Career Challenged

I loved working for LUCRUM.  I loved the people and the job was challenging, different and new.  I really got to experience the real deal in being a part of a sales team.

Every day I’d get up, organize my day…and do what needed to be done.  There is a lot to be said about having your own schedule.  Most of the day was spent cold-calling….ugh, shudder!  I know!  But, it became easier and easier over time and it was the best part of my day.  I loved the challenge of making it past the gatekeepers, finding little tidbits of information from the receptionist or assistant…and then the follow up letter. 

Ahh! The nice handwritten note that followed each voicemail.  In that little envelope I really let the creative juices fly.  I could say anything and not look back.  I thought, they’ll either read it and hate it or read it and be interested enough to call.  For the short time I was in sales for LUCRUM, it was about 50/50 for callbacks.  Some just wanted to thank me for the donuts I dropped off the next day (yes, another sales schtick) and some wanted to meet because my letter made them chuckle.  What can I say?  I’ve been told before I needed more of a filter in what I say, but to me, that is like cutting off my right arm.  LIke telling Ellen DeGeneres not to be funny…its just who she is.

Anyhow, that job is gone…economy, new management…and poof…I’m back at home sitting at my desk wondering what should I do next.

Oh, there is a long list of things I could do.  Heck, my first full day of unemployment Keith asked if I would poop-scoop and mow the lawn.  Sure, why not I said…I had nothing better to do!

As it is, I’m actually pretty busy for being unemployed.  Almost every day I’ve had a meeting of some sort…and a few have been in the early hours before 8am!  I’ve had several offers of doing freelance type of stuff here and there….but what do I really want to do?

Keith asked me, “What can you see yourself doing every day and loving it?”.  I replied, “Cooking of course!”.  He said, “You do that every night for me…see, you’ve been in heaven all along!”.

hardy har har har.

Someone said, “Start your own cooking classes and charge people.”  hmmmm, that takes capital which we don’t have and I think Cincinnati has too many of those right now.

Should I sell food to restaurants?  Isn’t the economy going downhill and no one is eating out anymore? A restaurant that opened last year in Blue Ash already closed down! I couldn’t believe it.  ah well.  Would I be successful trying to sell food to restaurants who are cutting back because of all the empty tables?

should I go back to selling IT services? I loved going into a company blind and trying to make it to the decision makers.  Starting off with the cold call and then all the follow up work, that was actually fun for me.  But who’s hiring?  What’s the job market really like?

Anyhow, lots of questions and lots of time to reflect.  In the meantime, I guess Keith can look forward to gourmet meals again since I’ll have time on my hands!