Lessons Learned in Living a Life In and Out of the Workforce

I have made many mistakes along the way as I have gone in and out of the workforce (see my blog under Nonprofit) but I have tried to do everything I did with integrity and to the best of my abilities. For this, I know that my children forgive me my many faults and, because of this, I have had a series of fascinating jobs that enabled me to feel that I was making a difference in the world. The one thing I have learned is that there isn’t any right answer or right way to go about things. All we can do is bumble along and do our best, recognize and admit mistakes, and be unconditionally loving and humble with our children.

Here are some of the lessons I feel I’ve learned:
1) Whatever the plan is, it changes and you need to be flexible enough to change with it
2) You need to be paying attention to what your family needs and prioritize that first
3) You need to pay your dues by working full-time or pro bono to gain credibility, trust, reputation – then you can set your own terms because people need you
4) The more confident you are about telling employers when you are (not) available the more easily they accept your terms
5) Being at a birthday party or a soccer game can legitimately be described as a “meeting” and should be. Use business terminology when describing your availability
6) Any job that requires most of the work to be done by phone or computer and where the meetings are set up by you is an excellent fit with the life of a mom
7) Every job opportunity I have had started with a conversation during a social situation. Don’t stand in the corner at cocktail parties talking to the other moms about bus schedules.
8) You need to continually reassess the health of your family with your spouse and recalibrate as necessary.
9) When a great opportunity comes along, go for it! If it isn’t working out – quit!
10) Always leave jobs on good terms. Often this results in your being hired for your next project.