Unless you were a VP or owner of a company, you were expected to move around from job to job every couple of years or so. Then suddenly the economy tanked. Most folks felt "stuck" but didn't rock the boat in fear that they would loose what they had - Even if it wasn't what they wanted.
The economy couldn't have tanked at the worst time.
I was at the height of my career and after loosing a job, I made the conscious decision not to take the senior level roles in Seattle that I was getting offered. (Yes on both companies you are probably imagining).
That, in a nutshell, is how I founded my agency and went on my own.
It hasn't been easy, it hasn't been pretty, and as much as I have been able to do with what I have, I've always had a feeling in my heart of wanting to do more.
Then I got sick, and the rest is history.
Through this transition, I have tried a few things, let go of a few more, and have lived through the process of reinventing myself this entire year.
Most recently, I was called by a major player in the retail industry who wanted me to lead their entire West Coast PR. I went through more than eight interviews, five tests, got flown to their corporate offices...and got the job.
I got the job. A HUGE job.
My hubby was so excited for me, that we celebrated at one of the Toniest restaurants in the city. My most trusted confidents, although sworn to secrecy, celebrated remotely with me, and all went well for a few days...
Until the job was no more.
Although I never looked for the job -any job-, I was crushed.
Eventually I came to the conclusion that like everything else in life, there was a reason for this and moved on.
Hubby, like everyone else close to me told me, encouraged me to take time to figure out what I wanted to do with my career.
Heck, if I got this job, this HUGE job, whats to say I couldn't do it again? Or, go back to growing my agency? Or, do anything I pretty much damn want to.
I have options.
I would be lying if I didn't admit that the luxury of time and the support of a spouse is letting me go after every dream I've had.
"You should design," he told me a few weeks back as I was crocheting another sweater for Princess Maya.So, sewing classes are in the midst.
"I love to see how happy you are when you blog," he admitted a few days ago.So, changes to build my blog are happening every day and the goal is to write at least three blog posts a week.
"People like what you buy," he told me.So, I'm testing a new online shop.
"You're a good writer...and you're good on camera," he told me after my recent interviews on CNN Latino.So, I wrote a couple of pieces for national magazine. (I promise to share them once I receive a copy of the magazine).
As exciting as this is, I'm also scared that I will end-up as a Trader Joe's checker (not that there's anything wrong with that - it's just not a life goal I've had).
The truth is, I can't give-up PR.
I love my career, and I know that I am damn good at it. But I see things in the industry that I don't want to be a part of. (oh the stories I could tell!)
So, for now, I'm laying low and working behind the scenes on a few things that may grow into something else...while I also work on figuring out how to reinvent myself.
Maybe a year from today I will be in a different mind-space and working from a balcony in Paris.
Let's see how this experiment goes,
