I'm Back In Business Baby!

I got a job! Phew! The income situation was getting a little tight, but finally, the remedy is upon me. Starting tomorrow I will be a contracting Staff Accountant at Washington Post Digital doing basically the same work I was tasked with at Time Inc. My salary will remain essentially the same and I finally get to put that digital experience on my resume that I've been looking for. Isn't that great?! An interview is not necessary as my new manager is familiar with my work and has placed me as her top pick. Geah! This manager, the colleague I worked with during our days at Time who I was often in touch with during my months of unemployment, warned me however. She explained that the environment and morale are not what I'm used to. The department has been hit hard by not only the recession but a lack of organization, sooooo they are now in code red rebuilding mode. Hmmm... *pointer finger to my left temple* Let me see. Do I mind that basically this place that I'm stepping into is a mess? Well... For some odd reason, not so much! I've worked with grass roots orgs that didn't have much organization for a yearly salary of free ninety-nine, so I think I have enough patience to hang in there when I'm getting paid enough to cover all of my bills and have a little extra in my pocket. The blessing really lies in the fact that my position is contract hire. My manager so kindly told me that although she's been thinking about me for a while, she didn't want to throw me into just any position considering the circumstances. She wanted me to have a temporary to permanent situation just in case I decided I wanted to walk (or run) down a different avenue. Flexibility at it's best! Now that's what I'm talking about. I'd have to say that was some good lookin' out. It's very nice to know that there are people out there on my side.

During my time off, I have done a lot of thinking about what I really want to do with my life (photography, writing, non-profit work) and thus have begun to make adjustments. Although I will now be working 45 per week for the Washington Post, these adjustments will not be put on hold. My mother said something really profound a while ago. When asked what she does for a living, my mother tells people that she trains and mentors youth. Now is that her 9 to 5? Nope. During the day, she works for fleet acquisitions at Verizon, but she doesn't even consider this as her occupation. I have decided that I am going to ascertain the same thought process. So what do I do? I provide creative services to the public in the form of photography and writing and I do all I can to promote programming that supports youth empowerment. So with that in mind, I am my own enterprise. Since I already do all of the work, I have determined that j.a.consulting's (I just made up that company name and I kinda like it!) clients are WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive, Kiamsha, PEN or PENCIL, hopefully Infinite Investor and Chris Leeann Boutique. I'm turning my skills into an industry honey. They say entrepreneurship is the way to go right? Well here it is. Today is the beginning of the best career of my life.