Every day I’m grateful to have a job that I love.  Every once in a while, I find myself thinking about what I would be doing today if I was still working at the place I was working at before I got this job – assuming they were still in business.  Sometimes I even reflect back to the very beginning… (dream music begins…)

It was May of 2007.  I had just been laid off from a job that I loved and was helping a friend organize the office at his property management company while helping to find an office manager for him.  One day, while working, my phone rings.  I didn’t recognize the number but was expecting a call from someone else so I answered it.  It was a woman named Jamie and she was calling to see if I would come in to interview for a customer service manager position at a place called Randall International.  I told her that I would but that I needed to call her back later to get the information from her.

A few days later was the first interview.  It wasn’t really a big deal to me as I wasn’t really looking for a job.  I was happy doing what I was doing and was considering going back to school (something I’ve been saying I’m going to do for a long time).  I answered the questions and asked a few and then left.  Jamie told me that she would call me again in a few days and let me know what their direction was going to be.

The biggest draw for me was where they had received my information from.  Again, I had just been laid off from a job that I loved.  The President from that company was interviewing for the open CEO position at Randall and had given them my previous boss’ name who had given them my name as a reference.  It was exciting to possibly be working for Rick again so I was a little anxious to continue the process.  I knew that there were a lot of people from the previous place that were still looking for work so I did want to get in quickly if it was possible.

About a week later I went in for a second interview, this time with the Fab Four.  At the time, the company didn’t have a CEO, President, GM or anything.  The owner was living in Switzerland and was getting ready to move back, but there wasn’t any clear leader there.  Instead they had the Fab Four – the Customer Service Director, HR/Accounting Manager, Controller and the Director of Operations (Jamie, Connie, Jan and Peggy).  Questions were asked and answered and that was that.  I got the job.  In the end, they decided not to go with Rick (for all the wrong reasons) so I was now “stuck” there by myself.

If only I had known then what I know now.  Actually, I can’t honestly say that much would have been different.  I have made some very lasting relationships with some of the people that I met there and I also now know what it’s like to have a job that is both degrading and destructive (emotionally, physcially, spiritually, you name it).  Without pain we can’t fully appreciate the joy we find.

When I think back to that interview process and compare it with the interview process that I went through to get this job, there are few differences that stand out.  In both cases I was refered by someone that I know and trust completely – two people I will forever respect and be grateful for.  In neither case was I technically looking for a job – they kinda just came to me.  The last job had the Fab Four, this one has a defined leader with the background, training and experience to move the company in a positive, forward direction.  The building at the last place, even with the bright blue walls, was more “glamorous” than the new building is.  The leadership, I believe, is the defining difference.  While all four of those women are smart and capable, having one person in charge to make the final call (and take the fall for it) is something worth paying a little extra for.  It’s sometimes the difference between making a decision and sitting at a crossroads.

Anyway… If Randall was still around, and I was still working there, right now I would be sitting in my office chasing down some useless information for an arrogant little man in cowboy boots.  And the only reason I would be doing it is so that I wouldn’t have to listen to him lecture me on the importance of following the rules – something he knows little to nothing about. 

I’m so glad I’m sitting on the train on my way to a tiny desk in a renovated garage.