Minnesota Nice

I was born and raised in Minnesota and have lived there my entire life, except for the four years when I ventured across the border to attend the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Minnesota is known for its long, bitterly cold winters. Winters where you step outside on a crisp, sunny January day and are met with a sharp -20 degree wind chill that rattles your bones. People embrace the indoors and scurry in and out of cars wrapped in thick hats, down parkas, wool mittens, and Ugg boots. It never ceases to amaze me when I see people sporting shorts and t-shirts on the first 40 degree day of the season. 

Despite the cold, one thing that I love about Minnesota is the warmth and kindness of the local inhabitants' hearts and souls. Minnesotans are open and friendly too all; maybe this is because they crave social connections during the long winter hibernation periods. You are free and encouraged to strike up a conversation with a local shop owner, cashier, or elevator companion. If you struggle with what to say, the weather is always a trusted topic du jour. 

As a curious explorer, I love meeting new people while out and about and learning about their interests, careers, dreams, and other random thoughts. There is a strong sense of community and support linking Minnesotans together.

My recent visit to Florida provides a stark contrast to my Minnesota home. First and foremost, the weather is a tropical relief from the drastic cold. Each day I embrace and cherish the warm, sunny weather as I walk briskly on the beach, admiring the waves crashing against the shore. The sun radiates from the sky and wraps around me like a thick down blanket, warming me to the core. It amazes me to see people bundled up in sweatshirts, jeans, hats and mittens when the temperature dips below 60 degrees on a bright February day.

Each afternoon I head to the pool and hope to indulge in friendly conversation with the regular snowbirds. I fantasize about their prior careers that led them to the lap of luxury enjoying endless rounds of golf, games of tennis, walks on the beach, and cocktails by the pool. My curiosity is left unfulfilled as I quickly learn that I am viewed as an outside who doesn't fit in their inner circle. To them, I am simply a passing visitor enjoying a short break in paradise. 

Even when I venture into the shops or visit the local grocery store, I am faced with blank stares and cold, terse responses when I try to engage in conversation with the employees. People seem so guarded and cold here, as if they are wishing to conceal their stories and dreams, only revealing them to tight circle of trusted friends.

Why is a place that is filled with warm sunshine inhabited by people who seem so distrustful and quiet? Perhaps it is the nature of tourism. Why open the door to friendship when a stranger may simply be passing through? I notice people walk on the beach trapped in their own worlds rather than admiring and engaging in the serene environment around them.

While I despise and dread the long Minnesota winters, I cherish the warmth of the people and the sense of community. It fills me with comfort and security to know that I can always count on a kind stranger to offer a friendly smile and helpful hand when I feel lost and alone. The weather and scenery of Florida is beautiful, but for some reason it feels so cold and lonely among the crowds of people basking in the sunshine. 

Perhaps we all should embrace the Minnesota spirit and offer a friendly smile and kind hello to those we meet, especially during today's dreary economic times. Who knows when you will warm the heart of a lonely soul simply by engaging and appreciating a passing stranger with a warm hello. Today I embraced my Minnesota roots and offered a heartfelt smile to those I met along the beach. I hope to spread some Minnesota cheer to the snowbirds and travelers while I spend my lazy days in the paradise of Naples, Florida.

My career story

Lately, I have interviewed people to find out how and why they got into their careers. It is interesting to hear their stories and find the commonalities between people who go into finance or marketing. I would like to share my story.

When I went to the University of Wisconsin - Madison for college, I thought I wanted to be a doctor. A counselor recommended that I take chemistry 101; if I enjoyed it and did well, this was a sign that the medical field was right for me. I did very well in chemistry, but hated the class and found it extremely boring. I also have a strong aversion to blood and bodily fluids, so I quickly ruled out medical school and nursing. I fell in love with psychology, but did not know what I would do with a psychology degree. As a practical person, I decided to major in business because I would find a job upon graduation. I considered majoring in accounting because I am good at math and knew it was in high demand, but once again I found the subject matter to be boring. I decided to focus on marketing because it allowed me to apply my interest in psychology and to satisfy my endless curiosity of figuring out why people make decisions and buy certain products.

I graduated in 2002 when the job market was depressed and the only business grads that were in demand were those finance and accounting folks. I took an entry level job in accounts payable at General Mills to get my foot in the door at a large, well-respected company. I figured I would put in my time in AP and more to a more glamorous marketing role within a year. My plan worked out perfectly and I moved into a budget management role in the Yoplait division. My manager saw my desire to learn and gave me the opportunity to manage the Yoplait Yumsters brand. I fell in love with Yumsters and spent my days watching toddlers and their moms shop in order to figure out how to revitalize this struggling brand. My instinct told me to add Dora to the package and focus on those savvy toddlers who are great at convincing their Moms to buy the Dora yogurt. Dora worked her magic and turned Yumsters into a star.

I am a quick learner who craved more responsibility, so I moved to a similar role in Big G cereal. I managed the Monsters cereal franchise, but with limited spending, could not incorporate my retro package redesign ideas to revitalize the iconic Boo Berry, Frankenberry, and Count Chocula brands. I knew I could not progress to a higher position in my current job, so I decided to get my MBA. However, I didn't consider whether or not I even wanted to get my MBA. The Carlson School of Management tempted me with a scholarship offer that I could not refuse, so I left a company and job that I loved and headed back to school.

Here is where my career story takes a turn away from my heart. As a very practical person, I told myself that I must major in finance because no matter what happened in the economy, finance people would always be in demand. I was still fascinated by my marketing classes and easily completed the assignments and exams. The subject matter was intuitive to me and aligned with my psychology interests. I struggled to stay awake in my finance courses and spent hours trying to grasp WAAC, IRR, ROIC, and Betas. I envied my finance peers who built complicated models and tracked the stock market with intensity. During my interviews, my face would light up as I enthusiastically shared my Yumsters story. I struggled to explain how I was the perfect candidate to build those complicated financial models that would calculate how much money a capital investment would yield.

Best Buy took a chance on me and was attracted to my passion and ability to establish structure in an environment that had none. My internship focused on analyzing customer purchase behavior, so I thought maybe finance might work. However, my gut felt uneasy as I felt deflated after spending hours staring at data in Excel. Something didn't feel right, but I decided to accept a full-time job offer at Best Buy because I needed a job and enjoyed the people that I met there.

On my first day of work in my new role as a senior financial analyst on the Financial Planning & Analysis team, I enthusiastically tried to offer to help and learn. My instinct told me that this didn't feel right, but I chose to ignore it and persistently tried to make the job fit. I had a hard time adapting to the work environment and spent many hours trying to make sense of all the numbers. My motivation and enthusiasm disappeared and I knew that I my heart was not fulfilled.

I recently did an informational interview with the VP of marketing that I use to work for at General Mills. She told me that at one point in her career, she was not happy and needed to take a break. She said that the people she worked with were great, but the culture was wearing her down. I realize now that the culture at Best Buy was not a good fit for me. The lack of discipline and structure and constant change wore me down. I was not performing to my best ability and was dissatisfied, as I felt that I continuously tried to figure out what people needed, providing help, and receiving no feedback. I was not learning and my burning desire to help others was left unsatisfied. The only thing that kept me going and trying to make the situation better week after week was the amazing people who I worked with. Always willing to help and a passion to be the best made my fellow co-workers great.

Now I feel lost and scared, as I know the job search will be challenging and I still do not have a clear picture of what direction to go in. I hope that my plan to stay open to new experiences will lead me to something that feels like a good fit. It is time to listen to my gut and recognize when it feels uneasy. My head has a tendency to talk me into making the "practical" decision, but I will stay strong and hold out for what my heart desires. Life is a journey and I believe I will discover my true self one step at a time.

Saying Goodbye

Tomorrow is my last Monday at Best Buy. I am filled with mixed emotions - excitement for a new beginning, fear of finding a job in the current recession, sadness over leaving the wonderful people that I worked with. Work gave me a sense of purpose and structured my day. It was rewarding to earn money and support myself financially. Contributing ideas, providing insights, and helping others solve problems gave me a sense of satisfaction.

I am excited to have a break and time to figure out what type of job would make me happy again. However, I don't have a clear picture of what this might be and it is time to ask for help and to stay open to new opportunities. This is unfamiliar to me because I have always told myself that I need to figure things out on my own. I created a lot of resistance in my life and closed myself off to options that may have led me in a different direction. As I take this new beginning, I am going to accept the help of others and walk through any door that opens. I hope to enter a place that I cannot even imagine right now.

Walking into the unknown in today's economy is daunting. The unemployment figures make me nervous about finding that right opportunity. It is apparent how money really makes the world go round. When consumers lose confidence in their ability to earn money, they stop spending. Retailers lose sales and must adjust to a lower sales base by laying off employees. Vendors cut back production in order to reduce their inventory creating a potential shortage of product for retailers. The road ahead looks uncertain, but I am confident that the economy will turn around. I must remain patient and optimistic. I believe when the right opportunity arises, things will fall into place, despite what the economy looks like at the time.

Walking into something new means saying goodbye to the old. One of the wonderful things about Best Buy is the people. Everyone has a passion for helping others and developing new solutions to problems. Best Buy is open to new ideas and encourages employees to pursue their passions, as evident by the attractive buy out package. I met and worked with many amazing people and it will be hard to say goodbye at the end of the week.

While saying goodbye and walking into the unfamiliar is scary, I know that I made the right decision. The road I am about to travel will be rocky, but I believe that if I stay positive, ask for help, and stay open, it will lead me to what I really, really, really want. My next step is to walk away and not look back - no regrets.

Ode to my Mom

My mom is the most amazing person that I know. She has a special quality about her that makes other people feel special when in her presence. She is open to new experiences and possibilities and accepts life as it comes. She is my role model and my friend. I want to dedicate this post to my Mom – my source of strength and support.

I love to watch my mom play with my cat Luci. She completely surrenders to the moment at this time. She enthusiastically opens her arms to embrace Luci, runs around the room with her feather toy, and gets down on the floor for an exciting game of fetch. Luci is overcome with excitement as she plays with my Mom. The best part of this interaction is the expression on my Mom’s face. Her eyes light up and her smile radiates from within – her love for Luci is apparent.

My mom also expresses energy and joy when visiting with her friends as she dedicates her full attention to the one she is with. She has an amazing ability to listen without judgment and make other people feel welcome in her presence. When she is with her friends, my mom lets her true personality show. She is filled with new ideas and opportunities for new experiences. It is so much fun to listen to the happiness in her voice after she visits with her friends.

What impresses me most about my mom is her patience and kind heart.

Throughout my entire life, she has supported and accepted me as I am. No matter how many times I have cried, she has always been there to dry my tears and lift me up. When I struggle with depression and feel lost and alone, I know I can count on my mom to give me hope that there are sunny days ahead. She gives me strength when I am weak. She helps guide me when I have lost my way and persistently encourages me to keep going after what my heart wants.

My mom has the greatest heart which loves all unconditionally. She is strong and persistent. When my grandparents got sick, she stopped at nothing to find the best doctors to relieve their pain. She remained at their sides and helped ease their anxieties until the end.

My mom is smart, beautiful, patient, and kind. I admire all that she is and aspire to be like her someday. My mom found her passion in marketing research. It allowed her to use her number one strength – listening – in order to discover what the customer really wants. She was a great success. I hope that I can find a job that will allow me to use my gifts. I want to make my mom proud. I can’t wait for the day when I can say, “Mom, guess what? I had the most amazing day at work. You were right, if you are patient and follow your heart, you will find the thing that makes you smile inside.”

I love you Mom, you mean the world to me and I hope you find your source of happiness too.