It’s been a little over a month since I quit my full time job. I’ve gotten plenty of reactions to my decision. Most of them positive… you go girl and whatnot. There has been a percentage of… you’ve got balls, why would you quit your job in this economy? 

Well folks of the latter mindset, this blog is for you. 

Last October, my boss called me into her office for a regular one on one meeting and I just sort of blurted out my plans for departure. I’d been thinking about it for a year or so, but felt the need to stay due to some circumstances within the department. That particular fall day, I had woken up and realized… I wasn’t working there for me. I was working there to support colleagues that I appreciated and, of course, to pay my bills. My boss was gracious and did ask a couple times if I had changed my mind. In my position, there wasn’t a lot of room for growth and for a job I couldn’t quite see a future in, it didn’t seem right for me to stay.

Why quit without a job lined up? A few reasons. I gave them over two months notice because I wanted to finish out the year and prep some materials for my replacement which included a 12+page FAQ for my position (yeah, seriously). Plus the music industry is teeny tiny and I felt wrong looking behind my boss’ back. That’s just me. Also, some people told me that they’d help me find some work or had work lined up for me. All of which fell through, but that’s life. 

So what am I looking for? I’ll be honest with ya, I don’t know. Now when I look for jobs, it’s more than just a title. I’m looking at the responsibilities of the position and what the company stands for. If I were to stay in Boston, I would like the freedom to travel so that I can see my family in the NY/NJ area. Hmm… what else… a place that… perhaps has something to do with charity, music, or food. These are loves of mine and while I won’t turn away a job for not fitting into these categories, it’d be really cool if the place supported my volunteering. That could mean volunteering as a team or just allowing me to take a couple days off to support my favorite non-profit. I’ve done 60 mile walks for Komen and I’m hoping to do a triathlon this year or next. I went to work the day after my first 40 mile walk (and after taking a flight back from Long Beach)… and let’s just say it was bad news bears. 

I want to be with a company that I could stay with for awhile. I have had some job offers, but like my friend Guido said, I’m being kinda Goldilocks about it all. I want something that’s just right. Is it really that ballsy? I think I might need a bigger pair of pants. 

(picture is mine… everyone seems to be keeping their ear to the ground to help me find a new job)