Surrounded by supportive subscribers
Thanks for 2015
As 2015 comes to a close, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of the subscribers and supporters of the blog. When I started this blog 5 years ago, it was an excuse to lock down a URL for a nickname given to me by my co-workers. I didn’t have a blog in mind. Vainly, I just wanted the URL. I was casually helping folks find jobs and had several white papers I put together on the topic. It was pointed out that I use the blog as a public host. I also realized I could learn a lot more about my own personal weakness, social media.
5 years later, I would have never thought I would learn so much about social media, make so many friends, or help folks find jobs and advance careers. What started out as a fluke has turned into a personal success. The blog has close to 35,000 subscribers via various channels. I couldn’t be happier. This would not have happened without your support.
Keeps me motivated
It is with your subscription, questions, comments, emails, and thanks that keep me motivated to write, and I like to believe have helped more and more folks with their careers and finding new jobs. Frankly, we all have each other to thank. Without the subscriber engagement, I wouldn’t have kept going. I also know that many readers have been helped by other subscribers and Twitter followers. That in itself is pretty damn cool.
2015, a year of change
Thankful for great friends and times shared in 2015. I know these guys will always have my back.
I started 2015 with the sale of the last company I worked with in January. Before I started a new job search, I took a bit more than a month off to go fly-fishing for Steelhead in the Olympic Peninsula. This was time to decompress and figure out the next steps. I blogged about the experience of being unemployed and shared the time off with a very good friend, entrepreneur, and professional angler/pro photographer, Brett Seng. If you are into the outdoors, check out his stuff here. I was flattered to be involved in the evolution of his new startup. I am really proud of him and his recent success with the new venture. The guy is a badass. During that month, we fished and smoked cigars with a great bunch of anglers, including my closest friends above.
Recruited by a CEO and prior colleague
In April, I took a new job with a technology company working with a CEO I had worked with in the past. The CEO is a guy I respected and knew I could learn from. More importantly, a guy who valued HR and a guy I call a close friend. Even though the job market is hot in Seattle and unemployment was at an all-time low, it was good to feel wanted.
I don’t wish cancer on anyone, but we are stronger for the experience.
Cancer
In June, Mrs. Nasty was diagnosed with cancer. Our CEO was extremely gracious and explained that I should do what we need to do for us. I am glad to say that Mrs. Nasty just finished her radiation therapy a few weeks ago and was given a clean bill of health. She handled it like a champ and had a positive attitude through the multiple major operations. Coming from a Tiger Mom upbringing, I know I don’t say this too often, but “I am proud of how she handled the situation”. I am happy to say her employer hired her back, and she starts full-time on January 4.
Some highlights of 2015 from a career perspective:
- I have been working with an HR colleague for several years. I just received a message that this year she received an end-of-year bonus. When I first met her, her yearly salary was less than that annual bonus. It’s not all about money, but money is a reflection of value. She has been providing great value, but I think that these last few years, she has learned how to communicate and market her value. She holds a legitimate “seat at the table” and is doing the HR community proud.
- I worked with a colleague of Mrs. Nasty, and we landed her a $25K raise.
- I partnered with a couple of millennia this past year, and we have seen solid success. One landed a job at a salary over her expectations and above the salary band. She has since just negotiated a raise and a promotion. Another makes an effort to have a bi-weekly call where we talk about school, internships and how to set herself up for successful graduation. The thing that is cool for me is that these young millennia are the children of CEO/executive friends who trust me to counsel their sons and daughters.
Folks trusted HRNasty
In all of the above situations, folks took a leap of faith and trusted the advice. I don’t take that trust lightly and am very thankful for it. I think the subscriber support of this blog lends a lot of credibilities and I have you to thank for that. At over 35,000 weekly subscribers, that is a lot of faith in a person with no name and no face. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
When I was early in my career, I didn’t understand the “Be thankful for what you have”, mantra and took a lot for granted. As life becomes more complicated, I think one of the qualities I am trying to strengthen is the ability to appreciate the little things, even in the face of hardship. Accepting what life throws at us and not taking matters personally can make a difference. No matter the situation, if we can find something to be thankful for and look forward to, we can make the best of a shitty situation.
Looking to 2016
As we look towards 2016, I wanted to say how appreciative I am for your support. This blog has given me a sense of pride, an alter ego and a lot of great friends. I wouldn’t be who I am without your continued support. Thank you very much.
HRNasty swag on water bottle
As a small gesture of appreciation. I’d be more than happy to send anyone interested a vinyl decal for their laptop, water bottle or skateboard. Just email me at nasty@hrnasty.com, and I’ll send it out.
See you at the after party,
HRNasty
nasty: an unreal maneuver of incredible technique, something that is ridiculously good, tricky and manipulative but with a result that can’t help but be admired, a phrase used to describe someone who is good at something. “He has a nasty forkball”.
If you felt this post was valuable, please subscribe here. I promise no spam,
