Recap

For all of you following at home, I thought I'd take today to offer up a little recap. Bring everyone up to speed, if you will. And bring myself up to speed. Just what is On Sabbatical all about? Well, let me try to sum things up at this point.

Back in late January, I had a realization that I just was not happy with the way my career was going. Back in 2002, things started great, got off to a nice start with Cintas after graduating from Bentley College, learned some incredible sales skills, worked with good people, made nice money. However, the cold call, new business, always pushing something on someone who doesn't want it lifestyle got to me pretty quickly. Left Cintas in 2005 to go onto a nice career in the mortgage wholesale world. Started off fantastic, loved the job and the tasks associated with it: speaking in front of people, flexiblity, entertaining clients, B to B sales, etc; However, as we all know, the mortgage game crashed, resulting in me going into a tailspin in regards to my career.

What happened? Took a proactive very nice offer to go back to Cintas, hated it from day 4, left to go to a local, small, family owned company, an quickly realized, although in a different atmosphere, I was doing the same routine as Cintas every day. Rather than string the owner along, for in a small company every dollar counts, and to be fair to them and myself, I decided to proactively resign and go "On Sabbatical". Figured some time off may allow me to clear the old head and something would come to me. I didn't want to continue to job hop, and did not know what I wanted to do. Still really don't, but attempting to figure it out. However, I do know there is something special out there for me...

So in early February I began to write this blog. To keep my brain working. To keep moving toward a goal. To get my creative juices flowing. To get those who care about me involved in my life and perhaps give me some feedback, because I really can't go at this alone. In addition to blogging, I hit the gym most mornings, I've been traveling a fair amount, and meeting with people along the way for guidance on this journey 0'mine. Travels have taken me to Vail, Colorado, Chicago, The White Mts of NH, and finally St. Croix. These trips have been amazing. But we've heard about that. Been going to some networking events as well. Those are fun...

After a couple months of "nothing jumping out at me" and the dream job not appearing at my doorstep, it was time to take a more aggressive approach to the career search. I attended a big clusterF of a job fair, but met up with a company that deals with "private and corporate outplacement." They claimed to be selective in who they so choose to work with, for a client must be marketable. I met with them, we hit it off, and I have recently hired them to represent me in all aspects of the career search. From analyzing my strenghts and weaknesses, completely revamping the resume, finding spot and unknown opportunities, everything. And they did not come cheap, but of course, I don't view myself as a "commodity" so why should I hire the cheap guy. This is my career, my life we're speaking about, which is a very important aspect of my life here. I view this as an investment in my career, and if they can help, than it's worth it. But of course, I know I need to put a lot of effort in. And I'm ready.

I have meetings with said company set up through the beginning of June, with homework assignments in between meetings. 1 or 2 meetings per week. They boost my ego when I go in as well, which is nice. Need to be confident during this time.

So that right there is the Cliffs Notes version of the past 3+ months


Hope you're enjoying the ride.