I got a job as an executive assistant for an insurance company! It's my third week there and I really like it. I had an interesting conversation today I want to share with you.
A bit of background: There will be two executive assistants for different areas of the company; I am one, the other is yet to be hired. They hired me unsure where they would put me in the end. Right now I'm with the CMO, but there's a possibility they'll move me to the CEO.
A coworker today asked me if I would be staying with the CMO. I told her I didn't really know what was going to happen, but that I really like the CMO and if I have a choice, I'd rather stay here. She didn't look enthusiastic about my answer.
"You should work with the CEO though...it'll be better for your career. You'll meet all kinds of people, make contacts, and that's invaluable."
I explained. "I can understand that, but I'm only committed to the company for two years. After that, we hope to start a family."
She still didn't seem convinced. "But you never know what might happen...maybe you won't be able to have kids."
"But I'd love to foster or adopt," I told her.
"Well, can't you work while your kids are in school?"
"I could, but I'm hoping to homeschool my kids." I didn't tell her that even if my kids do go to school, I want to stay home and write and spend time with friends - not work, unless I have to for financial reasons.
"Okay, but someday your kids are going to grow up, and THEN you'll want to go back to work."
"Maybe..."
I told her, "Career isn't my passion. Family is my passion. My marriage will outlast my job. My kids and my relationships will outlast my job. That's why my life trumps my job." She didn't seem convinced.
I also told her, "I really like working with the CMO, so why shouldn't I stay where I know I like it?" She didn't seem happy with that either.
I'm not saying it's bad to pursue a career - AT ALL. But God's given me a passion to raise a family, so can I be passionate about anything else? Sure, I can be interested in my job, and I can love it and enjoy it, but in the long run I just want to be a mom.
When I interviewed with the CMO, the first question he asked me was, "Where do you see yourself in five years?
Great, I thought. He's going to hear how I don't have aspirations to own my own company or be a millionaire or be famous, and he'll think I have no drive, no goal in life. And then I said, "I want to be a mom."
His face lit up. "That's awesome! I have so much respect for mothers, and for my wife for being a mother. What a great aspiration."
That's when I knew I wanted to work for him. Unlike my coworker, he understands a greater perspective on life. He's Jewish, and of course there are a lot of similarities with Christianity. And you can't study the Jewish Bible/Torah/Old Testament without getting some perspective on just what is important.
A bit of background: There will be two executive assistants for different areas of the company; I am one, the other is yet to be hired. They hired me unsure where they would put me in the end. Right now I'm with the CMO, but there's a possibility they'll move me to the CEO.
A coworker today asked me if I would be staying with the CMO. I told her I didn't really know what was going to happen, but that I really like the CMO and if I have a choice, I'd rather stay here. She didn't look enthusiastic about my answer.
"You should work with the CEO though...it'll be better for your career. You'll meet all kinds of people, make contacts, and that's invaluable."
I explained. "I can understand that, but I'm only committed to the company for two years. After that, we hope to start a family."
She still didn't seem convinced. "But you never know what might happen...maybe you won't be able to have kids."
"But I'd love to foster or adopt," I told her.
"Well, can't you work while your kids are in school?"
"I could, but I'm hoping to homeschool my kids." I didn't tell her that even if my kids do go to school, I want to stay home and write and spend time with friends - not work, unless I have to for financial reasons.
"Okay, but someday your kids are going to grow up, and THEN you'll want to go back to work."
"Maybe..."
I told her, "Career isn't my passion. Family is my passion. My marriage will outlast my job. My kids and my relationships will outlast my job. That's why my life trumps my job." She didn't seem convinced.
I also told her, "I really like working with the CMO, so why shouldn't I stay where I know I like it?" She didn't seem happy with that either.
I'm not saying it's bad to pursue a career - AT ALL. But God's given me a passion to raise a family, so can I be passionate about anything else? Sure, I can be interested in my job, and I can love it and enjoy it, but in the long run I just want to be a mom.
When I interviewed with the CMO, the first question he asked me was, "Where do you see yourself in five years?
Great, I thought. He's going to hear how I don't have aspirations to own my own company or be a millionaire or be famous, and he'll think I have no drive, no goal in life. And then I said, "I want to be a mom."
His face lit up. "That's awesome! I have so much respect for mothers, and for my wife for being a mother. What a great aspiration."
That's when I knew I wanted to work for him. Unlike my coworker, he understands a greater perspective on life. He's Jewish, and of course there are a lot of similarities with Christianity. And you can't study the Jewish Bible/Torah/Old Testament without getting some perspective on just what is important.
Great post Amber! I love that you were honest with the CMO even if he may have wanted a different answer. You go ahead and follow that God-given passion! Your post was an encouragement to me. Thanks for sharing!
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