Then I began thinking about a conversation I had earlier that day with my new boss. She and I had agreed that we liked to jump in and tackle an assignment and get it done sooner rather than later. I realized that I had not always been like that. I used to thrive under the pressure of a deadline (still do), but now I prefer to just get the work done and out of the way. What changed? I believe it was becoming a mother that changed me.

Now I realize the power of NOW. I must jump at opportunities when they present themselves. If my daughter wants to get dressed I had better go do it right that second because she may not want to in 5 or even 2 minutes and then I’d have a fight on my hands. And don’t even get me started on potty training and jumping up at a moment’s notice. I also no longer complain about tasks that are unappealing, but instead I realize they must be done and just do them, again, right away so as to get them out of the way.

I have developed a much greater sense of patience too. Putting my daughter to bed can take a very long time some nights. My will power and self restraint has improved greatly too. Watching my daughter feed herself and not take the spoon away because I could do it better and much faster takes Titan like will power and self control.

And without even knowing it, because they have become second nature, I am using these skills in all aspects of my life. Am I a better employee now than I was 3 or 4 years ago?

Assuredly, Yes.

Is it due to additional years of experience or because I am a mother now? I’m not completely sure. But I do know that even if it is due to work experience, motherhood has sped the learning curve.

I am so excited about this job. So far every aspect seems perfectly suited to me. I truly believe that the self-discovery I did earlier in the year helped me in finding a job that is such a great fit.

If you have the time, even if you are employed, I highly recommend it.

And now that I am employed, will my blogging slow down? At this rate I don’t think I could possibly post less without  stopping altogether, and that is not going to happen.

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 After all, having a positive attitude goes a long way, right?

Things are beginning to look up. I’ve had several good “bites” and eventually one of them will have to turn into something. The key is to find something I’m good at, and I will enjoy. I’ve had jobs I enjoyed but they were not a good fit, and I’ve had jobs that were good fits but I did not enjoy. So how do I ensure I get both in my next job?

I believe the key is through self-discovery. I have been doing a series exercises to learn more about myself and what is important to me. I can’t say I’ve learned anything that I didn’t know before, but I was able to frame my self-knowledge in a new way, look at my traits and skills through a new window.

This entailed narrowing down what my top interest are, which, when forced to choose, came as a surprise. Plus, actually writing down my ideal working conditions and types of people I enjoy working with. I think the most challenging part was narrowing down my values to the top three. If you want to do these exercises pick up a copy of What Color is Your Parachute by Dick Bolles.  The 2010 edition is particularly useful.

And on a completely different front, I know that given an entire year, I’m pretty sure I can get my daughter potty trained. So those are my two goals, find a job and get my daughter out of pull ups.

Don’t get me wrong, I plan on sticking it out and seeing if I can work my way up. I learn fast and if I apply myself I am sure I can make it. But I plan on sticking it out at only one of the two. Coordinating work schedules for both and trying to fit in a job search and interviews has been less than ideal. How do I choose between the two retail jobs I’m trying on for size? Which fits better comes down to working environment, people, and benefits.

One of the jobs has a lot better employee resources, like a formal training process, direct deposit, and benefits for part-time associates. However, this job also has a much more stressful work environment. I know each job has certain requirements, but I feel much more pressure to meet each standard perfectly at this job. And the dress code is very strict. The store manager at this job is very dedicated, and I admire her work ethic, however she is a little over the top for me.

The other job is much more laid back with less pressure. They have a dress code, but it has a lot more options. The cash register is much easier to understand as well. While I didn’t get training that was as formal and in depth as the other job, I still feel well-equipped. I definitely feel more a part of the team at this job despite only working there a few weeks. I think what makes this job the one I want to keep is really the manager. She has high expectations just like the manager at the other job, but she doesn’t make you feel like you will be a failure if you don’t meet them right away.

I have learned that as the leader goes, so goes the team. I firmly believe it as I have seen it played out over and over again in my career. I worked for a small business that was barely scrapping by because the leadership from one of the owners was not up to par. I have seen entire teams turn around and become successful when a new manager was put into place, and unfortunately I have seen the opposite too. So I have come to the decision that I will be staying at The Children’s Place and that is in great part because of the management team there.

I’m not sure which irritates me more, the listings that are so completely off in left field, or the ones for entry level “no training needed” type jobs. I actually applied to one of those many years ago when I was first starting out. It turned out to be door-to-door sales on the B2B side. The company wanted you to go out to businesses and try to sell them a new phone system. I’m sure that is a wonderful job for some people, just not me. And I certainly don’t want to do that at this level in my career. Although in a couple months I may be singing another tune.

I just wish I could get better qualified job leads delivered to my email. No commission only sales jobs, no insurance “run your own business” jobs, no entry-level sales jobs disguised as marketing jobs. And I do realize that finding jobs via online job boards is reportedly not the best way to find a higher level job. But do you think that may be because the job boards are inundated with all these obtuse listings?