Fear.
We've all been scared.
The things differ; spiders, death, heights, public speaking. You name it, someone is scared of it. There is even a fear of blushing (it's called Ereuthrophobia, in case you were wondering). No matter who you are, something scares you.
Fear is asking your crush on a date.
Fear is quitting your job.
Fear is hearing your doctor tell you that you and your husband cannot have children.
Fear is hearing that you are pregnant.
Fear is depression.
Fear is thinking you'll be alone forever.
Fear is watching your parent go through chemo.
Fear is attending your best friend's funeral.
Fear is getting dumped.
Fear is a $1200 repair bill for your car when you barely have enough money to cover rent.
People have fear in abundance. We live in a culture where terrorist organizations prey on it. Politicians fuel it. Self-help authors capitalize on it. We live in a world where fear is not only something that exists, but something that is a given. It's not if you are afraid, but what you are afraid of.
We are all scared of something. Regardless of what spooks you, fear is a powerful emotion; one that can absolutely cripple your heart and soul. It's an emotion that causes doubt, anxiousness, indecision, conflict, failure, judgment. The power can paralyze. It can weigh you down. It can break loved ones away. But fear is also something that can be harnessed.
I currently have some things in my life that I am afraid of, specifically the fear of failure and the fear of the unknown. The great, wide abyss that is my future terrifies me. I could waste away, waiting for the right decision to fall on my head like an Acme Anvil; I could flip through plan after plan without taking the first leap of faith; I could sit in terror that I will die, poor and alone. Sure, it's dramatic, but it's real and it's really powerful.
OR…
I could use this fear to help determine the realms that scare me. I can introspectively look at the ways I can conquer this fear. I can lean on the support of my nearest and dearest. I can take the first step, knowing that the powerful beast I call self doubt is the biggest competitor against a life of confidence and resilience. I can face those fears, like Harry Potter faces the boggart. I can trust myself, my higher power and basic science that this fear won't scare me to literal death. Fear is powerful, but it teaches you. It teaches you how to be strong, to learn from yourself, and to survive.
So, like any power, you must decide… will the power of fear be used to better you or to destroy you?
When you hear the phrase, "No end in sight," you tend to think the worst of the situation. You can't picture an end to a struggle, a battle or a problem. But what about the things that are going well? Why would you want to see an end to those?! That's the kind of No End In Sight I want to see...
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Friday, June 27, 2014
What I learned from a job I HATED.
Today is a really great day. It's cold and rainy outside despite it being June 27th, but it's a great freakin' day.
"Why, Sarah?! Why is today a great freakin' day?!"
Today is the last day working a job I truly dreaded every single morning when I left for work. It has been quite the task, trying to stay optimistic and learn from a job that I had initially expected so much from. When people asked me what I was learning in this position, it was hard for me to come up with a valid answer. I didn't really learn much about the industry. I didn't really learn any new skills. I didn't really learn the key to my eternal happiness... Well, that escalated quickly...
However, this morning when I sat down at my desk, I had a few things come to mind. It was like popcorn going off inside my brain, "Oh you learned this and this and this...."
What had I learned from a job that I hated?
That I am adaptable. To an extent.
It constantly amazes me that we as humans are able to adapt and change depending on our surroundings. My jobs in college were exciting, loud, inventive and full of life, but I adapted into a cubicle with little noise and lots of whispering. That wasn't as bad as it sounds. I also was able to adapt what little technology I had access to in order to make the projects successful, like creating graphs and diagrams in Paint. Yes, I said Paint, like the program you used to color on your parents computer when you were little. I also learned that our generation is much more adaptable to change. We're used to constantly learning new technological programs and we've been raised around constantly changing economics. We know that things happen quickly and that you have to keep up so you don't get left behind.
To stand up for myself.
I kind of HAD to learn this one. I was being emotionally trampled and manipulated. All it took was one coworker to come up and ask if I was okay (after about two months with the company) before I broke down into an ugly girl cry at the reception desk. I didn't realize how badly the negative workplace atmosphere was effecting my self-worth. At that point, my bawling made a scene (or at least it felt like it did), so the issues I was upset about finally made it to the front lines. I was brutally honest when talking with my supervisor about the things that bugged me and a few things actually changed. Finally, being forced to stand up for yours truly caused an increase in my self-confidence.
When to let things go.
I learned very quickly to choose my battles. It was the A-team against me on a few of my early issues with my supervisors. I realized that many times, my tasks were taken from me (not because I couldn't handle them) and I had to choose which ones to fight to retain.
How to work with the most unintelligent human on the planet.
Yep, I found this person. You can spell things out so that a fourth grader could do it but this person will still have questions. Working with such a difficult individual has not only given me a bajillion more grey hairs, but this person has helped me learn to hold my tongue. Many times, I let little sarcastic comments fly but I tried very hard to learn how to be graceful in the face of frustration.
That I have been very blessed with amazing coworkers and supervisors in my past.
Wowza, this one is so true. I have always known how big of a blessing my former coworkers and bosses have been, but this job made it even more obvious. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the company of a handful of my cowrokers here but nothing like the camaraderie that I've seen elsewhere (SHOUT OUT TO J-Stop and MUPC). Also to the crazy awesome bosses in my past work experiences... I am who I am and I have the incredibly high work-place standards that I have because of the communities you created. Erin and Linda, I'm talking to you two ladies in particular :)
That I am a creative worker.
This position left absolutely no room for creativity. I don't mind routine and I don't mind data. But when you have nothing to do and very little creative freedom in the tasks you're actually assigned, you start missing that creation and independence.
That boredom is NOT my friend.
I LOVE being busy. Not in a "Holy crap I need to stay until midnight and work every night" kind of way, but in a "I constantly have something to do" kind of way. When you have 2 hours total of work in an 8 hour work day, you learn a whole new type of boredom and let me just tell you, it's absolutely exhausting. I'm looking forward to projects and tasks.
And last but certainly not least.
I learned that I LOVE blogging.
It's funny and completely unrelated to my job, but I think that this blog is my biggest take away from this whole experience. I had tried blogging in the past but hadn't found a real purpose behind my writing. NOW, I have found an edge, an excitement and an outlet to discuss what we're going through in our early twenties. I may not be a Carrie Bradshaw, but I have truly enjoyed the conversations that have sprung up through the course of the last two months. I've had mature conversations with friends about the issues in their lives. I've learned about the things to which people truly need support. I've gotten texts and emails saying that the things we're talking about here completely relate to what they're going through in life and that it's been nice to know that we're in it together. This blog has been a huge reason why I feel like my life has taken a more positive path and it comes from the conversations I've had around these topics.
Because of you readers, I have pushed myself toward a more positive outlook and in the last year, that hasn't been easy. In the last 12 months, I have graduated college, sifted through 4 jobs, moved twice (three times if you count my move in the next two weeks), thought I fell in love, then ACTUALLY fell in love, lost -and gained- friendships, fought depression, and made it out alive. Man, the last year has been a doosie. But with a positive outlook, I really believe that there is no end to this progress in sight.
Cheers to the next phase, my dears.
"Why, Sarah?! Why is today a great freakin' day?!"
Today is the last day working a job I truly dreaded every single morning when I left for work. It has been quite the task, trying to stay optimistic and learn from a job that I had initially expected so much from. When people asked me what I was learning in this position, it was hard for me to come up with a valid answer. I didn't really learn much about the industry. I didn't really learn any new skills. I didn't really learn the key to my eternal happiness... Well, that escalated quickly...
However, this morning when I sat down at my desk, I had a few things come to mind. It was like popcorn going off inside my brain, "Oh you learned this and this and this...."
What had I learned from a job that I hated?
That I am adaptable. To an extent.
It constantly amazes me that we as humans are able to adapt and change depending on our surroundings. My jobs in college were exciting, loud, inventive and full of life, but I adapted into a cubicle with little noise and lots of whispering. That wasn't as bad as it sounds. I also was able to adapt what little technology I had access to in order to make the projects successful, like creating graphs and diagrams in Paint. Yes, I said Paint, like the program you used to color on your parents computer when you were little. I also learned that our generation is much more adaptable to change. We're used to constantly learning new technological programs and we've been raised around constantly changing economics. We know that things happen quickly and that you have to keep up so you don't get left behind.
To stand up for myself.
I kind of HAD to learn this one. I was being emotionally trampled and manipulated. All it took was one coworker to come up and ask if I was okay (after about two months with the company) before I broke down into an ugly girl cry at the reception desk. I didn't realize how badly the negative workplace atmosphere was effecting my self-worth. At that point, my bawling made a scene (or at least it felt like it did), so the issues I was upset about finally made it to the front lines. I was brutally honest when talking with my supervisor about the things that bugged me and a few things actually changed. Finally, being forced to stand up for yours truly caused an increase in my self-confidence.
When to let things go.
I learned very quickly to choose my battles. It was the A-team against me on a few of my early issues with my supervisors. I realized that many times, my tasks were taken from me (not because I couldn't handle them) and I had to choose which ones to fight to retain.
How to work with the most unintelligent human on the planet.
Yep, I found this person. You can spell things out so that a fourth grader could do it but this person will still have questions. Working with such a difficult individual has not only given me a bajillion more grey hairs, but this person has helped me learn to hold my tongue. Many times, I let little sarcastic comments fly but I tried very hard to learn how to be graceful in the face of frustration.
That I have been very blessed with amazing coworkers and supervisors in my past.
Wowza, this one is so true. I have always known how big of a blessing my former coworkers and bosses have been, but this job made it even more obvious. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the company of a handful of my cowrokers here but nothing like the camaraderie that I've seen elsewhere (SHOUT OUT TO J-Stop and MUPC). Also to the crazy awesome bosses in my past work experiences... I am who I am and I have the incredibly high work-place standards that I have because of the communities you created. Erin and Linda, I'm talking to you two ladies in particular :)
That I am a creative worker.
This position left absolutely no room for creativity. I don't mind routine and I don't mind data. But when you have nothing to do and very little creative freedom in the tasks you're actually assigned, you start missing that creation and independence.
That boredom is NOT my friend.
I LOVE being busy. Not in a "Holy crap I need to stay until midnight and work every night" kind of way, but in a "I constantly have something to do" kind of way. When you have 2 hours total of work in an 8 hour work day, you learn a whole new type of boredom and let me just tell you, it's absolutely exhausting. I'm looking forward to projects and tasks.
And last but certainly not least.
I learned that I LOVE blogging.
It's funny and completely unrelated to my job, but I think that this blog is my biggest take away from this whole experience. I had tried blogging in the past but hadn't found a real purpose behind my writing. NOW, I have found an edge, an excitement and an outlet to discuss what we're going through in our early twenties. I may not be a Carrie Bradshaw, but I have truly enjoyed the conversations that have sprung up through the course of the last two months. I've had mature conversations with friends about the issues in their lives. I've learned about the things to which people truly need support. I've gotten texts and emails saying that the things we're talking about here completely relate to what they're going through in life and that it's been nice to know that we're in it together. This blog has been a huge reason why I feel like my life has taken a more positive path and it comes from the conversations I've had around these topics.
Because of you readers, I have pushed myself toward a more positive outlook and in the last year, that hasn't been easy. In the last 12 months, I have graduated college, sifted through 4 jobs, moved twice (three times if you count my move in the next two weeks), thought I fell in love, then ACTUALLY fell in love, lost -and gained- friendships, fought depression, and made it out alive. Man, the last year has been a doosie. But with a positive outlook, I really believe that there is no end to this progress in sight.
Cheers to the next phase, my dears.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Hire me... please?!
Finding a job is just plain exhausting. Finding a job that you like, and you're passionate about sounds like finding a pot of gold under a rainbow; ideally awesome, but next to impossible.
With my long and crazy job search, I've had friends start up a multitude of conversations surrounding employment. We've talked about how to make your resume stand out. We've talked about how difficult online applications are (because you are unable to create a person-to-person first impression), and we've talked about interview skills.
All of these topics are equally important, but as a lover of nonverbal communication, I am always drawn to the conversations that focus on interviewing. Let me give you a little background on my personal experience with interviews...
I have been involved in a LOT of interviews. I have also been on both sides of the interview spectrum, the hiring committee and the hire-ee. In regards to the jobs which I have actually interviewed for and been hired on, I have successfully completed nine interviews. (Yes, I have had 9 jobs in 6 years... granted there was a LOT of overlap.) I've interviewed a few other times, maybe 3 or 4, without getting the position, but every interview gives me a little bit of anxiety, even though I am a people person and I enjoy meeting new friends.
On the other side, I have participated in two interview committees, helping interview for different teams that I have been on. It is a LOT harder than I would have thought. Many times you have more than one highly qualified individual who would be a great fit in the job, and you have to be the one to nit-pick any negatives, while highlighting the positives, to see the best person get the job. It's a very complicating and tiring process.
So now that you know I am a chronic interview junkie, I've put together my list of 8 SUPER DUPER MEGA AWESOME INTERVIEW TIPS:
1) Research the company.
Coming from and interviewer, it's always impressive when a possible future employee knows about the origins of the company. My recommendation is to find out some piece of info that you could generally "bring up in conversation," such as the mission or vision statement, the origin of the company, or any community related involvements of the company.
2) Research common interview questions.
Forbes writer, Jacqueline Smith, put together a KILLER list of the top interview questions (SEE HERE) that I really enjoyed looking at when preparing for an interview recently. Even if you don't have a lot of work experience, life events can definitely be used in examples to respond to many of these questions.
3) Be honest.
You might think that fibbing a little here and there in your experiences might make you look a little better at the moment but you want them to know the real deal. Plus, if you have to make up a story, you'll have to remember your story, and that's just a disaster waiting to happen.
4) Smile.
A genuine smile, nonetheless. A warm smile can instantly put the whole room at ease so flash those pearly whites.
5) Talk with your hands!
Talking with your hands, or making gestures when you talk shows that you are actively engaged int he conversation. It's also demonstrative of your understanding and helps to emphasize your points.
6) Look at everyone on the interview panel.
Eye contact is really hard, especially when you're nervous. You don't want anyone to see inside your nerves or to realize that you have no idea what the question was that the interviewer just asked. My advice in this situation is to make sure you look at every single person in the room. This way, it won't feel like you're talking to one individual and again, it shows that you are actively engaged. I personally know that I have a tendency to look mostly at one person more than others, but taking time to "talk to each person" will help you connect to the whole panel.
7) Lean forward in your chair.
Can I hammer it in enough? ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT. Leaning in nonverbally communicates that you are drawn to the questions, the answers and the company. I'm not saying lean all the way forward like you're sitting on the porcelain throne, but lean (without slouching) about 4-6 inches away from the back of your chair.
8) Let them see your real personality!!!
If you're goofy, make a joke, as long as it's appropriate and still semi professional. If you work best in quiet atmospheres, tell them that! I love learning a little bit about the persons demeanor in an interview to make sure that he or she is a good fit for the nature of the company.
Interviews don't need to be scary. My mom always says that an interview is for the company to look at you but it's also for the employee to look at the company! Both parties need to make sure it's a good fit within the organization. Make sure you're paying attention to the surroundings of the company to get a feel of your comfort level in the workplace.
My best advice for an interview is to go in prepared. Research the company, prepare questions to ask the panel, do something to make yourself stand out from the rest. Whatever you may do, stay calm and stay YOU! You'll have an offer on the table in no time with no end in sight :)
Be sure to follow this blog by clicking on the box underneath the FOLLOW HERE section! If you have any ideas for a post, shoot them my way!
With my long and crazy job search, I've had friends start up a multitude of conversations surrounding employment. We've talked about how to make your resume stand out. We've talked about how difficult online applications are (because you are unable to create a person-to-person first impression), and we've talked about interview skills.
All of these topics are equally important, but as a lover of nonverbal communication, I am always drawn to the conversations that focus on interviewing. Let me give you a little background on my personal experience with interviews...
I have been involved in a LOT of interviews. I have also been on both sides of the interview spectrum, the hiring committee and the hire-ee. In regards to the jobs which I have actually interviewed for and been hired on, I have successfully completed nine interviews. (Yes, I have had 9 jobs in 6 years... granted there was a LOT of overlap.) I've interviewed a few other times, maybe 3 or 4, without getting the position, but every interview gives me a little bit of anxiety, even though I am a people person and I enjoy meeting new friends.
On the other side, I have participated in two interview committees, helping interview for different teams that I have been on. It is a LOT harder than I would have thought. Many times you have more than one highly qualified individual who would be a great fit in the job, and you have to be the one to nit-pick any negatives, while highlighting the positives, to see the best person get the job. It's a very complicating and tiring process.
So now that you know I am a chronic interview junkie, I've put together my list of 8 SUPER DUPER MEGA AWESOME INTERVIEW TIPS:
1) Research the company.
Coming from and interviewer, it's always impressive when a possible future employee knows about the origins of the company. My recommendation is to find out some piece of info that you could generally "bring up in conversation," such as the mission or vision statement, the origin of the company, or any community related involvements of the company.
2) Research common interview questions.
Forbes writer, Jacqueline Smith, put together a KILLER list of the top interview questions (SEE HERE) that I really enjoyed looking at when preparing for an interview recently. Even if you don't have a lot of work experience, life events can definitely be used in examples to respond to many of these questions.
3) Be honest.
You might think that fibbing a little here and there in your experiences might make you look a little better at the moment but you want them to know the real deal. Plus, if you have to make up a story, you'll have to remember your story, and that's just a disaster waiting to happen.
4) Smile.
A genuine smile, nonetheless. A warm smile can instantly put the whole room at ease so flash those pearly whites.
(Image)
5) Talk with your hands!
Talking with your hands, or making gestures when you talk shows that you are actively engaged int he conversation. It's also demonstrative of your understanding and helps to emphasize your points.
6) Look at everyone on the interview panel.
Eye contact is really hard, especially when you're nervous. You don't want anyone to see inside your nerves or to realize that you have no idea what the question was that the interviewer just asked. My advice in this situation is to make sure you look at every single person in the room. This way, it won't feel like you're talking to one individual and again, it shows that you are actively engaged. I personally know that I have a tendency to look mostly at one person more than others, but taking time to "talk to each person" will help you connect to the whole panel.
7) Lean forward in your chair.
Can I hammer it in enough? ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT. Leaning in nonverbally communicates that you are drawn to the questions, the answers and the company. I'm not saying lean all the way forward like you're sitting on the porcelain throne, but lean (without slouching) about 4-6 inches away from the back of your chair.
8) Let them see your real personality!!!
If you're goofy, make a joke, as long as it's appropriate and still semi professional. If you work best in quiet atmospheres, tell them that! I love learning a little bit about the persons demeanor in an interview to make sure that he or she is a good fit for the nature of the company.
Interviews don't need to be scary. My mom always says that an interview is for the company to look at you but it's also for the employee to look at the company! Both parties need to make sure it's a good fit within the organization. Make sure you're paying attention to the surroundings of the company to get a feel of your comfort level in the workplace.
My best advice for an interview is to go in prepared. Research the company, prepare questions to ask the panel, do something to make yourself stand out from the rest. Whatever you may do, stay calm and stay YOU! You'll have an offer on the table in no time with no end in sight :)
Be sure to follow this blog by clicking on the box underneath the FOLLOW HERE section! If you have any ideas for a post, shoot them my way!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
An open door isn't always the right path.
Firstly, I apologize for my blogging hiatus. No excuses, but to make you jealous, I had a rad camping trip for Memorial Day Weekend so I spent a large majority getting ready for the trip and getting stressed out about getting ready for the trip.
GOOD NEWS. I'm back and bloggy again ;)
Today is a two part blog. First I'm going to whine. Then I'm going to get over it. Ready, go.
WHINER ALERT:
I got the job I was interviewing for (YAY!).
I turned it down (NOOOOOO!).
This was a hard decision to make and it involved a whole lot of whining and a crying pity party on my way home from work that day. The position, since a few of you have asked me lately, was with Wilco, a farm and agricultural supply store, as the lead cashier. The company is fantastic and I really enjoyed the interview since I could see how passionate the committee was about their company. When it came down to it, I would have been taking a significant pay decrease by accepting the position, which was something I was NOT expecting. Despite the initial objections I had, I was really really sad to turn down a job that I know I would have enjoyed. Let me clarify, a job I would have enjoyed 5,000 times more than my current position.
Even though I was offered the position, I felt defeated that this opportunity wasn't my escape from a job that does nothing to stimulate my mental potential. I got wrapped up in an "I'm never going to get out of here" mindset and the pity party was pretty pathetic. It took some good friends and a super great boyfriend a few hours to wake me up into the real world and remind me about the ga-jillion possibilities that are still out there.
Like I've said before, it's easy to give up hope, especially when you are trying so hard to change a situation. It's easy to give up hope when your coworkers/supervisors are mean. It's easy to give up hope when you're being treated like crud. But like my dad always says, "Shake it off cowgirl!"
TIME TO GET OVER IT:
What did I do when I found out the job didn't make the cut?! I went to the gym, Zumba'd my heart out, and I applied to about 7 more jobs that next day.
I made a promise to myself that I was not going to let myself get down in the dumps. I wasn't going to take that as a sign that I'm going to be stuck here forever. This was a direct divine message, telling me that however great it would be to get out of where I'm at now, it's not the door I'm intended to open.
Until then, it's time to make my current job teach me something. It's time to give myself something to do, other than blog of course.
I know this blog wasn't exactly pertaining to everyone's lives but if you take anything out of this post, make it this:
Not all offers are meant to be taken. It takes faith and courage to hold yourself to high standards.
Be strong, friends. Make your life worth it.
GOOD NEWS. I'm back and bloggy again ;)
Today is a two part blog. First I'm going to whine. Then I'm going to get over it. Ready, go.
WHINER ALERT:
I got the job I was interviewing for (YAY!).
I turned it down (NOOOOOO!).
This was a hard decision to make and it involved a whole lot of whining and a crying pity party on my way home from work that day. The position, since a few of you have asked me lately, was with Wilco, a farm and agricultural supply store, as the lead cashier. The company is fantastic and I really enjoyed the interview since I could see how passionate the committee was about their company. When it came down to it, I would have been taking a significant pay decrease by accepting the position, which was something I was NOT expecting. Despite the initial objections I had, I was really really sad to turn down a job that I know I would have enjoyed. Let me clarify, a job I would have enjoyed 5,000 times more than my current position.
Even though I was offered the position, I felt defeated that this opportunity wasn't my escape from a job that does nothing to stimulate my mental potential. I got wrapped up in an "I'm never going to get out of here" mindset and the pity party was pretty pathetic. It took some good friends and a super great boyfriend a few hours to wake me up into the real world and remind me about the ga-jillion possibilities that are still out there.
Like I've said before, it's easy to give up hope, especially when you are trying so hard to change a situation. It's easy to give up hope when your coworkers/supervisors are mean. It's easy to give up hope when you're being treated like crud. But like my dad always says, "Shake it off cowgirl!"
TIME TO GET OVER IT:
What did I do when I found out the job didn't make the cut?! I went to the gym, Zumba'd my heart out, and I applied to about 7 more jobs that next day.
I made a promise to myself that I was not going to let myself get down in the dumps. I wasn't going to take that as a sign that I'm going to be stuck here forever. This was a direct divine message, telling me that however great it would be to get out of where I'm at now, it's not the door I'm intended to open.
Until then, it's time to make my current job teach me something. It's time to give myself something to do, other than blog of course.
I know this blog wasn't exactly pertaining to everyone's lives but if you take anything out of this post, make it this:
Not all offers are meant to be taken. It takes faith and courage to hold yourself to high standards.
Be strong, friends. Make your life worth it.
Monday, May 19, 2014
I'm not settling... Am I?!
Our world is filled with encouragement, whether it comes in the form of corporate logos, inspiring stories or just plain pats-on-the-back from your friends and family.
Nike tells us to "Just Do It," the Army tells us we can "Be all [we] can be," school teachers tell us to go to college because that's how we're going to be successful. Encouragement is all around us, telling us to strive to be better than we were yesterday, last week, five years ago.
What happens when you are trying to better yourself and you find yourself stuck in the mud? You're trying to "just do it" but there's a roadblock. You're trapped.
Man, am I in this spot right now or what?
As I have made it pretty darn clear, you all have probably figured out that I'm pretty stuck when it comes to my current employment. I literally just spent 15 minutes playing with the Rubik's cube on today's Google homepage (which was stupid by the way because I have no idea how to figure out a Rubik's cube). I would consider that situation stuck and I'm not even talking about the puzzle.
My current job has made me reevaluate my strengths. It has made me question my abilities. It has put me in waist-deep mud with a little pink Baskin & Robbins sample spoon to dig myself out.
I have applied for a countless number of jobs in the last two months. FINALLY, I got a call back and an interview scheduled for a job that was kind of a fall back option, not because it's a lame job, but because it does not require much education and is in a field that I never considered as a career path. Retail. I don't want to go into too much detail since it isn't for-sure yet, but here's my dilemma. The job is salaried, with WAY more benefits than I currently have and (most likely) has a higher pay grade. The company gives back to the community and supports programs that I participated in as a kid. The company has many locations and what I would assume to be a pretty large opportunity for growth.
You're all like, where's the dilemma?! This is where I have reached a conundrum (LOVE that word). I don't know what I want to do with my life. There... I said it. I'm totally lost. I don't know what I want to do with my life. This position that I will be interviewing for is in a direction that I never really anticipated and people that mean a lot to me have sort of snubbed their noses at it. Not intentionally, but it has happened. That doesn't mean the job is bad, or good, but it makes me think about how I will get to where I want to go in my career. I have narrowed it down to a general field of what I want to do (community relations with an organization or corporation/business), but I don't know how to get there.
Well, actually I do. I have to start from the bottom, right? With all of the encouraging words surrounding us in marketing and in our personal lives, I feel that there is a negative stigma with starting at the bottom. People assume you're settling for something because it's easy and convenient. Now here's the difference between settling and starting: Settling is a verb, it's getting complacent, it's lacking the motivation to grow and become a better employee/person; Starting is a noun, it's the point at which you begin your growth, where you learn the basics in order to grow them. If you really think about it, how are we supposed to instantly beat out the people who have worked the lower ranks and climbed up the ladder? It's not fair to them and it's not fair to us.
Like I've said in prior blogs, we are NOT a generation of entitlement, therefore we cannot expect to be entitled.
I'm not going to lie, I can see myself kicking butt at this job. I thrive on customer interaction and I know it would be a good fit for me, but can I get passed the negative stigma in starting lower on the totem pole? Can I see myself in a total career change? I guess we'll find out after the interview. Maybe they'll sell me like crazy? Maybe it will be a fantastic fit?
My advice to friends and e-friends is that it's never a bad idea to start at the bottom as long as you're not settling for something less than you deserve.
Don't get used to the bottom.
Push for the top.
Stay motivated and don't let yourself get stuck, because getting stuck sucks.
What do you think? Do you agree? Or do you think you should hold out for something better? I'd love to know!!!
Until next time. Sending good vibes to you and yours!
Nike tells us to "Just Do It," the Army tells us we can "Be all [we] can be," school teachers tell us to go to college because that's how we're going to be successful. Encouragement is all around us, telling us to strive to be better than we were yesterday, last week, five years ago.
What happens when you are trying to better yourself and you find yourself stuck in the mud? You're trying to "just do it" but there's a roadblock. You're trapped.
Man, am I in this spot right now or what?
As I have made it pretty darn clear, you all have probably figured out that I'm pretty stuck when it comes to my current employment. I literally just spent 15 minutes playing with the Rubik's cube on today's Google homepage (which was stupid by the way because I have no idea how to figure out a Rubik's cube). I would consider that situation stuck and I'm not even talking about the puzzle.
My current job has made me reevaluate my strengths. It has made me question my abilities. It has put me in waist-deep mud with a little pink Baskin & Robbins sample spoon to dig myself out.
I have applied for a countless number of jobs in the last two months. FINALLY, I got a call back and an interview scheduled for a job that was kind of a fall back option, not because it's a lame job, but because it does not require much education and is in a field that I never considered as a career path. Retail. I don't want to go into too much detail since it isn't for-sure yet, but here's my dilemma. The job is salaried, with WAY more benefits than I currently have and (most likely) has a higher pay grade. The company gives back to the community and supports programs that I participated in as a kid. The company has many locations and what I would assume to be a pretty large opportunity for growth.
You're all like, where's the dilemma?! This is where I have reached a conundrum (LOVE that word). I don't know what I want to do with my life. There... I said it. I'm totally lost. I don't know what I want to do with my life. This position that I will be interviewing for is in a direction that I never really anticipated and people that mean a lot to me have sort of snubbed their noses at it. Not intentionally, but it has happened. That doesn't mean the job is bad, or good, but it makes me think about how I will get to where I want to go in my career. I have narrowed it down to a general field of what I want to do (community relations with an organization or corporation/business), but I don't know how to get there.
Well, actually I do. I have to start from the bottom, right? With all of the encouraging words surrounding us in marketing and in our personal lives, I feel that there is a negative stigma with starting at the bottom. People assume you're settling for something because it's easy and convenient. Now here's the difference between settling and starting: Settling is a verb, it's getting complacent, it's lacking the motivation to grow and become a better employee/person; Starting is a noun, it's the point at which you begin your growth, where you learn the basics in order to grow them. If you really think about it, how are we supposed to instantly beat out the people who have worked the lower ranks and climbed up the ladder? It's not fair to them and it's not fair to us.
Like I've said in prior blogs, we are NOT a generation of entitlement, therefore we cannot expect to be entitled.
I'm not going to lie, I can see myself kicking butt at this job. I thrive on customer interaction and I know it would be a good fit for me, but can I get passed the negative stigma in starting lower on the totem pole? Can I see myself in a total career change? I guess we'll find out after the interview. Maybe they'll sell me like crazy? Maybe it will be a fantastic fit?
My advice to friends and e-friends is that it's never a bad idea to start at the bottom as long as you're not settling for something less than you deserve.
Don't get used to the bottom.
Push for the top.
Stay motivated and don't let yourself get stuck, because getting stuck sucks.
What do you think? Do you agree? Or do you think you should hold out for something better? I'd love to know!!!
Until next time. Sending good vibes to you and yours!
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Transforming Boredom
I don't know about you but I loathe boredom.
I was brought up in a family of three kids, but with our activity level, we could have made up for six. Each one of us was extremely involved with sports, school, 4-H (for you city folk, 4-H is a *mostly* agricultural youth organization and we showed livestock), and countless sleepovers. I legitimately don't know how we were able to do so much and have any hours left for sleeping.
Long story short, I LOVED IT.
Not only was I kept out of trouble (for the most part ;) ), but I was also introduced to so many growing life experiences. If you're a parent right now, please sign your kid up for t-ball, or ballet, or skateboarding. Whatever it is... SIGN THEM UP! It doesn't matter if he or she can't run in a straight line, or catch a ball. ALL that matters is that you're teaching these kids the values of team building, of persistence, of failure... which are HUGELY important lessons for kids to learn gracefully.
Okay. Rant over.
ANYWAY-
Growing up in such a busy atmosphere was wonderful. It made us appreciate down time, along with the busyness too. When I got to college I realized I had SO much free time. But inversely, instead of appreciating the down time, I became lost because I didn't know how to fill such a vast schedule. The beginning of college was pretty difficult because like I said, I HATE being bored. Before I knew it, I was finding hints of depression popping up in my everyday life.
Fast forward four more years. I had the EXACT same thing happen at the end of college. I went from a super busy and exciting life of school work, two jobs, an internship, incredible friend groups and LOTS of country western dancing - yep, that's a thing - to a job that gave me anxiety attacks and absolutely no time for social interactions.
HOLD UP! This is supposed to be a positivity blog!!! (Hang with me, it's coming...)
Then, in a twist of events, I switched jobs out of the blue in an attempt to get back to the obnoxiously bubbly person that I am. However, I work at a job that plops me in front of a computer and all I do is scan Pinterest for eight hours. I witness grown adults acting like middle school girls. I watched the Olympics from my desk for two weeks straight. Sounds wonderful, right? WRONG. You are so SO WRONG. The boredom level is exponential.
Here's where we're going to turn these things to find the positive.
I've learned that I am a structure junkie! I love having a schedule (that can be bent, but at least it's there!). I also have learned that it's up to me to fill my time outside of work. I've started consistently going to the gym, and despite being tired after my hour long commute everyday, I make sure that I get at least one friend date in every week. These things are little changes, but it makes a big difference. When it comes to weekends, the grown-up in me knows I should clean the house/do the laundry. The long-distance girlfriend in me wants to go visit my man. The friend in me wants to hang out with EVERYONE. I've learned that my boredom throughout the week is practically GONE on the weekends so it comes down to balancing. Clean the kitchen on a weeknight, hang out with the boyfriend on the weekend, and later in the week you can incorporate a Kate Hudson movie in there somewhere with your girls. Get it on the schedule. You'll have something to look forward to!
I am also learning a LOT about the executive work force and I have learned tons about what I DON'T want in a career. (I can see the wheels turning and you're thinking, wait... that's still a negative. WRONG AGAIN!)
Learning what you do not want in a given situation is just as much, if not more important than learning what you absolutely do want. I have found myself to be in a position that a majority of my generation finds themselves. We finish college, try out our career and realize, that's not actually what we wanted.... SO NOW WHAT?
By learning what I don't want (a career in logistical transportation, large amounts of down-time, a sitting desk job, an office without people my own age), I am able to narrow down the things that make me passionate. I'm learning about the people I want to surround myself with and what kind of atmospheres I work best in. I am positively looking at this situation and realizing that I can do a lot more to make this a growing experience. I desire fast-paced excitement, face-to-face customer interaction, movement, relatable coworkers, a community atmosphere. I do not plan on staying at this job forever. But I WILL learn a great deal from the time that I do devote to this company. I know that I'll continue to learn so that I'm prepared for my next big change.
Who knows, maybe this blogging thing will work out ;)
Also, if you made it this far, you deserve a gold star! That was a long one!
I was brought up in a family of three kids, but with our activity level, we could have made up for six. Each one of us was extremely involved with sports, school, 4-H (for you city folk, 4-H is a *mostly* agricultural youth organization and we showed livestock), and countless sleepovers. I legitimately don't know how we were able to do so much and have any hours left for sleeping.
Long story short, I LOVED IT.
Not only was I kept out of trouble (for the most part ;) ), but I was also introduced to so many growing life experiences. If you're a parent right now, please sign your kid up for t-ball, or ballet, or skateboarding. Whatever it is... SIGN THEM UP! It doesn't matter if he or she can't run in a straight line, or catch a ball. ALL that matters is that you're teaching these kids the values of team building, of persistence, of failure... which are HUGELY important lessons for kids to learn gracefully.
Okay. Rant over.
ANYWAY-
Growing up in such a busy atmosphere was wonderful. It made us appreciate down time, along with the busyness too. When I got to college I realized I had SO much free time. But inversely, instead of appreciating the down time, I became lost because I didn't know how to fill such a vast schedule. The beginning of college was pretty difficult because like I said, I HATE being bored. Before I knew it, I was finding hints of depression popping up in my everyday life.
Fast forward four more years. I had the EXACT same thing happen at the end of college. I went from a super busy and exciting life of school work, two jobs, an internship, incredible friend groups and LOTS of country western dancing - yep, that's a thing - to a job that gave me anxiety attacks and absolutely no time for social interactions.
HOLD UP! This is supposed to be a positivity blog!!! (Hang with me, it's coming...)
Then, in a twist of events, I switched jobs out of the blue in an attempt to get back to the obnoxiously bubbly person that I am. However, I work at a job that plops me in front of a computer and all I do is scan Pinterest for eight hours. I witness grown adults acting like middle school girls. I watched the Olympics from my desk for two weeks straight. Sounds wonderful, right? WRONG. You are so SO WRONG. The boredom level is exponential.
Here's where we're going to turn these things to find the positive.
I've learned that I am a structure junkie! I love having a schedule (that can be bent, but at least it's there!). I also have learned that it's up to me to fill my time outside of work. I've started consistently going to the gym, and despite being tired after my hour long commute everyday, I make sure that I get at least one friend date in every week. These things are little changes, but it makes a big difference. When it comes to weekends, the grown-up in me knows I should clean the house/do the laundry. The long-distance girlfriend in me wants to go visit my man. The friend in me wants to hang out with EVERYONE. I've learned that my boredom throughout the week is practically GONE on the weekends so it comes down to balancing. Clean the kitchen on a weeknight, hang out with the boyfriend on the weekend, and later in the week you can incorporate a Kate Hudson movie in there somewhere with your girls. Get it on the schedule. You'll have something to look forward to!
I am also learning a LOT about the executive work force and I have learned tons about what I DON'T want in a career. (I can see the wheels turning and you're thinking, wait... that's still a negative. WRONG AGAIN!)
Learning what you do not want in a given situation is just as much, if not more important than learning what you absolutely do want. I have found myself to be in a position that a majority of my generation finds themselves. We finish college, try out our career and realize, that's not actually what we wanted.... SO NOW WHAT?
By learning what I don't want (a career in logistical transportation, large amounts of down-time, a sitting desk job, an office without people my own age), I am able to narrow down the things that make me passionate. I'm learning about the people I want to surround myself with and what kind of atmospheres I work best in. I am positively looking at this situation and realizing that I can do a lot more to make this a growing experience. I desire fast-paced excitement, face-to-face customer interaction, movement, relatable coworkers, a community atmosphere. I do not plan on staying at this job forever. But I WILL learn a great deal from the time that I do devote to this company. I know that I'll continue to learn so that I'm prepared for my next big change.
Who knows, maybe this blogging thing will work out ;)
Also, if you made it this far, you deserve a gold star! That was a long one!
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