When the best laid plans don't happen, don't drive angry.

For those of us who are planners and think ahead, plot scenarios, and plan for change and mostly take those changes in stride, what do you do when your plan blows up and you're left wondering what the hell just happened?

First, let's just accept that it sucks. It just does.
Second, breathe. To be completely cliche, this too shall pass. It will.
Third, move on. You just have to, but give yourself a bit of time.

In the last couple of years, I've been a marketing consulting and with that type of work comes risk and reward. I know there's a mindset that full-time work is safe and secure than contract work--I was definitely of that mindset--but having been in the position of unexpected job change and looking for work, NO job is safe and secure. It can happen to anyone.

I initially took a leap of faith on contract work nearly eight years ago and loved it. I met some great people and expanded my network by leaps and bounds. I returned to FTE work here and there, and then back to consulting. I discovered that contract work is interesting and fulfilling, provides flexibility and an opportunity to work with a variety of people and different projects.

Last spring, I found a year-long contract with a good team and familiar people and left one contract for another. While I struggled to find and understand the rhythm of the work involved and figure out some personalities, I was happy to be gainfully employed and working on new and interesting projects with the potential to continue with the team long term.

And then...BAM.

Reorg, changing roles and responsibilities, and I found myself in the position of having my best laid plans POOF gone. I'm looking for work again.

I keep telling myself this is the life I've chosen and it is, but oy, I hadn't planned on things changing THIS soon. It's bittersweet, actually. I'm disappointed that I won't be working with someone who I respect and like very much, but at the same time, I've come to the realization that the rhythm of work and personalities I've struggled with will no longer be a daily occurrence.

I've mentioned a few rules of thumb that I typically follow when sudden change happens:

1. Acceptance
2. Breathe
3. Time

In every job change, I've followed all three of these rules EXCEPT this time. I've accepted it, but I've stuck on the "it sucks" part too long. I'm breathing, but I'm antsy and clock watching. And giving myself time to absorb the change...that should really be the first rule and I broke it BIG TIME.

One of the gifts of this change is that I had some time to look, but I didn't give myself those first few days to take it all in, breathe, and dust myself off and start in. I just started, but...I made the mistake of "driving angry". Remember the scene from Groundhog Day when Bill Murray's character tells Punxatawney Phil "don't drive angry" and the groundhog drove off the cliff and into the quarry? Yeah, I drove angry. Mind you, I didn't do anything appropriate or unprofessional, but by not giving myself time to let the details soak in, I've felt very unsettled.

I'm slowly but surely coming out of my funk and realizing that I have set these rules for myself for a reason. The good news is I do see the upside. I will be able to take off all of December, play some winter golf, enjoy the holidays, and continue looking at both contract and FTE opportunities and start fresh in 2013. Do overs are a good thing.

So, the next time your best laid plans take a sudden turn, what will you do?

The Eagle Has Landed...

For months I wanted to start a blog, but didn't quite know when to start it or what to say. I ended up finding inspiration when I was laid off in early May and wrote my first post, When your best isn't enough. It wasn't long after that post that I was Back in the saddle and Not slowing down one iota. I did the usual things like Meetings, Twitter resume, and job postings... and had a bit of fun with a site called CardsofChange.com.

Then I started looking for ways to get my resume out in the public eye in a different way, so I posted bits and pieces of my resume here, here, here, and here. I didn't even post the entire resume before I wanted to tell you a bit about Changing things up, comfort zones, and being thankful, as well as how Inspiration comes from everywhere.

I've encouraged people to Have some fun during your job hunt and I did just that--I continued to have fun with the folks at CardsofChange.com. I never did hear back from the BBC reporter after my reply to him, but all the same, I had fun dreaming that I might be part of a short feature on the BBC. Maybe I was and didn't even know it--note to self...check with Cards of Change.

During this time, I've also written about how important it is to Pay attention and how I jokingly--yet seriously--say I'm a connector. You do need to pay attention to what's going on around you and you do need to do your part and connect people who need and ask for help. Please believe me when I say that paying it forward is a good thing. It just is.

I had a bit of fun saying My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate. Some say survivor, I chose graduate for a most positive and humorous spin. TomAYto, tomAHto...it's all the same--I'm a survivor, too.

So why am I recapping the writings of the last couple of months? In a nutshell, all this work of connecting, thanking, meeting, paying attention, having fun, and more has come together. In a couple of weeks, I'll be starting a new adventure and I'm super excited. I'll be working with a talented group of people and I can't wait to be a part of it. In fact, I just added my start date to the Days Until countdown clock app on my iPhone! 20 days...tick, tock, tick, tock.

I know, I know...quit with the cloak and dagger and just tell us where you're heading. It's not cloak and dagger; I'm like a good movie trailer that keeps you wanting more and makes you say "I have to see that!" So like a good trailer [roll on-the-edge-of-your-seat-nail-biting music, please]: Coming August 3, 2009

I'm also compelled to give my Oscar acceptance speech before the movie has even been released. LOL Seriously though, there have been so many people who have helped me along the way. To all of you, there aren't words enough to express my deepest and heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for all your kinds words and support. Thank you.

My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate...

Last night I went to the Social Media Club of Seattle networking event and met a number of great people. I discovered four things throughout the evening:

1. I gave myself a new title: Microsoft Graduate.
2. I recognize people more by their Twitter handles than their name.
3. Don't misrepresent yourself. Duh, but it's shocking when someone suggests it.
4. I still adore my long-time friend Tim.

#1: My name is Tracy and I'm a Microsoft Graduate

I don't know where it came from...it just came out! And oh, did I have a good laugh...and so did Shannon, the person I was talking with. Like so many people, humor is one of the things I use to get through challenging times and to make the people I'm connecting with more comfortable with me and whatever my story is.

What I discovered in that brief moment is that humor and a snappy "title", if you will, differentiated me just a bit. Less than 24 hours later, Shannon and I are connected on Facebook and included in the friend request was "Microsoft Graduate". He remembered me and I'm still laughing at my new "title".

#2: Oh, I'm following you; you're [@insert handle].

I was chatting with Joshua Wong of Column Break and didn't recognize his name, but I did recognize his Twitter handle. I'd just started following him a few days prior when I was reading Seattle Social Media Profiles. Quite a few of them were there last night--I'll meet you next time. PROMISE! And by the way, Joshua, I'm really glad to know your real name and attach a face to it.

So what does the fact that I recognize Twitter handles more than names say about me? Am I spending too much time online? Too much networking? Too much focus on following the Twitterati, Facebook, and my daily RSS feed reads? It's all of the above. It's a direction I want to take, so I'm spending a ton of time online doing my homework and engaging with the community. I'm in the market for a new opportunity, so I am networking. And every day I'm expanding my knowledge of social media practices and tools, so there's LOTS of reading to be had. Join in...the water is nice!

#3: Don't misrepresent yourself...not even a little

I was talking with a guy about why we were attending, had we ever been to the event before, and what we do. During the brief chat, I mentioned that I was there for a number of reasons including job hunting, networking, but also hoping to pick up nuggets of goodness about social media. I'd indicated that I'm in marketing and looking for roles that included a heavy dose of social media, but that I wasn't an expert . His reply was to say the least shocking...he said that I had to call myself an expert. To use one of my all-time favorite sitcom quotes: "whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?"

No, no, no, no...don't misrepresent yourself. If you're a novice or just learning say so. Be honest about your knowledge base, what you've read, what you've planned, what tools you've used, etc. But good heavens, don't call yourself and expert, if you're not. Brian Solis of PR 2.0 had a great post about experts vs. authorities recently: Social Media is Rife with Experts, but Starved of Authorities. It's a really good read.

If you call yourself an expert now when you're not, you've just chipped away a bit at, if not utterly destroyed, the opportunity for one day calling yourself and expert.

#4: Tim! It's been years and we picked up right where we left off

It's been easily 15 years since I last crossed paths with my friend Tim Carter of Social Networking Lifestyle. We connected on Facebook and Twitter well over a year ago, but finally...in person! Our friendly banter was like a day hadn't gone by and it was awesome. He's been in the social media world a bit longer than me, so it was a welcome experience to be introduced to a few other local social media people. Thanks, Tim. I really appreciate it. I'll see you online and at the next SMC Seattle!

Have a fantastic and safe Fourth of July weekend!