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| Gut check. |
It hit so close to home, that I couldn't just make a post on Instagram about it. To do it justice, I had to write. I don’t really share tons of personal details about my life on social media or this here blog, but I know that everything happens for a reason. And if my story reaches just one person and reminds them God's got your back, then it was all worth it.
Now let me walk you through my story.
Okay, maybe I'm being a little dramatic. But that doorknob back was hot to the touch.
All through my undergraduate career and up until 2014, I had in some way, shape, or form worked in the education field - and more specifically with at-risk youth. Whether it was as a mentor, conference organizer, teaching assistant, or program director, I was very involved in changing the trajectory of youth most likely to be left behind.
But when my contract for employment with UCLA as a Program Director ended (I reached my maximum term), I knew there was a shift on the horizon for me. On the side, I was writing for Black Girl Long Hair and Naturally Curly. The Mane Objective was taking off on its own, and my natural hair was flourishing. It was an exciting time to be a blogger - long before anybody was worried about algorithms and peak engagement times.
I thought I wanted to be a full-time blogger. I tried it for a little bit.
It wasn't for me.
I also knew I wasn't going back into education or nonprofit work. So in 2015, I changed my career trajectory to copywriting - marrying an innate skill I had been blessed with (writing) and my new found interest in social media and marketing.
It wasn't an easy road, by any means. I've got some horror stories, but that's for another time.
As I navigated through building my resume, I was blessed with the opportunity to work from home as a copywriter with an agency that I saw myself growing within over at least the next 5-7 years.
It didn't happen that way.
Remember what I said about 2017? Before the year was out, I found myself knowing that my time was coming to a close. I was overwhelmed, feeling like there weren't enough hours in the day, over committed to various endeavors (work + blog + photography + external client consulting + life), and most of all, creatively drained. I realized that I had a hard time saying no. I bit off more than I could chew, in almost every arena.
As it turns out, I'm a terrible juggler. Some balls got dropped. Others made me feel like I was barely hanging on. I definitely lost some opportunities. I felt unstable and unsure - and I really began to question whether I was cut out for the digital marketing world. After all, my degrees are in Political Science and African American Studies. I didn't even know what a copywriter was until I was halfway through 2014. Anything I knew about marketing and social media was by trial, error, and reading various blogs and websites.
But let me tell you about my God.
He made me so uncomfortable in my current situation that I had to move - whether it be as a copywriter, or going back to my education roots. I literally could not afford to sit still. I took a few days and got really clear on my 2018 goals. I wrote down the salary + benefits I desired, the job title I was after, and the location that I wanted to work in (because in case y'all didn't know, sometimes the commute ain't worth the cash).
I dusted off ye olde resume and cover letter, and got to work applying for jobs in my field. I prayed fervently each day - learning more and more what it meant to completely trust God. I didn't cast a wide net - I stayed within copywriting and digital marketing. I skipped over anything that was part-time, contract, or significantly below my desired salary. I did apply to some pretty far out areas, but I knew everything rested in God's hands - and wherever He would make a way, I would follow.
Less than a month into applying for jobs, I was getting all kinds of phone calls, e-mails, and interview requests. I thought something was wrong, I was being scammed, or that I had erroneously oversold myself on paper. But the leads were legit companies, many of which I had heard of, seen, or personally spent money with.
After one phone call in particular, I got really excited. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but even before my interview, I had a feeling. Like that unshakable, could-only-be-God feeling. But I was still being a little stubborn. As I drove nervously to my interview in the rain, Samuel assured me that God was in control. Whatever the outcome, it all works in my favor. His words of encouragement helped, but I was still nervous throughout the entire interview.
That was a Monday. By Tuesday, I was notified that I had moved to the next round and was asked to complete a writing exercise and submit my references.
By Thursday, I HAD A JOB OFFER. But get this.
Salary + Benefits - On target.
Job Title - Check.
Location - EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL I COULD EVER ASK OR THINK. If you've seen my Snaps (maneobjective) or IG stories then you already know this - but I literally work across the street from the beach.
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| My view leaving work. |
The company I'm with is amazing. I literally like every single one of my co-workers. The work I do is fun, creative, challenging, and leverages my best skills. There's also opportunity for growth. When I tell y'all I couldn't ask for more...
Yes, adjusting to office culture from working at home was (and still is) in some way challenging. I've had to adjust my gym schedule, blogging schedule, and get creative about spending time with friends, family, and loved ones. But I wake up every morning, completely unable to relate to that "ugh, I gotta go to work" feeling.
This is where I'm supposed to be in this season. And it feels good.
So whoever this is for - if you're in a season of discomfort, receiving more no's than yes's, and finding that some doors are closing, know that God is shaking things up for a reason. Hold on to your faith. Spend more time with God. Seek Him first. Rest knowing that all things are working together for your good, and the mountains you're climbing are only temporary. Your breakthrough is coming. That door is about to open. And when it does, it'll be in such a way that you have no other choice but to know it was God that did it.
I'm a living, breathing, walking testimony to that fact.
