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I quit my job.

I quit my job at RTI International. My last day was Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011.

I’ve already received many congratulations, which is exactly the response I was expecting to get. I’ve also received lots of questions like, “What’s your plan?” or “Do you have another job or interviews lined up?”

My “plan” really started a year ago and because RTI wasn’t part of my plan to achieve my goals, quitting was simply imminent.

No job lined up. So what is my plan now? I’m looking for the next big thing that will bring me closer to my goal of . . . → Read More: I quit my job.

A Wise Decision, Things My Life Doesn’t Need & Appreciation

Disclaimer: I probably say a lot of things I’m not “supposed to” say in the words that follow. Well, screw the rules.

I think it’s about time I get really clear about my job situation.

I can’t take it much longer. I’ve been there for 2 and a half years. I’ve changed so dramatically over the past two and a half years and my job has changed this much: not at all. So I was happy there at first. I took copious notes. I pitched in as much as I could. I read everything I could get my hands . . . → Read More: A Wise Decision, Things My Life Doesn’t Need & Appreciation

Guest Post: Creating a Carrot Kind of World

The following post comes from Rianna Mallard’s new blog called “Little Duck, Big City”, which you can find here (update: which you should click through to read the job offer she received in the comments on October 25th – if you love the power of the internet it will blow your mind!). Continuing with the story of my sister’s journey from Raleigh, NC to NYC to find a job, I give you Rianna’s personal perspective on this day in history: October 19, 2010.

I’m in the middle of something amazing right now. If you asked me a few months ago if . . . → Read More: Guest Post: Creating a Carrot Kind of World

To the unemployed whiners: make your own job!

Am I wrong to scoff at those unemployed citizens who keep applying for job after job like everyone else out there? I can’t help but think that if you’re not thinking like an entrepreneur and creating a job for yourself instead of waiting until someone creates a job for you, you’re just not living in the now.

There aren’t a heck of a lot of jobs out there. And when a job opens up, a million people are going after it. The fact of the matter is that unless you’re some big wig superstar or have been dating the . . . → Read More: To the unemployed whiners: make your own job!

Lesson From Social Media Day: I’m An Expert, Too

What I learned on Social Media Day (June 30, 2010)

Yesterday was Social Media Day, as pronounced by Mashable. I only heard about it a few days earlier and I really wasn’t sure what the purpose of a Social Media Day would be, even after reading Mashable’s explanation. But as someone who is, I’ll just say, interested in social media and its future, I didn’t debate whether or not I would participate, but rather debated which local event I would attend.

There were two haphazardly organized events: the first one at Campbell University’s business school nearly an hour from . . . → Read More: Lesson From Social Media Day: I’m An Expert, Too

First Speaking Engagements. Scary, Right?

I found out today that I will be giving a 1-hour presentation at a conference (technically they call it an “un-conference”) on Saturday. I don’t think I’ve ever given a presentation in front of so many people at once before. And I have about, oh… 3 days and a few hours to prepare.

You’d think I’d be really nervous and freaking out, right? For some reason I’m not at all. Ok, maybe a little freaking out about how little time I have to prepare because I’m a perfectionist, but mostly I’m thinking, “No biggie. I got this.”

How is . . . → Read More: First Speaking Engagements. Scary, Right?

On Justifying Social-Networking (Or Why I Might Abandon Social Media)

Would I keep using social media and networking sites if I weren’t ever looking for a new job or clients? Already certain industries are more prominent on LinkedIn and Twitter (marketing, public relations, news sources, internet startups, consultants, freelancers, etc.) and more jobseekers than steady-job-havers keep active social networking profiles.

But at this stage in the game I just can’t see ever not using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Brazen Careerist, but believe it or not there was once a time when I barely used them (two of which I didn’t even adopt until 2009). Whoa was I behind the . . . → Read More: On Justifying Social-Networking (Or Why I Might Abandon Social Media)

Finally, The First Day Of My New Career

Today marks the official first day of my new career. It’s taken nearly a year to get here after a lot of doubt and uncertainty, but also so much motivation and drive.

You see, a year ago (and for the past year), I was unhappy in my job. In fact I was unhappy in my job even before I really knew it and certainly before I told myself that I needed to start looking for something else. Just 3 months into my new full-time job I wrote in my personal journal:

“I feel unstimulated because my job is not . . . → Read More: Finally, The First Day Of My New Career

3 Reasons To Work For Free

With all this talk about the legality of unpaid internships, I started wondering where unpaid work (not specified as an internship) would fall in this argument. Where do you draw the line between doing work for free and for a fee?

Otherwise You Have to Pay Someone Else

Perhaps we draw the line between work that benefits us as individuals directly as opposed to benefiting another person. For example, most of us clean our homes, cook our own food, plant gardens, write our own resumes, do our taxes (arguably beneficial), raise our own children, and paint our own toes; . . . → Read More: 3 Reasons To Work For Free

Work Isn’t Supposed To Be Fun (Except Fun Jobs)

Is work supposed to be fun?

I ask because I really don’t know what is a reasonable expectation to have of work. Does it depend on your industry, your job duties, or your work environment? If you’re working from a cubical, that means you’re not supposed to be having fun, but if you’re a stand-up comedian then your you’re allowed to have fun at work?

I recently overheard a coworker saying “Work is work, it isn’t supposed to be fun. That’s why you’re at work and not at home with your friends and family.” My gut reaction wanted to . . . → Read More: Work Isn’t Supposed To Be Fun (Except Fun Jobs)