I don’t usually write about work, it’s one of the few things I generally consider off-limits to avoid any potential conflicts that could arise. I think I’m probably a bit more cautious than I need to be about it, especially considering that they’re pretty liberal about personal expression and social media. (Are blogs still considered social media at this point? Does having an inactive comments section still make a site “social”?) But exceptions can be made. Oh, and I’m writing this on my iPhone! yay wordpress.
Yesterday we had our Christmas party at work. Every year we have a huge (mandatory) party at House of Blues in one of the upstairs rooms. Mark Mayer gets up to give a speach about how great of a year we had (second record year in a row!), how much we’ve grown (up to 140 people), and for the last few years, how awesome Interactive has been in producing work and recruiting good talent. Then all of the dept heads get up and announce promotions within their groups. So this year it was announced that I’ve been promoted from Senior Interactive Developer to Director of Interactive Development. It’s basically the same position that I was offered to move back to Milwaukee (a bit less money, being on the nola payscale, but less stress as well). It’s been a goal of mine, though, to reach a position that is equivalent to the one that I turned down. It’s nice to have done so quickly!
The one caveat in this aspiration was that there was another developer with seniority over me in terms of tenure. She’s awesome, someone that I’ve always thought of as an ally, not competition, and I’ve been quite content to share the title of Senior Developer with her. I didn’t think that our model of splitting clients was the right choice, as our skill sets are quite different. But we complimented each others skills well. However, when she made the choice to move to project management, I saw that there was a big shift coming in our group. I’m not a person who chases power or even cares about such things. But there are two things about myself that I believe: I have a valid, experienced opinion that I am willing to assert, and when I see an opportunity in front of me I step up to it. My philosophy is that if there is something that you want to do, you just start doing it. If there is a role you want to play, insert yourself and play the part. Do a good job and the recognition will come.
I’ve tried to use my blog (though I STILL hate the word “blog”) to cronicle my time in New Orleans. I know that I talked about it a lot before I moved back, about how much I missed being home. When I got the chance to return, which I never could have done without first finding a good job, I intended to record my experience coming home and whatever successes and failures came. So far I think I’ve had nothing but good come to me and it’s exciting to me how easily I’ve been able to take what I learned elsewhere and apply it to life in New Orleans. Living uptown is a reward in itself. I am grateful to Peter A Mayer Advertising and the awesome group that I work with for enabling me to do great things.
One more note: Rob, the Director of Interactive, also mentioned all of the new hires in Interactive this year and how diverse we are, coming from all over the country (and even a developer originally from England). We are a vibrant city, a city of constant movement (and entertainment). You should come and see for yourself. There is no more fun place to succeed.
