On the Job Front…

A big reason I have been MIA is because my job has become more demanding.  But I am not complaining about that – I actually kind of like it.

I am one who gets cabin fever pretty fast at a job – may be why I stayed in retail so long.  No day in retail is the same; once you get comfortable they promote you to a different location or position, or your staff suddenly quits on you.  Every day was a personal challenge – can you beat last year's numbers?  Can you change a customer's day?  Can you better your sales, your training, your visual merchandising skills?

Well retail started wearing on my personal life and my body (anyone who works on her feet 50-80 hours a week can attest to that) so I knew it was time to move to the 9-5.  Once I made that change I had more time for a social life, but I got so antsy.

I stayed at one job for a year and a month and then moved to another company.  That second company I stayed at for almost three years, but for the majority of that time I knew it wasn't the best fit for me.  Some nice people there, but I didn't see a future.  I felt frustrated, isolated, angry a lot of the time.  I know my attitude held me back, and also affected my coworkers in a negative manner.  I was constantly looking for a new job, but nothing seemed better.

My current job I found on Craigslist, of all places.  I took a day off work for the interview.  My Ann Taylor suit was a little tight so I wore control-top pantyhose under it to keep the pants from splitting.  I didn't understand what the company did, but I immediately liked the two men who interviewed me and the woman at HR.  After my interview I had a “skipping school” event with some dear friends.  We went to the now-closed Olives for lunch.  My sister and I got there before everyone else and toasted with a celebratory glass of Cava.  We went to Off the Record, which is in the basement of the Hay Adams Hotel.  No politicians there at that time of the afternoon, but we enjoyed a glass of wine.  We then went to see Into the Wild.

I got the job.  I knew I would kinda-sorta be doing what I already did, but it would be in the city instead of the suburbs.  It would be a different environment, different type of people (almost a 180 from most of my coworkers at my current job), and a fresh start where I could be positive and motivated.  Oh and it also paid a bit more. 🙂

My two-year anniversary at this job was this past November and I have yet to get cabin fever.  I cancelled my email notifications from Hot Jobs, Monster, and Washington Post Jobs for the first time since I made those accounts.  I have never felt stagnant, never felt angry, never felt bitter.  A couple months ago, I was asked to be interviewed for a new employee orientation video.  I was so excited to do it – to be able to share my passion for my amazing company and coworkers.

Yesterday I had my review.  Since I started at the end of 2007 and was on bedrest and maternity leave last year at review time, this ended up being my first real review with the company.  I was nervous, but wasn't sure why because for the first time in my adult career life, I knew where I stood with my supervisors and knew my strengths and weaknesses.  Along with being nervous, I was excited.  I do work for a supervisor who doesn't hesitate to congratulate or offer constructive criticism, but I wanted to see in print what my company really thought of me.

They like me.  They really like me.  And man, does it feel good.

In a perfect world, I wouldn't work. I would travel the world and write and paint.  I would spend every day with my husband and daughter and experience life with them… to the fullest.  But well… one needs money.  My husband and I chose for me to be the one to work full time because I am the one who has the good insurance, the good benefits, and I like my job.  Some days I hate that I am the working parent – days when Emerson cries when I leave, when I had trouble pumping to keep up with milk supply, when my husband would call and tell me some milestone that Emerson has done that I yet again missed.

But days like yesterday… after getting my review I was proud to be the working parent.  Proud to bring home a hard-earned paycheck that supports my family.  Proud that I have a funny and smart and charming daughter, a hot as heck husband who loves me, AND a job where I do well and am respected.

My blogs suffer… but my personal life is thriving.  I thank those of you who hang in there.  When I am stuck on a boring conference call or get the chance to have a proper lunch, the first thing I do is focus on the blogs.  But as the primary breadwinner for my wonderful family… the job comes first.

And thank goodness it is a really awesome job!