My new job
August 26, 2007 | By Rebecca Thorman |Update: This post was also published at Damsels in Success.
I started a new job on Wednesday. At 23 years old, I am now the Executive Director of a young professional organization whose mission is to attract and retain young talent and leadership in my area in order to contribute to the regions’ economic, civic, social, and public policy futures. Can’t get more Gen-Y Princess than that.
After one of the best first days at work ever, a day that left me dazed at the possibility of it all, I sat with my friend Hercules at his condo. His condo is trendy and beautiful, and immaculately clean, like in a commercial, the kind of clean that makes you feel dirty even if you’ve just taken a shower.
I was admiring the lack of spider webs in the upper corner of the wall, thinking about my new job, about what exactly I had gotten myself into and how I would be able to pull it off, when Hercules asked me an interesting question:
“If the worst happened, would you be okay? Can you accept the worst case scenario? Can you fail and survive?”
I turned to face him and nodded slowly. Yes, I thought, I could fail. If young talent left the city in droves, and everyone in the city hated me, if I bankrupted the organization and it tumbled down in flames, if I ruined my reputation and only rodents of the squirrel variety would talk to me, I would be okay. I would survive.
“Because if you can envision failure,” he said, “and you know that your life would go on, and you would still wake up every morning, and get out of bed, then life is at your feet.”
“Yes,” I said, out loud this time. “I’d be okay with failing. Life would go on. I would still wake up and get out of bed every morning. Well, five days out of the week, at least.”
“Good,” he said. “Then you’ll succeed.”
Wow, that sounds like a fantastic opportunity. Congratulations!!!
Comment by Alexandra Levit — August 26, 2007 #
congratulations on your new job! I’m happy for you. It’s good to be able to work in an environment that you truly believe in and able to make a difference. I am currently reading Guy Kawasaki’s “The Art of the Start.” He said something that I really like, “Having that desire [desire to make meaning] doesn’t guarantee that you’ll succeed, but it does mean that if you fail, at least you failed doing something worthwhile.” On a side note, I am starting a segment on my blog called, “Gen-Y Leader” inspired by one of your articles. The first post will be up on Monday, so make sure you check in for that.
Comment by Ray — August 26, 2007 #
First, sounds like a slick job. Perfect for your mindset from what I read on this blog anyway.
Second, the bit about envisioning complete failure and becoming okay with it is sagaciousness typified. I think that’s a fantastic idea.
Take some time to celebrate. You’ve got plenty of reasons to do so!
Comment by Chuck Westbrook — August 26, 2007 #
@ Alexandra - Thank you!
@ Ray - Thanks for the quote from Guy. He can always be relied on to get you going. Also, sounds like a cool series- I will definitely look forward to reading on Monday.
@ Chuck - Thanks, Chuck! I am excited. I should also say the other half of this conversation was envisioning complete success and what would happen if everything went right. In reality, obviously, it will probably be somewhere in between, with steps of both failure and success along the way.
Comment by Rebecca Thorman — August 26, 2007 #
Congrats, Rebecca!! Sounds like an amazing opportunity. Looking forward to hearing more about it.
And I love your friend’s question. Sounds like a good one to ask people starting their own businesses too.
Congrats again!
Comment by Lindsey Pollak — August 26, 2007 #
You will succeed and be my hero! I wish I would have learned earlier the practical skills of networking and leadership. You’re going to provide a great resource for your community!
Comment by Lela Davidson — August 26, 2007 #
Congrats Rebecca,
sounds like you got the world is literally your oyster and in the palm of your hand.
All the best!
Comment by Quasar9 — August 26, 2007 #
Congratulations, Rebecca. You are one of the new (fearless) leaders I mentioned in today’s post — you are rewriting the way we think and operate. I am honored to have met you.
Comment by Valeria Maltoni — August 26, 2007 #
I’m glad you’re loving it - change can be overwhelming, but the good change is the kind that lets you forget all the scary parts and just enjoy the new, the exciting, the hopeful of it all. Have a great second week!
Comment by Tiffany Monhollon — August 26, 2007 #
“Only those willing to fail miserably can achieve greatly.” -JFK or his brother…maybe both. I can’t remember exactly, but I think it’s what your story is saying.
Comment by Ryan Paugh — August 27, 2007 #
Great work getting that job Rebecca! Congrats, that sounds like a really neat position to be in, and one that aligns perfectly with your interests and passions. Hope you enjoy. =)
Comment by Cody McKibben — August 27, 2007 #
Nice! You sort of expect confidence from someone named “Hercules,” don’t you? It is excellent advice and good to remind oneself of every once in awhile.
I will refrain from analogies to Augean stables and the cleanliness of H’s condo.
Comment by Sonia Simone — August 27, 2007 #
Comments On Happiness = Music, Battle Cry & Orkut…
More fun feedback from Ypulsers in the comments. Rebecca responded to my post about the MTV/AP poll on what makes teens happiest (music!) writing: Music definitely makes me happy. I think if the music industry were able to harness the……
Trackback by Ypulse — August 27, 2007 #
@ Lindsey - Thank you. I appreciate your support. Hercules does give out a lot of good advice!
@ Lela - I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone’s hero before.. sounds like a lot of responsibility. Luck y for me, I love a good challenge
@ Quasar9 - Good to see you back, and of course the world is in the palm of my hand. Isn’t it in everyone’s?
@ Valeria - I’m honored to be associated with you! Your blogs is one of my favorites that I learn from each day. Thank you for the encouragement.
@ Tiffany - yes, it is fun! The scary bit keeps me on my toes and the fun parts keep me happy
@ Ryan - shouldn’t a journalist major know where his quotes come from?
Kidding. Great quote. And thanks!
@ Cody - Thank you! It does feel like the “perfect job” but only time will tell…
@ Sonia - I’m glad people are enjoying my nicknames.. and your analogy reference made me chuckle. Thanks for the support!
Comment by Rebecca Thorman — August 27, 2007 #
Congrats! It is great you can help your own area.
Comment by Presh Talwalkar — August 28, 2007 #
Many congrats. Your blog is impressive, and I’m sure your work as an E.D. will be just as strong.
Comment by celeste w. — August 29, 2007 #
[…] Hercules and I went to a friend’s housewarming party on the lake this weekend. We sat and stood and laid on the dock while the dogs and boats and swimsuits blurred by. We talked about what fantastical lives we born and bred Midwesterners led. As the sun played with the edge of the water, half a platter of chips and dip joined the two brats in my stomach, and I summarily declared that I was really good-looking. […]
Pingback by Modite - Engagement for the next generation — September 4, 2007 #
[…] And yet, as a newly minted Gen-Y leader, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish I had someone to come home to, someone that would understand and support and be there for me. Someone to share the success. It’s hard to be a leader and not have personal support, even with wonderful friends and family. […]
Pingback by Modite - Engagement for the next generation — September 12, 2007 #
[…] How could this woman who had known me less than twenty minutes hit on the exact thing that I tried to ignore daily with the right friends and the right clothes and the right job? […]
Pingback by Modite - Engagement for the next generation — September 26, 2007 #
[…] Big Brother likes to keep such things hush-hush, and recommends that I don’t date anyone in my organization. An odd bit of advice, because our membership is made up of young professionals in Madison, and the ones that aren’t part of my organization, well, it’s my job to recruit them. That pretty much cuts out, oh, I don’t know, every good-looking young bachelor in the city. Every young, single, and eligible man in Madison is off-limits. It’s an impossible situation. […]
Pingback by Modite - Engagement for the next generation — October 4, 2007 #
[…] I’ve been in my new job for almost two months now, and there’s something I’ve noticed on the face of the hundreds of young professionals I’ve encountered. […]
Pingback by Modite - Engagement for the next generation — October 12, 2007 #
[…] Unlike our older co-workers, Generation Y doesn’t operate out of fear or distrust, but the possibility of what can be done. I realize that Generation Y is new to the workplace. To Gen X, I just don’t get how the world works. And while it’s quite possible that we won’t change the world like we anticipate, why shoot for just the possible? Idealism is what changes the world. […]
Pingback by Twentysomething: The rising rift between gen X and gen Y » Brazen Careerist by Penelope Trunk — November 6, 2007 #
[…] First of all, don’t be afraid to think bold and dream big, Watson drawled in his thick accent. Failure is good, as long as you learn from it. As long as you don’t go cry in a corner, he said. As long as you take action from what went wrong. […]
Pingback by Modite - How to think bold and dream big, and a realization — November 8, 2007 #
[…] Later, I introduced myself to two young men. I found out they were venture capitalists, and I began to tell them what I do when one of them cut me off. “We live in Chicago,” he said. Oh. Okay. […]
Pingback by Modite - Mishaps in networking with important people — November 16, 2007 #
[…] Because I’ve been working from the time I was able, and trust me, I do need this job. […]
Pingback by Modite - Helping your career when you’re not middle class — December 19, 2007 #
[…] Oh, and I applied for my dream job and got it. […]
Pingback by Modite - How I got my dream job (and survived) — February 27, 2008 #
[…] the third round of interviews for my current job, my interviewer was a Boomer whose opinion as the head of similar and larger organization was […]
Pingback by Modite - Back Off: Gen Y’s helicopter parents are a good thing — March 10, 2008 #
[…] the third round of interviews for my current job, my interviewer was a Boomer whose opinion as the head of a similar and larger organization was […]
Pingback by Back Off: Helicopter Parents are Good : Brazen Careerist — March 10, 2008 #
[…] when I started my current job, there was much disruption. In the beginning, it was the challenge of transitioning from being an […]
Pingback by Modite - How to step up and have anything but a normal career — May 5, 2008 #
[…] when I started my current job, there was much disruption. In the beginning, it was the challenge of transitioning from being an […]
Pingback by Step Up and Have Anything But a Normal Career : Brazen Careerist — May 5, 2008 #
[…] Read Modite’s post: My New Job […]
Pingback by Fearless « carpe diem — June 16, 2008 #
[…] didn’t really know this was a problem until my last job. A position that was all about public speaking. Speaking. Out loud. All the time. But I did well […]
Pingback by 3 ways to turn weaknesses into strengths | Modite — April 28, 2009 #