Hurry up and wait. This is an expression that is widely used in the film industry to describe the momentum that happens on sets. The film crew (you know, everyone BUT the actors, a.k.a. the people who really make a movie) busts their humps to get a scene set before the “talent” saunters out of their trailer to share their “craft” with the world. In other words, a never ending cycle of LeBron James’ “Decision” special.
Anyways, the crew kills themselves to get things right and then the actors come in and take all sorts of sweet Jesus time to do their scenes and get it right before the director yells cut, the producers check to see that no overtime in incurred, and the crew kills themselves again. The world of unemployment is much like this.
Because I had been through a layoff and job search before, I knew that the key to remaining as positive as possible was to keep myself occupied. I haven’t always been superbly successful at this (I hit one gawd-awful week-long funk in early September), but by and large I have done pretty well. In addition to searching for the next great job, I developed a proposal for a community-based program, launched a bike program at my kids’ school, received a grant for said program, co-chaired the school’s garden project, started this blog, co-coached my son’s First Lego League Team, and reintroduced myself to the practices of household maintenance. And I got to ride my bike a whole bunch, which is nice. For an unemployed guy, I’ve been pretty busy.
When I do search and apply for jobs, it’s in rushes of clusters. I would seem to find a few interesting possibilities in a row and hurry up and blast off the resumes. And then I would wait. Hurry up and wait. Egad.
This hurry/wait phenomenon took a different turn for me over the past month. A few weeks back, I received an email from a former colleague at ASU probing my interest in possibly returning to that institution in a limited role. Never being one to deny an opportunity to explore options (and honestly harboring no ill will or reason to not want to return) I expressed interest and agreed to meet with my old boss to discuss this potential post.
That same week, I was talking with a fellow parent at my son’s Scout meeting and we discovered that we had a mutual acquaintance and he mentioned how this acquaintance was looking for someone with my general skill set. Again, I expressed interest in meeting up with this person and see what suggestions he might have. I met with him a few days later and what was supposed to be an informal “good to see you” meeting quickly became a formal job interview with another department director from his firm.
Then that night I received an email from a parent from school who also happens to be an editor for the Phoenix New Times. She had seen an earlier post of this blog, complimented my writing and asked if I would be interested in writing for the New Times’ art and culture blog Jackalope Ranch. I figured she was drunk but I had to take her up on her offer.
I had gone five months with nary a smidgen of interest in my services outside of my own do-gooder efforts, yet in the course of one week I felt like LeBron the night he became a free agent. This was niiiiiice. And it was fast. Perhaps too fast?
Jackalope Ranch immediately sent me on my blogging duty and I now am featured weekly, producing a cycling-centric blog called, aptly, Cycle.
The other two possibilities have, well…aged.
I had the initial meeting at ASU with my old boss and colleague where they outlined what they needed and asked if I would be a) interested in coming back, and b) interested in this job. The situation actually sounded really good and the half time commitment meant I could continue playing Mr. Mom and work on those other projects that I had invested time and energy. They expressed that they would like to get me started fairly quickly to get me up to speed and ready for an upcoming event. Then Thanksgiving came…and went.
The other interview with the old acquaintance also went very well, there was some good chemistry happening, and they seemed to like my answers. But both gentlemen continually bracketed the interview with caveat that their search was in the infancy stages. After the meeting, I sent off my usual “Thank you for your time” emails. All is quiet on that front ever since.
In the middle of all of this, I coordinated the first bike safety rodeo for the school’s bike program. It was by all account a huge success. We had 50+ participants (31 students), gave away 14 free bike helmets (thank you Phoenix Children’s Hospital!), and were welcomed by a board member of the National PTA who formally announced our grant. I even had a commitment from Ironman to have a pro racer come and speak to the kids, but she couldn’t get away from her race commitments in time.
Hurry up and wait.
Well, as of this afternoon the wait is officially over – kind of. Today I met with the Dean at ASU and formally accepted the half time position back at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. And I have the best title EVER: Special Advisor to the Dean – Coordinates Advisory Boards and Community Groups. Picture that on a business card, pal! And I am going to be communing with alumni and community partners who have hiring authority or influence for major firms, companies and organizations across the Valley.
So while I am no longer officially unemployed, I am not yet a member of that highly vaunted full-timers club. But I like this set-up. I’ll be bringing a bit of cash home and getting back to work (both are really nice for the old ego) while I continue to write about cycling, develop the bike program, and continue this great bonding experience with my offspring. Heading into the holidays I feel like the wind is at my back and I have no need to complain.
Anyways, the crew kills themselves to get things right and then the actors come in and take all sorts of sweet Jesus time to do their scenes and get it right before the director yells cut, the producers check to see that no overtime in incurred, and the crew kills themselves again. The world of unemployment is much like this.
Because I had been through a layoff and job search before, I knew that the key to remaining as positive as possible was to keep myself occupied. I haven’t always been superbly successful at this (I hit one gawd-awful week-long funk in early September), but by and large I have done pretty well. In addition to searching for the next great job, I developed a proposal for a community-based program, launched a bike program at my kids’ school, received a grant for said program, co-chaired the school’s garden project, started this blog, co-coached my son’s First Lego League Team, and reintroduced myself to the practices of household maintenance. And I got to ride my bike a whole bunch, which is nice. For an unemployed guy, I’ve been pretty busy.
When I do search and apply for jobs, it’s in rushes of clusters. I would seem to find a few interesting possibilities in a row and hurry up and blast off the resumes. And then I would wait. Hurry up and wait. Egad.
This hurry/wait phenomenon took a different turn for me over the past month. A few weeks back, I received an email from a former colleague at ASU probing my interest in possibly returning to that institution in a limited role. Never being one to deny an opportunity to explore options (and honestly harboring no ill will or reason to not want to return) I expressed interest and agreed to meet with my old boss to discuss this potential post.
That same week, I was talking with a fellow parent at my son’s Scout meeting and we discovered that we had a mutual acquaintance and he mentioned how this acquaintance was looking for someone with my general skill set. Again, I expressed interest in meeting up with this person and see what suggestions he might have. I met with him a few days later and what was supposed to be an informal “good to see you” meeting quickly became a formal job interview with another department director from his firm.
Then that night I received an email from a parent from school who also happens to be an editor for the Phoenix New Times. She had seen an earlier post of this blog, complimented my writing and asked if I would be interested in writing for the New Times’ art and culture blog Jackalope Ranch. I figured she was drunk but I had to take her up on her offer.
I had gone five months with nary a smidgen of interest in my services outside of my own do-gooder efforts, yet in the course of one week I felt like LeBron the night he became a free agent. This was niiiiiice. And it was fast. Perhaps too fast?
Jackalope Ranch immediately sent me on my blogging duty and I now am featured weekly, producing a cycling-centric blog called, aptly, Cycle.
The other two possibilities have, well…aged.
I had the initial meeting at ASU with my old boss and colleague where they outlined what they needed and asked if I would be a) interested in coming back, and b) interested in this job. The situation actually sounded really good and the half time commitment meant I could continue playing Mr. Mom and work on those other projects that I had invested time and energy. They expressed that they would like to get me started fairly quickly to get me up to speed and ready for an upcoming event. Then Thanksgiving came…and went.
The other interview with the old acquaintance also went very well, there was some good chemistry happening, and they seemed to like my answers. But both gentlemen continually bracketed the interview with caveat that their search was in the infancy stages. After the meeting, I sent off my usual “Thank you for your time” emails. All is quiet on that front ever since.
In the middle of all of this, I coordinated the first bike safety rodeo for the school’s bike program. It was by all account a huge success. We had 50+ participants (31 students), gave away 14 free bike helmets (thank you Phoenix Children’s Hospital!), and were welcomed by a board member of the National PTA who formally announced our grant. I even had a commitment from Ironman to have a pro racer come and speak to the kids, but she couldn’t get away from her race commitments in time.
Hurry up and wait.
Well, as of this afternoon the wait is officially over – kind of. Today I met with the Dean at ASU and formally accepted the half time position back at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. And I have the best title EVER: Special Advisor to the Dean – Coordinates Advisory Boards and Community Groups. Picture that on a business card, pal! And I am going to be communing with alumni and community partners who have hiring authority or influence for major firms, companies and organizations across the Valley.
So while I am no longer officially unemployed, I am not yet a member of that highly vaunted full-timers club. But I like this set-up. I’ll be bringing a bit of cash home and getting back to work (both are really nice for the old ego) while I continue to write about cycling, develop the bike program, and continue this great bonding experience with my offspring. Heading into the holidays I feel like the wind is at my back and I have no need to complain.
First, congrats on the job! Second I really like your analogy to the entertainment industry. This is very well written. Keep it up!
ReplyDelete