Comments on: Honesty is as honesty does http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/ K.G. Schneider's blog on librarianship, writing, and everything else, since 2003. Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:49:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: K.G. Schneider http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71466 K.G. Schneider Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:15:23 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71466 Miss E., if those $6 sandals work for you now... sounds like a beautiful relationship, whether or not it lasts. Miss E., if those $6 sandals work for you now… sounds like a beautiful relationship, whether or not it lasts.

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71193 K.G. Schneider Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:25:36 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71193 Laura, you make good points. I spent a while exploring "fit" at my new job before I came to my conclusion. I had come from a job that felt just right, so the difference was marked, and became more so as time went on. How long to wait out the "fit" question is also deeply personal. It's not just about people, either. It can be about workload, tasks, and other angles. Even values. Also, not to be ageist, but workers with less experience in the workforce might be advised to keep their chin up a while and see if things settle down. But after thirty years in the full-time workforce, I'm more certain of when something isn't right. To me the proof is in the pudding. I'm much happier at MPOW... I'm back to my old self. Laura, you make good points.

I spent a while exploring “fit” at my new job before I came to my conclusion. I had come from a job that felt just right, so the difference was marked, and became more so as time went on. How long to wait out the “fit” question is also deeply personal.

It’s not just about people, either. It can be about workload, tasks, and other angles. Even values.

Also, not to be ageist, but workers with less experience in the workforce might be advised to keep their chin up a while and see if things settle down. But after thirty years in the full-time workforce, I’m more certain of when something isn’t right.

To me the proof is in the pudding. I’m much happier at MPOW… I’m back to my old self.

]]> By: Laura http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71170 Laura Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:59:49 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71170 The "fit" thing is something I'm struggling with at the moment. I think it's also very important to be honest when you're dealing with a major change. There can be moments where things feel like a bad fit, when in reality it may be difficulty adjusting to the wider range of personalities and types within the institution - and at the same time, missing those left at the old job. Personally, I don't know yet which it is for me, which seems to tell me that it's probably adjustment over fit. Is the fit as good as at the old job? Not yet, and it may never be, but it was time to move on. The “fit” thing is something I’m struggling with at the moment. I think it’s also very important to be honest when you’re dealing with a major change. There can be moments where things feel like a bad fit, when in reality it may be difficulty adjusting to the wider range of personalities and types within the institution - and at the same time, missing those left at the old job.

Personally, I don’t know yet which it is for me, which seems to tell me that it’s probably adjustment over fit. Is the fit as good as at the old job? Not yet, and it may never be, but it was time to move on.

]]> By: Julian http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71144 Julian Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:40:47 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71144 *applause* A little over three years ago, I left library school... mostly over "fit." (The rest had to do with being a horrible student.) That action motivated me to make it eventually work. Since last month, I have been back at the "scene of the crime," and not much has changed. Even with completely different people, the "fit" factor is about the same. I know that the only road to success this time is complete self-change. However, I don't have "options" available to me to make that easier. I know that what I'm doing right now isn't going to get me where I want to go in my career. My #1 motivation for the past three years has been not becoming homeless. (There's a point in there somewhere, but I don't know what it is.) *applause*

A little over three years ago, I left library school… mostly over “fit.” (The rest had to do with being a horrible student.) That action motivated me to make it eventually work. Since last month, I have been back at the “scene of the crime,” and not much has changed. Even with completely different people, the “fit” factor is about the same. I know that the only road to success this time is complete self-change. However, I don’t have “options” available to me to make that easier. I know that what I’m doing right now isn’t going to get me where I want to go in my career. My #1 motivation for the past three years has been not becoming homeless. (There’s a point in there somewhere, but I don’t know what it is.)

]]> By: Miss E http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71141 Miss E Tue, 16 Oct 2007 15:29:43 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-71141 Thank you for this. I left a PhD program in the last year because it wasn't a good fit, and then left a job that was a wonderful fit because the personal sacrifices required were just too great. I'm in a new position now, and am trying to determine whether it's a good fit - or if it's good enough for now (kind of like the $6 sandals I buy in the summer because I know I'm going to wear them out anyway). Thank you for this. I left a PhD program in the last year because it wasn’t a good fit, and then left a job that was a wonderful fit because the personal sacrifices required were just too great. I’m in a new position now, and am trying to determine whether it’s a good fit - or if it’s good enough for now (kind of like the $6 sandals I buy in the summer because I know I’m going to wear them out anyway).

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70936 K.G. Schneider Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:47:40 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70936 Yeah, confusing unhappiness with stagnation is another issue. Good point, Genny! (Can't wait to see you at IL!) Yeah, confusing unhappiness with stagnation is another issue. Good point, Genny! (Can’t wait to see you at IL!)

]]> By: Genny http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70934 Genny Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:36:37 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70934 "Because I've been in my comfort zone for years" is about the best reason I can think of for quitting :) Worked for me, anyway. I would have learned a lot had I stayed at some of my previous jobs ... but I've learned so much more since I left. “Because I’ve been in my comfort zone for years” is about the best reason I can think of for quitting :)

Worked for me, anyway. I would have learned a lot had I stayed at some of my previous jobs … but I’ve learned so much more since I left.

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70775 K.G. Schneider Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:28:10 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70775 Jenny, that applies so broadly, too! Life, relationships, etc. Change is painful... but there's nothing like realizing you can breathe and see again. Jenny, that applies so broadly, too! Life, relationships, etc. Change is painful… but there’s nothing like realizing you can breathe and see again.

]]> By: Jenny Levine http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70766 Jenny Levine Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:10:09 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70766 Amen! I'll add that sometimes you can be competent in a job, doing well, and learning a lot, but it's not until something wakes you up and forces you to leave that you weren't in that great a position to begin with. For myself, I didn't realize just how much I was stagnating, and my new job has opened up a whole new world for me (much as I miss pieces of the old one). Hindsight is 20/20 for a reason - use it! Learn and move on, because what's the alternative really? I'm about a decade behind you, Karen, but I totally agree that life is too short to dwell on negativity and live in the vortex. Amen! I’ll add that sometimes you can be competent in a job, doing well, and learning a lot, but it’s not until something wakes you up and forces you to leave that you weren’t in that great a position to begin with. For myself, I didn’t realize just how much I was stagnating, and my new job has opened up a whole new world for me (much as I miss pieces of the old one).

Hindsight is 20/20 for a reason - use it! Learn and move on, because what’s the alternative really? I’m about a decade behind you, Karen, but I totally agree that life is too short to dwell on negativity and live in the vortex.

]]> By: K.G. Schneider http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70756 K.G. Schneider Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:41:40 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/10/15/honesty-is-as-honesty-does/#comment-70756 Wow! Maybe I'm in the wrong business..! Wow! Maybe I’m in the wrong business..!

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