10 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 6

Today I am thankful that I have found a challenging, rewarding career that I can honestly say I love - and that I have an AMAZING boss.

I never really thought I would find a career I truly loved.  My 20s were all about figuring out what I was good at and what I enjoyed.  In the beginning stages of my career, I thought I would be "successful" and "happy" when I was managing people.  Then I took a management job in 2005 and HATED it.  And truth be told, I wasn't very good at it.  I learned that I did not have to manage people to be successful.

Then in 2006 I had an opportunity to work in corporate finance.  I loved my finance classes in college so thought I would love this career path.  I tried and tried to fall in love with this field, but I was a square peg in a round hole.  I went into corporate finance because it was safer than the investment side of finance.  I gave a try for 4+ years, and changed companies at one point, thinking that would make all the difference.  It didn't.  I learned corporate finance was not for me.

In the spring of 2010, I went back to the drawing board.  I returned to my current employer, accepting a job I knew was not a long-term solution, but gave me time to regain some confidence while trying to sort through all I had learned in the past 7 years of working.

Luckily, in January of this year, it all came together.  I had contacted my current boss in the fall to set up time to discuss careers in the bond market industry.  He has worked in this industry for nearly 20 years and  knows me well as we got to know each other when I worked in corporate finance.  He happened to have a position that was opening and I landed the job!

I was really scared when I started my new position.  But there was no reason to be afraid because the job has been a perfect fit.  It incorporates all of my skills and abilities and I work in an industry that I am passionate about.  I never thought I'd find a job that allowed me to use my analytical skills, talk to customers, and write.  But this job does.

On top of that, I have an amazing boss.  He treats me like a partner and refers to me as his partner, instead of his employee.  He challenges me and gives me projects with no constraints, which allows me to figure it out on my own.  And when I was out sick earlier this month, he missed me so much that when I came back, he brought me a pumpkin spice latte - 2 days in a row!  He respects me, encourages me, and also provides critical feedback (which can be tough to listen to, but important for career development).

I am very lucky to be where I am today.  For much of my 20s, I felt so lost and unsure of what direction I should take.  I felt like my jobs were all so random and unrelated - I mean, what do mortgage underwriting and corporate finance have in common?  But during my first month in my job, my boss said he thinks I am going to look back on my past positions and see that all along, they were building to this position and make total sense.  And strangely enough, they do.

I am really excited to see where my career will go.  I've started traveling and doing client visits and tomorrow, I will deliver my first presentation on investment strategy to a room of 60+ people.  *GULP*  I am very nervous, but also excited.  I know I need to dive in and start somewhere!  Here's hoping I come across as a passionate, knowledgeable, and polished presenter!