Women to Women's Circles Chitchat

Life is both Light and Dark – A new beginning

shirley@womenscircles.us — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:42:33 GMT

Where has the time gone? I can’t believe I’ve been at my new job almost 3 months. My head has been spinning and at times I wasn’t sure I hadn’t lost my mind, but I’m so incredibly happy I made the change. I’m learning again and it feels so good. My brain is working and feeling alive. Life is getting better, but as a commissioned sales person I’m beginning to freak out. It takes time to build a new revenue base from scratch. And, of course, my old boss decided to not pay all of my commissions so I’m down some money there. I just keep putting it out to the universe to take care of me. It hasn’t ever let me down. I’m hoping for the best again. And, I’m trying to continue to take the high road with my former boss. Oh, did I make the right decision to leave.

Life is both Light and Dark – Ending one chapter and beginning the next

shirley@womenscircles.us — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:36:40 GMT

Monday comes. My boss and I meet for coffee and to discuss the details of my departure. He’s shocked that I’m leaving and I’m shocked that he’s shocked. He thought that I was so “branded” with the magazine that I would never leave. I felt that since I was so “branded” with the magazine he’d never want me to leave. How’s that for two sides of the same coin? As much as I like this guy personally, he’s not a businessperson. He really doesn’t know how to motivate and retain sales people. We agree that today will be my last day and we say our good byes.

I get home, pick up the phone, call my new boss and we agree my start date will be Thurs. I’ve got 2 days of unemployment. I make a few jokes about being unemployed, but I’m excited to have some time to myself. I get up Tuesday morning all excited about having a day to myself and I realized I don’t know how to relax. I then realize what I’ve done and I start to get a little anxious. I’m about to start a new job in a new field that I’ve not worked in before – radio. I try to breathe, but I’m getting overwhelmed. It’s time to work out. My cure all for anything and everything that bothers me is to have a good work and burn until my brain actually calms down. Trust me that can take some time.

After a good work out I begin to relax and before I know it, I’ve had 2 wonderful days of gardening, relaxing, reading, just having fun. Now I wonder why I didn’t decide to take the rest of the week off.

Thursday morning I get ready for work and I find myself both excited and anxious. I haven’t had a “real” job in over 16 years. I’ve been working on projects and been a consultant. Even the job I just left started out that way. This is a full-time job. I’ll be expected to spend some time weekly in an office. I’m sure it will be fine. I just have to remember to breathe. I get in the car and drive the 30 minutes to my new office. The next chapter has officially started.

Life is both Light and Dark – Three months after the beginning

shirley@womenscircles.us — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:18:22 GMT

Friday at 1 finally comes and I’m back at WAAA and we’re talking a firm offer. I’m in the clouds and happy with what they’re saying. I know I’m going to take it, but I feel like I need to take the weekend to think about it. It will be a big change for me. I’m not picking up any running business. I’m going to be generating all new advertising revenue and sales commissions are what pay for my fun things. The next few months might be very tight, but I really want the change.

I leave there and the sun is shining and it’s just an amazing spring day. As I drive home I’m reflecting on the meeting and how much these guys want me to work there. I feel very appreciated and valued and that’s exactly what I don’t feel at my current job. I know it’s time for me to move on. Why take the weekend?

I get back to my office, pick up the phone and call Sam to tell him Monday has arrived early. I’m taking the job. We agree to keep it quiet until I’ve had the chance to quit. I see my current boss is on his cell so I text him to call me when he has time to talk.

I didn’t realize that he was driving to Buffalo with one of his young sons. I was hoping to meet him over the weekend, but that’s not going to happen. Buffalo is over 5 hours from where I live. I tell him that I’m sorry to give him the news this way and we agree to meet on Monday to talk more.

I’ve got a new job, just not a start date yet. I never want to leave a job on a bad note.

Life is both Light and Dark - Wednesday Again

shirley@womenscircles.us — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 13:01:43 GMT

Life is both Light and Dark - Wednesday It’s Wednesday morning and I’m really getting stressed about not hearing anything. I decide to contact a sales person I know there to see if she knows what’s going on. Luckily she does, but it’s not good for me. Paul was fired Monday afternoon. She suggests that I email Bob to see what he has to say.

Bob emails back fairly quickly and casually informs me that Paul has been fired and he’s going to email their standard employment offer. Well, this sounds good. BUT, the offer comes and it reads like a prison sentence. Office hours are 8:30, blah, blah. Oh, corporate America! Now for the real killer. The offer is for the junior position! Turns out, he hired the woman who used to work with him for the senior position and if I want to work there, this is the job that’s open.

Needless to say, I’m crushed. And, I respond with, “Sorry, but this is not what we were talking about and I’m not in a position to accept this offer. If something more senior opens up, please think of me.”

Bob responds back, “Yes, I’ll think of you when there is a more senior opening.”

I’m really devastated. I was counting on this job. I had one foot out the door. Now what am I going to do?

Life is both Light and Dark - Radio Station WAAA; Update

shirley@womenscircles.us — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:19:32 GMT

George is off on vacation and Sam stays in touch with me via phone. We talk once weekly just to make sure I haven’t changed my mind and to continue to reinforce my interest. It’s long two weeks gone and now Sam is off on his vacation. He’ll call me when he returns.

Sam returns to work on Monday and by Tuesday has taken time to call me. He’s been very busy and sorry he didn’t call me sooner. He’s going to call me tomorrow and we’ll schedule a time to meet either in the station or restaurant to work out details.

By Friday, no call back till almost end of day. Again, Sam, very apologetic he hasn’t called sooner, but how does next Friday, 1 pm work for me? The three of us are going to get together and work out a deal.

Again, I’m in the clouds. These guys really want me, know how to make me feel appreciated and want to work out a deal that is good for everyone. Not bad. Another long week in front of me, but… Hopefully the end is in sight.

Life is both Light and Dark - Radio Station WAAA; Interview Two

shirley@womenscircles.us — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:49:08 GMT

I get an email from Sam asking me to email his boss/ station owner, George, to schedule a time to go meet him. Sam also mentions that George is going to be leaving on vacation soon so to get it scheduled for sometime during the following week or it’ll have to wait at least 2 weeks, because George is going on vacation.

I don’t hear back from George quickly so I put in a phone call to make sure he got the email and we soon have an appointment scheduled for the next day. I jump into my car, excited. I’m off again on another interview. But, this time I’m clearer on what I want. Originally I thought I wanted the corporate world again with the potential to make more money. But, I’ve realized my quality of life will suffer if I go that route and this independent station offers freedom like I currently have.

I get to the station in plenty of time and have to wait a short while for George to finish a meeting. I walk in and things just click. We really hit it off and we spend about an hour talking. We leave his office together and go into Sam’s office where the three of us continue to talk for another hour. George has to leave for another meeting and Sam and I stay at least another 30 minutes.

George is leaving for 2 weeks vacation on Monday and Sam for a week as soon as George gets back. We’ll stay in touch, but nothing will be decided until everyone is back from vacation. But, we’ve already started talking rough details about a compensation package and everyone is trying to create a situation that works for them and me. They don’t have an opening but are willing to create something because they think I can bring a lot to their staff. Yeah, yeah. Now I just have to hang in there for 3 weeks.

Life is both Light and Dark – Friday

shirley@womenscircles.us — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 22:36:08 GMT

Life is both Light and Dark – Friday

I get a call from Sam in the morning double-checking the time for the press conference. He’s rearranged his schedule to make it. The advertiser having the press conference is not a fan of radio advertising, but he’s a very big advertiser and showing up can help their case.

I have finally found a way to put a smile back on my face. I arrive at the event happy to be there and excited to have another opportunity to position myself as a competent sales person with some good connections. I walk in the door right behind Sam. Perfect timing.

We catch up a little. I get to introduce him to several key people. The event is actually very nice. When Sam and I say good-bye he says he wants me to come into the station again to meet his boss. We’ll be in touch to schedule it.

Once again the rollercoaster seems to be going uphill.

Life is both Light and Dark – Thursday

shirley@womenscircles.us — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:29:12 GMT

I am at a loss for what to do now. But, I’m not going to spend too much time mourning. I have got to figure something out. And, I’ve got to see if I can find something good about this major disappointment. However, first thing I’m going to do is call Radio Stations WAAA and WBBB to check in.

I reach the sales manager at WAAA. (I’m going to call him Sam.) Sam is a great guy. He’s happy hearing from me. I ask him if I’ll run into him at a press conference the next day. He didn’t know anything about it, so I give him the details. He’s going to try to make it. Good, I think I’ve got the chance to have another face-to-face with Sam.

I leave messages for both guys at WBBB but I don’t hear back from them immediately. It’s okay. I’m starting to think the corporate world is definitely not for me. I had forgotten how much I don’t like that environment. An independent station is much more my style.

My spirits are starting to pick up and I’m looking forward to the press conference tomorrow and the chance to see Sam again.

Life is Both Light and Dark - Tuesday

shirley@womenscircles.us — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:51:11 GMT

It's after 4 pm on Tuesday and NOT A WORD!! It's really unlike Paul to reply to me. I've getting very concerned that something has or is going wrong. Not exactly sure what I'm going to do.

Life is Both Light and Dark - Monday

shirley@womenscircles.us — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:24:39 GMT

It's Monday and I haven't heard anything. By afternoon I've lost my patience. I decide to pick up the phone and call Paul. Voice mail. He's usually pretty good about returning my calls so now I'm back to waiting.