A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-six

Day 176 - One More Step

I was in a networking meeting today when I received a call from a (206) area code - Seattle.  There was no way of knowing who was calling, though it appeared to be a main line - the last three digits were zeros - and I assumed it was one of the hotels I am pursuing for work.  Sure, enough, it was the waterfront resort where I met with the HR director last week, and as she began, I wondered if she was going to say “Thank you for your interest” or “We want you to come in for another interview.”

Thank goodness it was the latter.  I now have interviews scheduled with the Director of Sales and the Managing Director of the property (I’m not sure what that title means) on Thursday morning, which means I will have to leave for Seattle a day earlier than planned.  (I’m glad I’m driving and not trying to work with flight itineraries!)

Now the research begins on these two.

I now get to take one more step toward my future.  I’m not sure what it all means yet, where it is leading, or how I will feel about it when it finally settles down, but right now, it feels good to think there is hope.  ...I hope this works.

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-five

Day 175 - Smooth Sailing

Sometimes things work out well.  Sometimes the traffic is easy and you get all green lights at the intersections.  Today was such a day - literally.

I got my chores done (well... most of them, anyway) and went to the glass school to make a few more drops for the chandelier.  I worked for about two hours and made five; I think they all may turn out (we’ll see if any crack when they’re annealed).  

On my way home, the traffic on I-5 was horrendous on the northbound side, but I was headed south and never once had to slow down.  I can’t remember the last time that happened.  Then, once i exited the freeway, I hit almost every light green.  I had to stop by the store for one item, and actually chose the fastest checkout lane (usually whichever lane I choose becomes the slowest as soon as I step into it).  I couldn’t believe the ease at which I moved.

What a relief.  I thank the universe for giving me an easy day today.

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-four

Day 174 - Personalities

I had the honor of moderating the Portland Leadership Forum meeting today, and the subject was one that is “near and dear to my heart” - interviewing skills and how to engage HR once you’re employed.  It was a panel discussion including three HR professionals currently employed in different industries.  The discussion was very interesting and informative, and I was very glad to have been there.

What offered a different perspective during the meeting was one of the attendees - a woman of some age who repeatedly told us she used to own her own business in the 80’s (a florist business), and who spoke with such volume and force that at times I wondered what her motives were.  I had the impression she was probably difficult to work with, though I tried not to judge.  She definitely put people off, though.

I was reminded later to put this experience in its proper perspective: here was an example of contrast, and in observing the contrast, I am able to determine what I want in my own experience and to focus on that, rather than on the unwanted.  Every time something unpleasant happens, it can be another lesson that further clarifies what is pleasant.  Life’s dichotomies are instructive; I believe it is how and what we learn from them that determine our outcomes.

I am grateful to Yorron, Chuck, Abraham, and others who remind me to focus on what feels good, which will attract more of the same.

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-three

Day 173 - Sitting

I will be cat sitting over Christmas.

When my friend asked me if I’d spend the two weeks starting on December 19th, I didn’t hesitate to agree.  In my view, being requested to stay in someone’s home and take care of his family (albeit of the feline variety) is an honor and a compliment.  It didn’t occur to me immediately that I would be away from home on the holiday, and the more I thought about it, the more I wondered how it would work logistically.

Still, I’m excited about the prospect.  Privacy is something I gave up nearly three years ago when I got laid off and gave up my apartment.  The chances I have for it are fleeting, so I take them when I can.  And pets are like grandchildren (at least what I keep hearing about having grandchildren): they’re wonderful to play with, and then you get to give them back.

I picked up the spare keys to his place today, and he gave me the quick tour of his studio apartment and introduced me to the cats.  I’m looking forward to it.  (I just hope the neighbor’s unsecured Wi-Fi will offer a strong enough connection to allow me a regular Internet connection.)  Somebody help me remember to bring the coffee pot.

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-two

Day 172 - Acceptance

I was just reading my blog entry from Day 33, and was surprised by a comment I made about my career.  “I also know that I want to eventually make my living exclusively from consulting, and I know I’m on that road.” So much can change in 140 days.

I didn’t want to go back into hotel sales, or sales at all.  But I need a job.  Today, I had three interviews; two were at a hotel in Bellevue, and the other in Seattle.  The Director of Sales at the Bellevue property is a former co-worker I had fallen out of touch with, and the conversation with him was great - it was good to catch up.  I also interviewed with his boss, the General Manager; it was a very good conversation, in which he asked me to let him know of any offer I receive from another property before I accept it.  That made me feel good.

The other hotel is a luxury property on the waterfront - one at which I would be very interested in working (if I have to go back into hospitality), but I don’t know anyone there.  The interview was with the Director of HR, and I thought it went well.  She asked me when I would be back in town, presumably to schedule an interview with the DOS.  

I also received a call from a recruiter about another opening in Seattle.

I felt as if the day were successful; one of these interviews may lead to a job.  It isn’t what I wanted, and if I get one, I will not take my eyes off what I really want to do - training - but what I thought on Day 33 seems to have been a little over-confident.  I hope I can avoid saying I “know” anything moving forward.

Still, the prospect of a job does make me feel good.  I can accept that I don’t know everything, and that any opportunity that comes will lead to something good if I allow it.  I’m not quite ready to leave Portland, so it’s good that these things take time.  I don’t really want to go back into sales - especially catering sales - but I don’t know what connections a job like this could present to me, so I will accept what comes my way, and allow the good to come with it.

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy-one

Day 171 - Anticipation

I had two reasons to be a little nervous today.  

First, I had a presentation to make to a job seekers networking group about questions and responses in an interview, and it was the first time I would attend this group’s meeting.  I wanted to do a good job, naturally, so like every musical or theatrical performance I’ve done in the past, the butterflies were present.  

The second reason was that I needed to get on the road to Seattle for three interviews tomorrow.  I would have only enough time to stop at home to eat a quick lunch, grab my bags, and be off to try to hit Seattle before rush hour.

The presentation went well; it ran overtime because of all the questions (poor planning on my part, actually), but no one seemed to mind, and I got a lot of very positive feedback.

The adrenaline was flowing about two blocks before I made it home for lunch, though, when I realized I left my briefcase in the meeting room - with my laptop inside.  (I took it “just in case” I needed my computer.  That’s a mistake I won’t make again.)  I couldn’t get the group moderator on the phone (turns out he was ignoring my many calls because he was on the other line - I can’t blame him, I suppose), but I was able to reach someone at the Baja Fresh whose meeting room the group uses, and he found and set aside the briefcase.  Wow... that was a stupid move on my part, but the crisis was averted.

I inhaled a quick lunch, changed into some jeans, and got on the road.  The drive up was an easy one, Until I reached Seattle's I-405 toward Bellevue, which is just as bad as the 405 in Los Angeles.  It took me far too long to get to Bellevue, and I was hungry and cranky when I got to the hotel.  It didn’t help that the room could not warm up (probably because a first floor room has very high ceilings, and the heaters cannot heat the whole space when it’s freezing outside - especially the two or three rooms next to the exterior doors where people come and go from the parking lot.  But the huge Cobb salad took care of my appetite, and crawling into bed helped me relax.

But I had three interviews to think about, and fortunately I slept well.  The anticipation kept my mind focused.  Here’s to opportunity!

A Year of Gratitude - Day One Hundred Seventy

Day 170 - Play

I had three meetings today to network with different people - one is another job seeker whom I met at a networking support group and who has attended the one I moderate; the second is a friend of three years whom I view as a mentor in many ways; the third is someone I met at a networking mixer, and it was our first real discussion.  All three meetings were positive, uplifting, and fun.

I also had about an hour to play with glass today.  I didn’t try to make anything specific.  I just wanted to play with the glass to pay attention to how it feels as it moves, how it works as I manipulate it in and out of the flame.  It was just for fun.

I have seen many educational programs over the years about how children (or young animals) learn through play - it is how they prepare themselves for the tasks of adulthood.  As adults, we often forget how useful play is - having fun not only lifts the spirits, but it still allows us to learn, too.

I was so grateful for a chance to play today.