Focus

Welcome back! It’s been a month since my last post and a lot has happened. I’m still searching for that great opportunity, or maybe it’s still searching for me, but many other things have taken place since we last met.

Bruno continues to beg to play in the snow. Wednesday was a delightful day for a walk. Even though the temperature was in the mid-teens, I took Bruno through the Gardners Row triangle. It’s a bit of a longer walk and I was concerned about his ears freezing but I guess that won’t happen when they’re dragging through fresh snow that has a temp in the upper 20s. I enjoy watching his brisk shuffle, big paws flipping up snow almost to his nose (when it isn’t glued to the ground plowing the white stuff). And I get a chuckle when he brings his head up and that perfect cone of snow balances on top of his nose. I want to brush it off but then he puts his wiper on (his tongue) and everything gets cleaned up.

So, I’ve teased you about happenings since my last post. In a nutshell…lots of drama the weekend of Dec. 19 with a friend who needed her and her daughter’s evening gown altered for a debutante ball in three days after the professional seamstress literally butchered them (one rescued, one destined for small claims court), phone call from my sister-in-law inviting me to Christmas Day at their house (haven’t spoken to her in five years – very long story but this was a good sign), melt down in my stove – literally – that could have destroyed it but didn’t, and an unrelated to the melt down in my stove visit to the ER with my husband.

The week of Christmas, I heard from two dear friends. One was seriously unhappy and disillusioned with her job. It was time to start making career decisions because the current situation was going nowhere and she’s far too young to be in a dead-end job. I gave her some suggestions were to get help and answers. And the other was potentially seeing “the handwriting on the wall” not because of performance, but possibly the whim of a boss. She asked if this was the case and was told, “There’s no timetable for that yet.” What does THAT mean and how do you fix it? You can’t. You just do your best and forge ahead or look for another route.

The holidays this year were especially hard because it’s the second year without a job, no presents, no party of our own, and my husband’s impending surgery on the 28th. A year ago I said to myself, “In a year, this will probably be over and we’ll live happily ever after.” Shouldn’t have said that. Boxing Day had another trip to the ER making the surgery on the 28th more complicated. We counted our blessings that we delayed the surgery because those two trips to the ER revealed issues needing to be fixed that would have presented themselves a few weeks later, requiring another surgery. Friends came to us on New Year’s Eve and we toasted a fresh start. New Year’s Day we were back in the ER – a hematoma but not critical. Ice would take care of it – who knew? Was this our fresh start?

That brings us to this week. And what a week for a career search it has been! On Monday and Wednesday, I found the focus in my search and uncovered 32 excellent opportunities that suit me well. About 25 of them required 10+ years of experience. Finally, it seems they are looking up the ladder for new blood. Thursday there were eight more and this morning, another three so far. Tuesday was a bit of a disappointment, but that's OK. I had a long awaited interview for a job that was completely out of field but something I thought I could do. Very low pay, lots of overtime, no time off the first year – a bad combination if I wanted to continue searching for the right fit but still have an income. The worst part is that I would have been crushed emotionally by being in this position. It was a position as an adjudicator that required me to take sides. One party would always be, at the least, unhappy but likely quite angry. I’ve spent a good part of my career learning how to make every situation into a positive, the win-win. This job did not allow for that, at all. It was converse to my very being. Even when I have had to deliver the worst of news to a customer or my employer, I have always found a way to focus on the positive. That’s my nature and I’m good at it. I had to walk away.

Yesterday I connected two friends who have needs and talents that could help each of them start their businesses. One needed graphic design help (and marketing advice from me so I’m guess I’m providing consulting services now – for free - it feels good being needed) and the other wanted to do some freelance graphic design work. I think their personalities will mesh very well and that they have strengths that will complement each other. I’m glad I’ll get to see how this works out.

Oh yeah, already this week I’ve been contact by two of the 43 companies. That’s a 4% response rate – pretty darn good! Seems my focus is back in focus.