Changing Careers or Ignoring Reality

After getting laid off from Sun in February, I have had some time to think about what I want to do next. This trip into the “what can be” has been aided by the great folks at Right Management and my own desire to make a change. I’ve been slowly educating myself on green building and sustainable business practices both formally through CU and CSU and informally through mentorships and reading. And I am looking at an MBA program in sustainability at Marylhurst in Oregon.

There are times and it seems to coincide with how pleasant it is outside when I really feel like I have some knowledge and skills, which can be transferred into a new field. I feel confident that this new “green industry” is gaining momentum and there are opportunities out there.

And then there are other days, when it is slightly overcast and gray, when I wonder if I will ever get another job….even in the field in which I am most qualified – Web Marketing. I think about this “Great Recession” as it has been dubbed and wonder if I am out of my mind to think about anything other than rejoining the exact industry I left. But I firmly believe that this business as usual mindset is what has contributed to this economic downturn – evading regulations, glossing over safety requirements, wealth movement – have eroded our economic health and we’ve all been active or passive participants in this.

The big thing I need to learn is how to maintain and channel my optimism or idealism through the networking events, the resume rejections, or just the flat-out rejections even when it’s overcast. I don’t know how people cope with bad news on cloudy days.