You Are Only As Old As Someone Else Thinks You Are

It's not often that we get to see ourselves from someone else's perspective.  When those rare instances occur, they happen in a flash, they either bolster our self-confidence or fill us with self-doubt. 

With my career, I find myself at the tipping point of the communications industry. I'm a child of print journalism, but I'm very aware that I need to grow up if I want to play with others in the Digital Age. Trying to cross that bridge is proving tougher than I realized.

My six-month temporary position as the managing editor at a publishing company ends next week. Having worked with the company off and on for many years, I have a solid reputation for being a leader, a problem solver and an effective project manager with mad editorial skills. Over the past few weeks, I've been talking with people in the company about possible ways to extend my employment. I really want to dig into the digital side of the business, and I interviewed for a position as a web editor. I didn't get it.

And while I'm sure there were other reasons why I wasn't selected ( their full-time vs. my part-time), I think the feedback that stuck with me the most was, "We're looking for someone who has lived in the Internet world." OUCH. That's employer code for, "She's a dinosaur in the Digital Age."

I do have some digital experience in my portfolio, but not enough yet to sell myself as a guru. I know that if given the opportunity, I can get to 4G speed in no time. But getting an employer to look past the extensive print experience I have, not to mention the dark circles and wrinkles, is going to take some work. And it's work I'm willing to do.

Did I let the comment fill me with self-doubt? Most certainly! And obviously, I haven't let it go completely because I'm writing about it here. But I also see this as an opportunity to turn my Ideal Reality into my Real Reality.

I'm got a few ideas up my sleeve, and I'm excited about creating some learning opportunities. They are going to hear this dinosaur ROAR!

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real.

 

Photo Credit: The Whole Cake and Caboodle ( lisa ) via photopin cc

Can Money Buy Happiness? It Depends on Your Perspective

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Currently, I'm reading All the Money in the World: What the Happiest People Know About Getting and Spending by Laura Vanderkam. This the second book I've read by Vanderkam. I blogged about 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think. You can read that post here.

I enjoy reading Vanderkam's books because even if I don't agree with everything she writes, she makes me think and serves up a fresh platter of perspective.

All the Money takes so much of what I've read, heard or experienced about making and spending money and twists it topsy-turvy. Vanderkam confronts the popular "frugality approach" to saving (cut out all non-essentials, eat rat-lip bologna for every meal and cut coupons like a crazy person) head on, boldly suggesting (and proving with data) that in the grand scheme of fiscal responsibility, penny-pinching in the small areas really doesn't make that big of an impact to the bank account, but it can certainly drain the happiness account.

Instead of asking the traditional question, "How can I save more?" Vanderkam looks at money through the lens of "How could I make more?" She also encourages readers to step back and shine a new light on their financial choices (past, present and future)  As with 168 Hours, Vanderkam's book is well-researched and peppered with anecdotes of people and families who altered their perspective of money with some amazing results.

I'm already thinking of ways I can pull down some green while doing activities that interest me.  The book isn't an easy read, but it's not rocket science, either. And while I skipped or skimmed the sections and chapters that were irrelevant to me, the book is thought-provoking, intelligent and useful. Check it out! And I mean that both literally and figuratively (I borrowed my copy from the local library - frugality at its finest!). Cha-Ching!

Wherever you are, whatever you're doing ... Keep It Real.