After having that conversation with Mike a while back about greatness, I decided to explore podcasts more. I listened to Ira Glass talks, This American Life, TED Radio Hour, Planet Money, Reply All, Death, Sex, and Money...but I just couldn't get into them fully. What I wanted was a story in which I could invest myself, stretch my brain, and possibly learn. Was I asking too much? Was I missing the point? I wanted something to inspire me to create. These are all considered excellent podcasts - the top ones on the internet. Yet, I was not satisfied. I did enjoy listening to Ira Glass and hearing about the making of This American Life. He discussed how art and business were more closely aligned than one might think and gave examples of the lengths the team had to go to in order to get onto stations. I noted their methods.
While looking at Reply All episodes, I thought I would learn a little bit about the media company producing it, gimlet media. I saw they had a podcast about just that, called Startup, in which the founders documented their experience starting a podcasting company. Intrigued, I began to listen. Alex Blumberg - the idea man behind it all - couldn't come across as more genuine. He recorded everything: humbling conversations with his wife, awkward meetings with a potential partner, and pitches full of stammering. Sometimes the episodes were painful to listen to. However, this was exactly what I was looking for: it was a story over several podcasts and I was learning something. From the first episode I felt a spark ignite, but I couldn't place my finger on the cause. Was it the content of the podcast, the aspect of building a business? Was it the making of the podcast itself? Was it the personalization of the story? I do know that when Alex introduced the audience to Chris Sacca, a mega investor, I liked him a lot. I wished he had more air time, because I wanted to learn more about his side of investing in businesses. I also wanted to hear more from Matt Lieber, President and co-founder of gimlet. He was the business man with experience consulting companies.
After making it through all 19 episodes, I felt a sense of conviction about my next steps. I wasn't so interested in chasing down stories or content. I was interested in understanding how the business worked, and I liked this - media business. I started pondering how I could get myself into a company like gimlet media...
I've thought about going to business school several times. However, the thought usually fizzled out, and I think it's because I was unable to see where it could take me. Now, however, I saw a possibility I liked.
Two years ago, I went to a conference full of entrepreneurs and creative people. Many had a startup or wanted to create one. I struggled to get on the same page with them as far as ideas. After I had been home for several weeks, I came to the conclusion that I was not the idea person and leader. I simply wasn't seeing problems to fix. However, I believed I was the one who could promote that person and be an account manager, which was more or less what I did at my then-job. Later, after watching Mike and getting a glimpse of his business, I think I could also be the one to help keep the idea person in check with numbers - I like working with money and I like spreadsheets.
I've given you all many plans about my future and I wouldn't blame you if you sigh in exasperation again. However, I think I'm going to give the business school thing another shot. My goal is to start in 2017. I calculated that if I save every extra penny, nothing disastrous happens in the next year, I pass the GMAT on the first or second try, and the program doesn't raise its prices, I could have enough saved to pay for it all within two years. I would also need to forgo a car for probably another three years...which hurts so much to write. You have no idea.
A few posts ago I said I wanted to be great. I wanted to be a singularly amazing person who does amazing things. However, my best self may not be visible until I am among other inspiring and talented individuals. It is quite possible that my path to greatness isn't what I do alone, but rather what I do in tandem with others. I think that's the way it's done in many cases - greatness isn't achieved by the singular but by the plural.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Maybe I'm not a writer...
This is not a self-pity party, this is a review of the facts. I was talking to a friend about potential career paths and brought up my creative writing projects. She asked how they were going. Well...um...they...I...err... The truth is, they weren't going...anywhere. I wasn't writing, except in my blog and personal journal. I've been trying to think of creative outlets for myself, but straight up writing was not happening. I've been thinking about podcasts, but I'm not familiar with the format. I don't see how I can make a podcast by myself and tell a story that will be interesting to people, unless I do something David Sedaris-style. That idea is still on the table. However, can I claim writership if I'm not, in fact, writing anything worth talking about? My answer is no.
This same friend I was talking to told me about a woman who didn't figure out what she wanted to do until she was 40-something. I hope beyond hope it doesn't take me that long to find my niche.
This same friend I was talking to told me about a woman who didn't figure out what she wanted to do until she was 40-something. I hope beyond hope it doesn't take me that long to find my niche.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Hiring Insights from the Employer Side
Since I accepted the new position, we had to fill the position I was leaving behind. This meant interviews! I'd never done interviews before and would finally be on the Other Side. I would be watching people sweat and try to impress while I'd sit coolly evaluating. At least, that's how I thought it would go.
Last week began with the accumulation of resumes. Janet - the new residency manager - and I found out we were in charge of finding the new person, so we had to review 49 applications over the weekend! 49! On Saturday, I complained to Mike about this sucking up so much of my time and told him how I just sort of breezed through the first 15. I admitted that I separated them into yes, maybe, and no piles for superficial reasons just so I could get through them all. He noted this was interesting and gently reminded me about how I painstakingly worked on my own resume and cover letter, and wouldn't I want someone to look at it carefully instead of pushing it aside for superficial reasons? I grumbled, but the next day devoted a few hours to going through each one more diligently. I found myself interested in the people who applied, even those who I knew wouldn't make the cut. I was surprised that a few men applied and two were veterans. I redid my piles and noticed that many in my "no" and "maybe" groups seemed capable of doing the work just fine. The ones in my "yes" pile, however, were undoubtedly qualified and those were the ones I had to let through. In this process, I realized I had people's livelihoods, careers, and futures in my hands. I've never had that kind of power before. It made me uneasy at first, because I wanted to help everyone. But then I had to put my "boss" hat on and say, "We have a job that needs to be filled," and I let the uneasiness go.
What I learned from reading applications:
1. Since a lot people had skills that could be easily transferred to the skills of our position, I tried to gain a sense of the person through the cover letter. Poor cover letters got the "no" pile. You'd be surprised at how bad some of the ones I saw were.
2. I appreciated resumes that were clear, organized, and easy to read. They had headers, understandable phrases (the more concise the better!), and aligned to the left side of the paper.
3. For the section about stating why the applicant left/is leaving a job, I didn't judge people harshly for saying they wanted better pay or to get into the university. It made sense. When people didn't give any reason though - someone said "N/A" for everything - that sent up a red flag. We gave her an interview because she was very qualified, but we could tell the situation wouldn't work out.
Interviews on Day 1 were good. We found three people we liked (out of four), and two who we thought could do the job. The one we really liked had such great energy. She lit up the room as soon as she entered. However, as we found out in the interview, she worked at a bank that was high-speed and chaotic. Her job was to calm the customers and work with them to straighten out situations - crisis management, essentially. We realized that as much as we liked her, she would be bored in our office and probably try to move on within six months. She was also pursuing an accounting degree and I wanted to help her get a break on schooling (employees go to UA for cheap!), but again...the kind of work she would be doing with us would bore her. It wouldn't be complex enough. I was sad to see her go.
Interviews on Day 2 were something else. This was a day of candidates with strong personalities. One woman had been working in a legal office and was used to running the ship, so to speak. We weren't looking for someone to run the ship, we just wanted someone to steer. Another woman was over-the-top energetic. She just wouldn't stop talking...about her all of her volunteer experiences that she LOVED at her church, and her boys being eagle scouts and her being the eagle mom on camping trips, and how she rides a bike everywhere and lives like a college student, which she also loves, since her divorce...etc. She even gave us a chart with a timeline of her work and volunteer experience since high school (1980s), even though we already had her resume and cover letter. Janet responded, "We can see you're organized!" That was nice of her. A couple times during the interview I kept asking myself, is this for real? It seemed like a scene right out of a sitcom. I felt overwhelmed by her enthusiasm and needed the break before the next candidate. Our last interview was a phone interview (she lived in Phoenix). While she seemed like a very strong candidate, not being able to meet her in her person proved to be difficult for gauging her personality. By this time, though, we were confident in the candidate we wanted so it wasn't worth it to us to ask her for a second interview.
What I learned from interviewing:
1. The purpose for us was to assess personality and demeanor. Like I said earlier, many of these candidates had the qualifications on paper. The interview allowed us to assess if we felt we could get along with a candidate and how well she would fit into our office environment. That being said...
2. Having prepared answers with examples of one's work is important. We appreciated intelligent answers.
3. Giving the employer more paperwork about your qualifications isn't the best idea, either in the initial rounds or the later ones. We don't want to read more if we don't have to.
4. The details matter in resumes, but if it's not a good fit personality-wise, it's not a good fit. You can send a thank you card, which can help, but that doesn't mean you will get more points. We hired someone who didn't send a thank you card.
5. Asking for feedback on ways to improve if you don't get the job is ok, but chances are you didn't do anything wrong. The employer just found someone they liked more or had more qualifications. Don't be surprised if you don't get a response after asking this question. We only had one person do this and her email was answered, but it was a little awkward for us.
6. Having connections pays. The person we hired already knew three of our doctors and the husband of another. They all raved about her...so we didn't have to call for references. It made our confidence in the decision much easier.
That was my experience with the hiring process. I hope this provided some insight and help for any job-seekers out there and a good story for the rest.
Last week began with the accumulation of resumes. Janet - the new residency manager - and I found out we were in charge of finding the new person, so we had to review 49 applications over the weekend! 49! On Saturday, I complained to Mike about this sucking up so much of my time and told him how I just sort of breezed through the first 15. I admitted that I separated them into yes, maybe, and no piles for superficial reasons just so I could get through them all. He noted this was interesting and gently reminded me about how I painstakingly worked on my own resume and cover letter, and wouldn't I want someone to look at it carefully instead of pushing it aside for superficial reasons? I grumbled, but the next day devoted a few hours to going through each one more diligently. I found myself interested in the people who applied, even those who I knew wouldn't make the cut. I was surprised that a few men applied and two were veterans. I redid my piles and noticed that many in my "no" and "maybe" groups seemed capable of doing the work just fine. The ones in my "yes" pile, however, were undoubtedly qualified and those were the ones I had to let through. In this process, I realized I had people's livelihoods, careers, and futures in my hands. I've never had that kind of power before. It made me uneasy at first, because I wanted to help everyone. But then I had to put my "boss" hat on and say, "We have a job that needs to be filled," and I let the uneasiness go.
What I learned from reading applications:
1. Since a lot people had skills that could be easily transferred to the skills of our position, I tried to gain a sense of the person through the cover letter. Poor cover letters got the "no" pile. You'd be surprised at how bad some of the ones I saw were.
2. I appreciated resumes that were clear, organized, and easy to read. They had headers, understandable phrases (the more concise the better!), and aligned to the left side of the paper.
3. For the section about stating why the applicant left/is leaving a job, I didn't judge people harshly for saying they wanted better pay or to get into the university. It made sense. When people didn't give any reason though - someone said "N/A" for everything - that sent up a red flag. We gave her an interview because she was very qualified, but we could tell the situation wouldn't work out.
Interviews on Day 1 were good. We found three people we liked (out of four), and two who we thought could do the job. The one we really liked had such great energy. She lit up the room as soon as she entered. However, as we found out in the interview, she worked at a bank that was high-speed and chaotic. Her job was to calm the customers and work with them to straighten out situations - crisis management, essentially. We realized that as much as we liked her, she would be bored in our office and probably try to move on within six months. She was also pursuing an accounting degree and I wanted to help her get a break on schooling (employees go to UA for cheap!), but again...the kind of work she would be doing with us would bore her. It wouldn't be complex enough. I was sad to see her go.
Interviews on Day 2 were something else. This was a day of candidates with strong personalities. One woman had been working in a legal office and was used to running the ship, so to speak. We weren't looking for someone to run the ship, we just wanted someone to steer. Another woman was over-the-top energetic. She just wouldn't stop talking...about her all of her volunteer experiences that she LOVED at her church, and her boys being eagle scouts and her being the eagle mom on camping trips, and how she rides a bike everywhere and lives like a college student, which she also loves, since her divorce...etc. She even gave us a chart with a timeline of her work and volunteer experience since high school (1980s), even though we already had her resume and cover letter. Janet responded, "We can see you're organized!" That was nice of her. A couple times during the interview I kept asking myself, is this for real? It seemed like a scene right out of a sitcom. I felt overwhelmed by her enthusiasm and needed the break before the next candidate. Our last interview was a phone interview (she lived in Phoenix). While she seemed like a very strong candidate, not being able to meet her in her person proved to be difficult for gauging her personality. By this time, though, we were confident in the candidate we wanted so it wasn't worth it to us to ask her for a second interview.
What I learned from interviewing:
1. The purpose for us was to assess personality and demeanor. Like I said earlier, many of these candidates had the qualifications on paper. The interview allowed us to assess if we felt we could get along with a candidate and how well she would fit into our office environment. That being said...
2. Having prepared answers with examples of one's work is important. We appreciated intelligent answers.
3. Giving the employer more paperwork about your qualifications isn't the best idea, either in the initial rounds or the later ones. We don't want to read more if we don't have to.
4. The details matter in resumes, but if it's not a good fit personality-wise, it's not a good fit. You can send a thank you card, which can help, but that doesn't mean you will get more points. We hired someone who didn't send a thank you card.
5. Asking for feedback on ways to improve if you don't get the job is ok, but chances are you didn't do anything wrong. The employer just found someone they liked more or had more qualifications. Don't be surprised if you don't get a response after asking this question. We only had one person do this and her email was answered, but it was a little awkward for us.
6. Having connections pays. The person we hired already knew three of our doctors and the husband of another. They all raved about her...so we didn't have to call for references. It made our confidence in the decision much easier.
That was my experience with the hiring process. I hope this provided some insight and help for any job-seekers out there and a good story for the rest.
The Road to Promotion
This last week was incredibly chaotic in the office. We had resident interviews, medical student exams, I had time sheet prep work and reconciliation (usually takes me a few hours due to interruptions), physicians were turning in reimbursements left and right because they found out that their accounts were going to reset at the beginning of the year, and then all the regular scheduling needed to be done...among other things. But on Wednesday at the very, very end of the day, our chief administrator asked me to come into his office. I assumed this had to do with my job situation - the position I applied for a week and half ago. I was waiting for an interview, but within a few minutes I found out that I would never get one. They skipped it and the administrator handed me my offer letter. This was ok with me. The best part, though, was the salary. It was more than I expected! It was more than I allowed myself even to hope for! A significant chunk will undoubtedly be taken out for taxes and benefits, but STILL! The possibility that I can buy a car in a year is now on the table. Once I see what I'm making, I may even be able to afford living somewhere else. I love my little house, but I'm still on someone else's property. I'd like to not live with my landlord for once.
I have to draw attention to some key factors that led to this promotion, though. My coworker who started at the same time as me received a promotion a few months ago in the same way I did - they dissolved her position and created a new one when someone else left. However, before that, she wanted a review of her work and to have a conversation about a raise with our superiors. However, it was like pulling teeth. She had such a hard time getting anyone to talk to her. She started looking for other positions because she needed to earn more - she just had a baby and she and her husband bought a house. However, when the new position came up for her, she had to go through an interview. It seems she had to push her way through to get attention. I, on the other hand, almost had the opposite experience: I applied and people in my department said, "Process the paperwork now so we can get going!"
A few months back, I received a tiny raise (about $30 extra per paycheck) when I took on several duties from other people. I was disappointed. Should I have negotiated? Some will say so, but I don't think it would have made a difference. This time around when Norma left, though, doctors wanted input on what was going to happen next with the staff. The situation was in my favor. I didn't cry to my supervisor or the chief administrator about wanting a raise. I did talk one of the doctors about my goals, however, and I found out our accountant was pulling for a higher salary for me. In the end, my supervisor, the accountant, and one of the doctors were all speaking repeatedly on my behalf to give me the salary I received...and to give it quickly.
Why did this happen? Why did my coworker and I have such different experiences? Maybe it was a difference in personality - she's quiet, but she comes out and tells people what she wants. I'm quiet, but I have trouble being open like that. Another possibility - the real reason in my opinion - is the fact that I work directly with many people in the office. I'm the one they see and of whom they ask questions. My coworker has her own office in another area and is physically isolated. Direct interaction matters in building relationships, and people help get you places. I think this is where my coworker's campaign fell short, and the timing wasn't there at the beginning. I felt fortunate that I happened to be in the place I was. This wasn't by mistake - I chose to be among the faculty because I liked being interactive. But I didn't realize then that it would help me advance in the future. In the end, both of us received what we wanted, but knowing people can make the path easier.
I have to draw attention to some key factors that led to this promotion, though. My coworker who started at the same time as me received a promotion a few months ago in the same way I did - they dissolved her position and created a new one when someone else left. However, before that, she wanted a review of her work and to have a conversation about a raise with our superiors. However, it was like pulling teeth. She had such a hard time getting anyone to talk to her. She started looking for other positions because she needed to earn more - she just had a baby and she and her husband bought a house. However, when the new position came up for her, she had to go through an interview. It seems she had to push her way through to get attention. I, on the other hand, almost had the opposite experience: I applied and people in my department said, "Process the paperwork now so we can get going!"
A few months back, I received a tiny raise (about $30 extra per paycheck) when I took on several duties from other people. I was disappointed. Should I have negotiated? Some will say so, but I don't think it would have made a difference. This time around when Norma left, though, doctors wanted input on what was going to happen next with the staff. The situation was in my favor. I didn't cry to my supervisor or the chief administrator about wanting a raise. I did talk one of the doctors about my goals, however, and I found out our accountant was pulling for a higher salary for me. In the end, my supervisor, the accountant, and one of the doctors were all speaking repeatedly on my behalf to give me the salary I received...and to give it quickly.
Why did this happen? Why did my coworker and I have such different experiences? Maybe it was a difference in personality - she's quiet, but she comes out and tells people what she wants. I'm quiet, but I have trouble being open like that. Another possibility - the real reason in my opinion - is the fact that I work directly with many people in the office. I'm the one they see and of whom they ask questions. My coworker has her own office in another area and is physically isolated. Direct interaction matters in building relationships, and people help get you places. I think this is where my coworker's campaign fell short, and the timing wasn't there at the beginning. I felt fortunate that I happened to be in the place I was. This wasn't by mistake - I chose to be among the faculty because I liked being interactive. But I didn't realize then that it would help me advance in the future. In the end, both of us received what we wanted, but knowing people can make the path easier.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
I said hi
I explained who I was and how I knew her. She was friendly, and I was awkward. I felt like the unpopular girl talking to the popular one. She thought it was crazy that we were both in the same place in Arizona. We talked about mutual friends for a minute and her other interviews. Then that was it. She had to finish interviews and I had to work. Anticlimactic, but at least I have no "what ifs" on my plate.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Collision of the past and present lives
Today I received an email from a resident applicant asking for details about the interview on Monday. I didn't respond and instead stared at the name. I recognized it. I checked the university she was coming from in her signature. It had to be who I thought it was. I looked up her application online. Her picture matched what I could remember of her and she was from the right state...I checked her CV. Yep, the right undergraduate school and there, at the bottom, was her list of extra-curriculars: Purdue Ballroom Dance Team. I had a mini heart-attack. Someone I competed against 4-5 years ago was coming to the UA for a residency interview.
Some people might think a situation like this would be super neat. Oh awesome! What a small world we live in! For me, though...I had strong rush of emotions: a hint of excitement, but mostly dread and humiliation. For me, this person - a symbol of my past life during which I was so intense and so in over my head - was colliding with my current life. She was a reminder of who I was back then and what my goals were, and consequently a reminder of the path I chose and how I came to be where I am now. Reflecting on this, I sank into a puddle of self-pity. I felt like a failure. I texted my sister, hoping to release some of this emotional energy in conversation. I explained, "I feel incredibly under-accomplished and quite foolish. Here is a person who was great at ballroom dancing, but her goal was to become a doctor. I went after dancing and now I'm an assistant to doctors. I feel like a failure. A lost and confused failure." Why did I do what I did? Why did I try to chase ballroom? And to Tucson of all god-forsaken places? I was so idealistic and so naive. If I had stayed in Wisconsin, I would have had a better chance of going further in the sport, because I wouldn't have had to start over from scratch.
But the truth is, I wanted out. Out of Wisconsin, out of that life.
The good news is, she doesn't know me. I was only on the ballroom scene for two years and didn't have time to make friends with people from other teams. Interview day could come and go and she'll never be the wiser.
As the day went on, I calmed down. Something is eating at me on the inside. I've been experiencing envy lately and I know it's because I'm not making use of some ability I have. I can't figure out what it is, though, or what to do about it.
Some people might think a situation like this would be super neat. Oh awesome! What a small world we live in! For me, though...I had strong rush of emotions: a hint of excitement, but mostly dread and humiliation. For me, this person - a symbol of my past life during which I was so intense and so in over my head - was colliding with my current life. She was a reminder of who I was back then and what my goals were, and consequently a reminder of the path I chose and how I came to be where I am now. Reflecting on this, I sank into a puddle of self-pity. I felt like a failure. I texted my sister, hoping to release some of this emotional energy in conversation. I explained, "I feel incredibly under-accomplished and quite foolish. Here is a person who was great at ballroom dancing, but her goal was to become a doctor. I went after dancing and now I'm an assistant to doctors. I feel like a failure. A lost and confused failure." Why did I do what I did? Why did I try to chase ballroom? And to Tucson of all god-forsaken places? I was so idealistic and so naive. If I had stayed in Wisconsin, I would have had a better chance of going further in the sport, because I wouldn't have had to start over from scratch.
But the truth is, I wanted out. Out of Wisconsin, out of that life.
The good news is, she doesn't know me. I was only on the ballroom scene for two years and didn't have time to make friends with people from other teams. Interview day could come and go and she'll never be the wiser.
As the day went on, I calmed down. Something is eating at me on the inside. I've been experiencing envy lately and I know it's because I'm not making use of some ability I have. I can't figure out what it is, though, or what to do about it.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Dear God, why didn't make me like THIS?
One of my coworkers was chatting up a candidate for our department today (she's a person who likes to get the details). She said he was a good-looking, interesting fellow (besides a doctor, he's also a magician) and wanted to know if he was married ("I'm an old lady so I can get away with questions like that."). He replied he was but his wife practically lived in her jet.
HOLD THE PHONES WHAT. His wife had a cosmetics company and recently sold it for $500 million.
When my coworker told me this, we started researching this woman. It took me maybe 5 minutes to find her. She definitely came across as a strong business woman, interviewed by all sorts of magazines, including Forbes. Her husband had a pretty strong name in medicine, but I don't think it compared to hers in the beauty industry. Of course, if her Instagram account was an indication of her notoriety, she was no Kim Kardashian...but she still had some pull. On one level - I'll be honest - I wanted to hate her. I wanted to be disgusted at her seeming self-absorption. However, I couldn't, because she wasn't. I mean, she was self-focused, but she was also about charity and supporting programs for schools and children. Right now, she has a five-year non-compete clause with the company that bought her out. So while she's "taking a break," she's going to Africa and setting up philanthropy foundations and such. I think I'm just jealous that she found a niche and then tunnel-visioned on it. And then that she became a half-billionaire on it.
HOLD THE PHONES WHAT. His wife had a cosmetics company and recently sold it for $500 million.
When my coworker told me this, we started researching this woman. It took me maybe 5 minutes to find her. She definitely came across as a strong business woman, interviewed by all sorts of magazines, including Forbes. Her husband had a pretty strong name in medicine, but I don't think it compared to hers in the beauty industry. Of course, if her Instagram account was an indication of her notoriety, she was no Kim Kardashian...but she still had some pull. On one level - I'll be honest - I wanted to hate her. I wanted to be disgusted at her seeming self-absorption. However, I couldn't, because she wasn't. I mean, she was self-focused, but she was also about charity and supporting programs for schools and children. Right now, she has a five-year non-compete clause with the company that bought her out. So while she's "taking a break," she's going to Africa and setting up philanthropy foundations and such. I think I'm just jealous that she found a niche and then tunnel-visioned on it. And then that she became a half-billionaire on it.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
I submitted my application
for the coordinator job that was built for me. I'm so glad it's over now. The application + resume + cover letter had to be in before Dec. 8th (it posted on December 3rd), so I met that deadline. Glad there was a weekend in between.
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