Monday, April 16, 2007

A Little Self-Assessment


Now WHY didn't I listen to myself back in December when I posted this (or did I?):


What kind of work do I love to do?


  • Sheparding projects (programs, products) from inception to completion

  • Mentoring people and inspiring teams (Yes, I'm a "people person")

  • Organizing tasks (but only if they make sense to me, not "just because")

  • Working in the education arena, preferably with kids (from pre-school to high school... love 'em all!)

  • Writing/expressing, designing and creating

  • Work that does good and changes the world in some small, but real way

What am I indifferent about?

  • Budgets (though I have plenty of experience with them)

  • Technology (Yes, this is true... even though most of my products have been "high-tech," my inspiration has come from the content more than the format. I'm more "teachy" than techy and more people than programming-oriented)

  • Things. Put me with people, not with things!

What work would I refuse to do?

  • Work that forces me to go against my values and ideals

  • Work that includes large amounts of math (other than basic budgets and timelines)

  • Work with mean or persistently negative people

  • Illegal stuff

What do I excel at?

  • Communication -- via writing, dialoging, team-building, mentoring

  • Left-brained endeavors that are creative, subjective, and inspiring

  • Product design and development -- from curriculum design to media production to character development to peripheral development

  • Planning and carrying through

What am I mediocre at?

  • Mediocrity! (Once I start something, I almost always do it with full passion and commitment)

  • Paperwork and busywork (Mindless crap)

  • 8 - 5

  • I'd probably be a mediocre sales person -- unless it was for something I really believe in -- and then I'd ROCK!

What do I suck at?

  • Work that I see no purpose to

  • Isolation

  • Science, math and engineering

This is all still true, which is actually heartening. And if I were to go back to my job offer in December and how this position was presented to me (both verbally and in a written job description), I'd still accept it. It sounded just perfect -- working with non-profits to improve education, leading a team, making a difference. I knew there was very little creativity to the position, but I was able to reconcile that with the balance of mentoring a team in work that matters, which is something else I love. Unfortunately, there was no way to know back then that this job would include some things that I had said I wouldn't want to do. And ultimately, I think it's largely those things that led to this point.

So there's the positive take on this whole thing: I remain true to myself, to my ideals and to my goals. And I won't compromise them, no matter what. I am Carol, hear me roar...

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3 comments:

blackcrag said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
blackcrag said...

Once when I hurriedly left a job, my grandfather told me "Thank God you failed again!"

So, I'll pass the sentiment on; Thank God you failed again. Now you can get on with more pertinent things.

Goofball said...

Good to hear you roar!! I admire your attitude in this situation! I think I'd react differently.
Go Carol, grab the opportunities that result from all this. Good luck in the future!

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