After a year of stringing together a series of short
term contracts, I’m happy to announce I recently signed a long term project
with NetHope. As the organization’s core
Marketing and Communications Specialist. I’ll be responsible for helping
develop NetHope’s communications strategy, managing its digital properties, and
planning the organization’s big member summit in the fall.
Like many of life’s adventures I’m terrified and excited for
this new opportunity. It will allow me to work at the intersection of a number
of issues I’m interested in and use my complete communicator
tool box. All being said, the role will also force me to quickly acquire
new skills and operate at my very best all the time. Being a solo
communications shop as I’ve discussed with other friends is a double-edged
sword in many ways. It presents endless opportunities to explore various
projects without worrying about red tape but can quickly devolve into chaos if
managed incorrectly.
Accepting this offer was difficult at first because it meant
closing the door for now on a traditional and stable career path. Initially I
found this idea very unsettling. The common question I frequently ask myself,
“what’s next,” had no simple answer. Instead it’s filled with a lot of mystery
and vagueness.
So with that I’ve made up my mind. I’m taking a step back
from the ledge, jumping high in the air, and doing a cannon ball into the deep
end of the independent pool. The best way to learn is by doing. A quote I
recently stumbled upon on LinkedIn describes this idea best, “sometimes you
have to build the plane on the way down.”
[Photo Courtesy of llstalteri]
