I'm slowly starting to feel better. It could be the new medicine, though I'm not sure. There's a 50/50 chance that it's a placebo, so it could be some sort of placebo effect. It could be that I've finally left the God-awful 4-month temp assignment from hell that was a major trigger for me. Or perhaps it's the great new job that I started on Thursday. Maybe it's the delayed, subdued version of my almost annual spring bounce or the naturally inevitable reversal of the bipolar tide. No matter what the reason for the invitation to start feeling better, I accept.
I am now officially a Corporate Concierge. I learned of the job through my temp agency, so by the time I got to the interview, the agency had already done a lot of the "selling" for me and the client had a good sense of who I was as a prospective employee. So instead of focusing on all the "stuff" I've done before (no, I've never been a Concierge!), we focused on what I could bring to this position because of my various work and life experiences. It was a natural and immediate fit, and we both realized that early on. Thankfully, I met with the President of the company right out of the box, so she was able to make a decision quickly and made an offer the very next day. I met with her last Thursday and started the job exactly one week later. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
One of the great things about the job is that finally I'm in a situation that allows my work life to mirror my personal life (or vice versa). I've learned through the years that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to live two lives - to be professional and *hard core* by day, and relaxed and spontaneous by night. To be surrounded by people, corporate cultures and work ethics that are not consistent with my own during the day, and to then try to "be myself" the rest of the time. It's exhausting, it's hypocritical, it's stressful and it's just not right.
Thankfully, I now have a job that honors my core values and allows me to merge my work and personal personas. No more comic-book super-hero characters for me. What you see is what you get - at work and at play.
It's only been 2 days, but here's my list of things I like about the new job so far:
1. I get to "dress up" for work. I started my career in the mid-80's, at a time when a dress or suit (skirt, not slacks) for women and a suit, white shirt and tie for men were the mandatory dress code for work in a corporate setting. Then it was "Casual Fridays", which was a very nice change. A few years later, every day became casual day and that's when the problem started. Any time companies have to issue dress code policies that remind employees that beach wear, gym outfits, see-through clothing, flip flops, torn t-shirts or micro-mini skirts are inappropriate for the workplace, it's a sign that a good thing has been taken way too far. My mother used to tell me that when you look the part, you'll start to feel the part. I can't explain it, but there's something about going to the office knowing that I look great that makes me feel better (and perform better) throughout the day.
2. I get paid for being creative. A dream come true for someone with bipolar disorder! In the past, I've always had to struggle to convince my co-workers about the benefits of thinking outside the box, finding new solutions to problems, or being proactive when it comes to meeting customer's needs. Now, those things that I love to do are actually encouraged and rewarded.
3. There is always something to do. I absolutely hate being bored on the job. It just makes the day drag on, my mind wanders, discontent starts to creep in, and things go downhill fast. In this job, if there are no requests from clients at any given time, there's always something I can be doing - finding out about upcoming events or activities around town, identifying new vendors, coming up with new promotions - the possibilities are endless!
4. Discovering the cultural, shopping and dining opportunities in town is part of the job. I think this one speaks for itself! For example, I'd already planned to go to a big semi-annual juried craft show in the park today. With over 450 awesome artists on display, it's always a treat. This year while I'm there, I can be on the look out for local artists who may prospective vendors to bring in for an on-site exhibit in our building's gallery. Another example is our monthly staff meetings which are held at a different restaurant each month where we have dinner and discuss things, and check out the food/service to see if it's someplace we want to recommend to our clients.
5. The opportunity to meet all sorts of people that I never would have met working from home. I think this one speaks for itself, but I will add that I'm particularly fortunate to have a very interesting and varied collection of tenants that I serve.
6. The opportunity to serve. I knew before the bipolar diagnosis that it was time for a career change and I'd been praying for guidance. I knew that I wanted - no needed - to live a live of purpose, of service, but I had no idea what that would look like. Those prayers took on an even greater meaning once I was diagnosed. I knew then that it was not only preferable, it was not mandatory, that I find a career that would support, rather than exacerbate, the bipolar disorder. I knew that paid career opportunities in the non-profit sector are few and far between, at least at the pay levels that I need to make ends meet, so I was really at a loss for how to make this happen. Problem solved.
7. Being allowed to "do more" . I was raised to believe that whether at school, work, or play, always try to do what's expected in the situation, and then try to do a bit more. Rather than making me a "star", that strategy usually backfires. So many people seem hard-pressed these days to even do the bare minimum, much less more than that. So people who strive for excellence are usually sneered at by their colleagues. I've been called a "suck-butt", "kiss ass", "bitch who thinks she's better than everyone else", and probalby much worse... not because of the way I treat people, but because of the way I approach my work. Of course there were times that I competed with colleagues, but the reaction was the same even when the person I was competing with was myself. What's so wrong with trying to do and be your best? Thankfully, going above and beyond the client's expectations is a natural part of this job, and one of the hallmarks of a successful concierge.
8. Medical, dental and life insurance. On the more practical side, not only will I have full insurance benefits, but the company pays 100% of the premiums! Insurance was a huge issue for me. For the past several months, it wasn't enough that I was paying hugh premiums for private-pay insurance. To add insult to injury, none of the medical issues (including bipolar disorder and sleep apnea) that I needed assistance with were covered. (No mental health benefits were permitted when the earlier diagnoses was unipolar depression, so coverage for bipolar disorder was totally out of the question).
9. Paid vacation. Many people think that when you're self-employed and working from home, that every day is a vacation. Or they think that you can take a vacation any time you want - no big deal. These are either people who haven't owned their own small business, or if they do, they won't for long with that attitude. Having done both (worked for an employer and been self-employed), I'd argue that there are times when I worked MORE hours, not less, being self-employed. There is no such thing as going home at 5:00, most nights even if I stopped for dinner or to go to the gym, I was working again later in the evening, clients (many of whom are also self-employed) have no problem calling at night or sending e-mails that they expect an immediate response to, and I often worked on weekends. Yes, I did take time off, there were days when I was too sick to work, and I did take one 2-week "vacation" in the 6 YEARS that I worked from home, but when I didn't work for whatever reason, I didn't get paid.
10. Closing the gap. I wasn't sure what to call this one, but just as I needed a job that allowed me to bring my true nature to work, the reality is that I also needed a job that allowed me to bring some of my work nature home. At work, I am very structured, organized and efficient. At home, I'm not. I want to be, Lord knows I do, but I just can't seem to make it happen. I think some of that is BP, some is fatigue - I give my best energy to work and when work is done for the day, I'm exhausted. But the more I learn about BP, the more I realize that I need more structure and more organization in my life. It will require a bit of an up-front investment in time and energy for me, but the pay off will be huge. Starting this new job that someone had done before me, I realized that the office space and the computer files that I inherited may have worked for my predecessor, but there are lots of things I can do to make them more efficient and streamlined for me. I had to laugh though, when looking at things as I found them at work reminded me of what my office at home (actually, my entire home) looks like right now. I need to bring the same thoughtful restructuring process that I intend to use in the coming weeks at work home with me and do the exact same thing here. Just as reorganizing things at work will save me time and energy by not having to search for things that aren't where I think they logically should be, and of course the space will look nicer (less cluttered), doing the same thing at home will have the same effect.
11. More structured time to write. One of my goals was to set aside time at least 2 evenings a week to start writing again. Even with the best of intentions, it just wasn't happening. After getting home from the temp job, I was either to tired, to frustrated and wound up, or other more pressing issues wrestled my attention away. Now that I'm working downtown and my can't-miss salsa classes are in a location that is mid-way between home and work, it's senseless to come all the way home for a few hours and then turn-around and go back out. I'm going to spend the next week or so scoping out some possible locations (public library, coffee shop, the salsa class location?) where I can take my laptop and write during that extra time two nights a week.
12. Lots of perks!. Naturally, there are lots of perks to this type of job - getting samples of products/services from vendors who want you to refer them to your clients. Of course you can't do that in good conscience without experiencing their goods/services first hand, right? :) No, kick-backs are not allowed!
12. Free parking. At $17-$20/day, this is a huge benefit!
13. No two days are the same. Monotony breeds contempt. Monotonous is one thing this job is not. I literally do not know, from one minute to the next, what my day will entail. And that's OK with me. In fact, it's kind of exciting. I had my first 2 "treasure hunts" yesterday. I had to find a very specific financial calculator for one client and 2 tickets to the nearly sold-out Josh Groban concert in a nearby-town for another. Both were successful!
14. A great boss/company owner to work with. Never underestimate the power of personal connection. I know it's early, but sometimes you just *know* when there's a good match (well, at least professionally - I haven't figured this out in my personal life yet). I admire, respect and genuinely like my new boss. She's creative, smart, thoughtful (you have to be in this business), resourceful, funny and very professional. She's got a great business model and allows her team to participate fully through a very generous profit-sharing plan. She welcomes new ideas and encourages her team to help her grow the business. Now that's my kind of employer!
15. A steady paycheck. Can't forget this one... I think it speaks for itself!
On a personal note, thanks to Susan and Marja, and of course, my Mom and aunt, for your on-going encouragement and support during the dark days. It truly does take a village to live with bipolar disorder!
I am now officially a Corporate Concierge. I learned of the job through my temp agency, so by the time I got to the interview, the agency had already done a lot of the "selling" for me and the client had a good sense of who I was as a prospective employee. So instead of focusing on all the "stuff" I've done before (no, I've never been a Concierge!), we focused on what I could bring to this position because of my various work and life experiences. It was a natural and immediate fit, and we both realized that early on. Thankfully, I met with the President of the company right out of the box, so she was able to make a decision quickly and made an offer the very next day. I met with her last Thursday and started the job exactly one week later. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?
One of the great things about the job is that finally I'm in a situation that allows my work life to mirror my personal life (or vice versa). I've learned through the years that it takes a tremendous amount of energy to live two lives - to be professional and *hard core* by day, and relaxed and spontaneous by night. To be surrounded by people, corporate cultures and work ethics that are not consistent with my own during the day, and to then try to "be myself" the rest of the time. It's exhausting, it's hypocritical, it's stressful and it's just not right.
Thankfully, I now have a job that honors my core values and allows me to merge my work and personal personas. No more comic-book super-hero characters for me. What you see is what you get - at work and at play.
It's only been 2 days, but here's my list of things I like about the new job so far:
1. I get to "dress up" for work. I started my career in the mid-80's, at a time when a dress or suit (skirt, not slacks) for women and a suit, white shirt and tie for men were the mandatory dress code for work in a corporate setting. Then it was "Casual Fridays", which was a very nice change. A few years later, every day became casual day and that's when the problem started. Any time companies have to issue dress code policies that remind employees that beach wear, gym outfits, see-through clothing, flip flops, torn t-shirts or micro-mini skirts are inappropriate for the workplace, it's a sign that a good thing has been taken way too far. My mother used to tell me that when you look the part, you'll start to feel the part. I can't explain it, but there's something about going to the office knowing that I look great that makes me feel better (and perform better) throughout the day.
2. I get paid for being creative. A dream come true for someone with bipolar disorder! In the past, I've always had to struggle to convince my co-workers about the benefits of thinking outside the box, finding new solutions to problems, or being proactive when it comes to meeting customer's needs. Now, those things that I love to do are actually encouraged and rewarded.
3. There is always something to do. I absolutely hate being bored on the job. It just makes the day drag on, my mind wanders, discontent starts to creep in, and things go downhill fast. In this job, if there are no requests from clients at any given time, there's always something I can be doing - finding out about upcoming events or activities around town, identifying new vendors, coming up with new promotions - the possibilities are endless!
4. Discovering the cultural, shopping and dining opportunities in town is part of the job. I think this one speaks for itself! For example, I'd already planned to go to a big semi-annual juried craft show in the park today. With over 450 awesome artists on display, it's always a treat. This year while I'm there, I can be on the look out for local artists who may prospective vendors to bring in for an on-site exhibit in our building's gallery. Another example is our monthly staff meetings which are held at a different restaurant each month where we have dinner and discuss things, and check out the food/service to see if it's someplace we want to recommend to our clients.
5. The opportunity to meet all sorts of people that I never would have met working from home. I think this one speaks for itself, but I will add that I'm particularly fortunate to have a very interesting and varied collection of tenants that I serve.
6. The opportunity to serve. I knew before the bipolar diagnosis that it was time for a career change and I'd been praying for guidance. I knew that I wanted - no needed - to live a live of purpose, of service, but I had no idea what that would look like. Those prayers took on an even greater meaning once I was diagnosed. I knew then that it was not only preferable, it was not mandatory, that I find a career that would support, rather than exacerbate, the bipolar disorder. I knew that paid career opportunities in the non-profit sector are few and far between, at least at the pay levels that I need to make ends meet, so I was really at a loss for how to make this happen. Problem solved.
7. Being allowed to "do more" . I was raised to believe that whether at school, work, or play, always try to do what's expected in the situation, and then try to do a bit more. Rather than making me a "star", that strategy usually backfires. So many people seem hard-pressed these days to even do the bare minimum, much less more than that. So people who strive for excellence are usually sneered at by their colleagues. I've been called a "suck-butt", "kiss ass", "bitch who thinks she's better than everyone else", and probalby much worse... not because of the way I treat people, but because of the way I approach my work. Of course there were times that I competed with colleagues, but the reaction was the same even when the person I was competing with was myself. What's so wrong with trying to do and be your best? Thankfully, going above and beyond the client's expectations is a natural part of this job, and one of the hallmarks of a successful concierge.
8. Medical, dental and life insurance. On the more practical side, not only will I have full insurance benefits, but the company pays 100% of the premiums! Insurance was a huge issue for me. For the past several months, it wasn't enough that I was paying hugh premiums for private-pay insurance. To add insult to injury, none of the medical issues (including bipolar disorder and sleep apnea) that I needed assistance with were covered. (No mental health benefits were permitted when the earlier diagnoses was unipolar depression, so coverage for bipolar disorder was totally out of the question).
9. Paid vacation. Many people think that when you're self-employed and working from home, that every day is a vacation. Or they think that you can take a vacation any time you want - no big deal. These are either people who haven't owned their own small business, or if they do, they won't for long with that attitude. Having done both (worked for an employer and been self-employed), I'd argue that there are times when I worked MORE hours, not less, being self-employed. There is no such thing as going home at 5:00, most nights even if I stopped for dinner or to go to the gym, I was working again later in the evening, clients (many of whom are also self-employed) have no problem calling at night or sending e-mails that they expect an immediate response to, and I often worked on weekends. Yes, I did take time off, there were days when I was too sick to work, and I did take one 2-week "vacation" in the 6 YEARS that I worked from home, but when I didn't work for whatever reason, I didn't get paid.
10. Closing the gap. I wasn't sure what to call this one, but just as I needed a job that allowed me to bring my true nature to work, the reality is that I also needed a job that allowed me to bring some of my work nature home. At work, I am very structured, organized and efficient. At home, I'm not. I want to be, Lord knows I do, but I just can't seem to make it happen. I think some of that is BP, some is fatigue - I give my best energy to work and when work is done for the day, I'm exhausted. But the more I learn about BP, the more I realize that I need more structure and more organization in my life. It will require a bit of an up-front investment in time and energy for me, but the pay off will be huge. Starting this new job that someone had done before me, I realized that the office space and the computer files that I inherited may have worked for my predecessor, but there are lots of things I can do to make them more efficient and streamlined for me. I had to laugh though, when looking at things as I found them at work reminded me of what my office at home (actually, my entire home) looks like right now. I need to bring the same thoughtful restructuring process that I intend to use in the coming weeks at work home with me and do the exact same thing here. Just as reorganizing things at work will save me time and energy by not having to search for things that aren't where I think they logically should be, and of course the space will look nicer (less cluttered), doing the same thing at home will have the same effect.
11. More structured time to write. One of my goals was to set aside time at least 2 evenings a week to start writing again. Even with the best of intentions, it just wasn't happening. After getting home from the temp job, I was either to tired, to frustrated and wound up, or other more pressing issues wrestled my attention away. Now that I'm working downtown and my can't-miss salsa classes are in a location that is mid-way between home and work, it's senseless to come all the way home for a few hours and then turn-around and go back out. I'm going to spend the next week or so scoping out some possible locations (public library, coffee shop, the salsa class location?) where I can take my laptop and write during that extra time two nights a week.
12. Lots of perks!. Naturally, there are lots of perks to this type of job - getting samples of products/services from vendors who want you to refer them to your clients. Of course you can't do that in good conscience without experiencing their goods/services first hand, right? :) No, kick-backs are not allowed!
12. Free parking. At $17-$20/day, this is a huge benefit!
13. No two days are the same. Monotony breeds contempt. Monotonous is one thing this job is not. I literally do not know, from one minute to the next, what my day will entail. And that's OK with me. In fact, it's kind of exciting. I had my first 2 "treasure hunts" yesterday. I had to find a very specific financial calculator for one client and 2 tickets to the nearly sold-out Josh Groban concert in a nearby-town for another. Both were successful!
14. A great boss/company owner to work with. Never underestimate the power of personal connection. I know it's early, but sometimes you just *know* when there's a good match (well, at least professionally - I haven't figured this out in my personal life yet). I admire, respect and genuinely like my new boss. She's creative, smart, thoughtful (you have to be in this business), resourceful, funny and very professional. She's got a great business model and allows her team to participate fully through a very generous profit-sharing plan. She welcomes new ideas and encourages her team to help her grow the business. Now that's my kind of employer!
15. A steady paycheck. Can't forget this one... I think it speaks for itself!
On a personal note, thanks to Susan and Marja, and of course, my Mom and aunt, for your on-going encouragement and support during the dark days. It truly does take a village to live with bipolar disorder!
October 18, 2007 Update: What a difference 5 months makes
I re-read this post as I was transferring this blog from Wordpress to Blogger and can barely recognize the company I was writing about. Just consider this a classic example of things not always being what they seem. It's frustrating to realize that I'm sitting on an opportunity that has so much potential, and could be so much fun, but it's not. A business without leadership is nothing more than a group of people treading water, hoping that the tides don't change too much.
There are days when I ask myself why do I care so much about the fact that this business isn't living up to it's potential. After all, if the owner doesn't care, why should I? Because I don't have a rich husband to pay the bills. It's as simple as that. The handwriting is on the wall. I've done all I can do to turn things around. The only thing left for me to turn around is myself. I just hope I'm able to do that before the bottom falls out.
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