Looking Back, and Moving On

I am going to begin this blog post by sharing a little disclaimer about myself: I'm not good with good-byes. I never have been. Not when I moved to Oregon. Not when I graduated high school. And not when I left my cozy life in Eugene to make it in the big kid world. This may have been part of the reason why this decision was such a hard one to make.

But I have come to realize throughout the years that change is a good thing (as Obama would say.) Which now, brings me to the good news: I have made a big decision in my life; a big change - to leave my job at Waggener Edstrom and move to the foreign land of Los Angeles. For me, this decision was bitter sweet. Waggener was the perfect job in every regard. I liked what I did, the benefits were great, and I worked with so many intelligent, friendly, supportive people. I loved going to work each day... but I needed something more. Well, maybe not more; but different.

Rewind. I'll catch all you irregular readers up from the beginning. I graduated college nearly one year ago (so hard to believe it has already been a year!) and began an internship with Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, a medium-sized international PR agency based in Portland and Bellevue, 2 days after I graduated. I never thought I would like tech. PR, but in my nearly one year's time at Waggener I learned to love it. I worked on the online services business and was hired on full time 3 months later as an AC of Analyst Relations for OSB (what's AR you ask? I'll explain later :)). I worked there for nearly a year and have grown so much as a PR (and AR) professional in that short amount of time.

Well, today was my last day at Waggener; needless to say I am going to miss it. But I am also so excited for my life ahead in LA. It takes a lot to up and move away from everything you've ever known, no job in hand and absolutely no plan, but I am so proud of myself for taking the first step. During my time at WaggEd, I've learned several things:

• Starting out at a PR agency is one of the best routes a young PR professional can take
• Not too big, not too small; medium-sized agencies are just right
• "Publicly-held" does not mean better. In fact, I'd argue the opposite
  
• It is important to find an internship where you are more than just the 'copy girl'
• But it is also important to realize that you still have a lot to learn
• Vacation days are there for a reason
  
• If you take the time to plot out your goals, any respectable manager will listen; and advocate
  
• Coffee twice a day does not necessarily mean you need it
  
• You don't always have to love your product; you just have to pretend to like it more than the enemy
  
• To do lits and outlook calendars are money
• Speaking of money...
• Google is always the enemy
  
• It's good to take advantage of professional development opportunities
• If you ask your mom what her current ETA is, she will laugh at you
• Whoever said 'if you don't start drinking coffee in college, you never will' is a LIAR
  
• There IS a such thing as work-life balance
• Change = opportunity
  

So now, the advice part (because what would a blog post be without a few words of wisdom?) Life is short. Figure out what you want to do, and find a way to get there. But it's okay to take your time. Hmm... That's all I got for now.

I'd like to share a quote from a quote book a colleague gave me before I left: "I have always wanted an adventurous life. It took a long time to realize that I was the only one who could make an adventurous life happen to me" - Richard Bach. So, to end this novel of a post - here's to all that I have left behind, and all that I have to look forward to as I pick out a new color and begin writing the next chapter of my life.

(and yes, I WILL post any and all celebrity sightings from here on out!! Check out my new blog soon; it's still a work in progress :))