It's already the 2nd week of March and so much has happened since my last blog post. On February 22nd, I started the next phase of my career I joined RE/MAX By The Bay as the pioneer in their entry into the wild world of commercial real estate. What an amazing opportunity to be on the ground floor of this new addition to the leader in residential real estate in Southern Maine. Adding a commercial real estate component will provide "one-stop" services to the clients of RE/MAX By The Bay. On February 28th, I headed to the RE/MAX Inernational Comvention in Orlando. No...it was not warm and sunny, but the information and the contacts made were amazing.
During all of this, I have been trying to think of a way to continue my blog. Readers chimed in advice and some very witty blog titles. Do I stick with the "Lattes" theme? Do I focus on commercial real estate? Does anyone really care?
A chance meeting last Friday morning at Bard Coffee answered those questions. While having coffee with an old colleague and dear friend, who should wander in the door but high school classmate. Yup, 29 years later...and we recognized each other. Obviously, we have both aged well. It was great to catch up over a stellar latte and it looks like a business relationship may be in the works. Clearly, lattes will continue to play an important part in my life. Thus....I am happy to launch Lattes, Leases and Life Lessons. (www.lattesleasesandlifelessons.blogspot.com)
Monday, March 8, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
A Leap Into The Future
When I found out in January that I was soon to join the ranks of the unemployed, more people than I can count told me that “things happen for a reason”. At the time, I was hard pressed to figure out what possible reason could cause me to lose a job I liked. This was especially difficult when considering the current economic environment and the fact that we have a freshman entering a ridiculously expensive university this fall.
This week, I found out what that reason was. I have been given a unique opportunity to combine the experience I have gained in commercial real estate with the contacts and relationships I developed over my years in residential real estate. Knowing that we have the security of COBRA insurance coverage and the per diem work I am doing for TIP, this is the perfect job at just the right time.
While not at all what I thought I would be doing after being out of a job for less than a month, I am thrilled to be joining RE/MAX By The Bay as their first specialist in the Leasing and Sale of Commercial Real Estate.
Oddly, when I finally took the leap and signed on the dotted line, one of my only regrets was that I wouldn’t be spending my mornings in the cafés of the Old Port working on my blog. Then with a little bit of “Duh”, it occurred to me that the same networking opportunities that sent me into the cafés when I was in the job market would be a huge help in building my new business. So, on my first day as broker at RE/MAX By The Bay, I am sitting at Bard (http://www.bardcoffee.com/) with some new goals in mind.
One of the things that I have discovered is that I really enjoy the process of writing a blog and I plan on continuing as I move forward. While I have become very attached to the name Lattes and Resumes, it no longer applies and I am searching for a new name. Any suggestions?
This week, I found out what that reason was. I have been given a unique opportunity to combine the experience I have gained in commercial real estate with the contacts and relationships I developed over my years in residential real estate. Knowing that we have the security of COBRA insurance coverage and the per diem work I am doing for TIP, this is the perfect job at just the right time.
While not at all what I thought I would be doing after being out of a job for less than a month, I am thrilled to be joining RE/MAX By The Bay as their first specialist in the Leasing and Sale of Commercial Real Estate.
Oddly, when I finally took the leap and signed on the dotted line, one of my only regrets was that I wouldn’t be spending my mornings in the cafés of the Old Port working on my blog. Then with a little bit of “Duh”, it occurred to me that the same networking opportunities that sent me into the cafés when I was in the job market would be a huge help in building my new business. So, on my first day as broker at RE/MAX By The Bay, I am sitting at Bard (http://www.bardcoffee.com/) with some new goals in mind.
One of the things that I have discovered is that I really enjoy the process of writing a blog and I plan on continuing as I move forward. While I have become very attached to the name Lattes and Resumes, it no longer applies and I am searching for a new name. Any suggestions?
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Do I dare?
What a beautiful mid-winter weekend we had in Maine. If the forecast wasn’t calling for 6-10” of snow today, I would swear that spring was just around the corner.
The kids are on vacation this week, and therefore won’t appear until just before noon. I was up and out of the house early and have secured a fine corner table at Bard Coffee (http://www.bardcoffee.com/). It is unlikely that they will even realize I am gone.
Once again this morning, every table at Bard is occupied. It is a great mix of students, professionals and even some tourists who have braved Maine in February. Perhaps they are escaping from the snowy tundra of Washington, DC?
On Friday, I filled out the many forms that signal the start of my work for TIP (Trauma Intervention Program of Portland). While I don’t expect it to amount to a lot of time each week, it is so satisfying to lend a bit of experience to be help out this very important organization.
Heading into the 3rd week of my job search, an interesting opportunity has presented itself. While not at all what I had envisioned, this may be a case of it being the right time and place for a new venture. As someone who is generally risk adverse, I might just need to take a leap of faith.
Something to ponder over another latte….
The kids are on vacation this week, and therefore won’t appear until just before noon. I was up and out of the house early and have secured a fine corner table at Bard Coffee (http://www.bardcoffee.com/). It is unlikely that they will even realize I am gone.
Once again this morning, every table at Bard is occupied. It is a great mix of students, professionals and even some tourists who have braved Maine in February. Perhaps they are escaping from the snowy tundra of Washington, DC?
On Friday, I filled out the many forms that signal the start of my work for TIP (Trauma Intervention Program of Portland). While I don’t expect it to amount to a lot of time each week, it is so satisfying to lend a bit of experience to be help out this very important organization.
Heading into the 3rd week of my job search, an interesting opportunity has presented itself. While not at all what I had envisioned, this may be a case of it being the right time and place for a new venture. As someone who is generally risk adverse, I might just need to take a leap of faith.
Something to ponder over another latte….
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
No snow in Maine....
It’s a cold dreary day here in Portland, but at least it isn’t snowing. I’m certainly thinking of all of my friends to the south who are getting yet another blizzard.
No room up front at Mornings in Paris (and the back is just too dark), so I have moved up the street to Bard Coffee http://www.bardcoffee.com/ . It’s almost noon and every table is still occupied with people busily working on laptops. At some tables there are two people across from each other working away. It looks like a Battleship tournament!
I have been here for a couple of hours plugging figures into a spreadsheet. An interesting job opportunity has presented itself and I am trying to figure out a way to make the numbers work. If I didn’t have to worry about actually making a profit, it would be the perfect job. More meetings later in the week…
In the meantime, I am going to be doing some work for the Trauma Intervention Program of Portland (www.commcc.org/TIP/index.html) . This is a program that is very close to my heart and something I have been involved with since its inception here in Portland. It seems that since I have a little extra time on my hands, I should put it to good use. Of course, my basement and closets could use a serious clean out, but what fun would that be?
No room up front at Mornings in Paris (and the back is just too dark), so I have moved up the street to Bard Coffee http://www.bardcoffee.com/ . It’s almost noon and every table is still occupied with people busily working on laptops. At some tables there are two people across from each other working away. It looks like a Battleship tournament!
I have been here for a couple of hours plugging figures into a spreadsheet. An interesting job opportunity has presented itself and I am trying to figure out a way to make the numbers work. If I didn’t have to worry about actually making a profit, it would be the perfect job. More meetings later in the week…
In the meantime, I am going to be doing some work for the Trauma Intervention Program of Portland (www.commcc.org/TIP/index.html) . This is a program that is very close to my heart and something I have been involved with since its inception here in Portland. It seems that since I have a little extra time on my hands, I should put it to good use. Of course, my basement and closets could use a serious clean out, but what fun would that be?
Monday, February 8, 2010
Matins à Paris
Bonjour from Mornings in Paris on Exchange Street in Portland. I’ve never been to Paris, but I like to think that this is what it would feel like. There is lovely French music in the background, a huge mug of latte and really interesting people at the tables around me. To my right, a newspaper article on Valentine’s Day traditions is being edited and to my left a woman is reading The Canterbury Tales. Really…I don’t think it is for a class, I think she is simply spending a cold February morning reading Chaucer. In the meantime, I couldn’t even spell espresso properly in order to log into the free WiFi the café provides.
Navigating the paperwork and intricacies of unemployment is almost a full time job in and of itself. Keeping a job log for unemployment benefits is a bit of a challenge. Do they seriously expect me to keep a daily log of the companies I am contacting? Can I write down the coffee with an old colleague? What about the glass of wine with a former client?
The redrafting of the resume continues. In its current state, it seems to be attracting mainly life insurance and financial companies. The AFLAC duck cracks me up, but selling insurance is not what I see myself doing in this new stage of my career. I’m thinking about changing resume formats from chronological to skill based. Maybe a combination of both?
Wednesday looks like the next time I will be here at Mornings in Paris…feel free to join me.
Navigating the paperwork and intricacies of unemployment is almost a full time job in and of itself. Keeping a job log for unemployment benefits is a bit of a challenge. Do they seriously expect me to keep a daily log of the companies I am contacting? Can I write down the coffee with an old colleague? What about the glass of wine with a former client?
The redrafting of the resume continues. In its current state, it seems to be attracting mainly life insurance and financial companies. The AFLAC duck cracks me up, but selling insurance is not what I see myself doing in this new stage of my career. I’m thinking about changing resume formats from chronological to skill based. Maybe a combination of both?
Wednesday looks like the next time I will be here at Mornings in Paris…feel free to join me.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Laundry or lattes?
Yesterday I decided to work in my newly set up home office (also known as the guest room). While there is indeed a lot to be said for spending the day dressed in sweats and being able to multi-task between writing cover letters and doing laundry, I wasn’t nearly as productive as my time spent in the café. Besides, I missed the cheerful greetings of the staff and the really good lattes. So, this morning I am back at the Maine Bean Café (http://www.mainebean.com/)
Under new ownership, the Maine Bean Café is undergoing some changes of its own this week. Each morning I step into a slightly different space. A big comfy brown leather couch greeted me this morning. New paint and some additional upgrades are on the schedule for the weekend. It seems that we are re-inventing ourselves together.
As I meander through this process, the support from friends, former colleagues and acquaintances has been nothing short of amazing. Taking 25 years of such varied experience and finding a way to portray that to prospective employers has been a challenge. There have been brilliant suggestions for ways to rework my resume and emails with links to potential job opportunities; offers to meet for coffee or a glass of wine and many, many calls and texts of support.
Its time to spend some quality time searching the career websites. Monster.com and jobsinmaine.com await….
Under new ownership, the Maine Bean Café is undergoing some changes of its own this week. Each morning I step into a slightly different space. A big comfy brown leather couch greeted me this morning. New paint and some additional upgrades are on the schedule for the weekend. It seems that we are re-inventing ourselves together.
As I meander through this process, the support from friends, former colleagues and acquaintances has been nothing short of amazing. Taking 25 years of such varied experience and finding a way to portray that to prospective employers has been a challenge. There have been brilliant suggestions for ways to rework my resume and emails with links to potential job opportunities; offers to meet for coffee or a glass of wine and many, many calls and texts of support.
Its time to spend some quality time searching the career websites. Monster.com and jobsinmaine.com await….
Monday, February 1, 2010
And so it begins....
And so it begins…. I decided that I should start my adventure where the idea was hatched, so this morning finds me once again at the Maine Bean Café http://www.mainebean.com/. The pastries look unbelievable, but in the interest of my waistline, I am not even going to think about having one. A large skim milk latte sits next to my laptop.
This weekend’s chore was to navigate the process of filing for unemployment. At the end of the process, I registered for the Maine Job Bank and today received a list of suggested job opportunities. Compiled based on my experience and interests, the results are pretty amusing. Apparently I can choose from door-to-door vacuum salesperson to morning news anchor for the local ABC affiliate. In between, there are actually some interesting possibilities.
This weekend’s chore was to navigate the process of filing for unemployment. At the end of the process, I registered for the Maine Job Bank and today received a list of suggested job opportunities. Compiled based on my experience and interests, the results are pretty amusing. Apparently I can choose from door-to-door vacuum salesperson to morning news anchor for the local ABC affiliate. In between, there are actually some interesting possibilities.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
