Life is Too Short for Toxic Work
In the last year I have had four good friends become disillusioned and fed up with their 9-5 jobs and have either quit or come to a mutual decision with their managers to “part ways.”
Four women in my small circle leaving high paid, professional career positions in one year. For me that is statistically pretty significant especially when HR managers around the country have spoken publicly about the difficulty they are having in keeping highly skilled women in the workplace.
While the reasons women leave good positions is varied what I’m hearing and reading about in terms of why they leave good jobs falls into the following categories:
- Frustration dealing with personalities and colleagues who aren’t professional or all that skilled
- Unable to justify the cost in time and dollars of commuting to work
- Strong, burning desire to have more control over earnings and work hours also called the “entrepreneurial bug”
We really have left the era of where work was just something you did until you built up enough pension to leave. I’ve always looked at work as something that MUST be about the things in my life that I consider important.
My husband and I have moved across state lines and even countries to accept job offers that reflect our personal interests and life priorities.
I think some friends thought we were a little nutty in deciding to move so often with our household belongings and babies in tow, but we have tremendous memories and experiences from our many moves. We feel blessed to have our health and to have the choices we have as residents of an affluent continent like North America.
Of course it also helps to have dual citizenship and grandparents who will travel to babysit in a pinch!
My friends’ recent experience with abrupt career changes highlights another fact we can’t ignore – there is no more job security. We hear plenty about companies closing in this struggling economy or going offshore for cheaper labor. The message is pretty clear: you are expendable.
You can’t look upon employment in any company or organization as a sure thing anymore. Each of us has to look upon our skills and abilities as our personal assets and then figure out how best to market and secure the best compensation for the abilities we have honed and developed.
Headhunters, job boards and good networking can help to get you into the career you want. But it will be up to you to market yourself so that you can get that job that truly fits your idea of quality, satisfying work.
The same applies to your business. If you have a skill, profession or interest that is steering you towards entrepreneurship, what’s holding you back? Research, talk to others and don’t lose site of that goal. The Internet has opened up a WORLD of opportunity allowing more people with modest resources to start businesses of their own.
I realize that sometimes we have to do what is necessary to care for our families and address urgent needs like health care and housing. But I have never understood how healthy, able people torture themselves in jobs that are life draining and toxic. Life is too short for that.
I have a career that is ideal for me and I’m thrilled that I’m also able to pursue my entrepreneurial goals as a business writer. My life is very purposeful. My thought process has always worked something like this (for better or worse!):
- This is what I love and what gets me up in the morning, so…
- How can I find a job that allows me to do this work for competitive compensation AND/OR
- Start a business around my passion to give me the independence I’ve always cherished
For more than 15 years these questions have guided our family and I doubt that will ever change. Both my husband and I have learned tremendously from the different and amazing people we have worked with through the years, in different countries and states as our clients, colleagues and business partners.
Work need not be a four letter word. We need it to survive so why not ensure that what you do fits in with your life priorities?
Are you running a business or in a career that reflects some goal or passion in your life? If so, please share your comments here!
Dealing Effectively with Major Changes in Our Lives
Being a mom today can be exhilarating, joyful, maddening and anxiety ridden–often all at once. We deal with demands from various corners of our communities including our families, our clients, our employers, our girlfriends, our neighbors and ourselves.
Most of those demands and issues we can address without too much inner stress. But how well do each of us manage major transitions in our lives?
We all experience significant changes at various times from having a baby, to starting a business, to ending a marriage – major life changes can take many forms. Sometimes change drops into our lives unannounced and at other times it is as inevitable as the rain. What is certain is that life transitions can affect us at many levels–sometimes causing physical symptoms that serve as a wake up call.
How we deal with the impact of this kind of change can be very important to our health, our happiness and our families. Today’s show will examine 6 ways to deal effectively with major life transitions in our lives.
Don’t forget to listen for the “secret phrase” – this is the last week to enter Moms Talk Radio’s May ipod contest. Once you hear me say the secret phrase, write it down and enter it in the “Listen to Win” form at the bottom of the page at www.momstalkradio.com. Good luck!
To access this podcast please leave a comment below to contact me. Thank you.
New Urbanism: A 60s Dream Come to Life
I’m a 60′s baby with all kinds of ideas and opinions that I’m sure were shaped by the “groovy” generation that taught me in grade school, the explosion of the civil rights movement and…episodes of Star Trek.
This week my daughter was watching some cable station that was airing old Star Trek programs and she was keeling over with laughter at the exaggerated acting and the “peculiar” story lines. Always trying to find a teaching moment, I explained to her that Star Trek was really a tongue in cheek program that was providing commentary on the current times which was the 60′s.
Trekky story lines dealt with social issues that were becoming explosive during those groovy sixties. Issues like racial and gender equality and authoritarianism vs. freedom of personal expression.
I bring all this up to highlight that the attributes of good, new urbanism communities we celebrate today – walkable and eco-friendly communities intentionally built to support our personal, work and recreational “priorities” – is in all likelihood a natural by-product of that 60′s generation.
Today we have the freedom to ask those questions that would have seemed, well, counter cultural in the 50′s and early 60′s.
Today it is perfectly normal to ask questions like: How can I (mom or dad) work from home so that I can be near my children? How can I work out a telecommuting plan with my employer so that I can cut out that daily, hour-long drive and help out the environment at the same time ?
We’ve finally realized that compartmentalizing our lives is killing us and keeping us out of touch with the living things in our world that really give us energy, purpose and health–our families, friends, and a healthy, “green” environment.
I think it’s fair to say that life in our integrated, new urbanism communities is pretty groovey!
Finding Business Success Close to Home
Whether you have a successful online business or are just exploring the potential, you’ll want to listen to this week’s program. We’ll be interviewing a mom who has worked online for a few years as a marketer but is only now expanding her business locally and is having great success.
Her success has been so positive for her bank account that she was able to make the decision to leave her full time job. Patrysha Korchinski of PK Marketing Solutions will share her tips and insight on what it takes to expand an online business to serve the needs of your local community.
Also in today’s program…the secret phrase that you’ll need to win the 8 gig iPod as part of the Mom’s Talk Radio May contest. Click here for more details.
Other mom owned businesses that I think will inspire you:
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Going from 2 Cars to 1 – The Green Family Way
It has been almost a year since we decided to forgo being a 2-car family. Some of the benefits we’ve realized have been pretty significant and they are not all financial.
First the obvious. Having one car payment versus two has saved us a significant amount over the year. But it has taken some change and some sacrifice. We have to coordinate our schedule a little differently and we use the public transit a lot more.
So if I have to take a trip to someone’s office or to a meeting location that is outside of our normal daily route, I might keep the car and my husband would use public transit or vice versa. It all depends on how far the destination is from public transit.
This is a why I get a little frustrated with the delays and endless regional discussions about how and whether there will be more integrated transit systems in our region. If there is clean, safe, reliable transit in suburban and urban areas people will use it. Period. I know debates like this are happening across the country. I just can’t figure why it takes so long in some communities to become a reality.
I absolutely hate sitting in traffic. I don’t know anyone that does. Give us the option of taking environmentally friendly and reliable public transit and stop quibbling.
The other “sacrifice” associated with us becoming a one car family is that we have to be a little more structured in our schedules – especially in the morning. We all leave together in the morning at the same time so that we can drop the kids off at their high schools. There are exceptions where I or my husband have to be somewhere earlier or later and in those instances we just take the transit.
But I’d say the sacrifice part is felt by the teens a little more acutley as they don’t have the luxury of sleeping in some mornings. By sleeping in I mean sleeping past 6 a.m. They call it cruel and unusual punishment. I tell them it builds character. I use that answer for a lot of things. I’m not claiming it works, but I like saying it.
That leads me to one of the key benefits of having one car. It has forced us to travel together in the morning with our teens and we have found that hour or so of getting ready and driving off to our series of destinations has been a great time for family discussion and general catch-up on each others’ lives.
I know many people find dinner allows them to have good conversation with family. That is true for us only on the weekends. Given that our kids are involved in sports and music lessons in the evening, when we do eat dinner together during the week it is often late and our conversation is rarely that energetic. We’re usually so tired it’s just a chance for light talk and then off to do homework.
Our most energetic chit chat takes place in the kitchen as we eat breakfast and then in the van as we drive to the kids’ schools.
As for coming home…we use a combination of transit, our vehicle and grandparents who are only too happy to take in a game of Rugby or whatever sports team my son is on as they wait to carry him home.
We feel really good not just about the few extra hundred dollars that we have in our savings account each month as a result of not having a 2nd car, but we also feel good about not adding to the vehicular pollution in the environment.
We are not located in the urban core which has all kinds of transit options – we’re in a smaller urban community. Our transit system enables us to make greener life choices.
It enables my 15 year old son to get to his part time job. It gives my daughter the option of taking the transit to and from her piano lessons. Walking is also an option, but depending on the time of day and weather conditions transit is often a convenient choice that is far less expensive then revving up the van.
What’s the public transit service like in your community? If it is insufficient, unreliable, or unsafe speak up about it to your political representatives. Make it an issue that is important to your community. Entrepreneurs, young professionals, retired people and so many others can benefit from the existence of reliable, clean transit that can keep us connected and cut our heavy consumption and reliance on fuel.
A Champion Like Brad
Hurricane Katrina devastated the lives of thousands of people in New Orleans especially the Lower Ninth Ward. This tragedy was something we’ll never forget. Not just because of the devastation and terrible emergency response, but also for the coming together of community advocates to help rebuild communities throughout the hurricane ravaged area.
This event shows what a community can do or what a handful of people can do for a community. Today’s post picture features Brad Pitt talking about rebuilding homes for displaced residents in the lower Ninth Ward through is non-profit group Make it Right.
What Brad Pitt has set out to do is to raise funds and support to help provide the difference between displaced residents’ assets and the cost of rebuilding their home. He’s got amazing architects and planners on board and the plan is to rebuild a sustainable, green community that I hope will be a great model for other communities.
What really moves me about this story is the momentum that one or a few people can bring to a situation. Sure this BRAD PITT movie star, but he is also Brad concerned citizen. Look in your groups and communities and you’ll likely find that one person or group that is always there making a difference.
Yesterday I popped into one of my favorite sites Brewed Fresh Daily (a regionally focused blog) and saw a call out for folks to visit and support a locally owned book store coming on hard times. The poster highlighted books and items that one might want to purchase at an upcoming “Rent Party” for the store. That’s a community coming together and those are the actions that make us feel alive and a part of a community that needs and benefits from our care.
So are you a champion for your community?
We Have a Winner!
We received 56 entries for the Skimbaco $30 Gift Certificate giveaway! Many of you simply fell in love with Suri Cruise’s Lady Bug Shoes. But many others highlighted so many other great items sold by mom business owner, Katja Presnal, through her store Skimbaco.
I wish there was a prize for every entrant as I’m sure whether we have little ones or not there some little person one in our lives who would love one of Skimbaco’s unique and precious fashion items and accessories.
But there is only one winner and that winner is: “Tess”.
Tess said in her comments:
Having a daughter there are way too many cute things in her store. But I think the thing that has my daughter’s name written all over it is the Luv Bug Mary Jane’s . . . she is a luv bug and she loves pink!
Congratulations Tess! I’ll be sending you an email so that I can get your address and contact information. Then Katja will be sending you your $30 Gift Certificate!
Thank you again to all who entered – that was fun! I’ll have to do this again 
What Does Home Mean to You?
Can you imagine as a parent of two small children, living on a modest salary falling in love with a leaky old house that was infested with wildlife and had no functional plumbing or electricity? Probably not.
But if you’re the kind of person that is drawn to a home because of all the factors not related to the price of real estate but instead related to the people, history and experiences that define the community your home is in then you just might give this home a second look.
David Giffels is that person. After finishing college he didn’t join his friends and colleagues who picked up and left his home town of Akron, Ohio for greener pastures in larger cities and communities across the country. Instead he became a columnist for his local paper, the Akron Beacon Journal.
David began to deepen his understanding of his home town and in the process fell in love with it. Akron at one time was known as the Rubber Capital of the World. Firestone, Goodrich and Goodyear had their head offices in the city and during the early part of the 20th century the city thrived.
Being a rust belt city the Rubber Capital title crumbled as did the economy in the 1970′s and 80′s. David is one of those writers who covered the experience of change and decline that was so much a part of small town America during the last 15 to 20 years.
Given that new urbanism is a tender nod to the past, when I found David’s columns and publications a few years ago I was drawn in. Here’s a person of my generation who defines home in terms of people, memories and community.
A new urbanism champion if ever I saw one.
The New York Times did a feature on David’s experience in deciding to move his young family to a dilapidated old home 12 years ago. You’ve got to read it. Not only do you get a glimpse of the home through pictures, but you get to understand a little bit about David’s romantic but I argue very valid notion of a home and family life.
By the way the home he bought was a Gilded Age Mansion (owned by a rubber company executive). He got it for $65,000. He borrowed not one penny for the renovation. He had two toddlers as he embarked on the journey of fixing up this home while he continued as a small town writer and champion for his home town.
You’ve also got to read the book All the Way Home
The photo above is from the New York Times article about David’s book, photograhper Jeff Swensen.
Show #6 Eating Locally and Inspired Organization
Today’s show is really special because we’ve got great tips, a wonderful guest and a chance for listeners to win an iPod!! Read on…
Our weekly community update will discuss the environmental cost of NOT eating local and ways in which you can be more of an “eat local” advocate in your community.
The featured Mom for today’s show is popular mompreneur Alyssa Avant who’ll talk about her newest venture for women who need organization in their lives.
We’ll also feature our first podcast CONTEST courtesy of Moms Talk Radio. You’ll want to ensure you listen to today’s show so that you can hear and write down the Secret Phrase that you’ll need to win the Mom’s Talk Radio.com Contest “I didn’t get an iPod for Mother’s Day and I Really, Really Wanted One!” The lucky winner of this contest will receive a Pink 8 gig iPod Nano!
Related References for This Show:
If you’d like to access this podcast, please leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you. Due to space restrictions (it’s costly!) I’ve had to remove some of the older podcasts.
Listen to Win Your ipod
Did you not get the memo about Moms receiving ipods for Mother’s Day? Don’t worry I didn’t either and neither did my family!
Hope springs eternal…there’s a chance you might still get that ipod as a winner in the Mom’s Talk Radio “I didn’t Get an ipod and I Really Wanted One” contest.
As you know, the New Urban Mom Podcast is a proud member of the Mom’s Talk Radio network. This is a network of podcast programs geared to moms and those interested in these family/lifestyle topics.
If you’d like to win click here to listen to the New Urban Mom podcast containing the SECRET PHRASE…
Once you’ve got the phrase visit the Mom’s Talk Radio site to enter. Remember you have to listen to win. Every phrase you get from a Mom’s Talk Network podcast is another opportunity to win that iPod. Good luck!
I’m Also Here…
