It's mind blowing to me sometimes how things have a way of working out exactly how they should. Especially when you never would have imagined that they would play out that way. Life has a way of just taking you where you need to be, at precisely the time that you should be there. Things that once looked like a horrible turn of events suddenly become seen as something fantastic, because all at once you can see that without it having happened that exact way, you would never be where you are. And sometimes, when things line up just right, you can look back at where you have been, see where you are right now, and visualize where you are going. And when that place you see in the future is a really good one, well then, that's when you sit down and write a blog post about how mind blowing it is that things always work out exactly how they should. ;)
Remember last fall when Matthew applied for a Sales Manger position in St. Paul, Minnesota? How we were super excited (and also really scared) about potentially moving 2,000 miles away from everything that was familiar to us? How in the end, after a strange and mysterious change of events, we didn't end up moving after all? At the time all we had was speculation as to what had or hadn't happened with the St. Paul position. But since we had actually been relieved that we didn't have to move (trying to sell your house in a crappy housing market is no fun at ALL!) we didn't ponder the details too long, and got on with our lives. Then, just two days ago, Matthew and I were driving home from All-Stars and we had our first serious discussion about his job since we had learned that Minnesota was a no go. We talked about what he wanted from his career (to be an Inbound Sales Manager) and how he was going to get there (not really sure). We made the decision that he would accept any opportunity to further his career, even though the chances of something coming up in Portland were pretty slim. We also talked about some gossip that he had heard about St. Paul...apparently there were some really unusual events happening there, and some high up managers being fired. Nobody really knew what the scoop was, but he was sure he was going to hear more about it when he went into work on Monday.
Boy...we had no idea how right he would be about that! Matthew walked into work today, and was pulled into his bosses office right away. Ron (Matthew's manager) told him that St. Paul was in the middle of making some big market changes, and since they had never hired anyone to fill the position that Matthew had applied for, they really needed to find an interim Sales Manager to help with all the transitions that were happening. And guess who they wanted for the job? Matthew!! Ron told him he had to offer all the sales supervisors the chance to take the position, but implied that it really was his for the taking. To say that I was shocked when Matthew called to tell me what was going on would be an understatement. Not shocked that he would get offered the position, just shocked that this was how it was all turning out...I thought we had walked away from Minnesota for good! And now here we were, being offered the opportunity of a lifetime in that very same market - less than 48 hours after we had talked about his career goals and how he could get closer to them. Things like this really make me a believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason!
So of course Matthew applied for the position, and of course - they chose him for it! He is the new Interim Sales Manager of the entire Minnesota sales market! In the course of two days, our entire lives have changed. We found out today that Matthew will be flying out for Minnesota on March 26th, exactly one week since we first heard about the opportunity. He will be gone for 3 months. Yes....3 MONTHS. His company is paying for an apartment for him in St. Paul, a rental car, and all his utilities and groceries for the time that he is there. They have also offered to fly him back to Portland every other weekend to see us. I am really excited for him, and *so* proud of how hard he has worked for this. I am thrilled from a career boosting aspect - how many times do you get the chance to have a trial run at the very position that you hope to move up to? It is a huge honor for him to be asked to do this, and I know that he is going to do an absolutely outstanding job. Minnesota probably wont want to let him go by the end of his time there! At the same time...I am also really scared! I will essentially become a single/solo parent almost overnight. Meals, housecleaning, bath time, homework help, puppy training, bedtime, getting the kids up and ready for school....100% of that will fall on my shoulders. In addition, I started my job at the barn the very same day that he went to work and was told about this position! I don't know how I am going to juggle everything, and its going to be really lonely without my best friend here to talk to. The kids and I are going to miss him so much, but we are also really proud of him, and so excited that he gets the chance to do this.
So....here we go! Minnesota. Take two!
Remember last fall when Matthew applied for a Sales Manger position in St. Paul, Minnesota? How we were super excited (and also really scared) about potentially moving 2,000 miles away from everything that was familiar to us? How in the end, after a strange and mysterious change of events, we didn't end up moving after all? At the time all we had was speculation as to what had or hadn't happened with the St. Paul position. But since we had actually been relieved that we didn't have to move (trying to sell your house in a crappy housing market is no fun at ALL!) we didn't ponder the details too long, and got on with our lives. Then, just two days ago, Matthew and I were driving home from All-Stars and we had our first serious discussion about his job since we had learned that Minnesota was a no go. We talked about what he wanted from his career (to be an Inbound Sales Manager) and how he was going to get there (not really sure). We made the decision that he would accept any opportunity to further his career, even though the chances of something coming up in Portland were pretty slim. We also talked about some gossip that he had heard about St. Paul...apparently there were some really unusual events happening there, and some high up managers being fired. Nobody really knew what the scoop was, but he was sure he was going to hear more about it when he went into work on Monday.
Boy...we had no idea how right he would be about that! Matthew walked into work today, and was pulled into his bosses office right away. Ron (Matthew's manager) told him that St. Paul was in the middle of making some big market changes, and since they had never hired anyone to fill the position that Matthew had applied for, they really needed to find an interim Sales Manager to help with all the transitions that were happening. And guess who they wanted for the job? Matthew!! Ron told him he had to offer all the sales supervisors the chance to take the position, but implied that it really was his for the taking. To say that I was shocked when Matthew called to tell me what was going on would be an understatement. Not shocked that he would get offered the position, just shocked that this was how it was all turning out...I thought we had walked away from Minnesota for good! And now here we were, being offered the opportunity of a lifetime in that very same market - less than 48 hours after we had talked about his career goals and how he could get closer to them. Things like this really make me a believer in the idea that everything happens for a reason!
So of course Matthew applied for the position, and of course - they chose him for it! He is the new Interim Sales Manager of the entire Minnesota sales market! In the course of two days, our entire lives have changed. We found out today that Matthew will be flying out for Minnesota on March 26th, exactly one week since we first heard about the opportunity. He will be gone for 3 months. Yes....3 MONTHS. His company is paying for an apartment for him in St. Paul, a rental car, and all his utilities and groceries for the time that he is there. They have also offered to fly him back to Portland every other weekend to see us. I am really excited for him, and *so* proud of how hard he has worked for this. I am thrilled from a career boosting aspect - how many times do you get the chance to have a trial run at the very position that you hope to move up to? It is a huge honor for him to be asked to do this, and I know that he is going to do an absolutely outstanding job. Minnesota probably wont want to let him go by the end of his time there! At the same time...I am also really scared! I will essentially become a single/solo parent almost overnight. Meals, housecleaning, bath time, homework help, puppy training, bedtime, getting the kids up and ready for school....100% of that will fall on my shoulders. In addition, I started my job at the barn the very same day that he went to work and was told about this position! I don't know how I am going to juggle everything, and its going to be really lonely without my best friend here to talk to. The kids and I are going to miss him so much, but we are also really proud of him, and so excited that he gets the chance to do this.
So....here we go! Minnesota. Take two!