Happy Tuesday everyone! I tell ya, just couldn't make it to the computer yesterday...one of the advantages of being "On Sabbatical". Monday morning rolls around, its raining out, what the hell, I'll get up at the crack of 12:30. Yup, it was one of those weekends. A good weekend nonetheless, one in which I spent plenty of time speaking of this so-called blog I have immersed myself in. Of course, there have been haters, but for the most part, many people enjoy my blog and also I have gotten some pretty good feedback. After all, I created this monster to keep my brain working, keep my thoughts moving in the right direction, and also use this as a vehicle for everyone who cares to help me out and/or give advice during this period in my life. I'd say its almost working at this point!
So Friday evening I was spending time down at the local watering hole, when a friend came up and accused me of plagiarism, stemming from Friday's blog. Umm, point taken, however in order to qualify as plagiarism there must be over 25 readers, so f off. It's not plagiarism, its called paraphrasing. Big difference. I never got arrested in school for paraphrasing...
I did rock the don't-trust-ache all weekend, finally shaving it off Monday afternoon. Some of the comments I received over the weekend: older, creepy, child molester. On that note, figured it may be time to shave. However it did provide a good laugh to many over the past few days.
Saturday night I was approached by a young lady who recently began to read the blog. Not really sure of the extent of her reading, but anyway....she came up to me Saturday night while at another local establishment and said, "I read your blog. Its good, but its too long." Actually no, I think the problem is your brain may be too short. Hey don't read if you can't handle more than 3 consecutive sentences. Don't f with me.
After a "festive" couple days all I wanted to do was to relax on Sunday and watch a little NCAA hoops on the couch, however not possible...I had a fantasy baseball draft down in the melting pot of Massachusetts, Waltham. This was a great opportunity to catch up with some friends I see maybe once a year. To my surprise a handful or so of them have been following the blog, said they enjoyed it, and were encouraging others to follow along. That was nice. Everyone also got a kick out of my killer moustache...
So here I am, hurling myself back in front of the computer on this grayTuesday. I know everyone's psyched. And hopefully the job hunt, as well as the quality of my blogging, will gain a little momentum as the week passes...
Didn't want to write too much today and strain anyone's cerebellum...
And also, when I struggle to come up with a title for a blog, I simply use the title of an old Jimmy Buffett song, in case anyone was wondering...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Welcome to Hitsville!
So, as I mentioned earlier this week I attempted to take "baby steps" towards achieving the goal of this sabbatical: finding employment that I will enjoy, as well as put myself mentally in a place where that is possible. Many steps in that direction were taken this week. As I said the other day, I passed up a glorious day of skiing as well as shaved off the beard. But kept a moustache. Going through life with a moustache is quite amusing, I must say. You just have that look, that smirk on your face that says, "Yeah. I'm rocking a 'stache. Deal with it bitches." So if you see me in the near future, that is what I'm thinking at the moment.
Other highlights of the week:
I had fish for dinner twice this week. Tuesday I had a nice piece of sea bass, while last night I ate a nice piece of grilled salmon. Fish is brain food, as well as heart food. Baby steps.
I made it to the gym 5 days this week, something I think I may have only done once during this sabbatical, probably only once in my life. For those at home looking to mimic my tremendous athletic prowess, my routine is as follows: Monday and Wednesay-15 mins on elyptical machine, 2o mins weight training, 10 mins stretching, 20 mins in Sauna. The Sauna is the icing on the cake. Tues, Thurs-30 mins on elyptical machine, 25 mins weight training, 10 mins stretching, 20 mins in Sauna. Fri-30 mins on elyptical, 15 stretching, 15 Sauna. As Borat would say, "BooYaKasha!"
Adam Lambert absolutely killed it on American Idol Tuesday night with a "blazin, out-the-box" rendition of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears." So blazin, in fact, Smokey just sat down from giving young Lambert a Standing-O. I have watched that performance 3 times. Please don't tell anyone.
I am in first place in my NCAA March Madness Pool. However, with Memphis losing last night like a bunch of cowards, it may not be for long.
And finally, I actually applied for 2 jobs. Absolutely monumental. The first, for a Director of Sales, for a company called Global Relief Technologies. A Director of Sales position may be a bit of a stretch, but I figured why not. Can't hurt. I've had enough sh*tty managers in my day to know what it takes to be a good one.
The second is a position that I feel is a bit more realistic, a medical sales rep with a company called Stryker. I know 2 people who work for Stryker, and seem to do well with it. So I applied for the position, which is in a division called Navigation, that apparently sells $4-500k machines to hospitals. People who do well will sell maybe 3 of those per year. I have a college friend down in the armpit of America, New Jersey, who does very well with Stryker and has given a recommendation to HR for me, as well as passed along my resume. As I said earlier in the week, I think the field of healthcare/medical devices is one which is not as affected by the "Great Depression" and is an area of general growth. Baby boomers will soon be oozing out of hospital windows if they aren't already. So, hey, it may not be the most glamorous of work, but I think it potentially pays well, doesn't revolve solely around cold-calling, and also has more daily tasks than simply "selling." Which is what I'm looking for, plus I kind of have an "in", with the two guys I know who already work there. So stay tuned for future news on this front...
Now if only a smokin hot, intelligent, personable, funny, skier chick who loves temporary moustaches would approach me over the weekend, we'd be in serious "bidness."
On that note, everyone have a safe, happy and healthy weekend...I now have been recruited to go help a friend move. He was very misleading in enlisting my help; I got a couple texts while at dinner last night asking if I was going to the bar this evening. I called back to say that I was, then he proceeded to ask for help this afternoon. But, hey, as Whitney Houston once said, "That's what friends are for." I scratch your back, you scratch mine and all that happy horsesh*t.
Until next time folks, I will leave you with a piece of advice I received this week, hopefully I don't f it up:
Other highlights of the week:
I had fish for dinner twice this week. Tuesday I had a nice piece of sea bass, while last night I ate a nice piece of grilled salmon. Fish is brain food, as well as heart food. Baby steps.
I made it to the gym 5 days this week, something I think I may have only done once during this sabbatical, probably only once in my life. For those at home looking to mimic my tremendous athletic prowess, my routine is as follows: Monday and Wednesay-15 mins on elyptical machine, 2o mins weight training, 10 mins stretching, 20 mins in Sauna. The Sauna is the icing on the cake. Tues, Thurs-30 mins on elyptical machine, 25 mins weight training, 10 mins stretching, 20 mins in Sauna. Fri-30 mins on elyptical, 15 stretching, 15 Sauna. As Borat would say, "BooYaKasha!"
Adam Lambert absolutely killed it on American Idol Tuesday night with a "blazin, out-the-box" rendition of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears." So blazin, in fact, Smokey just sat down from giving young Lambert a Standing-O. I have watched that performance 3 times. Please don't tell anyone.
I am in first place in my NCAA March Madness Pool. However, with Memphis losing last night like a bunch of cowards, it may not be for long.
And finally, I actually applied for 2 jobs. Absolutely monumental. The first, for a Director of Sales, for a company called Global Relief Technologies. A Director of Sales position may be a bit of a stretch, but I figured why not. Can't hurt. I've had enough sh*tty managers in my day to know what it takes to be a good one.
The second is a position that I feel is a bit more realistic, a medical sales rep with a company called Stryker. I know 2 people who work for Stryker, and seem to do well with it. So I applied for the position, which is in a division called Navigation, that apparently sells $4-500k machines to hospitals. People who do well will sell maybe 3 of those per year. I have a college friend down in the armpit of America, New Jersey, who does very well with Stryker and has given a recommendation to HR for me, as well as passed along my resume. As I said earlier in the week, I think the field of healthcare/medical devices is one which is not as affected by the "Great Depression" and is an area of general growth. Baby boomers will soon be oozing out of hospital windows if they aren't already. So, hey, it may not be the most glamorous of work, but I think it potentially pays well, doesn't revolve solely around cold-calling, and also has more daily tasks than simply "selling." Which is what I'm looking for, plus I kind of have an "in", with the two guys I know who already work there. So stay tuned for future news on this front...
Now if only a smokin hot, intelligent, personable, funny, skier chick who loves temporary moustaches would approach me over the weekend, we'd be in serious "bidness."
On that note, everyone have a safe, happy and healthy weekend...I now have been recruited to go help a friend move. He was very misleading in enlisting my help; I got a couple texts while at dinner last night asking if I was going to the bar this evening. I called back to say that I was, then he proceeded to ask for help this afternoon. But, hey, as Whitney Houston once said, "That's what friends are for." I scratch your back, you scratch mine and all that happy horsesh*t.
Until next time folks, I will leave you with a piece of advice I received this week, hopefully I don't f it up:
It's who you know that will get you there; It's what you know that will keep you there...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Moustache Years
Today has been a monumental day thus far for Utley. Monumental in the fact, or in hopes of gaining some momentum, some rhythm if you will, in respect to this so called "job hunt." So if the kharmic gods are out there listening, please, take note.
Upon looking at the weather forecast earlier in the week, I noticed that today, Wednesday, was shaping up to be another epic day for skiing. 50 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Therefore I made plans yesterday to do some skiing, figuring the season is winding down, and also I have other things going on this weekend. However, after thinking about it last night and sleeping on it, I woke up this morning and decided, "I'm gonna pass on skiing today. There is work to be done!" I had a very productive afternoon yesterday, so in hopes of gaining momentum, I said thanks but no thanks to skiing. And you should see the day outside today. Glorious.
So I woke up, had my morning coffee, and headed to the gym, already day #3 this week. After a great workout I got in my car and began the short drive home. The whole way home I was looking at myself in the rear view mirror, something I have begun to do a lot of since I have been growing this 1.5 month old beard. I've been thinking about it over the past couple days, but looking in the mirror today, I decided today's the today...I shaved the beard. Basically a "shout out" to the aforementioned kharmic gods. A shout out saying, "Hey. Beard's gone. I'm ready!" I figure the move is an attempt mentally to put me in the "job hunting" frame of mind, rather than the "clearing of the head" frame of mind. A wise man once said, "How you look is how you feel," and with the beard I felt like a mountain man, a ski bum, someone taking some serious time off. Though not completely over that, I am ready to make some progress towards the next step of "On Sabbatical" or more importantly the next step of my working life. I mean I figure there will eventually be some interviews and of course, there will be no beard for interviews. Not that I have any yet, but I'm trying to practice the theory of Positive Visualization here. It's a theory I picked up from the book, The Secret. It states that if you consistently visualize what you want for your future, sure enough it will come true. So I got that going for me...and now let us see how it unfolds...
And one more thing, I did not shave the beard completely. I left a nice mustache and also a flavor-saver. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a flavor-saver is the small patch of hair under the bottom lip. I saw Bruce Springsteen, aka The Boss, rocking one on The Daily Show the other day. Quite distinguished. I got the idea for the mustache, or the dont-trust-ache from one of the ski people I have met over the past few weeks. He is mustachioed and has an impossibly hot girlfriend, so hey, the dont-trust-ache, as he calls it, must be working. So I'm going to give it a shot. Probably not for too long, but its not every day one gets to play around with facial hair. Hence, I made the small transition from full beard to mustache, making it 2 moves today that should catapult me into the future...
Another wise man once told me, "Baby steps. It's all about baby steps."
Upon looking at the weather forecast earlier in the week, I noticed that today, Wednesday, was shaping up to be another epic day for skiing. 50 degrees, not a cloud in the sky. Therefore I made plans yesterday to do some skiing, figuring the season is winding down, and also I have other things going on this weekend. However, after thinking about it last night and sleeping on it, I woke up this morning and decided, "I'm gonna pass on skiing today. There is work to be done!" I had a very productive afternoon yesterday, so in hopes of gaining momentum, I said thanks but no thanks to skiing. And you should see the day outside today. Glorious.
So I woke up, had my morning coffee, and headed to the gym, already day #3 this week. After a great workout I got in my car and began the short drive home. The whole way home I was looking at myself in the rear view mirror, something I have begun to do a lot of since I have been growing this 1.5 month old beard. I've been thinking about it over the past couple days, but looking in the mirror today, I decided today's the today...I shaved the beard. Basically a "shout out" to the aforementioned kharmic gods. A shout out saying, "Hey. Beard's gone. I'm ready!" I figure the move is an attempt mentally to put me in the "job hunting" frame of mind, rather than the "clearing of the head" frame of mind. A wise man once said, "How you look is how you feel," and with the beard I felt like a mountain man, a ski bum, someone taking some serious time off. Though not completely over that, I am ready to make some progress towards the next step of "On Sabbatical" or more importantly the next step of my working life. I mean I figure there will eventually be some interviews and of course, there will be no beard for interviews. Not that I have any yet, but I'm trying to practice the theory of Positive Visualization here. It's a theory I picked up from the book, The Secret. It states that if you consistently visualize what you want for your future, sure enough it will come true. So I got that going for me...and now let us see how it unfolds...
And one more thing, I did not shave the beard completely. I left a nice mustache and also a flavor-saver. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a flavor-saver is the small patch of hair under the bottom lip. I saw Bruce Springsteen, aka The Boss, rocking one on The Daily Show the other day. Quite distinguished. I got the idea for the mustache, or the dont-trust-ache from one of the ski people I have met over the past few weeks. He is mustachioed and has an impossibly hot girlfriend, so hey, the dont-trust-ache, as he calls it, must be working. So I'm going to give it a shot. Probably not for too long, but its not every day one gets to play around with facial hair. Hence, I made the small transition from full beard to mustache, making it 2 moves today that should catapult me into the future...
Another wise man once told me, "Baby steps. It's all about baby steps."
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tampico Trauma
Do not fret people, I am back ready to blog, fresh off 3 days of skiing up North. I have really been lucking out weather wise, as Friday and Saturday were epic days, as they are called in the industry. Epic enough that I have actually developed a nice tan on my bearded face. A sure sign of Spring. The weekend was filled with plenty of skiing, sun, sake and many many laughs. Also another successful merging of some of my college friends with my ManchVegas friends. It's always nice to see different groups of people bond and/or getting along.
Friday was going smoothly, basking in the sun and ripping down runs, when I arrived at the bottom of the mountain to hear some interesting news...my buddy visiting from Peru had just wiped out and was taken down the mountain in the "sled." Ski Patrol sled that is. Never a good sign. After a few moments of concern, we noticed mi amigo de Peru sitting up on the outside porch of the slopeside bar drinking a beer. If he's healthy enough to drink a beer, he can't be too seriously injured. Carry on.
After another hour or so of skiing, my whole crew, (rolling about 4 deep at the time) met up on said outside porch for some libation and laughs. An extended crew of probably 10-20 people joined in the fun. Many of these folks were part of the ski industry, ones that I spoke of in a blog last week. I begun to tell my story to various people: ski reps, shop owners, shop employees, ski bums, etc; Responses were fairly similar. With the ski reps, now is not a great time to "break into the industry", as shops do their buying for next season now, and of course, there is apparently a recession going on. That's funny, nobody told me. I think they were all just jealous I'd take there jobs, but anyway...
And speaking with some older ski bum, shop employee types...they all do it for the skiing. Its by no means a lucrative career, but often one that comes with free equipment, free passes, and of course, many great times. So, at that point I think I decided that while I love skiing and would love to be a part of it and ski as much as possible, I don't think its quite the proper career choice for me...I need some type of happy medium. A nice career that I enjoy and pays; pays enough to support my lifestyle, one that includes a lot of skiing and travelling. And also one that allows me to save some money, because God know after this Sabbatical I will probably need to administer some type of financial stimulus package for myself. But thats neither here nor there.
So as I was driving back down I-93 Sunday evening, I realized its time to attempt to get serious about this whole thing. Not that I haven't been serious about being "On Sabbatical," but perhaps its time to figure out how I will make the move to "Not Being on Sabbatical." This week marks about 2 months, for those keeping track at home.
So what I decided, which I have been thinking about for a while, and may have mentioned last week, is that I am going to attempt to find opportunities within the fields of healthcare/medical and/or insurance. I have identified 6 people I am going to or already have contacted that may or may not be able to assist me in my journey or at least point me in some kind of direction. I will also use the Career Assessment findings I received a few weeks ago to identify companies that may be a fit for me. Because, as a friend mentioned to me last week, "If you're just going to go out get some stupid job, your whole sabbatical will be for nothing." Ouch. However, very true.
So that's a mini game plan for myself over this next week. I did throw a couple feelers out there last week, a couple feelers that, thus far, have come back with big "F U's." The consultant I met with contacted the owner of an Insurance/Healthcare Benefits Company he knew and asked if he'd be willing to meet with me. Not even specifically for a job, but just for an informational interview, persay. This gentleman said, "Thanks, but no thanks," as he is only willing to meet with people with experience selling heatlthcare. OK buddy, worst decision you ever made! Ha, ha just kidding, I probably should get used to a little rejection. But that is exactly why I haven't posted resumes on every job site there is or applied for every job out there. I must attempt, as I have mentioned many times, to remain positive, for that is the most important thing. F the economy, F the recession, F the housing market, F the credit crunch, F Bernie Madoff, F Alan Stanford, F the Police! Whoah, sorry about that last one, that's my inner hip-hop voice breaking through. I love the Police, I do. American Heroes. How's that for positive thinking.
On that note I must stop typing. Maybe go for a walk or something. Maybe have a sandwich. Oh, yeah, and then there's this mystery plan which I'm working on. It's a mystery plan so grand, that you all will be filled with awe and amazement upon its inception. But it will remain a mystery until when or IF it comes to fruition...
Just another of many reasons to continue to tune in to "On Sabbatical"...
Friday was going smoothly, basking in the sun and ripping down runs, when I arrived at the bottom of the mountain to hear some interesting news...my buddy visiting from Peru had just wiped out and was taken down the mountain in the "sled." Ski Patrol sled that is. Never a good sign. After a few moments of concern, we noticed mi amigo de Peru sitting up on the outside porch of the slopeside bar drinking a beer. If he's healthy enough to drink a beer, he can't be too seriously injured. Carry on.
After another hour or so of skiing, my whole crew, (rolling about 4 deep at the time) met up on said outside porch for some libation and laughs. An extended crew of probably 10-20 people joined in the fun. Many of these folks were part of the ski industry, ones that I spoke of in a blog last week. I begun to tell my story to various people: ski reps, shop owners, shop employees, ski bums, etc; Responses were fairly similar. With the ski reps, now is not a great time to "break into the industry", as shops do their buying for next season now, and of course, there is apparently a recession going on. That's funny, nobody told me. I think they were all just jealous I'd take there jobs, but anyway...
And speaking with some older ski bum, shop employee types...they all do it for the skiing. Its by no means a lucrative career, but often one that comes with free equipment, free passes, and of course, many great times. So, at that point I think I decided that while I love skiing and would love to be a part of it and ski as much as possible, I don't think its quite the proper career choice for me...I need some type of happy medium. A nice career that I enjoy and pays; pays enough to support my lifestyle, one that includes a lot of skiing and travelling. And also one that allows me to save some money, because God know after this Sabbatical I will probably need to administer some type of financial stimulus package for myself. But thats neither here nor there.
So as I was driving back down I-93 Sunday evening, I realized its time to attempt to get serious about this whole thing. Not that I haven't been serious about being "On Sabbatical," but perhaps its time to figure out how I will make the move to "Not Being on Sabbatical." This week marks about 2 months, for those keeping track at home.
So what I decided, which I have been thinking about for a while, and may have mentioned last week, is that I am going to attempt to find opportunities within the fields of healthcare/medical and/or insurance. I have identified 6 people I am going to or already have contacted that may or may not be able to assist me in my journey or at least point me in some kind of direction. I will also use the Career Assessment findings I received a few weeks ago to identify companies that may be a fit for me. Because, as a friend mentioned to me last week, "If you're just going to go out get some stupid job, your whole sabbatical will be for nothing." Ouch. However, very true.
So that's a mini game plan for myself over this next week. I did throw a couple feelers out there last week, a couple feelers that, thus far, have come back with big "F U's." The consultant I met with contacted the owner of an Insurance/Healthcare Benefits Company he knew and asked if he'd be willing to meet with me. Not even specifically for a job, but just for an informational interview, persay. This gentleman said, "Thanks, but no thanks," as he is only willing to meet with people with experience selling heatlthcare. OK buddy, worst decision you ever made! Ha, ha just kidding, I probably should get used to a little rejection. But that is exactly why I haven't posted resumes on every job site there is or applied for every job out there. I must attempt, as I have mentioned many times, to remain positive, for that is the most important thing. F the economy, F the recession, F the housing market, F the credit crunch, F Bernie Madoff, F Alan Stanford, F the Police! Whoah, sorry about that last one, that's my inner hip-hop voice breaking through. I love the Police, I do. American Heroes. How's that for positive thinking.
On that note I must stop typing. Maybe go for a walk or something. Maybe have a sandwich. Oh, yeah, and then there's this mystery plan which I'm working on. It's a mystery plan so grand, that you all will be filled with awe and amazement upon its inception. But it will remain a mystery until when or IF it comes to fruition...
Just another of many reasons to continue to tune in to "On Sabbatical"...
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Death of a Salesman
Today on the start of March Madness, I'd like to share a little story with you all, stemming from an experience I had yesterday. An experience that made me cringe at the thought of "sales" and the phony, scripted, canned nature of the whole game.
After celebrating St. Paddy's day to the fullest on Tuesday, needless to say Wednesday was a little "slow moving" to put in politely. A childhood friend of mine, whom I own my house with, called me up first thing in the morning, thanked me for having people over till the wee hours of the am and keeping him awake, and also informed me he had taken advantage of a promotion at BJ's. At 3pm later that day, we would be visited by a Penguin Window salesman for a "free quote". OK, great, we had tossed around the idea of new windows before, so why not get a little educated and get the quote. My windows are old and wooden, definitely in need of replacing. Probably oozing with lead paint, asbestos, arsenic, whatever. Although at this stage in the game, probably not the best timing for me, but it can't hurt. I figured the salesman would come by, take a look at the windows, give us the estimate, and be gone after about 30-45 minutes. I could not have been more wrong!
Bruce, the salesman, arrived promptly at 3pm, and he came out guns ablazin'. He sat us down in my messy apartment and set the agenda for the meeting. Being a seasoned sales rep myself, my salesman radar immediately went berserk. Bruce let us know we were going to walk around the house to take measurements, then he would introduce us to his company, then talk about options, then provide us with the quote, then he would like an answer of yes or no. Now, as I said, I've had plenty of sales training and setting the agenda upfront is necessary, but this guy came off so fake and so "duchey" that I nearly threw up in my mouth. But I had respect for his time and his game, so we went along, after informing him that we most likely not going to "buy today".
We took the tour and his cheesiness was palpable. An old manager of mine used to say, "Would you rather look cool and not make the sale, or look stupid and make the sale?" Well, I would rather look cool and make the sale, thanks for asking. After the tour, he went out to his car for the first time and grabbed a big suitcase with framing examples. At this point, we have just completed hour 1. He starts showing us options and introducing the company, then asks, "do you have a pot, I need to boil some water?" Uh, ok I guess. He makes his way into my kitchen and starts boiling water. As we continue to talk at the dining room table, I notice a pungent odor. Bruce gets up and goes and checks on the water. "Is it ok for me to be an idiot, I turned on the wrong burner," he said. OK buddy, do what you gotta do. I am growing irritated. After the water is boiled, we enter the kitchen and at this point I am starving. I grab a can of roasted almonds from the cabinet, take a handful and offer some to my buddy. As I am putting them back in the cabinet, Bruce belts out, "What am I an orphan?" and puts his hand out. OK, I guess you can have some of my food chief. He places various vinyl window frames in the water, and lo and behold, his Penguin frame does not react to the heat. Awesome.
At this point, my buddy had to return downstairs to look after his son. I let him know I could handle the rest of the presentation. Bruce begins to panic, as he needs both "decision makers" to see his whole act. "Wait, both of you have to see this next display, you will be amazed, do you have an outlet?" Bruce says. "Don't worry about it, I'll handle it," I reply unenthusiastically. He then goes out to his car for the second time and returns with another big suitcase filled with window glass samples. He plugs in a heat lamp and again shows how the Penguin window does not let in or out any heat. Absolutely amazing. He asks if I can see how Penguin is the superior product. Oh yeah.
He then whips out his pad and starts scribbling quotes. He gives all options, but he is clearly pushing the Penguin windows. His quote: 23 grand. "How does that sound," he asks. Too much, I reply. He then explains of some super discount and takes it down to 21 grand. Too much. "Look, Bruce I appreciate your time, but the timing is not right," I tell him. Blah, blah, blah, he then asks if I have a phone, he left his in the car. No, just a cell I say. He then heads out to his car for the 3rd time, returns with his cell phone, and calls the office. After some shop talk to his manager...19 grand. Nope. He is now squirming, asking what will it take. I say it will "take nothing. If you came in here and the price was 5 grand I wouldn't buy. My buddy called me up at 9 this morning and just told me you were coming." It has now been 2 hours. 2 hours of my life I wish I had back, I really could have used a nap at that point.
He then keeps bs'ing me, I try to close this out, but he insists on calling the office again, to see if there may be any "marketing money" available. Lo and behold, there is, and the price again comes down to 17 grand. Thanks but no thanks Bruce, I have already told you. Finally, looking like his dog, grandmother and son had just died all at the same time, got up and exited stage left.
I texted my buddy that this must have been punsihment for keeping him up the previous night. He agreed it was. But the moral of the story, is this is why I am not crazy about sales. Now, I 100% know I'm not as much of a dbag as Bruce, but I cringe at that thought of that mentality. I also prefer business to business sales, which is completely different, but hopefully you understand where I'm coming from. And these are some of the thoughts,concerns swimming around in my head at this time. And believe me, I know sales is where the money is. And I do like money, but I also have to live with myself, and as I have said before, I believe I just need the proper type of sale, one with long term client relationships and a product that is needed, and in a growing industry.
Which I am still trying to find...but the industries I am considering are some form of healthcare as well as some type of insurance. Wholesale insurance. So in the coming days/weeks I think I am going to contact recruiters in these fields and start to run with it. Because I am almost 2 months into this thing, so its really time to start cranking. I'm not going to lie, I probably have been having a little too much fun and too little "looking for a job", however I'm not looking to get burned out or discouraged right away by staring at a monster.com screen or something like that. Although this time off is to find out what I want to do, its also about mentally preparing myself for a future, and yes, leisure activity is an important part of that. And hopefully people understand that. Its all about balance. Whether balance of work vs free time, work vs family, whatever. It can't be all about "work".
And on that note I will now begin packing for a weekend trip up to ski in the majestic White Mountains of NH. Please, try to contain yourselves, and have a great weekend. And yes my weeks and weekends are slowly beginning to blend together, However this week I will blame that on St. Patrick, the patron saint of Guiness, corned beef, and bad decisions...
After celebrating St. Paddy's day to the fullest on Tuesday, needless to say Wednesday was a little "slow moving" to put in politely. A childhood friend of mine, whom I own my house with, called me up first thing in the morning, thanked me for having people over till the wee hours of the am and keeping him awake, and also informed me he had taken advantage of a promotion at BJ's. At 3pm later that day, we would be visited by a Penguin Window salesman for a "free quote". OK, great, we had tossed around the idea of new windows before, so why not get a little educated and get the quote. My windows are old and wooden, definitely in need of replacing. Probably oozing with lead paint, asbestos, arsenic, whatever. Although at this stage in the game, probably not the best timing for me, but it can't hurt. I figured the salesman would come by, take a look at the windows, give us the estimate, and be gone after about 30-45 minutes. I could not have been more wrong!
Bruce, the salesman, arrived promptly at 3pm, and he came out guns ablazin'. He sat us down in my messy apartment and set the agenda for the meeting. Being a seasoned sales rep myself, my salesman radar immediately went berserk. Bruce let us know we were going to walk around the house to take measurements, then he would introduce us to his company, then talk about options, then provide us with the quote, then he would like an answer of yes or no. Now, as I said, I've had plenty of sales training and setting the agenda upfront is necessary, but this guy came off so fake and so "duchey" that I nearly threw up in my mouth. But I had respect for his time and his game, so we went along, after informing him that we most likely not going to "buy today".
We took the tour and his cheesiness was palpable. An old manager of mine used to say, "Would you rather look cool and not make the sale, or look stupid and make the sale?" Well, I would rather look cool and make the sale, thanks for asking. After the tour, he went out to his car for the first time and grabbed a big suitcase with framing examples. At this point, we have just completed hour 1. He starts showing us options and introducing the company, then asks, "do you have a pot, I need to boil some water?" Uh, ok I guess. He makes his way into my kitchen and starts boiling water. As we continue to talk at the dining room table, I notice a pungent odor. Bruce gets up and goes and checks on the water. "Is it ok for me to be an idiot, I turned on the wrong burner," he said. OK buddy, do what you gotta do. I am growing irritated. After the water is boiled, we enter the kitchen and at this point I am starving. I grab a can of roasted almonds from the cabinet, take a handful and offer some to my buddy. As I am putting them back in the cabinet, Bruce belts out, "What am I an orphan?" and puts his hand out. OK, I guess you can have some of my food chief. He places various vinyl window frames in the water, and lo and behold, his Penguin frame does not react to the heat. Awesome.
At this point, my buddy had to return downstairs to look after his son. I let him know I could handle the rest of the presentation. Bruce begins to panic, as he needs both "decision makers" to see his whole act. "Wait, both of you have to see this next display, you will be amazed, do you have an outlet?" Bruce says. "Don't worry about it, I'll handle it," I reply unenthusiastically. He then goes out to his car for the second time and returns with another big suitcase filled with window glass samples. He plugs in a heat lamp and again shows how the Penguin window does not let in or out any heat. Absolutely amazing. He asks if I can see how Penguin is the superior product. Oh yeah.
He then whips out his pad and starts scribbling quotes. He gives all options, but he is clearly pushing the Penguin windows. His quote: 23 grand. "How does that sound," he asks. Too much, I reply. He then explains of some super discount and takes it down to 21 grand. Too much. "Look, Bruce I appreciate your time, but the timing is not right," I tell him. Blah, blah, blah, he then asks if I have a phone, he left his in the car. No, just a cell I say. He then heads out to his car for the 3rd time, returns with his cell phone, and calls the office. After some shop talk to his manager...19 grand. Nope. He is now squirming, asking what will it take. I say it will "take nothing. If you came in here and the price was 5 grand I wouldn't buy. My buddy called me up at 9 this morning and just told me you were coming." It has now been 2 hours. 2 hours of my life I wish I had back, I really could have used a nap at that point.
He then keeps bs'ing me, I try to close this out, but he insists on calling the office again, to see if there may be any "marketing money" available. Lo and behold, there is, and the price again comes down to 17 grand. Thanks but no thanks Bruce, I have already told you. Finally, looking like his dog, grandmother and son had just died all at the same time, got up and exited stage left.
I texted my buddy that this must have been punsihment for keeping him up the previous night. He agreed it was. But the moral of the story, is this is why I am not crazy about sales. Now, I 100% know I'm not as much of a dbag as Bruce, but I cringe at that thought of that mentality. I also prefer business to business sales, which is completely different, but hopefully you understand where I'm coming from. And these are some of the thoughts,concerns swimming around in my head at this time. And believe me, I know sales is where the money is. And I do like money, but I also have to live with myself, and as I have said before, I believe I just need the proper type of sale, one with long term client relationships and a product that is needed, and in a growing industry.
Which I am still trying to find...but the industries I am considering are some form of healthcare as well as some type of insurance. Wholesale insurance. So in the coming days/weeks I think I am going to contact recruiters in these fields and start to run with it. Because I am almost 2 months into this thing, so its really time to start cranking. I'm not going to lie, I probably have been having a little too much fun and too little "looking for a job", however I'm not looking to get burned out or discouraged right away by staring at a monster.com screen or something like that. Although this time off is to find out what I want to do, its also about mentally preparing myself for a future, and yes, leisure activity is an important part of that. And hopefully people understand that. Its all about balance. Whether balance of work vs free time, work vs family, whatever. It can't be all about "work".
And on that note I will now begin packing for a weekend trip up to ski in the majestic White Mountains of NH. Please, try to contain yourselves, and have a great weekend. And yes my weeks and weekends are slowly beginning to blend together, However this week I will blame that on St. Patrick, the patron saint of Guiness, corned beef, and bad decisions...
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I Want The Gold!
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. In honor of my Irish heritage (or lack there of) I leave you with this precious morsel of St. Paddy's Day Goodness:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8
If link does not work, log onto www.youtube.com and type in "leprechaun in mobile alabama"
Slainte!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nda_OSWeyn8
If link does not work, log onto www.youtube.com and type in "leprechaun in mobile alabama"
Slainte!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Life and Times of the Ski Rep
During a conversation with a friend this weekend he asked, "So, what have you been up to lately, besides NOT blogging?" Simply put, I spent 4 of 7 days last week skiing. And as I mentioned before, spring skiing is quite possibly one of life's finest pleasures.
While engaging in 3 days of midweek skiing I was introduced to the possibility of another prospective profession: A Ski Representative. Now although a ski rep is actually a profession, it is more like it's own unique subculture. A "nomadic" culture if you will, populated by the likes a twenty-somethings like myself, who travel from mountain to mountain promoting/selling their particular brands of ski equipment. After seeing the same group of ski reps at various mountains over the course of the week, I likened their existence to that of a band of gypsies. They all have company vehicles filled with skis, poles, boots etc; and usually are involved with setting up demos at the mountain for skiers to sample the upcoming year's newest and latest. Ski reps are up and at 'em, arriving at the mountain early and setting up tents or other similar stations. They tend to inquiring skiers throughout the day, recommending different equipment, answering questions, talking business with shop owners, etc; they even get to take a few runs here and there. And at the end of the day, they pack up their company vehicles and gather together at a slopeside watering hole or nearby establishment for a little Apres Ski/shop talk. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, Apres Ski is a French term literally meaning "after skiing." For many skiers, it is their favorite type of skiing.. For any of you golfers, Apres Ski has a similar existence to that of the 19th hole.
After the day is complete they move on, traveling from mountain to mountain throughout New England. Now, these ski companies will most likely let their reps expense hotel rooms, however the good reps have made enough contacts where they have places to stay at each respective mountain. For example, earlier this winter a friend and I ventured up to Sugarloaf, ME for the weekend to stay with one of our ski rep friends. He is employed by ski giant Rossignol, and over the years, this particular family had become "friends" of Rossignol; meaning that in exchange for ski equipment, they offer up their ski condo at the base of Sugarloaf to ski reps whenever convenient. So that particular weekend, the family was not using the condo, so the 3 of us were fortunate enough to stay in this very nice condo, as well as get free ski passes. And in a sport where everything is so expensive, a free ski pass is golden, while a free place to stay is platinum. ( In this case, I'm assuming platinum is way better than gold)...
After spending significant time with these folks, it dawned on me that it may actually be the profession for me. It would combine my 6+ years of sales experience with another great love of mine: skiing. And, of course, one of the primary goals of this sabbatical is to find a profession that will make me "jump out of bed" in the morning. And the life and times of a ski rep is definitely one that would intrigue me, as well as combine a couple of strengths of mine.
So the salary of a ski rep is not astronomical, however there are many perks. All ski reps have rather handsome expense accounts, covering all meals and travel expenses. And since they travel pretty much non-stop throughout the ski season, that is very beneficial. Then they have company vehicles, usually a Jeep or some similar type of SUV. Then they are always provided with new ski gear, from apparel to skis to various other types of swag. These reps are always "suited and booted" to the 9's.
I feel like its a very incestuous industry; reps routinely switch from company to company, and they maintain all their contacts at shops and mountains throughout the area. I'm not quite sure if its easy to break into, or if one must start somewhere at the very bottom before gaining acceptance into the culture. And my hair may be a little too short for the industry, however with this beard I have going, I may be able to fit in. Plus, I ski at a super-expert level, so maybe I can have a ski-off with a rep and take their job...ha ha ha
So, just another idea to add to the many that I have (or don't have) floating around my head at the time. I mean, if I could combine a love of mine with an actual career, shouldn't I jump on it?
Alrighty then people, mull these thoughts over in your own heads and we will reconvene at a later date and time.
And until next time, I will leave you with a piece of advice I picked up over the weekend, which may or may not apply to my life at this stage of the game:
While engaging in 3 days of midweek skiing I was introduced to the possibility of another prospective profession: A Ski Representative. Now although a ski rep is actually a profession, it is more like it's own unique subculture. A "nomadic" culture if you will, populated by the likes a twenty-somethings like myself, who travel from mountain to mountain promoting/selling their particular brands of ski equipment. After seeing the same group of ski reps at various mountains over the course of the week, I likened their existence to that of a band of gypsies. They all have company vehicles filled with skis, poles, boots etc; and usually are involved with setting up demos at the mountain for skiers to sample the upcoming year's newest and latest. Ski reps are up and at 'em, arriving at the mountain early and setting up tents or other similar stations. They tend to inquiring skiers throughout the day, recommending different equipment, answering questions, talking business with shop owners, etc; they even get to take a few runs here and there. And at the end of the day, they pack up their company vehicles and gather together at a slopeside watering hole or nearby establishment for a little Apres Ski/shop talk. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, Apres Ski is a French term literally meaning "after skiing." For many skiers, it is their favorite type of skiing.. For any of you golfers, Apres Ski has a similar existence to that of the 19th hole.
After the day is complete they move on, traveling from mountain to mountain throughout New England. Now, these ski companies will most likely let their reps expense hotel rooms, however the good reps have made enough contacts where they have places to stay at each respective mountain. For example, earlier this winter a friend and I ventured up to Sugarloaf, ME for the weekend to stay with one of our ski rep friends. He is employed by ski giant Rossignol, and over the years, this particular family had become "friends" of Rossignol; meaning that in exchange for ski equipment, they offer up their ski condo at the base of Sugarloaf to ski reps whenever convenient. So that particular weekend, the family was not using the condo, so the 3 of us were fortunate enough to stay in this very nice condo, as well as get free ski passes. And in a sport where everything is so expensive, a free ski pass is golden, while a free place to stay is platinum. ( In this case, I'm assuming platinum is way better than gold)...
After spending significant time with these folks, it dawned on me that it may actually be the profession for me. It would combine my 6+ years of sales experience with another great love of mine: skiing. And, of course, one of the primary goals of this sabbatical is to find a profession that will make me "jump out of bed" in the morning. And the life and times of a ski rep is definitely one that would intrigue me, as well as combine a couple of strengths of mine.
So the salary of a ski rep is not astronomical, however there are many perks. All ski reps have rather handsome expense accounts, covering all meals and travel expenses. And since they travel pretty much non-stop throughout the ski season, that is very beneficial. Then they have company vehicles, usually a Jeep or some similar type of SUV. Then they are always provided with new ski gear, from apparel to skis to various other types of swag. These reps are always "suited and booted" to the 9's.
I feel like its a very incestuous industry; reps routinely switch from company to company, and they maintain all their contacts at shops and mountains throughout the area. I'm not quite sure if its easy to break into, or if one must start somewhere at the very bottom before gaining acceptance into the culture. And my hair may be a little too short for the industry, however with this beard I have going, I may be able to fit in. Plus, I ski at a super-expert level, so maybe I can have a ski-off with a rep and take their job...ha ha ha
So, just another idea to add to the many that I have (or don't have) floating around my head at the time. I mean, if I could combine a love of mine with an actual career, shouldn't I jump on it?
Alrighty then people, mull these thoughts over in your own heads and we will reconvene at a later date and time.
And until next time, I will leave you with a piece of advice I picked up over the weekend, which may or may not apply to my life at this stage of the game:
ski fast, take chances
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Resumania
Have no fear people, Utley is back after a great day of skiing yesterday! For those of you familiar with the sport, it was the finest kind: spring skiing. Thank God for Sabbaticals.
I spent the day skiing with a friend of mine who is back home for 2 weeks from Peru. For you avid followers, I have referenced this gentleman before; When we get together there are always some great conversations and brainstorming sessions, so I'm hoping the time will be rewarding.
I mentioned last Friday that I had received an email from a recruiter I met through my college alumni network. I was initially excited about this, however after speaking with him, I was, shall I say, less than excited. It gave me flashbacks of the world that I believe I am trying to escape, which I'm not sure is a good thing or a bad thing.
Without really asking or caring what my situation was, he began giving me "tips" on masking my resume to make it appear that I was still working for my last company. Which I left the end of January. Now I understand his point, but I got an unsure feeling about the whole conversation, a vibe which did not make me entirely comfortable. He wanted me to include all the 4 jobs I've had since college, add as many "definite numbers" as possible to make the resume look as presentable as possible. I understand this, however as I said I just didn't get a good vibe from this chap. I felt he was more trying to get a "sale" rather than help me out during this monumental stage in my life. Maybe I am incorrect in feeling that way, and after all, I came from the world of sales, so I understand what he needs to do in order to "get paid". He made it seem I was some type of a**hole for having 4 jobs since I graduated in 2002, although I did work for the same company twice, and I was part of a mortgage industry that suffered one of the worst downfalls in history.
After the resume talk, I asked what type of positions he had recently been getting applicants for. In typical sales banter he said they get all types of "orders", in all different areas. The first he had in mine for me was in a similar industry in which I had again just left, simply with a larger company. I was in no way intrigued or interested. Again, maybe I have the total wrong attitude about the whole exchange, because I know I probably will need to rely on a recruiter to obtain employment.
I have been thinking about my next course of action since that conversation. I guess I just doctor up the resume as instructed, send it to him, and be picky with the opportunities? Because I am not quite ready to settle, I am really looking for the right opportunity here. And if a job description just makes me cringe, than I should probably avoid it, right?
Entering stage 2 of this sabbatical, these are the questions that I will have to begin to seriously ponder if I want to make any progress. And they are tough ones. Like taking a big plunge and attending pharmacy school, (which would probably cost me $100K...$100k that I don't have) or when I will begin to substitute teach, or when its time to settle on a job I'm not thrilled about. Hopefully I just keep writing, keep getting ideas from people, keep plugging away, and things will fall into place...a very good place, that is.
I spent the day skiing with a friend of mine who is back home for 2 weeks from Peru. For you avid followers, I have referenced this gentleman before; When we get together there are always some great conversations and brainstorming sessions, so I'm hoping the time will be rewarding.
I mentioned last Friday that I had received an email from a recruiter I met through my college alumni network. I was initially excited about this, however after speaking with him, I was, shall I say, less than excited. It gave me flashbacks of the world that I believe I am trying to escape, which I'm not sure is a good thing or a bad thing.
Without really asking or caring what my situation was, he began giving me "tips" on masking my resume to make it appear that I was still working for my last company. Which I left the end of January. Now I understand his point, but I got an unsure feeling about the whole conversation, a vibe which did not make me entirely comfortable. He wanted me to include all the 4 jobs I've had since college, add as many "definite numbers" as possible to make the resume look as presentable as possible. I understand this, however as I said I just didn't get a good vibe from this chap. I felt he was more trying to get a "sale" rather than help me out during this monumental stage in my life. Maybe I am incorrect in feeling that way, and after all, I came from the world of sales, so I understand what he needs to do in order to "get paid". He made it seem I was some type of a**hole for having 4 jobs since I graduated in 2002, although I did work for the same company twice, and I was part of a mortgage industry that suffered one of the worst downfalls in history.
After the resume talk, I asked what type of positions he had recently been getting applicants for. In typical sales banter he said they get all types of "orders", in all different areas. The first he had in mine for me was in a similar industry in which I had again just left, simply with a larger company. I was in no way intrigued or interested. Again, maybe I have the total wrong attitude about the whole exchange, because I know I probably will need to rely on a recruiter to obtain employment.
I have been thinking about my next course of action since that conversation. I guess I just doctor up the resume as instructed, send it to him, and be picky with the opportunities? Because I am not quite ready to settle, I am really looking for the right opportunity here. And if a job description just makes me cringe, than I should probably avoid it, right?
Entering stage 2 of this sabbatical, these are the questions that I will have to begin to seriously ponder if I want to make any progress. And they are tough ones. Like taking a big plunge and attending pharmacy school, (which would probably cost me $100K...$100k that I don't have) or when I will begin to substitute teach, or when its time to settle on a job I'm not thrilled about. Hopefully I just keep writing, keep getting ideas from people, keep plugging away, and things will fall into place...a very good place, that is.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Pharmacy School?
Hello to the masses! You will all be glad to hear I've made it through another weekend alive! Always a good feeling. And I must say the whole "Spring ahead, Fall back" routine with the clocks can really suck sometimes. But I digress.
Earlier today I had an appointment down at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which we will call MCP to keep things short. Both my father and grandfather attended and graduated from MCP and went on to become successful pharmacists. Why, you may ask did I not choose to follow in their footsteps? Well, for one I was 16 years old when I went to look at colleges and pharmacy school options were few and far between. And math and science were not exactly my top classes. More like my bottom classes. And at the time, URI, UCONN, and MCP Boston were the only options. Not to mention 6 years of school, which definitely did not appeal to me. I always did OK in school, but I much more enjoyed the "extracurricular activities".
But anyway I have now hit this brick wall of a period in my life and since MCP is now located a stone's throw away from my house, I have decided to look into the possibilities of attending the school in hopes of becoming a pharmacist. It is, after all, a great profession, one that will be in need for many years to come. So the day after I officially started this sabbatical I made a phone call down to the school and set an appointment with the asst. dir of admissions. I then requested a transcript from good old Bentley College and was on my way.
I entered the office and the admissions lady, Erika, we'll call her, asked to take a look at the transcript while I filled out some paperwork. Now, Bentley College is not exactly a breeding ground for future pharmacists, but some credits did transfer. Funny thing is, the "Drugs & Society" class I took second semester senior year was the class that caught Erika's eye the most. "I see you had an interest in drugs even at Bentley," she asked. "Uhhhh, I think the class dealt with a different type of drugs, " I replied. Awkward pause....God only remembers some of the topics I used to write about in that class. I did get an A- though.
So if accepted, I could complete the PharmD program in 2 years, 10 months. However, that is not all. Because I did not study science in college, I would need to complete the prerequisites...that is, about 3 semesters worth of classes. If I started this summer, I could be completed by Spring of 2010 and enroll at MCP by fall of 2010. The prereqs I would need to to complete would be: Bio I, Bio II, Micro Bio, Chem I, Chem II, Organic Chem I, Organic Chem II, Physics, Into to Psych, and finally a Behavioral Science elective. And all those science courses have labs. So about a year of prereqs and just under 3 years of pharmacy school. Full time. And you really cannot hold down a job while doing this due to the intense workload. And I own a house. And how would I pay?
In a perfect world, it sounds like a great opportunity, but it sounds like a lot of work, and I don't know if its financially possible. And mentally, can I handle that courseload? Another 4 years of classes? I swore I would never go to school again, but is now the time? I would be 32 years old if I could pull this off. However, I still look kind of young...
So please discuss the possibilities of this idea amongst yourselves and please, feel free to chime in...
Earlier today I had an appointment down at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, which we will call MCP to keep things short. Both my father and grandfather attended and graduated from MCP and went on to become successful pharmacists. Why, you may ask did I not choose to follow in their footsteps? Well, for one I was 16 years old when I went to look at colleges and pharmacy school options were few and far between. And math and science were not exactly my top classes. More like my bottom classes. And at the time, URI, UCONN, and MCP Boston were the only options. Not to mention 6 years of school, which definitely did not appeal to me. I always did OK in school, but I much more enjoyed the "extracurricular activities".
But anyway I have now hit this brick wall of a period in my life and since MCP is now located a stone's throw away from my house, I have decided to look into the possibilities of attending the school in hopes of becoming a pharmacist. It is, after all, a great profession, one that will be in need for many years to come. So the day after I officially started this sabbatical I made a phone call down to the school and set an appointment with the asst. dir of admissions. I then requested a transcript from good old Bentley College and was on my way.
I entered the office and the admissions lady, Erika, we'll call her, asked to take a look at the transcript while I filled out some paperwork. Now, Bentley College is not exactly a breeding ground for future pharmacists, but some credits did transfer. Funny thing is, the "Drugs & Society" class I took second semester senior year was the class that caught Erika's eye the most. "I see you had an interest in drugs even at Bentley," she asked. "Uhhhh, I think the class dealt with a different type of drugs, " I replied. Awkward pause....God only remembers some of the topics I used to write about in that class. I did get an A- though.
So if accepted, I could complete the PharmD program in 2 years, 10 months. However, that is not all. Because I did not study science in college, I would need to complete the prerequisites...that is, about 3 semesters worth of classes. If I started this summer, I could be completed by Spring of 2010 and enroll at MCP by fall of 2010. The prereqs I would need to to complete would be: Bio I, Bio II, Micro Bio, Chem I, Chem II, Organic Chem I, Organic Chem II, Physics, Into to Psych, and finally a Behavioral Science elective. And all those science courses have labs. So about a year of prereqs and just under 3 years of pharmacy school. Full time. And you really cannot hold down a job while doing this due to the intense workload. And I own a house. And how would I pay?
In a perfect world, it sounds like a great opportunity, but it sounds like a lot of work, and I don't know if its financially possible. And mentally, can I handle that courseload? Another 4 years of classes? I swore I would never go to school again, but is now the time? I would be 32 years old if I could pull this off. However, I still look kind of young...
So please discuss the possibilities of this idea amongst yourselves and please, feel free to chime in...
Friday, March 6, 2009
Hot Lunch
You read it here first people. Things are happening. I may be getting ahead of myself here, however the wheels are starting to turn and the ball has been put into play. I may have mentioned last week that I have been speaking to a business consultant I met through my college alumni network, and he had me complete a "Career Assessment" test. The results were quite interesting and we got together yesterday over lunch for a little analysis, if you will. Raise your hand if you think I say "if you will" too much. Good, now put it back down.
We dined at the exclusive Manchester Country Club, which is what some might consider a "private joint," so right off the bat I was feeling very important and distinguished. And that's half the battle, right? We engaged in some rapport building before food was ordered and for those of you plebians, that means small talk. A way to start things off without jumping right into the good stuff. Also in case you were wondering, I ordered an Asian Salmon Stir Fry Wrap, which was very nice.
So the "assessment" I took is based on Behavioral Research, which suggests that the most effective people are those who understand themselves, both their strengths and weaknesses, so they can develop strategies to meet the demands of the environment.
A person's behavior is a necessary and integral part of who they are. In other words, much of our behavior comes from "nature" (inherent), and much comes from "nurture" (our upbringing). It is the universal language of "how we act", or our observable human behavior.
In this particular report, 4 dimensions of normal behavior are measured. They are:
How you respond to problems and challenges
How you influence others to your point of view
How you respond to the pace of the environment
How you respond to rules and procedures set by others
FYI: Past 3 paragraphs=totally plagiarized, but how else can I explain this mofo?
Although there was a sh*t ton of information taken from the assessment (strengths, weaknesses, etc;) the focal point is based on something called DISC Analysis. At least that's what I think the focal point is. D is for Dominance, meaning your most dominant traits. These were competitive, decisive, goal-oriented, problem-solver, (I got a problem solver...his name is revolver), direct and disliking routine. These are many of the characteristics that many successful sales people possess...
I is for Influencing, which I guess is how I influence others or how I am influenced. I forget exactly, but you get the point. These traits were encouraging, trusting, outgoing, optimistic, motivated by praise, and acting impulsively. Again, characteristics of many successful sales people.
S is for Steadiness, based on what type of environment I could thrive in. Dominant characteristics in this category are steady, stable, calm, composed and holding grudges. Ironically, these characteristics are those not common in successful salespeople.
Finally, C stands for Compliance, and again I forget the total meaning of this, but characteristics were high risk, creative and fearless. I think it means that I strive for critical, independent thinking, rather than being given some list of rules or tasks and told to follow them.
So, what do we take from this DISC Analysis? Well, for one, it tells me a great deal of why I am doing this whole thing in the first place; why I like some parts of sales, but hate others. As we see with the dominant traits of the D, the I, and the S, they are conflicting. Meaning I have an internal struggle or conflict within myself that I must be able to channel to find the proper work environment. While I possess many of the inherent traits of a great sales person, but yet there is something that has always held me back.
Now, please, do not mistake me for Freud here, but what all this tells me is this: I need a positive, enthusiastic, friendly, social environment which offers flexibility, variety of task, and interaction with people in a results-oriented field.
So if anyone out there knows where I can find one of these, please let me know!
Anyway, the general scope of this lunch was extremely positive. This gentleman offered to help in a few different ways. First, he offered me a job. Part-time side type of work, but hey I appreciate the offer, and the work does seem enjoyable. Second, he invited me to peruse his contact list on LinkedIn and let him know of anyone I'd like to speak to, for an "informational interview" type of thing. And lastly, he said he would think of some of his contacts/clients who I may be a good fit to either work for or simply speak with. Needless to say, I was fired up as I left the lunch, 2 hours later. And yes, we had dessert.
Another note before I leave you all to your weekends. Yesterday I asked a recruiter friend of mine for some advice regarding my LinkedIn profile. He gave me a few pointers, one of which being to change my contact settings to "looking for employment opportunities." I did that yesterday afternoon, and sure enough what do I wake up to this morning (at the crack of 9:30)? My blackberry buzzing with an email from a recruiter I have met in the past, asking me to give him a call. Snap!
So I'm going to give this fella a call right now. And I feel pretty good about the whole thing, because I have this great new feedback by which I can now judge any employment opportunity that arises. And I'm being picky here people. I didn't just quit my job and go on sabbatical to find some horrible new gig. Not this guy.
But then again, check back in a few months, I may be flipping burgers down at the Tasty Freeze.
And bonus points to anyone who can name the song in which the "Tasty Freeze" is prominently mentioned...
We dined at the exclusive Manchester Country Club, which is what some might consider a "private joint," so right off the bat I was feeling very important and distinguished. And that's half the battle, right? We engaged in some rapport building before food was ordered and for those of you plebians, that means small talk. A way to start things off without jumping right into the good stuff. Also in case you were wondering, I ordered an Asian Salmon Stir Fry Wrap, which was very nice.
So the "assessment" I took is based on Behavioral Research, which suggests that the most effective people are those who understand themselves, both their strengths and weaknesses, so they can develop strategies to meet the demands of the environment.
A person's behavior is a necessary and integral part of who they are. In other words, much of our behavior comes from "nature" (inherent), and much comes from "nurture" (our upbringing). It is the universal language of "how we act", or our observable human behavior.
In this particular report, 4 dimensions of normal behavior are measured. They are:
How you respond to problems and challenges
How you influence others to your point of view
How you respond to the pace of the environment
How you respond to rules and procedures set by others
FYI: Past 3 paragraphs=totally plagiarized, but how else can I explain this mofo?
Although there was a sh*t ton of information taken from the assessment (strengths, weaknesses, etc;) the focal point is based on something called DISC Analysis. At least that's what I think the focal point is. D is for Dominance, meaning your most dominant traits. These were competitive, decisive, goal-oriented, problem-solver, (I got a problem solver...his name is revolver), direct and disliking routine. These are many of the characteristics that many successful sales people possess...
I is for Influencing, which I guess is how I influence others or how I am influenced. I forget exactly, but you get the point. These traits were encouraging, trusting, outgoing, optimistic, motivated by praise, and acting impulsively. Again, characteristics of many successful sales people.
S is for Steadiness, based on what type of environment I could thrive in. Dominant characteristics in this category are steady, stable, calm, composed and holding grudges. Ironically, these characteristics are those not common in successful salespeople.
Finally, C stands for Compliance, and again I forget the total meaning of this, but characteristics were high risk, creative and fearless. I think it means that I strive for critical, independent thinking, rather than being given some list of rules or tasks and told to follow them.
So, what do we take from this DISC Analysis? Well, for one, it tells me a great deal of why I am doing this whole thing in the first place; why I like some parts of sales, but hate others. As we see with the dominant traits of the D, the I, and the S, they are conflicting. Meaning I have an internal struggle or conflict within myself that I must be able to channel to find the proper work environment. While I possess many of the inherent traits of a great sales person, but yet there is something that has always held me back.
Now, please, do not mistake me for Freud here, but what all this tells me is this: I need a positive, enthusiastic, friendly, social environment which offers flexibility, variety of task, and interaction with people in a results-oriented field.
So if anyone out there knows where I can find one of these, please let me know!
Anyway, the general scope of this lunch was extremely positive. This gentleman offered to help in a few different ways. First, he offered me a job. Part-time side type of work, but hey I appreciate the offer, and the work does seem enjoyable. Second, he invited me to peruse his contact list on LinkedIn and let him know of anyone I'd like to speak to, for an "informational interview" type of thing. And lastly, he said he would think of some of his contacts/clients who I may be a good fit to either work for or simply speak with. Needless to say, I was fired up as I left the lunch, 2 hours later. And yes, we had dessert.
Another note before I leave you all to your weekends. Yesterday I asked a recruiter friend of mine for some advice regarding my LinkedIn profile. He gave me a few pointers, one of which being to change my contact settings to "looking for employment opportunities." I did that yesterday afternoon, and sure enough what do I wake up to this morning (at the crack of 9:30)? My blackberry buzzing with an email from a recruiter I have met in the past, asking me to give him a call. Snap!
So I'm going to give this fella a call right now. And I feel pretty good about the whole thing, because I have this great new feedback by which I can now judge any employment opportunity that arises. And I'm being picky here people. I didn't just quit my job and go on sabbatical to find some horrible new gig. Not this guy.
But then again, check back in a few months, I may be flipping burgers down at the Tasty Freeze.
And bonus points to anyone who can name the song in which the "Tasty Freeze" is prominently mentioned...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Maria Elena's Theory
Unable to sleep last night, I decided to take in a film, Vicky Christina Barcelona, a charming tale from the mind of Woody Allen. It is the story of two friends who spend their summers abroad and the unexpected journey that will ensue. While possessing drastically different outlooks on life, love and happiness, both end up falling for the same guy, a painter named Juan Antonio, played by Javier Bardem. Barcelona offers a crisp, refreshing, whimsical look into its characters' lives, the decisions they will or will not make, and also just what it really is that makes them tick. And yes, those were the same adjectives used to describe a recent salad I ordered.
Now, I'm not trying to start writing movie reviews here, but perhaps midway through the movie, Maria Elena, (in an Oscar winning role played by Penelope Cruz), brings up a theory that got me thinking. Maria Elena is the ex-wife of Juan Antonio, and she has recently come back to live with him after a suicide attempt. She is what one might call, loco en la cabeza. This may not sound too far-fetched, however Juan Antonio is currently living with his new love interest, Christina, played by Scarlett Johanssen. Christina plays the free spirit, the nomad, the character eternally in search of something more. Christina's best practice is to live in the moment.
While Maria Elena and Juan Antonio could not previously coexist peacefully, the addition of Christina has created a fresh new world in which they all live. At first we think this is exactly the situation Christina has been longing for; although struggling with her own art, she has been able to compliment theirs; adding a tint to an existing canvas, creating this beautiful color that otherwise would not appear. It seems to be a match made in heaven, a threesome that perfectly compliments one other.
As time passes, Christina realizes that she no longer wants to be a part of this so-called threesome. Upon confronting the two, Maria Elena flies into a fit of rage. You see, Maria Elena and Juan Antonio are both creative, passionate souls and this period has brought out something never before found in their lives. After going off on a tangent in Spanish, Maria Elena shouts at Christina, "Chronic dissatisfaction! Chronic dissatisfaction, that's what you have. You will never be happy...!" Perhaps this loses a little in translation...
While things seemed to be going so well, Christina once again new she had to pack her things. This is the point where I began to ponder this theory of chronic dissatisfaction. As we all know, I have chosen to take this sabbatical primarily due to unhappiness in past jobs. Now I haven't been unhappy in all of them, but it brings me to wonder if I possess chronic dissatisfaction. Will I never be happy with what I have or don't have? Will I always have the "grass is always greener" attitude? Will there ever be a job that will make me jump out of bed in the morning?
I warned you I was getting deep during this time off.
As these questions weigh on my mind, I realize that, this is just a movie. Sure, there is a basic fear of the unknown, of never being happy, but I can't let that fear control my life. As touched on in previous posts, I'm sure many people are happy out there with their jobs, with their lives. I believe it's all about the proper balance between the two. Your life can't be 100% about work, nor can it be 100% about play, (and by play I included family, friends, vacations, hobbies, etc). While obviously family and happiness is life's primary focus, a job/career is the vehicle in which to achieve and contribute to their success. And success is a very broad term, but I have to define the term in this case as to mean total consciousness, being at peace with yourself and your decisions, and being able to provide a happy and healthy lifestyle for your family.
In closing, let's hope Maria Elena's theory of chronic dissatisfaction is one that only thrives in films by Woody Allen, not in films by Mr. Utley...
Now, I'm not trying to start writing movie reviews here, but perhaps midway through the movie, Maria Elena, (in an Oscar winning role played by Penelope Cruz), brings up a theory that got me thinking. Maria Elena is the ex-wife of Juan Antonio, and she has recently come back to live with him after a suicide attempt. She is what one might call, loco en la cabeza. This may not sound too far-fetched, however Juan Antonio is currently living with his new love interest, Christina, played by Scarlett Johanssen. Christina plays the free spirit, the nomad, the character eternally in search of something more. Christina's best practice is to live in the moment.
While Maria Elena and Juan Antonio could not previously coexist peacefully, the addition of Christina has created a fresh new world in which they all live. At first we think this is exactly the situation Christina has been longing for; although struggling with her own art, she has been able to compliment theirs; adding a tint to an existing canvas, creating this beautiful color that otherwise would not appear. It seems to be a match made in heaven, a threesome that perfectly compliments one other.
As time passes, Christina realizes that she no longer wants to be a part of this so-called threesome. Upon confronting the two, Maria Elena flies into a fit of rage. You see, Maria Elena and Juan Antonio are both creative, passionate souls and this period has brought out something never before found in their lives. After going off on a tangent in Spanish, Maria Elena shouts at Christina, "Chronic dissatisfaction! Chronic dissatisfaction, that's what you have. You will never be happy...!" Perhaps this loses a little in translation...
While things seemed to be going so well, Christina once again new she had to pack her things. This is the point where I began to ponder this theory of chronic dissatisfaction. As we all know, I have chosen to take this sabbatical primarily due to unhappiness in past jobs. Now I haven't been unhappy in all of them, but it brings me to wonder if I possess chronic dissatisfaction. Will I never be happy with what I have or don't have? Will I always have the "grass is always greener" attitude? Will there ever be a job that will make me jump out of bed in the morning?
I warned you I was getting deep during this time off.
As these questions weigh on my mind, I realize that, this is just a movie. Sure, there is a basic fear of the unknown, of never being happy, but I can't let that fear control my life. As touched on in previous posts, I'm sure many people are happy out there with their jobs, with their lives. I believe it's all about the proper balance between the two. Your life can't be 100% about work, nor can it be 100% about play, (and by play I included family, friends, vacations, hobbies, etc). While obviously family and happiness is life's primary focus, a job/career is the vehicle in which to achieve and contribute to their success. And success is a very broad term, but I have to define the term in this case as to mean total consciousness, being at peace with yourself and your decisions, and being able to provide a happy and healthy lifestyle for your family.
In closing, let's hope Maria Elena's theory of chronic dissatisfaction is one that only thrives in films by Woody Allen, not in films by Mr. Utley...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Chicago...One Hell of a View
First of all I am ecstatic to be attracting such a diverse group of followers. I mean if you look over to the side of this blog, you will see not only is the blog attracting some very bright human minds, but we've also started to attract some animals. And I think thats just the Cat's Meow, pun intended. We are not one to discriminate here at On Sabbatical, whether you're a human, animal or none of the above.
This past weekend concluded the last trip of the Month 1 clearing the head stage of this sabbatical. I took a trip out to Chicago to see some old friends from College. I have been to Chicago 5 times in the past 3 years, so that must say something about the City. I find people are super friendly, they love to drink, and there is just an overall zest for life in Chicago. A certain vivacity, if you will (ok, I stole that line from that short haired black woman on from Boston Sunday Globe commercials).
Friday night I met up with some friends I have not seen in years. This was obviously a great time in general, but more importantly it gave me an opportunity to explain my recent career choices, my sabbatical, and of course this blog. You see, it is vital to be confident with the decisions I have made and to stand behind them. Hopefully people will sense this and all of this karmic activity will lead to a really kick*ss job. Or career I should say. That is also why, today was the day that I finally updated my LinkedIn profile to explain that I am currently "On Sabbatical", with a brief summary of why. I even posted this website on my profile, so get ready for an influx of new readers! I was hesitant about this at first, but we're all about keeping things professional here. As I said, I must be confident about my decisions, and about this blog. I think it displays some amount of creative talent, but then again I could be completely of the mark.
One of the coolest things that came out of that night was a buddy of mine who I hadn't seen in at least 3 years gave me one of his business cards. Big deal, you may think... However, not when you're buddy is a SPECIAL AGENT in the FBI!!! You better believe next time I get into a jam I am flashing that card so fast people will run in fear. That's right I congregate with FBI Special Agents. Deal with it.
Another highlight was the phenomenal dinner we had Saturday night at Gibson's, one of Chicago's premier steakhouses. We arrived late and opted to dine in the bar area. I must say, what a great atmosphere...we dined right next to Piano player, had a great view of the bar, the front door of the restaurant, plus we had a lovely Lithuanian waitress who made the night very enjoyable. Now, one thing I did not know, is that particular area of Chicago is know as The Viagra Triangle. Seriously, that's what it's called, apparently due to the fact that old timers go there in search of younger women. Perhaps younger,divorced women known as Cougars. But I digress. Bottom line, a real nice evening, and you know what, a real nice evening is one of the cornerstones of this period of my life.
More good times were had throughout the weekend, filled with great bars, great people and plenty of laughter. And apparently as I was caught up in all the ballyhoo I didn't realize there was a Nor'easter hitting the East Coast on Monday, my day of departure. Thinking I was invincible I didn't check my phone, didn't check online, nothing. Just showed up at the airport at 6am Monday morning to find out my flight was cancelled. "We tried to call you, sir" the airline lady said. I did not get angry, as some probably would, because I knew this was completely my fault. I forgot my phone charger back at home, so the cell phone had very, very limited use over the weekend. So limited in fact I did not bother to check the voicemail from Southwest Airlines explaining the flight had been cancelled. So I accepted full responsibility for my actions. I ended up leaving Chicago around 9pm central time and landed just after midnight in NH eastern time. A long day of travel, however being somewhat of a prerequisite of the trip I would not change anything.
To recap, at this stage in the game I am attempting to find life lessons as often as possible. Some lessons learned from this weekend: Lithuanian women are beautiful, don't be afraid to send your $40 steak back if it's undercooked, striking up a conversation with random bar patrons can be rewarding, but most importantly be accountable for your actions. Because I was having a little too much fun I neglected to properly address my travel plans, thus ended up missing a flight. Who knows..maybe the mind is getting a little soft during this sabbatical. Ha, I will never admit that, I have become this cutting edge blogger now...but sometime it just pays to "keep your head on a swivel," if you smell what I'm stepping in...
This past weekend concluded the last trip of the Month 1 clearing the head stage of this sabbatical. I took a trip out to Chicago to see some old friends from College. I have been to Chicago 5 times in the past 3 years, so that must say something about the City. I find people are super friendly, they love to drink, and there is just an overall zest for life in Chicago. A certain vivacity, if you will (ok, I stole that line from that short haired black woman on from Boston Sunday Globe commercials).
Friday night I met up with some friends I have not seen in years. This was obviously a great time in general, but more importantly it gave me an opportunity to explain my recent career choices, my sabbatical, and of course this blog. You see, it is vital to be confident with the decisions I have made and to stand behind them. Hopefully people will sense this and all of this karmic activity will lead to a really kick*ss job. Or career I should say. That is also why, today was the day that I finally updated my LinkedIn profile to explain that I am currently "On Sabbatical", with a brief summary of why. I even posted this website on my profile, so get ready for an influx of new readers! I was hesitant about this at first, but we're all about keeping things professional here. As I said, I must be confident about my decisions, and about this blog. I think it displays some amount of creative talent, but then again I could be completely of the mark.
One of the coolest things that came out of that night was a buddy of mine who I hadn't seen in at least 3 years gave me one of his business cards. Big deal, you may think... However, not when you're buddy is a SPECIAL AGENT in the FBI!!! You better believe next time I get into a jam I am flashing that card so fast people will run in fear. That's right I congregate with FBI Special Agents. Deal with it.
Another highlight was the phenomenal dinner we had Saturday night at Gibson's, one of Chicago's premier steakhouses. We arrived late and opted to dine in the bar area. I must say, what a great atmosphere...we dined right next to Piano player, had a great view of the bar, the front door of the restaurant, plus we had a lovely Lithuanian waitress who made the night very enjoyable. Now, one thing I did not know, is that particular area of Chicago is know as The Viagra Triangle. Seriously, that's what it's called, apparently due to the fact that old timers go there in search of younger women. Perhaps younger,divorced women known as Cougars. But I digress. Bottom line, a real nice evening, and you know what, a real nice evening is one of the cornerstones of this period of my life.
More good times were had throughout the weekend, filled with great bars, great people and plenty of laughter. And apparently as I was caught up in all the ballyhoo I didn't realize there was a Nor'easter hitting the East Coast on Monday, my day of departure. Thinking I was invincible I didn't check my phone, didn't check online, nothing. Just showed up at the airport at 6am Monday morning to find out my flight was cancelled. "We tried to call you, sir" the airline lady said. I did not get angry, as some probably would, because I knew this was completely my fault. I forgot my phone charger back at home, so the cell phone had very, very limited use over the weekend. So limited in fact I did not bother to check the voicemail from Southwest Airlines explaining the flight had been cancelled. So I accepted full responsibility for my actions. I ended up leaving Chicago around 9pm central time and landed just after midnight in NH eastern time. A long day of travel, however being somewhat of a prerequisite of the trip I would not change anything.
To recap, at this stage in the game I am attempting to find life lessons as often as possible. Some lessons learned from this weekend: Lithuanian women are beautiful, don't be afraid to send your $40 steak back if it's undercooked, striking up a conversation with random bar patrons can be rewarding, but most importantly be accountable for your actions. Because I was having a little too much fun I neglected to properly address my travel plans, thus ended up missing a flight. Who knows..maybe the mind is getting a little soft during this sabbatical. Ha, I will never admit that, I have become this cutting edge blogger now...but sometime it just pays to "keep your head on a swivel," if you smell what I'm stepping in...
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