this woman’s work

I have an interview to do in one hour and fifteen minutes for which I am woefully unprepared. So I’m writing about it in an effort to calm myself down.

Here is my usual interview prep:

1. Google the hell out of my subject and/or topic and take lots of off-computer notes.

2. Come up with list of questions.

3. Know stuff inside and out so I can also ask questions on the fly.

4. Set my phone up with my cordless Madonna headset so I can type and listen at the very same time.

Today’s interview prep:

1. Google the hell out of my subject but take no off-computer notes because I’m doing it at First Watch while simultaneously eating breakfast/drinking coffee.

2. Look at my list of questions and feel confused. What was I going to say again?

3. Hope I know stuff well enough to ask questions on the fly but feel nervous. Haven’t crammed since college.

4. Hope one of my headsets works with the cell phone since the good bluetooth one requires electricity. Feel slightly panicked.

I should have rescheduled the interview but I was in denial about having no electric. Wish me luck.

Julia made me read the Tipping Point (remember she bought it for me because I was so lazy about reserving it at the library) in part because she wanted me to see that the many many many small things I was doing would actually come together at some point and also because she wanted me to see that I’m a connector.

I love to fix people up, it’s true. I like to introduce people who might like each other or might need to help each other. It’s not all altruistic. Because I’m introverted, I don’t have the energy to keep up with everyone I’d like to keep up with (I also don’t have the time) but if I consolidate my friendships/acquaintanceships, then my friends can help me keep up with each other! Like if I introduce Person X to Person Y and they hit it off, then either of them can let me know how the other one is doing, keep me in the loop, etc. and I won’t feel so guilty that I haven’t seen one or the other in awhile.

I like to throw parties and invite my most disparate friends, too, because I’m a great believer in making mutts out of playgroups. It’s wonderful to have time with only the like-minded folks but it’s invigorating to throw a whole new perspective into the mix now and then. Suddenly you find out that you’re like-minded group has a pocket of people with an interest you didn’t know about. And wham-o, bam-o — you’ve got another interconnected friendship going on.

It’s the part of networking that I like. I’m not so hot at the large group meet-ups (although I’m getting better) but I do like meeting new people and figuring out who I know that maybe they’d like to meet. And when they hit it off? I feel like Madison does when she puts the whole Thomas the Tank Engine floor puzzle together and then dances around the room with satisfaction.

I may not really be a people person but I am a person who likes people and it’s fun to see people I like hit it off.

Edited to add: Rereading the post I linked to above makes me realize how far I’ve come just since March, which inspires me to think how far I’ll go likely by NEXT March. Listen, oh ye introverts among us, if I can do this anyone can.

I didn’t think we’d get in, honestly. I didn’t realize the venue was as big as it was and I figured we’d never get in. See, when they said they were holding the rally at a high school stadium, I was picturing the kind of high school stadium where I went to Friday football games with rickety wooden bleachers and a shaky chainlink fence around the field. Apparently high school has changed a lot since I was a kid because this stadium reportedly holds 20,000 people and is sturdy enough that when thousands of people start stamping their feet on the metal benches the edifice doesn’t even shiver.

Kristen made t-shirts (it was Abby’s idea) so we’d all be matchy-matchy with great big Obama symbols on our chest and red and blue stars (the t-shirts were white, natch). We decided to bring the middle kids (Noah, Lena, Liberty and Molly) because the big kid (Jake) had better things to do and we knew the little ones wouldn’t last.*

Kristen and Abby, being much more organized about these things than I am, decided to treat it like tailgating so they packed up a couple of coolers, a big bag of homemade popcorn, two big jugs of ice water and a bag of candy. Oh and homemade chai (Martha Stewart has nothing on Kristen, which if you read her blog you already know). She also wrote Obama 08 on her van, which got us some thumbs up on the freeway.

We got a good parking spot then took our place in line. The kids huddled up under shade trees with their Nintendo DS games and a good helping of the food. We chatted with some folks we know and haven’t seen forever then started making friends with the rest of the people in line with us. Some people came over and took pics of the kids in their matching t-shirts and there was a lot of that spontaneous friend-making that happens in a crowd before an event only better since there was also that team-spirit feeling.

We waited about six hours. We got there at 12:30 and the speeches started at around 6:30. We were inline for about four hours and then the rest of the time we were in the stadium. That sounds awful, right? Hot sun, crowds, uncomfortable seating but it was great. In some ways it was the best part. (Kristen said it felt like a Dead show only without all the drugs.) We chatted with people and laughed and shared out some of the chai. We signed a petition and chewed on ice cubes and Kristen took a ton of pictures. Once we got in the stadium (Noah set off the metal detector become of some hardware in his pants, but he took it in stride) we ate chik-filet and laughed some more with neighbors. We had good seats — about 13 rows up with a view of the whole filled-up stadium. We watched the lines still stretched back to the parking lot and watched the volunteers scramble with a new game plan because they didn’t expect that many people. We saw one of our new line-friends get picked to be up on the stage (he didn’t even have the yellow ticket you needed to get an insider view — he got handed one at random) and felt like one of our “own” got the nod!

Then a huge — I mean HUGE — praying mantis flew into our rows and everyone jumped and scattered while it flew into one woman’s hair and onto another woman’s arm. It landed for a brief second on Noah’s leg then leapt to the woman in front of him, who calmly brushed it off and it flew away over our heads. The section whooped and clapped and the kids were grinning. (Molly said, “My mom’s gonna be so mad she missed it!” because she and Abby were out getting the chik-filet.)

Another one of Noah’s favorite parts was when the first speech started and the bleachers across the field started chanting, “We can’t hear! We can’t hear!” He thought that was great. And he was entranced by the unfortunate drama of some folks having some issues with the heat down on the field. (The field was meant to be a fairly small crowd, I think, but the overflow was huge and it ended up being a pretty daunting throng, at one point surging forward in a way that looked worrisome from our vantage.) The third time it happened Obama was speaking and he threw his water bottle into the crowd for the woman. The stadium hilariously chorused a crushed “oooh!” worthy of tweens watching Zac Efron toss a sweaty shirt towards a lucky few.

When we saw the motorcade come down the highway way out beyond the stadium we got goosebumps and our section cheered. The guy next to me asked what I thought about Palin and we grinned, all giddy with the possibility that this year we might actually win! Abby told the woman behind us that they had dillybars at the concession stand and Kristen clued someone else in on where the secret bathrooms were. Then we got the kids to stand on their benches and chant for one of the free signs. (Noah was horrified and angry at me for embarrassing him but what can I say? I got Lena and Liberty a sign!) Abby had to train the kids when to hold it up during the speeches and we got them to stamp their feet with the rest of the crowd.

We moms cheered until we were hoarse and I caught the kids smiling more than they’re likely to admit. Obama, even with a low-key speech, was terrific and genuine. I love the cadence and rhythem of his voice. Sherrod Brown, already a huge favorite of mine not least because he was smart enough to marry Connie Schultz, was also a big winner.

Afterwards the kids ran around the field to get the wriggles out and then we stopped and watched Obama’s bus drive by. (He waved at us. We swooned.) Then we got to the car and started tailgating out the back again while we waited for traffic to die. A guy offered to buy a pop off of us but Abby said no, because she hadn’t packed extra but we gave him a drink of water for free. Then it turned out our battery was dead and a lovely woman gave us a jump after Molly saved the day and found the jumper cables.

Noah said the speeches were boring and waiting in the stadium was boring. He said the best part was playing his DS in the shade, the praying mantis and stamping his feet. But then he called his friends and a couple of relatives and bragged about his day.

It was a terrific day. It was terrific to be there and see the crowds (my pictures suck but I’ll try to upload a shot of the full stadium later) and it was inspiring to be waiting with so many like-minded but wonderfully diverse (in experience, in age, in race, in income) people and feel like we were all gunning for the same thing. It was especially great having Noah and his friends there and knowing that this would be a story that would matter to them someday in ways they can’t foresee now.

*The husbands made a plan to trade off care of the little girls all day, working in shifts with big brother Jake doing some of the supervising. Madison had a good time and was very proud of herself for staying “all by herself” never mind the team of people there with her. She did fall out of the treehouse and scraped her side during Jake’s shift and reported that “he said something thoughtful,” which was apparently “Come on down” but said, and I quote again, “softly.” Then he gave them some pop. Pop, if you didn’t know, cures all evils.

I mean, look at this site: Brilliant!

Unless you’ve been lurking on the edges of Chamber of Commerce meetings you don’t know what a typical insurance agent looks like. Me, I know not only from those Chamber meetings but also all those years I spent hanging out at my dad’s insurance conventions. I’m used to a big slab of cheese on top of my insurance sales pitch. I’m talking guys who call women “little lady” and are used to throwing their weight around.

I’m scared of most insurance guys. Did I say scared? I meant hostile towards.

So this guy? I met him at a meeting today and he introduced himself as “a not entirely for profit insurance agent.” And that, of course, got my attention. Plus Brett and I were just whining about insurance (again) because that’s what freelancers are prone to do so my ears perk up any old way when I hear the word. Plus he has a kick-ass business card, which he handed to me along with a sticker that says BUY LOCAL COLUMBUS like on the front of his web site. Hey, he had me at “not entirely for profit” but the sticker and stellar biz card put me over the top.

I don’t know if his insurance will work for us (I’ll let the insurance expert aka Brett figure that out) but his heady dose of “be who you are and the work will follow” was a soothing balm to my troubled soul. Because if an insurance guy can head off cheesy and make a living, there is hope for the rest of us.

(By the way, the only thing more cheesy than an insurance guy is a financial planning guy. Which, by the way, is what my dad does now only he works with clients whose financial hem I cannot touch so it’s a special brand of cheese now. A unpasteurized triple cream, if you will, served in Provence by alabaster virgins.)

Recently a writer pitched herself for a project I’m heading up for a client. Off I went to check out her clips site and get an idea of her skills and expertise. What’s the first thing I see? ADS.

What’s worse is that this person was using google adwords, which pulls keywords from your site to create ads specifically targeted to your audience. So she was asking me to check out her skills while hosting five ads that compete with what she’s offering.

So what first impressions did I get from a quick glance through her site?

• That she’s likely not all that savvy about marketing, which is a pretty big issue for a marketing job.
• That she’s not detail-oriented.
• That she doesn’t understand how the internet works.
• That she’s an amateur.

Would she put a bumpersticker on the front of the clips file she’s sliding across the desk to the HR person? Or stop a job interview to try to sell Tupperware? Then why does she think it’s a good idea to have ads on her “please hire me” site???

Argh. Now I gotta decide if I should say something to her. I mean, I’m not going to offer her work (I’ve already got people lined up) only sometimes when someone seems sincere but misguided I do try to tell ‘em WHY I’m saying no but other times I just don’t have the energy.

I had two great client meetings today. The first was with the owner and staff of this fantastic clothing store in the Short North, Substance. The clothes are beautifully designed, well-made and from sustainable manufacturers (often times using organic goods). There are fantastic purses from Ethiopia and the softest t-shirts designed right there in the store. They even have a handful of desigs made from discarded shirts brought in by customers. And the prices? Comparable to the clothes I was writing up at Express this summer (only much more beautifully, comfortably and respectfully made).

They brought me in for a Q&A about some web 2.0 stuff and I hope I’ll get to work with them further but whatever else happens, count me in as a fan.

Next I headed North to the Short North Business Administration to help John launch their new blog. Chris brought me in on the project — they set up the blog and asked me to help him figure out how to use the software. He’s a funny, personable, friendly guy and I had a good time showing him how WordPress and Twitter work. (He’s shortnorth on twitter.)

Now I’m watching Brett clean the kitchen while we wait for Abby to call and tell us she’s heading over to Kristen’s with the kids.

Anyway, it’s been a busy day and tonight will be a busy (social) evening and tomorrow I have some client calls and work to do then maybe I can rest a tiny bit this weekend. Or something. But today was fun — I like hearing about other people’s lives and I like helping them figure out how to do something new and interesting.

Oh last night I sent a proposal for a project that I’m really really really hoping gets approved (it’s a work thing — not a writing thing) because it would be a blast to put it together and I’d like to see what people would make of it. If you think you can type with your fingers crossed, please consider crossing them!

My dad: I mentioned yesterday that my dad gave me a pep talk, which was just what I needed. My dad is a financial planner (here’s his linkedin) and he cut his teeth as a door-to-door insurance salesman. He knows from hustling and working on commission and not letting the bad days stop you cold. He knows a lot about marketing and networking and all the things I’m trying to learn. A pep talk from him includes stellar advice and encouragement.

(As some of my longertime readers know, my dad and I have had our issues. One of the latent consequences of Brett losing his job and me going out on my own this past year and a half has been to help me build a positive, nurturing and loving relationship with him. Thanks corporate lay-offs!)

My mom: I can always count on my mom to boost me up and cheer me on. She’s my biggest fan. Just knowing I can call her anytime is enough to make me not need to call her, you know? Unconditional love that I can take for granted — well, I know that’s made me the woman/mother/writer I am. PLUS! She has this fantastic elliptical machine that’s gym-quality that I’ve been nagging her to loan me for years. (She used to use it a lot but doesn’t so much these days.) I nag her out of habit now because she always rolls her eyes at me. But guess what! You guessed it! She’s loaning it to me ’til she retires (a couple years away) and that means: ENDORPHINS! Yes, my friends, a steady workout is in my future! Our own elliptical trainer is getting noisier and lumpier every time I use it, which precludes using it. Can’t get on when the kids are occupied watching tv because it’s too loud for them to hear the television. Can’t do it while they’re sleeping in the morning or after they’re in bed because it’s loud enough to wake them up (it’s just below their rooms). I get it this Sunday and I am already full of joy just thinking of it!

Brett’s parents: They’ve offered to take the kids whenever I need it and whenever their schedules allow (they’re very busy retirees). I hate to ask because I’m like that but today they called and asked — asked! — to take the kids fishing. As if I’d refuse. This is incredibly fortunate because I have a lot of work and the kids are driving each other nuts so I can’t leave them to kinda play together since I’m breaking up a lot of fights that go like this, “You’re a potato.” “Mommy! Noah called me a potato!” “Rudikins tattletale!” “Mommy! Noah called me a rudikins tattletale!” Then poking/tickling ensues or the dreaded looking in each other’s direction without being invited to look. “He’s looking at me!” “What — I can look!” “AHHH!” “Rudikines potato!” “Mommy!” etc etc etc. Clearly not a day for work.

And this is why the grandparents are at the top of “my god, you are awesome people” list. This is why we’re in Ohio and not in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!!

Came home to 109 blog posts in my reader. Yikes. Luckily my inbox wasn’t as bad because I checked in all day in my iPod. God bless the iPod Touch.

Got to talk to Julia tonight after a long, long time. Way too long. Life is better with Julia in it!!!

Tomorrow isn’t as busy. I’m getting started on a client project that’s been waiting on some info and I need to prepare for a workshop I’m giving Thursday morning and a training I’m leading Thursday afternoon. Also I have an interview thingie in the morning. Then Thursday potluck!!! Then Friday will be quieter ’til late afternoon when I’ve got a phone conference then Madison has her first soccer practice and I think there’s dinner with friends (not sure about that part). But! Still quieter because at least tomorrow I don’t have to leave the house at all on Wednesday and not until late on Friday.

I got a great pep talk from my dad this afternoon after my meeting. He helped me focus on how to do some things I wanted to do but wasn’t sure how.

Sometimes there are lights at the end of tunnels!

I’d love to hit that drupal one but that’s my dad’s 70th birthday so we’ll be busy that day. Courtesy of the Fuse Factory!

Workshop 1: Introduction to Marketing Yourself on the Web
Instructor: Alison Colman
Date: Wed., Sept. 10
Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm
Location: GCAC conference room
Fee: Free

Workshop 2: Intro to Web 2.0: Building a Better Blog
Instructor: Dawn Friedman
Date: Saturday, Sept. 13
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Junctionview Studios
Fee: $15

Workshop 3: Intro to Drupal
Instructor: Jennifer Deafenbaugh
Date: Saturday, Sept. 20
Time: 1:00 - 4:00pm
Location: The Vault (this will be part of the Independent’s Day festivities - visit http://independentsday.nu/ for more details!)
Fee: $15

Workshop 4: Intro to Flash
Instructor: Phong Nguyen
Date: Saturday, October 4 (Phong, plz let me know ASAP if you think this workshop warrants two sessions! This can be scheduled for both the 4th and the 11th)
Time: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Location: Junctionview Studios
Fee: $25

Seems like I’m living in a snowglobe minus the snow. I’m discombobulated and every time I think I’ve got my footing again — shake shake shake — I’m knocked off balance.

Good news: Let go of a timesuck client that people have been telling me to let go of for months.

(shake shake shake)

Bad news: Client still hasn’t paid me for last month of work.

(shake shake shake)

Good news: I think working around Brett’s schedule is more than do-able because the kids are older, I’m better organized and teleivion is a magical baby sitter.

(shake shake shake)

Bad news: Brett isn’t loving the job.

It’s kinda like that only it’s everything. Every. Little. Thing. So that’s how my mood is, too.

Good news!

(shake shake shake)

Bad news!

(shake shake shake)

Ad infinitum.

I am neither happy nor sad about this or that or the other thing but I am interested — sorta like a bystander in denial that the shake-ups are actually happening to me. I find this to be a sanity-saver since I’m pretending not to nice the way I’m being buffeted by whichever rotten kid is messing with my personal snowglobe.

(shake shake shake)