Haunted
September had me in a lot of tears, mainly due to frustration. Tears of not understanding why I wasn't be hired. I mean my resumé exuded awesomeness, right? I was just one resumé away from including one of my old headshots so they knew what I looked like at least. I was willing to try anything. I am so thankful for my friends that let me cry to them. However, I also had a friend I felt was very insensitive at this time. That was really an eye opener on that person's character. Not everything in life is a competition and it has to be exhausting to live one's life that way-that is all I will say on that matter. Friends helped me through that as well. Lesson Learned.
So, I decided that I needed a face lift-well not me really, but my resumé and my cover letter. My good friend, Jenn Phalen, who is a Rock Star for Employee Relations at the DOL offered to take a look. It can be a little daunting to have someone point out your how you should do things better, but that is how we grow! What she sent me back was amazing. Not only formatting, but selling points about myself that I forgot to mentioned! So, changes made and resumé and cover letter sent off to 5 employers. And wouldn't you know it, I got a call back from all of them, some of them had multiple positions they would like to discuss. I went from crying and frustrated to trying to keep my schedule straight. Oh, I should mention right before this time I made a vision board. Yes, those who know me and have read my other posts, know that I believe in that. I channeled all things positive and even starting reading The Power of Now. Seemed to be paying off!
My vision board Brandi got me for my birthday.
Money, cute clothes, life changers, desk, giant leaps...
Acceptance letter and my cute hot pink skirt for my new job.
#hotpinkgirl
One company I really wanted to work for, AAA, I had sent them the old stuff before and I didn't hear anything. Even when people I knew contacted people they knew there. Now, I had sent in the revised documents and I got a call. However, not for the position I initially applied for, but one that hadn't been opened yet, in my Master field of Public Relations. Long story short, I met with this great company about both positions. Several times. I joked that it was like the Hunger Games interview addition. However, it was the complete opposite. Here is why:
AAA is family oriented. They brand themselves on Protection. I can't remember a time my father didn't put a AAA card in my stocking. It has come in handy-ran out of gas, locked myself out, car break downs, hotel/travel discounts...just to name a few things I have used it for! Also, before meeting with the President/CEO of this company, he wrote me and said he would rather just have a conversation over coffee than a formal interview. Coffee? Talk? Stress Free? Yes, please! He bought me my beloved Americano. I also did some research on him-has your boss been named Boss of the Year by your local Chamber of Commerce? Mine has. Jealous, much-ha ;-)
Cool Boss Alert
After several meetings, I was offered a job. I jumped at this opportunity and couldn't believe it. Still can't. Trying not think of the other shoe dropping. The day I accepted this position, I saw the CEO out downtown. He hugged me and welcomed me to the team. Yes, hugged me. He was so excited. I told him when my last day was at my old job and that I would start the following work day, he asked if I was sure I didn't want to some days off in-between? What? Wow. Nope. I couldn't wait to start. A few days after that I received an email from him and a call from my direct boss just to see if I needed anything and how I was doing and once again re-iterating how excited they were to have me on board. This was a sharp contrast to the boss/place I was leaving. Although I loved my work and my administration, I unfortunately didn't have a boss the truly believed in champion people. Sad.
But on to bigger and better things! I am so excited to join this team and get to work. As my friend Tami said to me: "Be uncomfortable-that is how we grow." I am ready to do great things and be challenged. Special thanks to the best Tri partner a girl could ask for-Diedra. Thank you for extending my qualifications of awesomeness to your cousin at AAA, who is now my direct boss. See people, it pays to have friends who will suffer in races with you!And you can get a lifelong friend by just sharing a swim lane together. Thanks to my running partner Adrienna who I share love, laughter and tears with at 6 am several days a week. And to my parents, for helping me out and to everyone who wrote kind things and listened over drinks. This last 1 1/2 months I focused on positivity and creating good energy and I feel that has totally paid off. Bring good energy to your world, take a moment to show compassion and embrace the small things around you-old people holding hands, a hug, a strangers smile....Everyone is fighting a battle out there-and how big it is-is irrelevant.
Love.
A quote by my favorite author Cheryl Strayed that showed up on my friend Abby's IG account today said this:"You don't have a right to the cards you believe you should have been dealt-You have an obligation to play the hell out of the ones you're holding." Play on, Playa.