Values

What values are you looking for in a job?

When I was asked that question, I must admit I was slightly confused. Values... values... values... I kept thinking in my head. "Learning... growth... flexibility?" No, those aren't values, those are benefits. This took a bit more contemplation on my part. The question was posed by a career coach that I've been working with. Why would I need a career coach? Well, the obvious reason is to get out of the job I've been at for almost 8 years. But as we've progressed it's more than that, it's to gain focus.

So what are the values I want in a job?

4. Integrity

After working so long with lawyers (you know the old "Dewey Cheatem & Howe") I'd like to be in a career that I feel is honest and ethical.

3. Initiative

For so long my job has consisted of monotonous, repetitive tasks. I would like to work in something where I can take on responsibility and challenges.

2. Independence

As an assistant to others I can have my own way of getting things done but I always have to be "on call" for the attorney's immediate requests. I would like to be in a position where I can work independently but also be able to bring results to a team.

1. Achievement

My number 1 value is Achievement. As I said, I've been in a monotonous, unfulfilling job for so long, I want to be in a career where I am able to utilize my abilities and feel accomplished at the end of the day.

These values aren't just what I want in a career. I want to make them a part of my every day life. Since my graduation in Decemeber 2010, I feel like I have been complacent in my values as they pertain to my responsibilities to the earth. Most especially since I will be bequeathing our Earth to my baby girl I think I should make more of a concerted effort in how I live. Not only how I live but taking the initiative (one of my values) to take part in things I feel need to be changed. I recently came across a project called "The Story of Stuff Project" and it described exactly what I was looking for. Annie Leonard founded this non-profit in 2008 after she had created a 20-minute movie about stuff and our relationship to it. There is a big problem in our policy and our treadmill economy and I want to be a part of the change. So along with my career search, this will also be a big part of my next adventure. In fact, it may even be a part of my career focus direction... only time will tell. Come along with me as I take this journey!

Focus

Yes, I know I said I was going to do better on keeping up with my blog and here I am two weeks after my last blog. I had been doing so good! Well, no worries, I intend to get back on track. The last couple of months I have been trying to gain focus on where I want to go in my career life. I've been at my current job almost 8 years! That would be great for someone who wanted to be in law but I started my current job as a way to pay the bills and work through school. I've done both of those (still paying the bills though) and graduated almost 2 years ago and here I am, still in the same position. I am very grateful to have a job in this economy but I feel slightly selfish in saying... I want more. So I've been reevaluating my core values and what I want in a career. And well, let's face it, in life also because so much of our time is spent at our jobs I think it needs to be something worthwhile if you're spending time away from those you love most.

Through this introspection, as well as the professional help of the MBTI and Strong assessment, I've discovered that I have a need to find personal meaning in my work, I like to solve problems and I am committed to institutions and projects that reflect my values. And of all the areas listed in my assessment, I am drawn to the Life and Social Sciences category. What a co-inky-dink! My degree in Anthropology fits right in with that!

Now it is time for me to focus my broad goals into a well defined career and life goals. It seems like a daunting task... we shall see! But we always have to have a place to start and what better place to start then with my values.

Stay tuned...

1st trip to the mountains

This weekend was M’s first camping trip! I must clarify, not camping in the traditional sense with tent and cook stove bit with our trailer which can be hooked up to a power source. :) baby steps as the saying goes! It was a short trip as we headed up Saturday morning and left sunday mid morning but we had fun. And M did great! She took good naps, she slept mostly through the night. There was an hour from 2:00 am - 3 that she decided she was done sleeping but after a lot of rocking and patting, and eventually nursing her is what got her back to sleep. Then she just wanted to keep sleeping after that! It was the dog that had an issue when we wanted to nap with the baby and he kept pacing inside the trailer! I was hoping he wouldn't do that in the evening and he actually did better than the baby at that time! He even missed the coyotes tipping and howling! It was right after I had gotten M back to sleep and I thought for sure he was going to her them and start pacing and barking but thankfully, he didn't even move!

The weather was a beautiful mid 70s with an afternoon rain on Saturday to cool down. But in the direct sunlight we could still feel that heat!

I, being a diligent mom (overprotective some might say) made sure the little one's delicate skin was covered as much as possible and used baby safe sunscreen on the skin that wasn't. She had her always fashionable hat to top it all off. She doesn't look like it bothered her does she?! :)

So our first family camping trip was a success. I would eventually like to try tent camping with her, but I'll need to make sure we're fully prepared for that!