Technology 101

Since I started this blog in December I've been overwhelmed by the amount of positive emails, texts, IMs, comments, etc I've received. Everyone has been so incredibly supportive and I couldn't be more appreciative of that. However, possibly to your surprise (or not), not all the feedback I've received has been all kittens and roses. I've gotten some negative responses too - all to do with the design/layout of Learning Leisure. "It's really ugly" "You need to change it" "I've already drawn up some new layouts for you" were among the most direct comments I received (all from my boyfriend). I can't pretend that I was offended though, his constructive criticisms were warmly welcomed - "make it pretty" were my exact words. Buuuuut we started watching The Tudors and 20 episodes later, we still haven't gotten around to it.
Last week, I was reminded of how awful my design skills are when my dear and lovely friend Adda messaged me. Adda is one of my "genius friends." "Genius friends" are the ones you would add to your phone-a-friend list if you were on a trivia game show. Hopefully, everyone out there has at least one in their life - if you're lucky like me, you have a few. As CEO of a company called Skillcrush, Adda definitely tops my list. Skillcrush is an amazing website that brings tech knowledge and harmony to those of us who run and hide when IT subjects arise. If you know me, then you know that I am likely the least tech-savy person in Brooklyn. I was shocked with myself when I started this blog but I figured I had enough techie people in my life to fix anything that I might break in this venture. Aside from a small mishap on my last blog post where an entire paragraph is a different font color then the rest, I think I've avoided fucking anything up too badly. Thank you Blogger for being (almost) idiot proof.

Skillcrush was created for technology tenderfoots such as myself. They offer services that will teach you everything you need to know about tech. But how? Through daily newsletters (sign up here), tech terms glossary, tech articles, on-line group classes and my favorite Ask Adda (advice column). Here's the kicker - it's not a snoozefest - the articles are relevant, the terms are explained in an easy to understand way and the site is beautifully hip. Seriously, just go check out the site because they do a way better job than I can of explaining what they do.
Adda messaged me on Facebook last week to say that she read my blog. Then she gently suggested that I take Skillcrush 101: How to Create Your Own Website, a class designed to teach students HTML, CSS and Web Hosting. Though I could just have John do it for me (as I originally intended) learning how to do it myself sounds way more interesting and at the very least it's a new skill to add to my resume. I enthusiastically signed up. Here's how the class will work - every weekday morning I will receive an email containing a new lesson, each lesson is scheduled to take me no more than 45 minutes. I can do the lessons as they come in each day or I can save them all for the weekend. There are office hours where I can communicate directly with my instructors and a Google Group where I can communicate with my classmates to share progress, discuss lessons, etc. At the end of the two week course Skillcrush promises I will be the proud owner of one beautiful website. I received my first lesson this morning and can't wait to get started. I'll keep y'all updated as I go! Wish me luck!

What now?

This past Saturday was my last day of work as Director of Operations at Woodley & Bunny. After nearly 3 years of what has certainly been my most challenging job so far, I decided it was time to move on. Normally for me, a change of this magnitude would have been executed with a well thought out, calculated plan of what now - my next job lined up, how long it would take me to get promoted and a financial plan in place - but that was not the case this time around. My resignation was decided on a whim. Though I had toyed around with the idea for months - after realizing I hadn't taken a vacation or even had a single weekend that I hadn't worked through since I started my job - I was so attached to what I did, I never thought I'd leave. And then, one magical morning, I rolled out of bed with just the right amount of aplomb needed to march into Jenny's room, wake her up and confidently declare "I'm quitting my job today...so can you braid my hair?" With my braid (but little else) in place, I went to work that day and handed in my resignation.

In true fashion, I had interviews scheduled right away and even a job offer with a salary comparable to a bench rookie NHL player's to manage a life insurance company. It seemed like an easy decision but even to my own shock, I declined the offer. I quit my job because I was looking for something more fulfilling, more collaborative, more creative - there was no way my efforts toward a more emotionally fulfilling career was going to lead me to manage a life insurance company (despite the 6 figure offer).

After turning down the job, I had some major "what the fuck am I going to do" moments. After sending a hysterical (and menstrual fueled) text to John last week that went something like this regarding my future, he got home with a hobo pack in tow (ignoring the fact that I was curled up on the Lazy Boy, watching Law and Order : SVU, feeling sorry for myself). He leaned over, gave me a kiss and handed me the hobo pack - it contained a mug filled with some coins, a harmonica and an apple all bundled inside a handkerchief and tied to a tree branch. He said it was the starter pack to my next career. It made me realize, I can do anything.

After much deliberation (some solid time with a Magic 8 Ball and taking a few cues from the planets and stars), I decided that I'm going to be unemployed for a while but not in the lazy, Netflix is my best friend sort of way. I'm taking a break from being the boss that I've spent the last three years striving to be and I'm going to focus on collaborating with people, learning new things and attempting to be a better person in general. I'm hoping for part time gigs, support groups, hobbies, volunteering efforts, unpaid internships, exercise groups, self-help books and maybe even a hands-on apprenticeship. I'm taking off the bossy pants, putting the thinking cap on and I'm going to do what all unemployed people do - blog about it.