Cheers To New Adventures

I sit on Alaska flight 637 headed to Seattle, departing from Phoenix. With anticipation in my veins and a hunger to learn, I’m embarking on my first work trip with my new job. Just a week into working! This would seem pretty minuscule if it hadn’t been for my journey leading up to this moment. But it has been magical for many reasons. Well, besides the fact that I forgot to check in my flight so I’m literally in the last seat possible, next to the three bathrooms where people keep bumping me with their butts as they try to discreetly exit the lavatories. But other than a few sassy flight attendants and some awkward airport people, things have been going smoothly. 

Let’s get to the magical part! I have some pretty ambitious goals for my career and personal achievements within the workforce. But if you would have told me 6 years ago, that I’d be where I am, on this flight, I would have been wide-eyed and terrified. When I decided to go to college I had a good idea that I wanted to get my degree in something creative and technology based. I love art and I love computers. Perfect, right?! Well, there was a degree that just opened at Arizona State University, it

was brand new and they only offered it online, they didn’t provide on campus classes. After looking into some of the courses I decided it aligned with where I saw myself in the future, plus I knew the digital world was growing and changing, so I felt like it was a great fit.

While I was finishing my degree, I entered into my first professional job, almost 6 years ago now! I worked Mon-Thurs and they started me at $8.00. Yeah baby, a full $8 bucks an hour. I was over the moon with an opportunity to gain experience while finishing my degree so I was cool with taking a clean $8. I ended up working at this small digital marketing company for a little over three years ending my hourly rate at $11.50.

My last 6 months at that company, I had gotten married, moved into our new apartment and felt a nudge in my spirit that it was time for my next endeavor. To be honest, it was in year two of working there that I started getting restless and sick of working in a really tough environment. From sexual harassment, being underpaid, and being more than micromanaged (if that’s a thing), it was tough to stick around. But I never felt like I wasn’t released from that job, until my last 6 months. It was a strong urge to leave and a desire to push myself to greater things.

The second company I applied for ended up being a winner! It was a lovely office in Downtown Phoenix with a cool culture and great people. I was ecstatic to join an agency and a team of young, intelligent digital marketers. I spent the next two and a half years learning more about paid and organic social advertising. I bumped my hourly rate to $15 bucks (or so) and felt like I hit the lottery. Well, compared to the position I had previously. Still not ideal, but it was better and I was grateful. I grew exponentially, I was challenged, and I had even more direction and clarity about the next steps I wanted to take in my career. Over the course of those two digital marketing job, there were times where I cried to my husband, about feeling underappreciated, underpaid and unsettled with where I was. But I knew that’s where I needed to be, I knew I needed those jobs, for my confidence, my experience and my personal growth in the corporate world.

But again, I was restless. I can’t truly describe the tug-of-war I experienced in my soul of feeling like I needed to be at that job but also knowing that a new door was going to open. I didn’t know what door, what opportunity, or what the heck all my feelings were about. So, I decided, until something else came along, I would keep my head down, work hard, stick in my lane, do the best I could, push myself and wait. And wait. And wait. Sometimes very frustrated and very impatient, but I waited! Although I couldn’t have imagined myself where I am right now, I was confident that I wouldn’t have to force myself into my next position and that it would open up, unexpectedly.

In my efforts to do my job well, I chatted with my dad about some of the things I was working on in my job and the desires I had to unite all of our departments more. My dad works in the direct mail and digital world as well, so he’s always been someone I bounce ideas off of. He asked if I wanted to chat with his company’s VP of Digital Marketing and I jumped on the opportunity to pick his brain. He lives in Seattle, so we set up a call to chat! It was a lovely conversation about social advertising, processes, and digital strategies. I got to ask and learn and gain knowledge from his incredible experience. My plan was to take all of my newly learned information and go back into my job and test out some of his suggestions and try to make our company a more fluid workspace. To bring new findings and create a more dynamic team. I know, lofty goals. 

By the end of our conversation, Bryan casually asked if I was looking to switch jobs or if I was interested in applying at their company. I was totally caught off guard, and I awkwardly stumbled over my words and I tried to explain that I wasn’t actively looking to switch jobs but that I was interested. He stated something that I will forever remember. He said, “We love to hire intelligent people like yourself.” Like MYSELF? What! I was totally taken aback. Especially for someone who struggles with confidence and feeling inadequate in just about everything I do. (Don’t worry folks, I’m working on it!) From our 45 min chat, he sparked a little flame in my spirit. Maybe this was the answer to my prayers, questions, and future career goals.

Since this is a forever long post already, I’ll spare you all the details. But basically, I went through a month-long interview process, between that chat with Bryan to my final interview. It was a pretty intense interview process and it challenged me to really express my knowledge and experience. Plus, I was asking for a $17,000 raise, and I was anxiously believing for this new opportunity to come together! I finally got an email to call one of the ladies from HR for a quick chat. I was expecting a bit more HR related questions, but instead, she kindly offered me the job. But not at a $17,000 raise but a $21,000 raise. They offered me $4,000 more than I had expected. Paying for all my health insurance and great 401K benefits, which I’m very passionate about. I’m posting all this personal information, not to gloat about my new job, but to merely highlight the goodness I’ve been able to experience through staying faithful with what’s right in front of me.  And even more, to highlight how God truly listened to my prayers and blessed me with, literally, more than I had asked or imagined.

After officially getting the job, signing papers and putting my resignation at my previous job, I was told that there were 250 applicants for the position I got. The most applicants they had received for any job opening, ever, at their company. So many that they ended up closing the job posting. They said I was in the top 3 based on education and job experience. This is still so crazy to me, guys! I still laugh at the thought that somehow, as I was flipping through paperwork back in 2008 trying to select a bachelor’s degree, that it would have led me to this very moment, years later. I’ll take a few butt bumps by the bathroom lavatory if it means it gets me closer to my career goals. I am barely scratching the surface of my dreams, but goodness, I never thought it’d feel this good. It’s been tiresome at times, and confusing, but I couldn’t have planned this better, through the questions, tears, accomplishments, and frustrations, I am one step closer baby!

Stay faithful. You are seen.

Work hard and keep grinding.

But at the end of the day, listen to the spirit inside you, it will guide you better than any plans you could conjure up.

And here is my final encouragement to you… Wait for the right moment to move on. Do your best to end things well, in your job, in your relationships or just in life situations. How you end one season is usually how you start a new one. Don’t burn bridges, give people respect and by all means, be kind. You never know how opportunities in the future will find their way back in your life, so be nice and laugh a lot!

Sheena West