Lessons Learned from New Job, New You

Sometimes success hits you when you least expect it:  I worked on promotional tactics like the New Job, New You webinar and website for a good chunk of the last four months.  And while these did reasonably well, none of them compared to the incredible response I received from the Chicago launch event at Rockit Wrigley Bar & Grill on January 12^th.  The event was planned more or less at the last minute, but nevertheless we had 250 people register and a waiting list of 50.  More than 80% of registrants attended, and I received a flood of e-mails the next day telling me how much the event had helped them from a networking perspective.  The lesson?  You can try your best, but sometimes the stars are in alignment and sometimes they aren’t. 

Being tolerant helps you cope:  I always try to help my friends when they have new projects coming out, and a lot of my friends did the same for me with the release of New Job, New You.  They posted reviews on Amazon, came to my events, and publicized the book on their blogs and other online outlets.  In the past, though, I would have been upset with the friends who didn’t help.  This time, I decided to let it go.  Everyone has different priorities, and people will do what they’re going to do regardless of how I feel about it.  Since I’ve realized that negativity only hurts me, I am working toward tolerance, and I feel so much better!

It’s good to have something to aspire to:  New Job, New You has done reasonably well, but it’s a long way from being a bestseller – and that’s okay.  I look at my bestselling author friends Gretchen Rubin and Dan Pink and see them as role models who I hope I can eventually emulate.  I’m just 33 years old, and learning and growing and improving is all part of the process.  Being #1 is a tough burden to bear, because how do you stay there, and then where do you go?  I’m lucky to have several published books and a career that allows me to do what I love and spend a good amount of time with my family.  And that's the most important thing, right?

Comments

[DC Jobs]

Being a published author with multiple books to your credit by age 33 doesn't sound so bad!

[Alexia Vernon]

Right! It was refreshing to read your transparent analysis of your career, particularly at a moment when I've had some question marks come up about my own direction. While having a vision sustains the speaker/author/coach/trainer, it's vital to have it align with our vision for family. While my partner and I haven't started ours, I'm already looking at how to better maximize professional opportunities at home so I won't have to live on a plane and be a virtual mom. You make such a contribution through all that you do (and I'm only privy to the public aspects!). Thank you again for showing some of the seams for how you get it all done.

[Karl Staib - Work Happy Now]

We should have role models. I know that I used to be so stubborn that I thought I could pave my own path, but I was wrong. It really helps to have role models to help us understand more of ourselves. Mine are Seth Godin, Havi Brooks, and Chris Brogan.

I see how well they communicate and it motivates me to keep improving my own skills.

[Alexandra Levit]

@DC: Thanks for the reality check. I need and appreciate it!

@Alexia: This comment made my day. Thank you so much. I don't think balancing a career and family is ever easy, but it can be done. My goal is to just keep improving and chugging along one day at a time.

@Karl: These are great role models! I'm not too familiar with Havi's work, and you've inspired me to check it out. Thanks!