find a job that i love and be well paid for it

Gosh, I haven’t updated here on 43Things in a while, life has been so crazy.

So my initial plans of being a piano teach fell through like crazy. My housemates started dragging their feet and then decided they didn’t want to give up the space in the living room for my piano. Cue major panic from me as my funds started dwindling that I had saved up due to basic necessities like paying bills, buying food, etc. Not to mention I cleaned their portion of the house in exchange for this and then they backed out. I still feel totally used on that part.

Out of the blue last month I got an email from someone that used to be a member at my old job at the gym; turns out she’d started her own business and that they were hiring. So I walked in a couple days later – voila, I had a new job as a coach at another gym.

I never used to see myself as ever working at a gym, honestly, because I’ve never been in very fantastic shape due to various health reasons; but I do try to workout as much as I’m physically able to and all that jazz, and one of the things I’m good at is building rapport with other people and being motivational in a positive manner. This is a major part of what my job requires, in addition to sales savvy, which I’ve also got. So for once, I’m “overly qualified” in a perfect way.

So at present, I can definitely see this as being a job I’ll be able to say “I love”. I’m already very close to it; there’s a lot of things that are still being ironed out since it’s a new business just getting rolling, but my start wage is above minimum, which is fantastic, and I’ve been informed that I’ll be moving from part time to full time once we reach a certain number of members and I get to look forward to a pay increase. And for once I’m really looking forward to the prospect of full time because I like the place I work. In addition to all those perks, my bosses are totally awesome people – real people, and by that I mean that they aren’t totally fake like some people I’ve worked with in the past.

Definitely looking forward to seeing how things unfold with this.

After talking with my housemates I’m on my way toward becoming a teacher for beginning voice and piano lessons. I’m currently working on reorganizing the upstairs of our house so I can take my piano out of my bedroom and fit it up there. This feels like a step in the right direction, for once, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this new path turns out.

I only have two days left of my current job; I decided to leave due to a few things that have changed with the company and due to issues with my no longer being able to get to work at some of the times I’d be scheduled to work (I don’t drive and rely on the bus system to get across the city, so it’s kind of, uh, impossible! for me to get to work at 5:30am in the morning when the bus doesn’t start running until an hour later).

I’m actually looking forward to this change; I think it’s the perfect opportunity to find employment in a position I’m better suited for. I’d really like to aim for working at a locally owned bookstore, cafe, or ogranic market; I’ll see what happens.

... but I really like my job still, and that’s a good thing. My manager took time yesterday to talk with me and let me know she’s had some of the gym members go out of their way to talk to her or call her and tell her they really enjoy having me work with them. I’m really pleased with that information.

I’ve also been given pretty free rein to work on various projects around the gym like activities to keep the members motivated, poster design, etc. I’ve never had a job where I get to use all my years of arts and crafts and put it into practice for practical means. That’s a huge perk.

... and I’m still enjoying my job. I just spoke with my manager today and received positive feedback which is always good.
I’m also gaining hours at the second gym across town this week, which I’m honored to have. Obviously I’m doing well enough that the company trusts I can handle being throw into a new situation and hold my own.
I’m vaguely nervous as I’ve never worked with any of the staff over there so I don’t know how well we’ll mesh but I figure if I just keep doing what I’ve been doing at main branch everything should be fine.

I finally got myself a job that isn’t fast food or retail; I’m a fitness technician at a gym, and so far, I love it. Pay is minimum wage, but any money at this point to me is considered “well paid for it” compared to not being employed steadily.