Taking Control
I haven't been able to get into the mood to do my assignment for my first class tomorrow. My MBA program started last week and the first assignment is due tomorrow by six o'clock
tomorrow afternoon. I am a procrastinator by nature but recently I haven't been able to get myself in the mood to do anything other than eat and sleep.
After some reflection, I realize that the problems I am having getting motivated stem from the fact that I feel life is controlling me when I should be in control of my life. I have been trying to lose weight...but life gets in the way. I have been trying to do things around the house...but life gets in the way. I am trying to go back to school...but life gets in the way.
This evening, I went outside and sat out in the spa to do some thinking and realized I am not depressed, although it feels somewhat like it because I want to eat and sleep all of the time, but I am upset that I am not in control of my life. While admittedly, I am not in a tailspin by any means, I just don't have the control I need to have so that I can move forward in the most efficient manner.
As most of you know, my current field of employment is shaky at best. While I can do nothing about the current state of my employer, I can position myself to be ready for any situation that might come my way. I will not be blindsided again. I can control my attitude toward school so that I can get as much out of it as possible. I can control my gym regime and eating habits so that I can lose the weight I would like to and gain the added self-esteem that comes with it.
Reading several of my recent posts, I realize I have allowed myself to become less positive that I would like. Hopefully, that changes tonight!
Have a great week!!
D
Labels: life lessons, MBA, Resolutions, Weight loss
Work Ethic
I am noticing that the work ethic in my field seems to be suffering. I know that this is a market environment that many in my field (including myself) have not seen before. That said, I will work just as hard in a down market knowing that it will pay off in the good times.
Many of our reps have become non-responsive. I know it must be difficult to work hard for very little money but at the same time if you sign up for a job...you need to do it to the best of your ability. Maybe I am living in a dream world...
This continues to
disillusion me about the field of work I am currently involved in. I always thought we were helping people...every day it becomes more and more obvious that most in the field were not in the business to help people but help themselves.
Many of the industry are looking at potential jail time for their actions in the past few years. Though I have not been involved in any of these activities I have a stigma attached to my name because I worked in mortgage banking.
As I start my path toward my MBA tomorrow, I am also trying to begin a new career path - maybe in a field such as Human Resources. I know I may have to start from the bottom again...but it will be worth it to again be in a field where I can be of help to someone!!
Labels: Job, life lessons
Complacency
Complacency: self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies
As most of you know,
myspace now allows you to display to others your current mood. It provides many different adverbs to allow you to describe your current situation or state of mind. When looking through the list (which is huge) this weekend, I chose complacent. I thought it accurately
portrayed my current state of mind.
I thought nothing of it until I watched the movie "Swing Vote" this weekend. For those of you who may not have heard of it (this is assuming anyone still even looks at this blog since it has been almost a year since my last update), the (overly simplified)premise of the movie is that the presidential election has come down to one state, and the state cannot certify it results because the vote of one man was not recorded accurately. The two candidates start pandering to this man who has absolutely no clue about anything that is going on in the world around him. The experience helps him be able to overcome his complacency. I'd tell you more but don't want to ruin the movie. While not the best movie of the year, I do think that it should be required viewing in high school government courses.
Watching this movie made me realize how I did not want to be complacent any longer. Some days I feel like these days I am just going through the motions. I feel that I have been floating along since last August when my former employer went bankrupt. In November, I was lucky enough to find another job in my field and while I enjoy it, I am almost to the point where I have outgrown it. I have found that on average after about 6 months, I can perform my job on autopilot and grow tired of the day to day redundancy. Unfortunately, because of the current state of my industry and the economy as a whole, it is my best interest to stay the course. I do see some opportunities on the horizon...just would like for them to reveal themselves sooner rather than later. I know, I know...good things come to those who wait. To my credit, I am doing what I can to expedite the process and working toward a goal. I start work on my MBA in two weeks! In February 2010, I will have my long awaited Master's degree...and hopefully some added opportunity to show for it!
Going forward, I will do my best never to become complacent. There is always something one can do to better themselves and improve their situation. Self-satisfaction I can live with - being unaware of the actual dangers surrounding me and my own deficiencies I cannot.
Labels: Job, life lessons, Movies, observations, school
Reba
I just watched the finale of Reba. They did a great job with the ending...it just stinks that the new CW kicked them out because they didn't fit the mold....when Reba was the highest preforming comedy the network had. I remember watching the pilot with my Grandma six years ago...I just wish she was here to see the ending.
At the end of the show, Reba and family remarked that six years ago things felt like things were falling apart all over the place. An affair, a divorce, a teenage pregnancy among other things were at the forefront of their lives. Tonight, they realized that everything happened for a reason and their lives were better for it.
My life has led a similar path over the last six years. Six years ago I was in debt up to my ears, had a very rocky relationship with my family, and watched my friends go through some tough times themselves.
Six years later, I am finally out of debt, have an awesome job, a good realtionship with my family and am happy.
I think that it is possible to get down and think that life is not worth living, but at those times when you hit rock bottom the only way to look it up. It is amaing what changes five years can bring...and when you think about it....five years in a lifetime is really not that long.
That said....I can't wait to see what the next five years bring!!
Happy President's Day tomorrow! Hope you have the day off like I do!!
D
Labels: Family, life lessons, TV
The Year In Review
What a year this has been! It is hard to believe all the changes that have taken place in my life! In January, I travelled to California with several co-workers for strategy sessions about the year to come. I discussed with my boss the possibility of moving to Dallas in my current position which was approved. In February, I travelled to Dallas to scope out apartments with Shannon and also back to California to visit Lisa and family. In March, things changed again as we worked to create an awesome deal at work and I was asked to put off my move for 3-6 months. My Grandma also passed away which was very difficult. It was easier to deal with knowing she was out of pain and with the Lord. I was with her when she passed in
Tennessee. I traveled back to South Carolina before heading to Oklahoma for the funeral. Except for the circumstances, it was great to see my family. On May 2
nd, we learned that our company was closing our division and that our last day with the company would be July 2
nd. That was not one of the best days of the year but little did I know, it might have been the best thing to happen for me career wise. My boss called me that afternoon and told me not to worry - we would be fine. At the end of May,
Shan and
Jaymeson came to visit and we spent the week exploring South Carolina - specifically Myrtle Beach and Charleston. In June I headed out to Tucson to visit the company who would become my new employer before heading back home to begin to pack. On July 1st, I headed out to start my drive across the country. I stopped in Oklahoma to pick up a few things and Shannon and I drove the remainder of the trip to Tucson before unpacking the truck in the summer desert heat. I couldn't have done it without her!! I started my new position in the middle of July and stayed busy working on creating a new Correspondent division. For Labor Day, I headed back to Myrtle Beach to spend the holiday with Debbie, Tim, Tracey, and family. October was an awesome month. I received a promotion to Regional Sales Manager and went on a cruise to
Montego Bay, Grand
Caymen, and Cozumel. Also, my business travel began with a trip to Chicago. I spent Thanksgiving with Lisa and Mark in California. And that brings us to know. Christmas was awesome. It is hard to believe tomorrow we will begin 2007. If 2006 taught me anything, it taught me to expect the unexpected and that even when things look the worst, given time everything will work out.
Labels: 2006, life lessons
