Hi all!
So I've decided to move to WordPress. Its an easier platform and more robust for tracking visitors. I'm also going to be changing the focus of my blog to one that includes my personal passions and interests as they impact my career transformation (and the many, many transitions I've experienced over the past 20 years). You can find me at AccesibleSanity.wordpress.com from now on!
I will move over posts as they come up but the new blog will be focus on all the the different influences in my life at this given phase of my life, from cooking and teacher conferences to professional networking and math classes at the Montgomery College, the blog will be a look at my journey for personal and career fulfillment as it happens.
I hope you stop by and read or drop a comment and share your experiences if the posts resonate with your own lives!
Best,
Becky
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Unexpected Networking Opportunity at the Local Park? Yes!
So today was my first day back at a local parent resource center, where I took my two older boys when I was at home with them 5 years ago. This was my daughter's first visit and she LOVED it! Its basically a preschool classroom that is financed by Health and Human Services and supported in partnership with Montgomery County Infants and Toddlers Program. Now that Maddy's at home with me full-time it was important for us to keep her engaged in age-appropriate activities.
So to explain the unexpected networking opportunity part of this story. I looked out the window and saw a mom I hadn't seen in person in almost 3 years! Kim is a blogger and currently a blogger community manager for a Collective Bias. We met at this parent resource center when our oldest were too young for preschool and we wanted to connect with others in our community.
Note: I have been friends with Kim but haven't seen her in person in almost 5 years so when we reconnected, it was great on personal and surprisingly professional levels (keep reading). Between catching up with the basics (husbands, older kids, basic career, etc.), laughing at our crazy personalites and lives, and watching our kids play, we talked. We talked about the challenges we face as moms and families and about the opportunities and plans we have for the future. We gave each other advice, she on monetizing blogging, and I on career transitions (she's looking for a full-time gig where she can remain working from home) for those interested in a bright and engaging community manager contact her, you'll be glad you did, and it was a great morning. We're planning to see each other again tomorrow since the center is opened T, W and F from 10-2:30pm.
She and I are now reconnected and I'm thinking about transforming this blog to a lifestyle blog. She happens to be a lifestyle blog community manager so upon telling her my passions (mentoring/career advice, kids and food), and her encouragement that expand the scope of this blog to include those things, I listened.
Did I know I was going to spend the morning with my daughter in my community meeting other families? Yes. Did I think I might make the transition from this blog to a lifestyle blog? No. Did I think I'd end up with a potential opportunity to use my ramblings as a way to bring in a few dollars and flex my muscles in the blogging space? No.
But am I happy I went with my gut to spend the time with my daughter? Absolutely. And look how the Lord rewarded that commitment to my family? I reconnected me with a smart, funny mom whom I haven't talked with in years in a position of influence in the potential next step in my career transformation. Not bad for day-2 as a full time Stay-at-home-mom.
So now to finish my take-home test for my Algebra/Statistics class at Montgomery College tonight. Never a dull moment!
So to explain the unexpected networking opportunity part of this story. I looked out the window and saw a mom I hadn't seen in person in almost 3 years! Kim is a blogger and currently a blogger community manager for a Collective Bias. We met at this parent resource center when our oldest were too young for preschool and we wanted to connect with others in our community.
Note: I have been friends with Kim but haven't seen her in person in almost 5 years so when we reconnected, it was great on personal and surprisingly professional levels (keep reading). Between catching up with the basics (husbands, older kids, basic career, etc.), laughing at our crazy personalites and lives, and watching our kids play, we talked. We talked about the challenges we face as moms and families and about the opportunities and plans we have for the future. We gave each other advice, she on monetizing blogging, and I on career transitions (she's looking for a full-time gig where she can remain working from home) for those interested in a bright and engaging community manager contact her, you'll be glad you did, and it was a great morning. We're planning to see each other again tomorrow since the center is opened T, W and F from 10-2:30pm.
She and I are now reconnected and I'm thinking about transforming this blog to a lifestyle blog. She happens to be a lifestyle blog community manager so upon telling her my passions (mentoring/career advice, kids and food), and her encouragement that expand the scope of this blog to include those things, I listened.
Did I know I was going to spend the morning with my daughter in my community meeting other families? Yes. Did I think I might make the transition from this blog to a lifestyle blog? No. Did I think I'd end up with a potential opportunity to use my ramblings as a way to bring in a few dollars and flex my muscles in the blogging space? No.
But am I happy I went with my gut to spend the time with my daughter? Absolutely. And look how the Lord rewarded that commitment to my family? I reconnected me with a smart, funny mom whom I haven't talked with in years in a position of influence in the potential next step in my career transformation. Not bad for day-2 as a full time Stay-at-home-mom.
So now to finish my take-home test for my Algebra/Statistics class at Montgomery College tonight. Never a dull moment!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Endings and Beginnings
Endings have always been hard for me, but spending these last weeks talking to folks I've been working with and their genuine excitement and support for the next step of my career have made what might have been a difficult transition that much more affirming.
Thank you for all those who have stopped at my desk for sent emails of support.
I think one of the things that you must keep in mind when ending one chapter of your life is to make sure the next chapter is a step to get you closer to who you really are and who you want to be. If you keep the below in mind, endings can be empowering experiences that can propel you happily into your next adventure.
1. Remember your future is always being defined by the decisions you make today.
2. Surround yourself with those who love and know you better than anyone else in the world. They will be your best sounding boards when you want to make a change (professionally or otherwise).
3. Believe. Believe in your gut instinct of what you are meant to do. That instinct is often the Holy Spirit pointing you in a direction you are meant to go.
4. Enjoy the journey and try to be as present as possible in whatever you do. You only have one life.
5. When in doubt, pray. Pray for patience and wisdom in your actions and thoughts.
6. Be thankful for all the opportunities you have to grow and change. Someday you will look back and it will seem like a distant memory.
Thank you for all those who have stopped at my desk for sent emails of support.
I think one of the things that you must keep in mind when ending one chapter of your life is to make sure the next chapter is a step to get you closer to who you really are and who you want to be. If you keep the below in mind, endings can be empowering experiences that can propel you happily into your next adventure.
1. Remember your future is always being defined by the decisions you make today.
2. Surround yourself with those who love and know you better than anyone else in the world. They will be your best sounding boards when you want to make a change (professionally or otherwise).
3. Believe. Believe in your gut instinct of what you are meant to do. That instinct is often the Holy Spirit pointing you in a direction you are meant to go.
4. Enjoy the journey and try to be as present as possible in whatever you do. You only have one life.
5. When in doubt, pray. Pray for patience and wisdom in your actions and thoughts.
6. Be thankful for all the opportunities you have to grow and change. Someday you will look back and it will seem like a distant memory.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
New Beginnings (Again)
I was inspired last month when I attended a Google Analytics training course (generously paid for by my contract company) and was excited about learning again! That training crystallized something I had been thinking about for a long time, that Content is King!
So when I realized there would be no room for me to grow that interest where I was working, I submitted my 3 weeks notice. Thank you Lord for giving me the wisdom to walk away from my job and to my husband who has been my rock and encouraged me to take this leap. I love you, honey!
While my plan is to primarily spend these last brief years with my kids before they become too cool for their parents, I recognize the need for me to move forward in my career even if I'm not formally working for anyone so below is my plan.
My youngest is going to be in kindergarten in two years so my goal is to be consulting on my own in 5 years.
Goal: Content strategy consultant in 5 years
Short-term actions:
1. PRAYER. Lots of it, asking for God's wisdom for all those conversations and next steps.
2. Networking: I'm talking with select people in my LinkedIn and work network that are making decisions about communications, are in the digital marketing space, are programmers themselves, or are in a strategic leadership position (e.g. in government, private industry, advertising, PR, marketing, consulting, programming, etc.) about what they see as a need in content management AND whether I can do projects with them in the future related to their digital marketing activities.
3. Taking needed classes: I've started taking a statistics class at my local community college at night and plan to take some computing classes next. One thing I've been hearing is that the production and the "strategists" are not talking to each other in an efficient and meaningful matter for providing users the best experience online with their companies. I am taking the right classes to ensure I have the right mixture of skills necessary to step into that gap when I'm ready to make the career transition.
4. Research: I am asking for reading recommendations from my networking contacts above about content strategy, following influencers who are the thought-leaders in the space through their professional and personal blogs and writings. I can do that when my kids are napping or I'm waiting for the bus on my iPhone.
Longer-term actions:
1. Start thinking about the types of projects that will complement what I'm learning and already know and begin mapping out how to get that experience.
At the end of the day, I leave every day in His hands.
Are you going through a career transition? Please share!
So when I realized there would be no room for me to grow that interest where I was working, I submitted my 3 weeks notice. Thank you Lord for giving me the wisdom to walk away from my job and to my husband who has been my rock and encouraged me to take this leap. I love you, honey!
While my plan is to primarily spend these last brief years with my kids before they become too cool for their parents, I recognize the need for me to move forward in my career even if I'm not formally working for anyone so below is my plan.
My youngest is going to be in kindergarten in two years so my goal is to be consulting on my own in 5 years.
Goal: Content strategy consultant in 5 years
Short-term actions:
1. PRAYER. Lots of it, asking for God's wisdom for all those conversations and next steps.
2. Networking: I'm talking with select people in my LinkedIn and work network that are making decisions about communications, are in the digital marketing space, are programmers themselves, or are in a strategic leadership position (e.g. in government, private industry, advertising, PR, marketing, consulting, programming, etc.) about what they see as a need in content management AND whether I can do projects with them in the future related to their digital marketing activities.
3. Taking needed classes: I've started taking a statistics class at my local community college at night and plan to take some computing classes next. One thing I've been hearing is that the production and the "strategists" are not talking to each other in an efficient and meaningful matter for providing users the best experience online with their companies. I am taking the right classes to ensure I have the right mixture of skills necessary to step into that gap when I'm ready to make the career transition.
4. Research: I am asking for reading recommendations from my networking contacts above about content strategy, following influencers who are the thought-leaders in the space through their professional and personal blogs and writings. I can do that when my kids are napping or I'm waiting for the bus on my iPhone.
Longer-term actions:
1. Start thinking about the types of projects that will complement what I'm learning and already know and begin mapping out how to get that experience.
At the end of the day, I leave every day in His hands.
Are you going through a career transition? Please share!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Deja Vu and Pressures
Wow! Its been a while since I posted. I thought about starting a new blog but remember its more important to move forward than to start all over, especially in the blog world.
So here I am. Almost a year later, with the same question, whether I should be at home as an at home mom or continue to work? This time, though, I'm being honest about the pressures that can shape our decisions when it comes to our careers. Because many times our choices are defined heavily by pressures either from ourselves, others, or the circumstances of our lives.
My husband is the pressure point that is helping me to focus my career choices right now.
Pressure: "Becky, you should quit your job. 3 kids is a lot when we get no help from family." (He would also like to move closer to the water so he can have a boat and a dog.)
I would have to leave my job and stay at home full-time since we'd no longer live 10 minutes from work and the kids. Daycare for 12+ hours/day (not acceptable to me).
To be honest, I'm not quite ready to let go of my career (or at least this part of it) and we can't afford to stay where we live if I do leave my job. He's working on a Ph.D. and is getting fatigued after 2 years and is threatening to quit the program, which would tie us to the DC metro indefinitely.
Outcome: Neither of us wants to stay here forever.
So we've made a deal. Once he finishes his Ph.D., I will quit my job and move to the water. That will give me two years to acclimate to the idea of leaving work and him the incentive to finish his program so he can be closer to the water and have a dog (someone has to be at home to walk the poor guy/gal).
So here I am. Almost a year later, with the same question, whether I should be at home as an at home mom or continue to work? This time, though, I'm being honest about the pressures that can shape our decisions when it comes to our careers. Because many times our choices are defined heavily by pressures either from ourselves, others, or the circumstances of our lives.
My husband is the pressure point that is helping me to focus my career choices right now.
Pressure: "Becky, you should quit your job. 3 kids is a lot when we get no help from family." (He would also like to move closer to the water so he can have a boat and a dog.)
I would have to leave my job and stay at home full-time since we'd no longer live 10 minutes from work and the kids. Daycare for 12+ hours/day (not acceptable to me).
To be honest, I'm not quite ready to let go of my career (or at least this part of it) and we can't afford to stay where we live if I do leave my job. He's working on a Ph.D. and is getting fatigued after 2 years and is threatening to quit the program, which would tie us to the DC metro indefinitely.
Outcome: Neither of us wants to stay here forever.
So we've made a deal. Once he finishes his Ph.D., I will quit my job and move to the water. That will give me two years to acclimate to the idea of leaving work and him the incentive to finish his program so he can be closer to the water and have a dog (someone has to be at home to walk the poor guy/gal).
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