My hope is that by sharing my process with others, I can help people speed up their own progress. Change is not fun. It is not easy and it is confusing, especially in the squishy middle parts.
My year without a j-o-b has taught me a lot about myself. I've learned what I will and won't do for free. I've learned what money really means to me. I've learned my boundaries about what is a good and bad career choice considering the needs of my whole family. I've learned all sorts of things this year and now I feel like sharing. Yay for Blogs!
This blog will chronicle pieces and parts of my journey this past year. My hope is that by sharing my process with others, I can help people speed up their own progress. Change is not fun. It is not easy and it is confusing, especially in the squishy middle parts.
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