After 5 months

 Received job offer after 5 months.  Hundreds of hours spent looking at job opportunities.  Approximately 80 applications submitted.  5 interviews.  1 offer received.  Successfully pivoted my career from commercial aviation to the automotive repair space without having to start from the bottom.  Technically I am training at the bottom in order to understand the business to lead the business at an auto parts retailer.

I received a phone call today from another store manager with the same company asking if I was still interested.  I told him I just received an offer from another location.  Interestingly, I interviewed with a district manager and did not interview at the store level.  

My initial store location is 9 minutes from home.  Previously I drove 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic to the airport.  I *hated* the drive after having made it for 18 years.  Over the years the commute gradually contributed to dissatisfaction with career; along with feeling unseen, unheard and unappreciated by leadership above and peer group.  I felt appreciated by the teams I supported - the crewmembers, the supervisors and the business partners.

On one hand the time spent looking for a new job was extremely stressful.  Initially it was no big deal.  After submitting numerous applications and rejection for positions I was a perfect fit for, the journey came to weigh on me and my family, especially with my wife.  Unemployment became a weight on my back and a cloud over my head even though I was given six months of financial runway to launch into another career.

I received verbal job offer yesterday.  Last night, I was exhausted.  The stress of reinvention finally resolved and I was dead tired.  After preparing dinner and cleaning up after I could barely keep my eyes open.  I powered through a few chapters of a new book and went to bed.  I slept like a rock for the first time in months.  Woke up late feeling well rested.   

I'm thankful and excited about the opportunity and looking forward to what I can do and accomplish in the role.  I have to learn the business and am looking forward to being a different leader than I was in my last role while utilizing what worked and changing what didn't.