3 posts tagged “glo”

Everyone once in a while you have one of those amazing weekends that sends you back to life so completely refreshed and ready to face whatever comes next.  This was mine.  I spent Friday evening at a wine-tasting with old and new girlfriends.  I have never been a big wine drinker, but in the last year or so I have been trying to learn more about wines and figure out what I do and don't like.  (Mainly whites and sweeter reds).  Fortunately a couple of my friends know alot about wine and are doing a great job teaching me.  We had a wonderful time - it was truly good friends, good wine, good nibbles and insightful conversation.  The best way to end a week.

Saturday dawned gloomy and rainy.  Not the most encouraging thing when you have a lot of walking to do.  It was Street Team Day for the Breast Cancer 3-Day.  The day for the "advance" team to go through the neighborhoods on our walk letting them know when we will be coming through and asking them to show their support as the walkers come by.  Fortunately the clouds parted, the sun shone and it was a lovely day.  Our efforts were met with much enthusiasm by the people along the route and I got a good training walk in.  (Only 2 weeks until the 3-Day!!! Gotta get ready for those 60 miles.)  My good friends Ed, Vici and Mark fed me dinner on Saturday night (Thanks for the fajitas - guys).  It was really nice of them because as tired as I was, it would have been a popcorn dinner night.

Sunday was beautiful!!!!!  The weather was perfect - sunny and a bit warm. My good friend Denise, who fortunately only lives around the corner,  and I had a breakfast at the cafe around the corner  (frittatas at Farmicia - Yum!) then we were off to upper Bucks County for a day of kayaking on the Delaware River.  What fun we had!!  And no kayaks tipped or stuck on the rocks -- Yeah us!   Since it was still early and a gorgeous day - it was a stop in New Hope for lunch, drinks and relaxing.  The deck at Triumph Brewery was a nice spot for ice cold beer and really good Tuscan Pizza.  We wandered around town -- both of us wishing we had unlimited money to spend in all the cool stores and then we found really comfy seats on the patio/bar at the Logan Inn.  People watching with Nate and Dana who were sitting next to us got to be pretty interesting.  And then came the best surprise, Denise's mom, Sharon, joined us for a couple of drinks. It was tons of laughter and girl talk on a beautiful street on a gorgeous day.

One of those weekends that just is perfect.  It let me wake up this morning with a whole new attitude.   The day just got better when an old friend reached out with an apology and a request to start working on resolving some past differences.   The week is off to a really good start.  Fall Equinox started on Sunday morning and began my birthday month... And next week is my birthday and the 3-Day!

Have you taken any time to stop and really think about your job?  What you do and why you do it?  How did you end up doing it?  How do you feel about it?
The story of my career is pretty simple.  I moved away from home (Texas) to Philly for a man I met in college.  I was looking for just about any job to pay our bills.  His father was in the insurance industry and knew someone who had a job for me.  So, here I am 20+ years later in the same industry doing something that I never imagined I would be doing.  The funny thing is that I sort of like it and I'm pretty good at it. 
So to answer my own questions - yes, I think about my job often.  I weigh the pros and cons of continuing to do what I do.  I could have a comfortable career, making a decent living, doing something that I am pretty good at, but that is not overly challenging.   Most days it is an ok job to do, some days I can't wait to quit.  But that is no different than anyone else.
Or do I take a leap, jump out into the unknown and do what my heart really desires - start my own business. Be my own boss, build something with my own 2 hands, my heart and my passion.   It is what I want most, my dream. 
So where do I find the courage to make it come true?  I have great examples, friends and acquaintances who are independents and freelancers and are making great successes out of their careers.  Do I have what they have?  I know I have the passion and the drive.  What else do I need?   So will they let me pick their brains?  Can they explain to me what that thing is that gets them past the make and break, the thing that makes them not question whether or not to continue. 
I know how hard those decisions and feelings can be.  I was with a good friend through the first 3 years of his business.  Those times we celebrated each new idea, client, contact or contract and the times when he was so unsure of whether or not he could succeed, he just needed to lean on a friend.
So how do I take that first step, put aside the fear and uncertainty and just take the step?  Guess it is going to be make a solid plan, have the passion shut my eyes, step forward and hope that there is not dead air underneath me.