I Went on a J.O.B. Interview

Oh-so-quietly last month, I went on a J.O.B. interview. Wha?!?!? Yes, it’s true. For several months, I’d been feeling burned out, bummed out, and kinda blue about running my business. So many hats to wear, so many unending tasks to complete, so much loneliness day-in and day-out.  Over dinner one cold January night with a couple of dear, dear friends, I shared my feelings. They said “what about doing something completely different?” The idea tantalized me, so I dove into exploring what getting a J.O.B. would be like…

I immediately downloaded apps like Indeed and Glassdoor. I started talking to my closest of confidants about what might be possible in terms of an alternative career. I began dipping a toe into the water of resume-submitting. And I got invited to do an informal interview for a position to lead a local non-profit’s fundraising efforts. The interview went well. I left feeling exhilarated and excited and energized at the thought of digging into something new and fresh and different.

And then…

I really thought about it. I thought about what it would mean if I took a  J.O.B. I thought about what it would be like to abandon my business. I thought about what I would feel like if I made the decision to close the book on this chapter. Here’s what I came up with.

1. I hate having a boss. I’ve been the boss of myself pretty much since I was, well, about 12 years old. Seriously. The idea of someone else suddenly appearing in my life to take on this role in any capacity kinda made me wanna run away screaming in angst. I took that as a sign.
2. I love having flexibility. When my daughter comes home from school, I am there. When the dog needs to be taken the vet–no sweat. When my husband needs to be away on business, there’s no stress or scramble to figure out how we’re going to “make it work” while he’s away. I simply adjust my schedule, because it’s flexible. I take that for granted waaaaaaaaay too much, I realized. And I’m not sure our household or lives could function as smoothly without it.
3. I love coaching and consulting! When I looked at the tasks I would be doing in the aforementioned J.O.B., it became abundantly clear to me that, while I could certainly manage projects, spreadsheets, and people, my zone of genius really lies in connecting with and inspiring others to be their best self. Not only am I pretty damn good at it, I really enjoy doing it. I mean REALLY enjoy it…like it makes my heart light up. I have incredible clients who are doing AMAZING things, I get energy from the coaching, and I love teaching others what I know about business building and designing a life that’s supportive and vibrant. How can I give up on that?!?

So, I’ve come to the conclusion that what I need is not a change of career, a J.O.B., or something “completely different.” What I need is rest (because I’m tired), self-recognition (because I accomplish A LOT and rarely stop to give myself a pat on the back), and gratitude (because I’ve created a pretty sweet life for myself). Things may not be perfect, and there are days when business feels more like a grind than I care to admit, but I’ve decided to stay right where I’m at.

Thank goodness. Afterall, resume writing really sucks.

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