That’s right, I’ve sent in my resignation letter. The reason is not to become a full-time writer, but it’s almost as good – I finally got a chance to take a major step up in my career. I will be moving to a different organization to lead a team of twenty people – a whole new level of responsibility, new challenges, and hopefully a whole new chapter of my career.
This couldn’t have come at a better time. Just to think, five weeks ago I was crying myself to sleep, getting ready to have two surgeries just to rule out cancer. It was about that time that in an attempt to distract myself, I’d checked Seek to see if any exciting new jobs were advertised. There was one. A perfect job, in fact. Damn bad timing, wasn’t it? I looked at it again the next day. Two or three times. Damn.
I didn’t have the time or mental power to apply, as those kinds of jobs usually require a multi-page statement addressing key selection criteria. This one was through an executive search agency, so they only asked for a resume and a cover letter. I finally sent in the application, just to stop myself from looking at the job advertisement and obsessively Google-stalking the organization.
Imagine my shock when I got the phone call from the agency on the day between the two surgeries. I was high as a kite on opiates and did my best to sound sober as the agent explained that they would like me to come in for the interview the following week. I explained that I was about to have major surgery and asked for a Skype meeting instead. To my surprise, they agreed. Somehow, I managed the next week in the hospital, came home just in time and spoke with the agent for half an hour over Skype. I could not even sit upright, instead wedged in the corner of the couch, with pillows under knees and elbows, afraid to move. I honestly did not think I had a chance – I had a hard time concentrating even to read a book. I even put my new reading glasses on in an attempt to look more distinguished. Pathetic, I know. The agent was lovely and I enjoyed the chat and the corresponding shot of adrenaline. She hung up, I took off my glasses and went back to watching the endless renovation shows.
Imagine my shock when I got the next phone call – this time I was asked to come into the city for an interview with the panel, including my future boss and a couple of other high-flyers. “Sure,” I said. “I can make it happen.” I had no idea how I would make it happen, as I could not yet walk straight and none of my clothes fit because my abdomen was still swollen. I finally figured out a presentable outfit made of a stretchy dress and a wrap jacket. I took a bunch of pills and forced myself to stand up straight. Straight enough at least. You really can’t tell if you strike a pose:
I took a taxi to the city and felt every freaking speedbump and pavement crack with my whole body. It took me ten minutes to compose myself in the lobby and then wobble up the hallway, trying to look cool and nonplussed as I was shown to a chair. I smiled and tried to hide how much effort it was to get into that chair. Funny enough, once I started talking, I felt no pain whatsoever, adrenaline working just as good as tramadol did. I remembered the pain only when I went to stand up at the end of the interview. I barely made it out of the office before I popped a tramadol stashed away in my purse.
Life didn’t stop surprising me there. There was another interview, then the ugly task of asking my manager for a reference, then an even uglier task of quitting the job I’ve loved for four years. It’s all done now, and I can finally relax. I don’t know if it’s the normal healing process or a wave of happiness, but I have had almost no pain today, and a whole week of sick leave left to go.
It has not sunk in yet, that this crazy stunt has paid off. Maybe a little crazy is just what I needed. One thing is for sure, I’m about to have a time of my life with the rescheduled honeymoon in Bali, followed by the new job. There will also be a wedding, although that has not been rescheduled yet. It will be one hell of a firework ending to the crazy year.
A crazy stunt. Maybe that’s what I need to take the writing career off the ground, too. I’ll keep you posted.
Ana Spoke, author 
Wow! What a step! Best of luck to you, Ana!
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Thank you, Dave! Big step…big challenges, too. Can’t wait.
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Looking forward to your account of it on the blog! 🙂
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Ana, this is amazing. I am so happy for you findin a job you look, and you know what? On the photo you took of your interview day, you looked fantastic.
I’ve been reading bits and pieces of your blog posts for a time (I get an email every time you post) and I wanted to comment on this one and say congratulations. You were incredibly strong to get yourself to the interviews and I’m glad your future employer saw the potential in you and decided to give you a chance. I wish you all the luck and happiness in the world. How about your surgery? Are you getting better? I hope you’re not in any life-threatening danger.
Poppy
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Thank you so much, Poppy, and thank you for sending this message, it means a lot. I’m incredibly thankful to this employer for looking past my temporary troubles and seeing what I can do long-term. I’m feeling incredibly better, healing well, although I’m still very much behind my normal physical fitness. Now I have a new fitness goal, too 🙂
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Congrats on the new job, Ana. Have fun on the honeymoon and good luck with your new endeavor!
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Thank you, Bryan!
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Cheers to you!
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Thank you, Annette!
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Awesome! Congratulations!
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Thank you!
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Congratulations on the new job. May this be the boos you need to take your writing career forward as well.
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Thank you, Ann! I have not written much while on sick leave, as I hoped, but it had a lot to do with feeling handicapped. Now that I can move and sneeze like an average person, there’s no stopping me!
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Congratulations! Wonderful and inspirational.
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Thank you so much, Eva!
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Massive Congratulations
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
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Thank you so much, David 🙂 xx
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Congratulations and good luck!
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Thank you!
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Congratulations and good luck with the new job. 🙂
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Thank you, Drew!
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Congratulations and all the best. It is amazing how these things work out!!
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Thank you, Darlene! They do if you keep working, trying, and trying again. I think this is my life lesson and it looks like I’m learning it 🙂
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That’s the key, never give up!!
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Wow! Hope the healing process continues to move forward smoothly, and all the best to you on your new position!
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Thank you! The healing really seems to have sped up in the last few days, and I can’t help to think it’s because I’m happy and distracted (I was given a new puppy, too!) just good to know that good things happen eventually if you work and persist long enough.
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Fabulous! You are one amazing young woman! Congratulations, and best wishes with everything: your health, your wedding, your writing and your new job. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving person. Writers rock! Awesome!
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Thank you so much, James, especially for calling me young 🙂
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Incredible! I so admire your nerve and determination!! Congrats to you on this wonderful new job! (I was reminded a little bit of the time I went for an interview even though I had the flu, with a temp of 104 deg. I sweated through that one! Silly me, I should have postponed, but I thought they’d see it as a sign of weakness. I didn’t get the job; no wonder, I was barely coherent – not to mention not particularly able to do a job which was really too high-level for me.) But you are amazing!!! All the best, Ana!! xox
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Thank you, Ellie. 104 degrees! You should’ve been in the hospital with that! Good on you for trying, and hey – that one was. It meant to be. I didn’t mention that I actually applied for two amazing jobs. The other one was at the same level, in a similar organisation, and I didn’t even get an interview. So go figure 🙂 this one was meant to be.
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Yes! So happy for you.
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Great move!! In reading the back stories of well-known or even semi-well-known writers, very few “made it” by quitting their job to write full-time. In fact, most of them had successful careers and made efforts to do their best at their day job. I’m a big believer in grabbing the opportunities in front of you and letting the rest fall into place as life wills.
Congratulations!!
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Thank you! Even Stephen King had a job in the laundry. I can’t imagine the pressure of not having income, this way I also have money to spend on editing and ads. I love reading back stories too, especially if the author succeeded due to hard work. The lottery win-type success stories don’t touch me at all.
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woo hoo – congrats!
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Thank you!
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Glad to hear things are working out for you, Ana.
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Thank you, Jenny. I keep working and they eventually work out 🙂
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Incredible story (book?)! Best to you, Ana, and a prayer for your recovery.
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Thank you, Amanda! Buts like this do make it into my stories. One day I need to write the book about how I ran away from my abusive ex-husband in the US, now that was a thriller.
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That’s a tough one. I will never write about my ex experience unless I fictionalize it. Not sure I want to.
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You can also, um, fictionalise your name? Everyone’s doing it 😉 gives you more freedom to express.
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Congrats Ana! My wife has been applying for jobs for what seems like forever. It’s been pretty discouraging so far, though now we’ve finally been seeing some organizations showing more interest than before. One place would be right near where I grew up as a kid, which is also the same area we got married, so we’re crossing our fingers for that one. But every time we get farther, our hopes get higher, and then when she doesn’t get the jobs she’s been in the running for it just shatters her confidence. Good to hear it’s working out for you! I’m sure that is such an awesome feeling.
I also hope that in time you are able to quit this job if you want to write full-time! haha. Peace
Timothy G. Huguenin tghuguenin.com
>
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Thank you, Timothy, and good luck to your wife. Good jobs are hard to get, and the better and more desirable, the harder. When I tried to move from being a technical specialist to having a small team, it took me 2.5 years, 20+ applications, 8 interviews and one temporary secondment. Things never seem to fall into my lap, but that just taught me to persist even harder. You never know who else is applying, so she should just continue. One thing that I did was videotape myself doing fake interviews, and I’ve learned a lot about how I come across. For example, I looked shifty-eyed, because I tend to look to the side when I think. I consciously avoid doing that now. Also, I have been volunteering to present at conferences over the last two years and that has helped make me look like a pro. Best of luck, and I’d love to hear when she lands that dream job.
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Congrats to you, Ana!
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Thank you!
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CONGRATS!!!!💃🏻🎉💃🏻🎉💃🏻🎉
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Thank you!
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Congratulations! All the very best with the new job and I wish you good health too.
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Thank you, Kimberly! Feeling better already 🙂
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Congratulations! You look amazing for just having surgery! Rest up, we look forward to hearing all about this new adventure of yours!
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Thank you, Patty! That pic was 2 weeks and 3 days after surgery. I’m keeping it as a reminder in case I have to go through something traumatic again – everything gets better eventually. Can’t wait to start the new job!
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Yes it does!
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Congratulations to you. I quit my job in April worked my three months notice and left in July. I had my new job for five weeks and it wasn’t for me so I’m now full time self employed and I’m loving it. Sometimes a change of pace and a change of life is just what you need and I hope it works out brilliantly for you!
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Thank you, and congratulations on being full time self employed! That’s still my dream.
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Congratulations on the new job! Its is great to hear that your roller coaster of a year is once again back on the up-swing.
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Thank you, Allie! I was hoping for an upswing, it had to happen to balance things out. Still can’t believe it, though 🙂
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Everything happens for a reason and only in his time, not ours. This was meant to be and at this particular time. You got this my Angel! You go and enjoy Bali and your new job is going to be awesome!!! Congrats doll!!
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Thank you so much 🙂 yes, I’ve tried for over a year to get a job like this, and only came to the interview stage once. Feel incredibly grateful for this opportunity.
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Hooray! That’s amazing. Congratulations and good luck 🙂
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Thank you, Claire!
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Great news! Congratulations!
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Thank you, Olga!
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Great post. Congratulations on all that has unfolded.
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Thank you, Gregory. That was a trip 🙂
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
Amazing timing!
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Thank you so much for sharing!
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Hey Ana! Congrats girl! You rock!! I always say that! 😄
I have always been in love with your personality as the creator of Isabella. Your writing and your loving spirit impresses me. But today as I read this whole post, I have to say this, I am awestruck. I am amazed dear.
May the Lord help you recover soon and keep you healthy and safe. Stay happy and blessed dear. Lots of love and best wishes!!
And congratulations again! Lots of love!! 😘
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You do always say the nicest things, thank you, Syeda 🙂 I am feeling amazing today, have not taken a single pain pill yet. Thanks again for all your support and for letting me know when my posts add something to your day. Xx
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Always great to read your words and know more about you! 😄
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Best wishes on your new job.
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Thank you, John. It will be a big adjustment, for sure.
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Yes. Always is.:-) But worth it.
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Congratulations! Your perseverance is an inspiration!
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Thank you so much, Michael. One of the questions in the interview was “describe yourself in one word.” Mine was “persistent” 🙂
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Congrats! :]
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Thank you 🙂
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Congratulations! I hope you love your new job! And I hope you heal well and fast.
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Thank you! Woke up this morning and no pain again! Amazing, healing by good news. Very hopeful for the new job, they are so excited to have me!
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Congratulations! Wishing you success in your new role.
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Thank you so much, Matt 🙂
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Wow! Thanks for sharing in such a readable way. Roll on wedding! All the best!
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Thank you, Felicity!
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Inspirational. And hella beautiful xx
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You’re the best 🙂
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Congratulations, what a lesson in mind over matter!
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Thank you, Nicola! Completely unexpected, I’ve been trying hard to land a job like this for over a year, and no cigar. Can’t believe it happened like this.
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Wow! That sounds awesome! Best of luck to you!!
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Thank you, Tamara! I’m still punching myself 🙂
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Kudos, bravo, way to go! 😀 🙂 😉
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Thank you!!!
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Congrats!!!
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Thank you!
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God bless you and your indomitable spirit, Ana. I don’t know how you handle it all, but I don’t doubt you can. Many wishes for a healthy and happy future. You’re an inspiration.
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Thank you so much 🙂 I think it must be the childhood in Soviet Union, nothing has been as hard as that. Plus it doesn’t hurt to see the evidence that the more u try, the more I get. Thank you again for your kind words.
On a side note, your website link in the signature is invalid – have you deleted teddychronicles? This happens with WP.
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Good luck, and sounds fantastic. Stunning photo as well.
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Wow, congratulations! You are truly an amazing lady. Wishing you all the best.
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Thank you, Susan. I’ve asked for a bunch of relevant documents to read, was pouring over my $3mil operating budget yesterday, still pinching myself 🙂
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you are an inspiration! Onward!
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Thank you so much, Amy!
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Well done, Ana. A fine example of mind over matter, and it seems that your recent cloud has many, many, many silver linings. Congratulations 🙂
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Thank you, Sarah 🙂 I’m becoming a pro at looking for silver linings, and yes, they are always there.
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Congratulations. It’s always inspiring to see people working in a field they find rewarding.
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Thank you! I love working with people, which makes the idea of an exclusively writing career difficult to imagine.
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Congratulations, Ana! What a few months you’ve had! You could write a book … 🙂
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Thank you, Cee Tee! Haha, I really need to finish the one I’m working on. I do have some past dramas that are begging to be shaped into a thriller. Maybe a black comedy, too.
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Such great news! Woohoo! Go Ana go 🙂
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Thank you, Christy!
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