A few weeks ago, an Internet friend reached out about a guest post. It was a story she had already written, and she wanted it to live somewhere outside her hard drive, outside her heart. For weeks, I’ve struggled with how to frame this story. How to present it. How to care for the incredibly … [Read more…]
What would it take for you to accept a pay cut? I’m asking for a friend. No, really. A reader sent me an email last week about a job situation she was facing. She also complemented me. OK, fine. She said she enjoyed my awkwardness. It’s. Still. A. Win. I immediately hit reply (after I … [Read more…]
Exactly one year ago, my maternity leave ended. In some ways, time has never moved faster. In other ways, I can’t believe how much things still feel the same. But for 365 days, I have had a full-time job in addition to being a mom. My son has spent more of the time that he is … [Read more…]
I logged onto Facebook. That was my first mistake. Every once in a while, I can’t resist the temptation to check in with far-flung relatives, so I log on. There were three messages waiting for me. I knew what they were without even clicking. Like death and taxes, there is another certainty, albeit much more … [Read more…]
I am about to close the door on a decade in the classroom. For ten years, I have been able to pursue my passion and do what I love. It isn’t ever easy, but it’s always been worthwhile. Here are ten things that I’ve learned after ten years in my career. 1. Pursue your passions. … [Read more…]
Y’all, I am frugal. I am FRUgal. But let’s tell the whole truth, mkay? If this sounds familiar, cool, that means I haven’t been totally wasting my time on Twitter. Last week, I wanted to send a little thought out into the universe. I never imagined it would gain the traction that it did. It … [Read more…]
Let’s do a little mental exercise this morning, shall we? How satisfied are you with your job when you’re at your job? I’m sorry, I should have told you to brace yourself. Or recruit a spotter. These might be heavy feelings. Now get a grip on them and translate those feelings into a single number … [Read more…]
Today, the best full-time job I’ve ever had is ending. Don’t get me wrong. I’m going back to a pretty fantastic one. But as I pull out of our driveway and say goodbye to my maternity leave, I can’t help but think about the sixteen-pound drooling baby bossman who made that job so wonderful. I’ve … [Read more…]
Teaching: it’s one of the most celebrated and most maligned professions around. Some days, we work too hard for far too little. Other days, we are glorified babysitters getting away with highway robbery. Whatever your opinions are on education, I’m not here to sway you. What I thought I’d do instead is give you a … [Read more…]
No, I don’t have a crystal ball or a super power. I have a salary schedule. In addition to revealing exactly how much money my coworkers make, a salary schedule also lets me predict the future in the sense that I know exactly when I’ll crack the six-figure salary mark. I imagine there are a … [Read more…]