I should do a bit of background first. 

I’ll start with explaining the job situation since that is probably disproportionately driving my need to “reinvent” myself.  I’ve worked 2 jobs for the last 15+ years.  They weren’t both full time.  I had a “main job” which was regular office hours, included benefits and was more career-oriented.  My part time job is based on events (I worked at Key Arena) so the hours could be anywhere from 0 to 50 hours in a week.  I once worked 96 hours in one week if you add up the hours from both jobs.

I started my part time gig in November 2002 and my main job in June 2003.  (I was trying to pay off some debt – about $18K – so I kept my part time job even after I got my full time job).  I really loved both jobs.  I was never sure when I would leave the Key because I enjoyed it so much (I counted money in the cash room).  As for my main job, I was convinced I would be there until I retired; I didn’t see any reason to leave.    I distinctly remember one day being at work and thinking to myself, “I’m going to stay here forever”.

A few very specific events happened that changed everything about my jobs:

1. The economic downturn in 2008.  My main job handed out company-wide pay cuts (the federal allowable maximum of 12.5%) to avoid layoffs.  Of course, layoffs followed just a few weeks later.  I was never laid off from this company, but it took me like a year to recover emotionally and maybe 5 years to recover financially.
2. The Sonics left Seattle.  My part-time job honestly had a ton of hours.  The Key Arena was busy.   By the time the Sonics left, I didn’t really need the job anymore because I had paid off my debt, but I felt lucky to have kept it after the pay cut at my main job.
3. My roommate moved out.  Again, happy I kept the part time job.

It took so long to get back to my 2007 salary.  My entire department’s morale continued to dwindle for years.  There is a weird dichotomy to being unhappy at work – your self-confidence takes a huge hit and it becomes impossible to look for another job.  I wasn’t the only one.  One of my colleagues and I would talk about looking for another job although neither one of us put together a résumé or actually looked at job postings.  One time, we talked about adding to our skill set and I found a class and forwarded it to a couple of my unhappy colleagues in my department.  Two of us didn’t even register.  One girl paid for the class and never attended a single lesson.  It was an on-line course.

Now, I realize that I’m not going into the reasons why we were so sad/uninspired/resentful/betrayed.  There are several reasons.  And some things were less important to me than to my coworkers and vice versa.  I might make some specific posts in the future to address certain things.  I will say there are some things I learned NOT to do if I’m ever in a power position.  And I understand that I’m not 100% free of blame here.  All relationships are two-way streets.

Anyway, finally, one by one, we left.  I was the last to hang on.  I just couldn’t give up on a job/company I had loved so much.  But finally, push came to shove and I had to leave.   I took a small pay cut ($3K) but I felt it was worth it to save my soul.  My new job…wasn’t busy.  I mean really not busy.  I knew this going in so I wasn’t totally surprised – but I was surprised by how dead it really was.   I decided I would make it work.  I would have less stress, work out more, get some things done on my to-do list, start a blog, etc.  I could immediately tell that it wasn’t quite the right fit but I was going to make the most of this move.  And then…

4. February 2017.  Both of my jobs announce layoffs.  My new main job declared bankruptcy and then two weeks later announced a massive round of layoffs.  Our last day would be April 20th.  The Key Arena announced a massive remodel for the new NHL hockey team (that we still don’t have yet).  The last event would be in October.

I was kind of freaked out.  But I had this feeling that this was really the best thing that could happen to me.   I really needed to stop working two jobs.   I really needed to reinvigorate my career.  I really needed to concentrate on my failing health.  I really needed to declutter my condo.   I really needed to get laid.  I really needed to reevaluate my priorities.  I really needed to reinvent myself.