Alright, I do believe it's time to unveil the big news: as of a week ago today, I accepted an offer from a start-up company in Seattle (remaining nameless for now) and I am finally moving on to much greener pastures. This is an amazing start to a truly phenomenal venture. I will say that the company has only been live for two years, but they are growing exponentially to the point where they are moving into their third location to accommodate for their growth. I will say that it is a massive breath of fresh air to finally be a giant asset to a company; as opposed to just another employee on their payroll.
During the interview (with the interviewer turning out to be one of the co-founders of the company and the current COO. So, yeah...) she asked me various questions about how hard I work and how dedicated I am. She asked me if I had a choice between working only 30 hours a week or 60+ hours a week, I immediately answered 60+. Which, I'm not going to lie, is absolutely true. I would rather work 60+ hours a week and make a significant difference with a company than 30 hours a week and just coast. That's just the person I am and the work ethic that I have. I told her that I would much rather summit a mountain than crest a molehill. I was also blunt with her when I told her that I felt most of my previous employers were just molehills and that I was ever in search of a company where I could actually make that difference. Where I could give it my all and climb that mountain.
I love a solid challenge. I do. When I was in school, if there was ever a teacher (and there were plenty who were this way) that really didn't expect much out of their students, I would coast, not really do my homework, and get low to average grades. But, the teachers who challenged me. The teachers who told me up front that I had to crack down, work hard, and they would expect nothing less than an A out of me, well those were the classes I did get A's in. You push me hard and tell me to give it my all and I will do exactly that. Don't give me a molehill, because I have no desire to mess with them. Give me a mountain and tell me that I need to summit it and you will see me reach its zenith. Especially if there is an impending deadline and the chips are down. When the odds are against me and things are looking bleak-that is when you will see me push my hardest and shine. Give me something to prove and, by God, I will prove it.
To be completely honest, the thought of this intimidates me. This is a start-up. The company has only been "live" for two years. In full honesty, there is zero, absolutely zero job security. There's still a lot of bugs and a lot of kinks. But there is so much growth. Easily more an all the other companies I have worked for, combined. I know that every day that I work, I will make a dramatic impact, good or bad, on this company. My failures are the company's failures. My successes are theirs as well. This is my Everest. My K-2. My Denali. There are a million ways for me to fail, which is why I'm going to do everything within my power to succeed. This company is the capstone of my career and there is no turning back now.
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