The Power of Writing
I was looking through some old notebooks the other day, and I came across a list I wrote more than two years ago with criteria I wanted in my next job.
At the time, I was nine years into a position that was supposed to last just three years. I took the position because I thought that doing this work for three years would give me experience in several new areas.
In my personal life, I went from a place where I had a four month old to having a second child with special needs. This position gave me more stability and consistency in an industry that was not stable.
During the next nine years I worked with a great team, and I got very comfortable with the work.
After nine years I ended up burned out on the work. My youngest son had several medical needs that required more of my time and attention.
Also, I was on my third boss who had very different ideas for my position and our department. I knew it was time to find something new.
So I wrote down nine criteria that I wanted in a new job:
- Work on something interesting
- Work in a role that uses my strengths
- No management
- Work four days per week
- Work at least three days from home
- Can set my hours
- Minimum salary (I won't put that amount here, but it was a realistic amount given I may have to take a step back)
- No evening or weekend work (with my new boss, I was on call at least one weekend per month)
- Deliverable-based work (I wanted more project-based work and less response to daily emergencies)
I never looked at this list again once I wrote it.
Ten months later, I started a new job.
Looking back on this list, I'm surprised how many of these criteria my job met or came close to meeting:
- The work I do is interesting, and I can continue learning for years to come.
- It plays to many of my strengths, and I have relied on the experience gained in my previous position on many occasions.
- I'm not in a management role, but do play a senior role on my team. So I have the enjoyment of helping to mentor the junior staffers without having to directly supervise them.
- I do work five days a week and two of those are from home. Surprisingly, it's the three days per week in the office where I've enjoyed talking with co-workers about ideas and solutions.
- I started at nearly 20% more than my minimum salary requirement.
- My boss is very flexible about family time, so I am able to leave early when I need to pick my son up at the bus stop.
- I don't work evenings or weekends.
- I still have a lot of daily emergencies, but I have proposed several projects to my boss and get an opportunity to work on those, as well.
I never really believed in manifestation, and I don't know if that's what happened here.
But I do believe in the power of writing with intention. I'd like to think that had something to do with the great job that I enjoy now.