Second Chances…on-time, under-budget

Not everyone gets second chances and people rarely get a reset button, but I’m getting both; a second chance at life and I get to reset my career.

Over the past few months, there has been a lot of talk about what I would do next. When would I return to work? Where would I return to work? How could I take advantage of this second chance?

It got me thinking, and I realized that I needed a plan.  As the New Year approached and I knew what was in store for me over the next few months, I started thinking about my plan. I knew what I wanted, I just wasn’t ready to sharing it yet.

What are my goals? How could I achieve them? What blockers were in my way? Where would I be most comfortable? Where would I be challenged to do my best work?

So, I started planning, it’s what I do. Slowly and steadily I started planting seeds.  Created a target list. I reconnected with old colleagues.  I started doing the little things to prepare myself to return to work, both mentally and physically.

My plan started out so simple, return to my old job, see how it goes. Ease back into it. Slow and steady. If you have ever planned anything, then you know that plan was a pipe dream.

And… things didn’t go as planned (or did they?) – OK, go, react, don’t panic, be smart, get ahead of it, plan, react, refactor, adjust, be cool… I was already 2 steps ahead.

• What are my goals? check
• How/Where could I achieve them? check
• What blockers are in my way? check
• Where would I be most comfortable? check
• Where would I be challenged to do my best work? check

Well, now I’m back to work and its electric. It’s hard to articulate how it feels to walk around the office (again). I’ve been back for about 4 weeks, yet most of the time it feels like I never left.

A big part of the recovery process is getting back to normal. This is the most normal I have been in a while and its feels @#$%^&* great. I’m really excited for what’s ahead and I’m really happy about how it has unfolded. I don’t think I could have planned it better

“when you want to succeed as much as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”

MA

p.s. – Tonight was my first Community Impact Committee meeting for the 2012 Light the Night walk- We have our first event next week at Citizen Bank Park. I will write about whats going on with Team Down with Disease next week. Big things ahead, lots of money to raise for Blood Cancer Research.

p.s.s. – Shout out to my pop-pop; Max Rapp – 90 years young, still works everyday. Not because he has to, because he knows it what’s keeping him alive. Most of his retired friends have passed away, but he still drives, goes to work and is in the process of trading his Caddy for a Camaro convertible, he is so cool!  He is a great role-model, instilling a tremendous work ethic in both my brother and I. Working is very important to me and the work I do, I really enjoy.  I learned to work hard from him and it has never been a problem for me. Pop-pop, what a role-model you are.  We are so lucky to have you in our lives.