A Different Year Means A Different City…

I don’t mean to alarm anyone with the title of this post, it is all about the past and has very little to do with the future. Not that I need to have a safe harbor statement here however for any of you reading this be assured that the following is in no way indicative of future events and any decisions you make should not be made on the basis of any forward looking statements…

Previous posts of mine have alluded to the fact that I have lived in a few different cities over the past few years and that my mobility is a facet of my life that I consider a bit unique. Couple this with the fact that yet another year is winding down to a close it has started me thinking about what 2012 will bring and reflecting on what 2011 has meant to me.

When I looked back at 2011 it was clear that it was not only interesting but was also a year of much learning and growth. With this gratitude I thought about years further back and a pattern started to emerge, I have been in a different city for New Years each of the past four years. Not just “in” different cities but actually “living in” different cities!

In 2008 I was living in Lower Onslow Nova Scotia, which is where I had called home for the previous 11 years. It might not be a good idea to look it up on a map since it is a small community located less than 10km outside of Truro (which can be found on most maps).

The following year saw me ring in the New Year in our nation’s capital, Ottawa Ontario. My journey to Ottawa happened with a promotion in the summer prior and I really thought I was going to be there for the long haul. Given the title of this post provides a hint that this was not to be, as 2009 was the only New Year that I rang in there.

Late 2009 was when I took a huge leap of faith and relocated to Halifax Nova Scotia. I changed jobs, companies, industries and cities just in time to celebrate the new year at the Grand Parade in Halifax. It was definitely a bit of a homecoming, my alma mater (Dalhousie University) is in Halifax and I still had many friends there. Once again I believed I was going to be there for a while, I had a great apartment in the heart of downtown. I lived there for only 5 months.

As this year ends and the next year begins I will be in Saint John New Brunswick. It is my fourth city in four years. My intention is the same as in the past three years so I will be here again next year at this time. Saint John is a port city and has very a busy harbor, I haven’t heard of any issues so I assume it is also a safe harbor :)

The Whirlwind that is My Life…

A lot can change in only six months. As we near the end of May 2011 I am caught reflecting where I am and where I was just a short time ago, so let’s flashback six months and reminisce.

In November 2010 I was working in Ottawa for a large Canadian subsidiary of an even larger multibillion dollar US based global company. My role was called an Office Solutions Executive, but all that really means is I was tasked with supporting a sales team to deliver defined revenue targets with in a specific product group. I had been in the role for 17 months and perceived that it was time to make a change.

An opportunity had presented itself the month previous and I decided to take the gamble – relocate to Halifax to work as a Sales Coach for an upstart social media monitoring company. The role was exciting not because I knew all about social media (I didn’t) but because I felt that my efforts would be noticed and my contributions would be valuable. I moved and started afresh on December 1^st. My time in Ottawa was short but I made many great friends and I am keeping in touch with social media.

My new employer was just about everything my old employer was not. We were small, nimble and every day we faced new challenges that had no defined process to handle. We were in growth mode and saw our sales group grow from 14 to more than 45 by the end of March when it was announced that we were being purchased by a large US based multibillion dollar global company. We would retain our own brand and operate as a separate business unit but it was clear that things would change, for better or worse.

After another month it was time for yet another change. I accepted the role of Manager, Corporate Sales for our office in Saint John effective May 1^st. I had moved only 5 months earlier and was once again packing all of my belongings for relocation.

Three cities in three provinces in six months. I am not sure that it is a record but if it is I am thinking I don’t want to break it! As I write this post I still need to schedule my power hook-up for June 1^st and get proof of insurance for my place before I get the keys.

I have always said that life is short, enjoy every moment! I know that in everything I do I look for ways to maximize my experience. With every passing day I learn and hopefully pass on some of the knowledge I have. Above all else I embrace the challenges and opportunities in front of me and I have fun.

If the past is a predictor of the future I cannot even begin to guess what the next six months will be like, but I can guarantee it will be an exciting adventure. The best part of this adventure is that I happen to have the best seat in the house for it!

Time to fasten my seat belt, the ride is about to begin…