Feb 10 2008
And the best part is…no more workshops!
Continuing with my day at court…
The judge asks me, “What is the nature of your hardship?”
I’d heard one man tell her that he had multiple sclerosis. One woman was 8 months pregnant. One guy had tickets to Singapore.
I was a bit nervous - would the judge think that I would endure hardship serving on her case…or would I be merely inconvenienced in her eyes?
I had sworn under oath to tell the truth. I reminded myself that the judge had been sympathetic, fair and firm. My voice cracks a bit.
“I’ve been unemployed since early December,” I begin.
“But I found another job! But it starts next Monday, February 11th and I’d really like to start work. My future employer knows about the jury duty but since I’m not working for them yet, well, I won’t be paid for going to jury duty.”
The judge looks at me. I feel like I’m about 10 years old. I’ve told my story and it’s the truth.
She says, “Return to the jury assembly room to see if you can get on another panel, perhaps serve on a shorter trial.”
I say, “Thank you!”
I return to the jury assembly room. The young Chinese woman who started the video earlier is now behind the counter. I tell her that I’m back to see if I can serve on another jury.
She takes my summons and scans the barcode into the computer. She types, she moves the mouse around.
With a small smile she says, “No more jurors are needed for the morning trials. You can either take your certificate stating you have completed your jury duty for the year or you can wait until 2pm to see if you can serve on an afternoon trial.”
I look at her. I ask, “Is that a trick question?”
She is busy looking at the monitor with that small smile and now I’m smiling as well. She says, “Some people want to serve so they wait.”
I tell her, “I’ll take the certificate.”
She says, “OK” and hands me a slip of paper.
YIPPEEEE!!!
I have done my jury duty for the year and I am available to work on Monday!!!
YES!! I have a job! I will be starting on Monday!!
YIPPEEEE!!
How did I find my job?
Well, it wasn’t all the workshops. I found my job with good old-fashioned networking and karma.
I hadn’t even intentionally networked to find my job. A friend and former coworker had heard it through the grapevine that I had been laid off. He told his manager who was also a former coworker. His manager tells him to request my resume. I send in my resume and there’s a bit of back and forth. I finally have panel interviews with the team leads and I liked them all just as I expected to. And they liked me!
Now, here’s where the karma comes in. I believe that if you do a job well and you treat people with respect, life will reward you. I also believe in being sincere and not using people. I never try to network for networking’s sake. I do business with people I like. I stay in touch with people because I like them, not for what they can do for me. No one likes being used or being called just when someone needs something from them.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have gotten this job. When I was asked for my resume I knew that if all went well, I’d be working with a great set of people because that’s the type of team my friend’s manager would create. Everyone I have met has lived up to my expectation that they would be…just great.
I am very excited about my new job! Great people, a new challenge, no traveling (time to find a boyfriend!) and of course….
No more workshops!
Life is great and it just keeps getting better.
Thank you all for your supportive comments while I was unemployed. I really appreciate your kind wishes and thoughts. You’ve all been so terrific to me! If you were here, there’d be a whole lotta hugging going on. And for those who are inclined…the wine, it would be a-flowing! Cheers!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WOOOOOOOOOO!
YEEEEE hAAAAA!
Congratulations!
I had a sneaking suspicion it was something like this!!!
YAY! *dances in joy for you*!
Congrats! And that is a great networking policy. That is also how I got my present job, by building a friendship, and when the opening came up, I was ushered in. I’m still friends with the guy, who is now one of my bosses! Awesome!
I am sooooo happy for you! Those are the best jobs to get - and I so agree with you - I hate those “networkers” who want to only know me when they need something. Of course, there was never any doubt that you would get another position - it was all in the timing. You deserve all the good karma you get. I will toast you this evening - it is only 6:30 in the morning, so it is a little early…..
Christine: Yeee-haaaaaa right back! You would be someone who’d say YEEEEeeee-Haaaaa!
I can just imagine you saying that, too!
Thanks!
Sue: Hehehehe!!! I can picture you dancing and doing that “heeheehee” behind your hand.
Isn’t it great to find a job from a friend? My prior job was found through, “Hey, why don’t you interview with my company?” as well.
It’s also great to be able to find someone a job if you can. Work is so CORE that the couple of times I was able to find someone a job - it felt like I really had an affect on their life.
Beth: I had great timing with this and I did a LOT of affirmations as well, “I have a great job…working with wonderful people…”
I know you and Christine and Sue are all happy for me. It’s great to have such support! There is a lot of love out there!
I also had to work a bit on the “I deserve a great job…” I had a lot of people try to find me work and want to help me, too. My last client surprised me with not only a referral (I liked his company) but a recommendation! I sent him a handwritten card with the good news of my finding work.
I try to be congruent with all that I do. I never want to take a job with people I don’t respect. I hope that I’m never in the position that I might have to consider working for someone I don’t like or who gives me bad vibes. Best to just keep looking!
PS: good luck with your job search!
The judgement was in your favor. Good she let you go and do your thing. I like the pic with the arrows. It’s ‘LOL’ funny.
It’s YOUR YEAR Ms. Q!
I’m so happy to hear that you’ve found employment.
Positive thinking, (unintentional) networking, and Karma: Perfect combination for life long success.
Well a big hug to you, my dear, for landing this job. I am so very happy for you a wish you the best in your new gig.
OH! That’s TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I’m sure congratulations are in order. It seemed like you got through it all fairly well, all things told. Do you think that you learned a lot during this time?
UT: I’m glad you liked the jury box photo. Sometimes I do those photos for pure self-amusement and I only hope other’s find it hilarious.
When you laugh and no one hears you, are you still happy??
I DO feel it is my year!! 2008 feels like a “setup” year - I’m laying the foundation for all that will follow. It’s a very exciting feeling. Have you ever had that type of year? Interestingly, my horoscope for January 2008 said something along these lines - that this year is like one of the 7 special years we have in a lifetime. I read my horoscope for amusement and reading this year’s prediction was interesting that it followed what I believed.
Then again, we get what we expect, right?
Ricardo: I accept the hug and raise ya two!
Jill: Thanks!!!
Derek: I learned to keep being positive. I kept saying affirmations and whenever I’d get that “Oh! I am unemployed! I don’t have any money coming in..” I’d say to myself, “I have a wonderful job, working with fantastic people…”
Being negative doesn’t help. I really had to stay focused. It worked pretty well - I was happy most of the time! I had my “eeeee!” moments but I would immediately affirm. I am trying to do the same with the boyfriend … with limited success! Meaning, I affirm and believe I have a wonderful relationship and I do get this flurry of interest or I meet potential boyfriends and then I have some negative thought and poof!
Well…there is something in me that isn’t ready.
I have to admit, though, I have a hard time with the affirmations. I try, but I just feel like I am bullshitting myself.
Is that part of it? Are we supposed to do it even though it feels like bullshit? Or are we supposed to do it and it feels true and it comes true?
I don’t know. Can’t tell. Feel like maybe I am affirming the wrong stuff.
Have a fantastic first day at work, though.
Congratulations from Ohio (the most sincere of all the states).
Yes, I’m happy when no one hears me laugh. LOL… Interesting question. I know some folk who cannot say the same.
I believe I’m experiencing the “setup” year. This time around though it started five months into last year and should conclude in a few months, instead of the regular calendar year.
Christine: From what I’ve seen amongst my friends, affirmations don’t work for everyone. I think part of affirmations is having a bit of faith as well as discipline to keep doing them. By faith I mean you have to have some belief that they will work or suspend your disbelief.
I tried affirmations a looong time ago and didn’t put much effort into it and well, they didn’t work. THIS time I consciously did them whenever I had a free moment and I made an effort to do them first thing in the morning and before I went to bed.
This time around I also thought about erasing my self-critical messages with validating and loving ones. That’s how I got over the “This is stupid” feeling - that I have all these invalidating messages like, “I didn’t nail that the VERY FIRST TIME I tried that..” when who can be the best or do a great job on the first try? Sheesh!
In addition to the constant “I love myself, I deserve the best..” messages I sometimes say I love myself with feeling and give myself a mental hug and try to relax into the feeling.
What I’ve read about affirmations and manifesting your desires, you should always try to move towards a more positive emotion and if you desires something, imagine having it and yes, feeling as if you have it and expect to get what you desire.
Thanks for the well wishes! My first day was a blur and whew! But everyone has been great at work.
delmer: Thank you! And I believe you about Ohio! Younger Dude is from Dayton and I know a few others from Ohio so I have good feelings for Ohio!
UT: I kinda thought you might be experiencing a setup year! Things have been happening for you in a good way.