Sixty Weeks to 60: A Meaningful Career

(34 Weeks)

September 11, 2001, was a turning point in my career. I was the Vice President at Bergen County’s United Way (New Jersey). If you’re not familiar with the area, we were right across the Hudson River from northern Manhattan and the skyline is visible from many points in our communities. As the news came in, I remember we all had a feeling of just wanting to gather our families close and hide in our homes. 

As I began to walk to my boss’ office to tell him I was leaving, something came over me and I remembered our mission. We help people. When I approached him what came out of my mouth instead was, “What can I do.” From that moment, I knew I would always need to feel that connection to helping others. 

Until my current position, that was best job I ever have – great boss, great co-workers, easy commute, meaningful work, and I was successful! I was successful because I was doing something I loved. I was originally hired as the Special Events Director and even as I climbed the ladder continued to be the staff lead for all our events – volunteer days, donor recognitions, holiday drives, black-tie gala, 5k run, and a golf outing. I got to use my strongest skills, organization and creativity, and even drew upon everything I had learned in my previous sales career. Now however the money we raised through these events was helping people. 

My career path, with a few exceptions, wasn’t linear. It was barely planned, although I’ve had enough success because of education, networking, tenacity, and being open to possibilities and willing to shift my perspective. 

I was never the most serious student. When I was nearing college graduation – having not once visited the career planning and placement office – I knew my parents were going to be mad if I didn’t have a fulltime job to go to as soon as I got home. I had been working at the local weekly newspaper part-time since a high school work study program my senior year. Mostly summers and holiday breaks. Home on spring break I walked into the publisher’s office, told her how I’d be graduating in May and asked if there was anything I could do there fulltime. She offered me a job selling ad space. 

Two years later, I parlayed that into a job at the county’s premiere daily newspaper. When I realized I couldn’t live on limited commissions and under a thick glass ceiling, I left for a higher paying sales job in New York City. Although, that turned out to be a huge mistake and I had a “I need to do something more meaningful with my life” epiphany, I stayed two years so I could earn a certificate in event marketing from NYU which led to my position at United Way.  

I didn’t get the United Way job solely based on what I learned at NYU, but because of past connections.  I also took a major pay cut which most will tell you never to do. Never regretted it. When I left United Way after seven and a half years, I was making significantly more than I had made in sales but felt I had reached a plateau. I spend the next ten years or so trying to find that place where I could make a difference and love my job, realizing that not every non-profit is created equally, until I found myself in the worst job ever with a 2-hour commute in NYC metro traffic and the boss from hell. I was fired a month after cancer surgery! 

That’s when I acknowledged winging it wasn’t a career strategy and I needed to remember what got me to United Way – the job I loved the most and where I was the most confident and impactful. I took some time to just consult while I regrouped. 

Again, the path from there was anything but linear.  I wound up consulting, underemployed, or unemployed for almost eight years. After dealing with the aftermath of my first husband’s death, I got certified as a professional coach, taking advantage of skills I had developed as a manager. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with that as I planned my move to Chicago, but I knew I wanted to do something different – and still impactful.

Don’t move to a new city without a job is a lesson I learned too late.  I did the best I could at “speed networking” while working retail (at a running store). I made quick connections in the non-profit and running communities. While the pandemic drew out the timeline, I eventually landed in my current position at Mercy Home because of my efforts. As the staff lead for the Mercy Home Heroes endurance sports fundraising program, I draw on all my experiences throughout my entire career – plus my passion for running. I absolutely love what I’m doing. Plus, I have a great boss, great co-workers, meaningful work, and I’m successful! The commute could be better. 

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Did you really think this wasn’t going to include a fundraiser? It’s me. Of course it is! Over the course of these 60 weeks, I am hoping to raise $6000 for the children of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls (that’s just $100 a week!). To learn more about Mercy Home and my why, please visit my fundraising page. Thank you.