Friday, August 21, 2009

Leaving, it's Like

You know when you have a great place to work and the work itself has its ups and downs but there's a crowd of reeeally good people who are reeeeally good at what they do and you get paid to do a job that basically you designed that gives you a lot of freedom and you mostly have a ball with it and you think you're set because who would ever leave a place like that?

You know?

And you know how then someone puts a bug in your ear about a different job in a different place because he knows how you like to shake up your work every few years but you really don't consider it because why-the-heck would you take a different job at a different place since you love where you are but then it turns out you know yourself well enough to think about it?

And you know how then you go back to ask more questions?

And you know how you decide to just let it all go but two months later the job still hasn't filled and you call out of curiosity and the guy is so glad you called because the applicant pool just doesn't have zing and he lays out all these cool things that trip your triggers and says it would be so great if you'd think about it and then suddenly while you're drinking your morning coffee two days later you realize the whole thing is right up your alley after all?

And then you know how when you announce to all these reeeeally great people in your reeeeally great place that you're leaving them and they all write you wonderful emails and they stop by to say how they gasped at the news but that they know you well enough to understand and you get all weepy because they're so encouraging and yet they hate to see you go and then you wonder what the hell you just did?

And you know how it makes you wonder if you really thought this thing through?

But then when you have a little space you know it's the right decision?

It's like that.


-OB the good-bye thing is waaay overrated

OK, so to be honest there was also this one thing that weighed into the decision

15 comments:

Trée said...

All the best OB.

Frostbike said...

Good luck, transitions are hard. Says the guy who is celebrating his 12th year at the present company on 9/2. Making the leap is harder.

The Old Bag said...

Similar job, same district (just down the road from my current place, actually), larger school, older students, two programs...

Been at my current school 10 years. On the positive side, I'll be working with an old boss and I'll still see coworkers around district happenings, current school is a feeder for this new one so I'll still connect with families I know... And, I'll know several staff at the new place from old assignments I've had.

The downside? I didn't quite get to see programming through to a complete conclusion at my current place, and staff relationships change when proximity changes...and that library was my baby -- went through a redesign the year I was transitioning in.

Mixed bag, fer sure!

Linda said...

I left a secure but stressful job after 10 years because someone offered me a job doing what I do best-dealing with people. Boy, that was really scary because the new place was a 2 person operation and had only been in business a few years. Glad to say now I've been there almost 3 years and we have really grown.

Was it nerve wracking to make the jump? HECK YEAH!

Best of luck to you in your new position!

jeff said...

Change is hard, and inevitable. Sometimes you just have to make the call.

Mike J said...

Change is hard but good. I'm sure you'll make the new job great too. Enjoy the adventure.

SiouxGeonz said...

So many assorted plusses and minuses! Main thing is doing it because it's right for you, not because of a more superficial or external stimulus (as in, to please somebody else ;)).
This isn't radical change anyway. Go for it with new energy :) Older humans are nifty. (I have this other educational blog, by the way, that will be getting more action this year, I HEREBY DECREE.)

Doozyanner said...

Wishing you a year of adventure with adolescents who really are adolescents!

Groover said...

Change is as good as a holiday, they say! :-) All the best!

Emma Pod said...

Hey Old Bag...congrats on the new job! I hope you like it. I know you'll enjoy tangling with those older students! Good byes suck, new places are tough but it won't take long to settle in. You'll be great!

Leslie Morgan said...

So THAT'S how it is, OB. I have walked in your shoes a time or 10. It takes a little while to stop questioning one's decision. I appreciate the obvious long, deep thought you put into it.

rlove2bike said...

In reading your writings, it sounds as though you thought this through well. Although we think you will make your own good luck... we also wish you Good luck.

Human Wrecking Ball said...

Man that must be a rewarding payoff for all the hard work. Congrats!
I am feeling sort of stuck in the current position. Good job, low stress, benefits and pay are okay, but I don't feel like I am using my skill set. I've been here eleven years. I really wish I had a "B" option.

Snakebite said...

So, is your bike commute longer or shorter???

shawnkielty said...

Hey Jeanne ... change is inevitable -- I hope this is a good change for you.