Month: November 2012

Thanksgiving 2012 in DC

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Stunning Scenery - One reason why I'm thankful for living in DC

Yesterday was the first time I spent Thanksgiving in DC, and only the third time in my life that I haven’t spent the holiday with family. Looking back, there’s a lot to be thankful for this year.

My career break. Leaving a job voluntarily, especially in this economy, is always a tough decision. I’m so thankful that I had the opportunity to study abroad in Taipei, and travel (if only briefly) around Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. I experienced and saw so many things, challenged myself in countless ways, and met so many great people.

My career. Coming back to the States with no firm offer in-country was stressful. There were moments while abroad that I feared the impending uncertainty I’d have to face once I returned to LA. Where would I live? What would I do? Thankfully, it only took me a couple weeks to receive offers. I’m now working at a career company. Note that I didn’t use the word job. After being back in the workforce for six months, it’s an amazing feeling to work at a place where I can honestly see myself for a while. It’s an amazing feeling. I’m constantly being pushed at just the right speed, the work environment is incredibly relaxed, and the benefits are just fantastic!

My friends. I once heard this interesting quote that people make the place. After moving to Philly, then DC, then Taipei, then back to DC, I wholeheartedly believe in the quote. After meeting so many people (and saying so many goodbyes) throughout Taiwan and Southeast Asia, I came back with a greater appreciation for all the friendships I’ve been fortunate to have over the past six years. And it’s not just close friends that I’m thankful for. Other friends, colleagues, activity partners, acquaintances, and even just folks that I’ve met once but have since forgotten, each individual has shaped my life in each city.

My health. Earlier this year my grandma passed away. And it was by far the most unexpected event that happened in my life this year. Her death was the first I’ve experienced among my immediately family, and was a powerful reminder that life is fleeting. As a twenty-something, I think I sometimes take for granted my health and youthfulness. I’m thankful that aside from poor eyesight and a deaf ear, I’m in good health.

While these are the top points that came to mind, about a year and a half ago I started keeping a log of three good things that happened for me that day. As this article argues, cultivating gratitude raises overall life satisfaction and helps foster a positive outlook. Although from time to time I’ve lapsed entries, the point of the exercise is to be more mindful of the positive things in our life. Try out the exercise for a week and see how you feel afterwards. Hope it makes you more aware of how great of a life you have!

Taking the Plunge: A Year Later

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It’s hard to believe that it’s been exactly one year to the day that I took the plunge into uncertainty. I had recently quit my job, had moved back to LA, and was gearing up for a nine-month sojourn in Taiwan before returning to grad school. I had no idea what I was doing. Some supported my decision and called it brave, while  others called it selfish and reckless. Regardless, the decision to leave had passed. I had made my bed, and it was now time to lie in it.

A year later, and I’m amazed at how much my plans changed. I never stayed in Taiwan for nine months. I studied for a semester, then briefly traveled around Southeast Asia before returning back to the States. I deferred (then declined) my offer for grad school; instead, I found a career with a great company working on some really cool projects.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from this past year of uncertainty, it’s this: JUST DO IT!

Quit thinking so much. Just do it.

Obviously, easier said than done. As a researcher, I tend to think a lot – in some cases, way too much. Moreover, as someone who has a low tolerance for risk, thinking through possible consequences is just a logical part of the process of decision making. To the point that thinking about something feels more important than doing something about it. The issue, however, is of course that we get into analysis paralysis. You know, that feeling where you’ve spent weeks (or months, or even years) thinking about doing something, without ever having done anything at all. This has got to stop. I’m serious!

The Just Do It Test

Over the course of the year, I’ve developed implicitly a quick test to help me in all my decision making. It’s really simple actually. I just ask these three questions:

  1. What do I want to do? (i.e., specific objective)
  2. Why do I want to do it? (i.e., commitment assessment)
  3. What will it take to do it? (i.e., resource allocation)

It’s my own way of thinking whether something is worthwhile to pursue. While there’s nothing earth shattering about each question, the difference I think is that I always impose a time limit to consider these questions. For me, that time limit is one season.

Especially for really drastic changes, such as quitting one’s job, embarking on a new venture, or other endeavor, I think a full 90 days provides more than enough time to really assess the pros and cons of any major decision. If after three months the answers to these questions change, I either drop the plan and cut losses, or head back to the drawing board to consider alternatives. Some might find a full season too much or too little time, but that duration is reflective of my own personal tolerance for risk.

So there you go. Those questions are what helped me to really get through this year of uncertainty. It helped me decide not to stay in Taiwan, to travel around Southeast Asia, to move back to DC, to not go to grad school, to find a career, etc.

I’d love to learn about what are the critical pieces you consider whenever you need to make a critical juncture!