Dear World: I Got a New Job!

Dear Friends, Family, Colleagues (past, present, future), and complete strangers:

I’m happy to announce that I have accepted a position with space150 in Minneapolis, working in Search Engine Optimization.  I will probably write more about this in the coming weeks, and I’m thrilled to join such a brilliant group at ‘the Space.’  But first I wanted to share/vent/ramble about quitting my current job.

Yesterday afternoon I had to make one of the hardest phone calls I’ve ever made.  I had to call my boss – a woman who has been a mentor to me since I interned for her over 4 years ago – and tell her that I’ve accepted another job.  A call like this is obviously disappointing to any employer – and as luck wouldn’t have it, I had to interrupt her on her day off – while she was at Disneyland, of all places!

It was hard.  Really hard.  I managed to get everything out (I might recommend having notes for difficult calls like this one).  I sort of tried to explain some things about why I felt I should leave (all while I can hear children screaming on the rides behind her), then I really screwed myself over by telling her how much I respected her and cared about her – and I lost it!  I got all choked up and could barely get the words out, but I got through it and got off the phone.  She was, by the way, very kind and courteous – though obviously disappointed.

I’m proud of the work I did at 5 Alarm Music: the clients I took care of, the business I generated, the marketing initiatives, and the relationships that I have established.  I will enjoy watching that company grow, as I’m sure it will.  I’ll just be watching from the outside now.  The next two weeks might be strange and awkward, but I’m looking forward to wrapping up this chapter, and starting a new one.

In any case – yesterday was bittersweet, but the hardest part is over, and I am thrilled about joining the ranks at space150.  You’ll probably hear me geeking out about SEO a little more often – although this is still my personal blog, and I plan on keeping it personal.  Sorry, that means you’re still stuck with half-written lists of life lessons, silly stories of killing baby birds, and gratuitous polls trying to teach my wife gender lessons.

Thanks for reading.  I’ve been looking forward to this day, and I’m happy to share it with you!