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!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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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