Old job- New Year!

     After much deliberation over whether or not I should let someone else decide my fate and whether or not I could look myself in the mirror after giving up, I decided to resign from my organization due my unhappiness.  My unhappiness was leaking into the parts of my life that are the happiest; my marriage, my daughter's day to day life, my family and friends relationships, my health, Amtrak from Boston back to Philly, encountering a heated exchange with the boss and becoming so upset I broke out in hives, hyperventilated and got super sick on the train.  Not a healthy scenario. That as they say was the straw that broke the camel's back. 

     Fortunately, my husband and I are in a situation where I can take a little time off before the birth of our second child so monetarily speaking, we felt comfortable making a decision like this for the sake of my health.   I feel that I took responsibility for my shortcomings that were highlighted during my 5 month trail period with my new boss and can move forward knowing that I was not perfect either, in fact there are some conversations that I wish I could erase.  I stooped down to her level because there was nowhere else to go, but I know in my heart that I stood up for myself and took control of the situation before something really bad happened. 

     While I enjoyed the job duties, business challenges, most of the people that I worked with, and the flexible yet travel focused schedule, I am finally free of the torment that I faced each day working under a horrible boss.  Before I use this term "horrible boss" again I would like to take a moment and clearly define what I am referring to, I will describe what a leader is/what a horrible boss is not.
My definition of a leader:

1. Someone who is not defined by their title or position- who doesn't use their position as a weapon.
2. Someone who looks to others for support when needed and offers support whenever, wherever.
3. Someone who is confident yet humble and leads by example, understanding that mistakes will happen and that if you can take responsibility for your actions you have already corrected your mistake.
4. Someone who is fair, consistent, level headed, and intelligent.
5. Someone who is dynamic and can reach people at all levels, inspire them, empower them.

Ultimately, if you are not lifting up others, you are not lifting up yourself.  Maybe I have read too many leadership books or drank too much Gary Marx, Stephen Covey, and John Maxwell kool-aid, but I expect and demand a leader to have at least one of those traits.  
    Since I resigned in mid December, I am reminded of a scene out of Office Space, when Peter Gibbons voluntarily gets hypnotized for his girlfriend so he could tolerate his current work situation.  While my case is not so extreme, I can see some similarities in the monotony that begins to take place when you are not happy going to work. 

     I am learning that you can control your happiness, but in order to understand what it takes to be happy you have to have the courage to take risks and stand up for what is right, another words, stop allowing people in your life to push you back, take what is yours and move on.  Surround yourself around intelligent people that you want to mirror.   Allow yourself time to heal and to re-open your mind to what it is that makes you happy before jumping onto the next adventure.  Your career makes up on average about 90,000 hours in your lifetime= approximately 3,750 days (based on a regular 9-5, 40 hours a week schedule)

 Time to start doing what brings you happiness.  That is my mantra for 2013.

Enjoy the scene and....one of my power songs.  Because power songs are empowering, and comedic relief is essential~!  "Damn it feels good to be gangsta"