1
I am beautiful and some people really like me.
Madelyn Wall
In college, I learned it's common for a person to change careers up to seven times throughout life. At first, it sounded like a lot, but now I'm okay with having backup plans since I'm not sure anyone knows what they want to be when they grow up until they're grown up. Then there's a question of: at what point are we considered "grown?" I'm the person who likes to know what's in store for me, and I realize it's impossible to foresee the future, but I often wonder if I'll end up stripping after all else fails. I can just hope if I end up crawling across a dirty floor while trying to perfect the skill of catching dollar bills in my mouth, it isn't my seventh career change.
Career number one started off well, I suppose. For all I know, it was as good as any entry-level job could be in the marketing department for a food-chain restaurant in the middle of Boston. I walked away with three years of experience, proficiency in data entry, filing, and cold calling customers—all great bullet points for my resume. I might have stayed there longer, but as I was neck deep in a bunch of TPS reports, a flashing pop-up ad on my computer screen pulled me into another direction (it's not a strip club), so I figured it was time.
Since I can switch my career path up to six more times, I rocked the boat and translated my cold-call marketing skills from the last job into "online advertising," for the sake of my resume. In addition, I added in my passion for fashion and a desire to design trend shaping concepts. I don't think it's important to mention where I gained my experience since it was from within my personal closet, but I know I can make my skills believable. A career in the fashion industry is my goal in life, and come hell or high water, I will get there before I'm out of career changes.
I applied to the flashing advertisement, looking to hire a fresh mind with social media skills and an eye for fashion. The ad said: Madelyn Wall, please apply here, so I did. I realize life isn't that easy, and "signs" aren't that obvious, so I was a little shocked when I received a call for an interview shortly after applying.
Then, it was even more surprising when they hired me at the end of the first interview. Evidently, the company, Virtual Generation, specializes in trendsetting advertisement methods and has a large client base seeking innovative and fresh ideas to promote their brands to younger generations. It seems right up my alley. I asked a handful of questions, and it was like the guy knew just what to say to make me want to jump at the opportunity. It's a step in the right direction, and I'll get some hands on experience.
Mick, the owner of the company, who interviewed me over the phone said I would be able to be involved in the process of preparing advertising campaigns. So, off the bat it sounds better than what I had been doing. He also said I was a good interviewee and could tell I'm skilled at selling myself. I'm not sure if his remark was meant to be a compliment, but I thanked him anyway. I asked if he wanted to me with me in person before offering me the position, but he said they were on a time crunch and eager to get someone in who could help with their incoming campaigns. Anyway, despite how quickly it all happened, I accepted the job.
Okay, the truth is, I'm not sold on anything that easily, but I was desperate because I was fired from my last job. I have a big mouth and give opinions when they aren't asked for. Apparently, one wrong word to two important people is all it takes to be put on the chopping block.
The flashing ad for the job at Virtual Generation actually popped up while I was trying to earn five dollars by taking an online survey for some kind of all natural diaper targeted toward elderly folks who have leaky butts, which had me wondering how companies know who is really taking those surveys. Then again, I was kicked out of the survey at the ninety-percent mark and never earned my five dollars.
Anyway, after all the craziness that went down over the last couple of weeks, I realized everything is happening the way it is because I control my destiny—or, so says the book I'm reading, called, "This Is Mine." People have been talking about this life-changing book for months, so I spent the fifteen dollars, had the thing overnighted, and read the first two chapters. Then, bam, my life fell into place. It's like magic. I have to follow a few steps, visualize what I want to happen, and imagine a wish-granting genie who appears when a cork is pulled out of a wine bottle. It was time to make the switch from boxed wine to bottled, anyway.
The author could have stopped at chapter two because I get it now. It's so simple.
Step One- stand in front of my mirror each morning, stare at the best version of myself and say:
I can do this.
Everything will be perfect because I'm feeling positive today.
Positive thoughts attract positive outcomes.
I have everything I want.
Today will be the best day of my life.
Step Two- Throughout the day I'm supposed to create positive statements and imagine life unfolding the way I desire, which will help good things attach to my life like a super magnet.
I'm skeptical because it's hard to believe it's so simple to just remove all the negativity by saying positive affirmations out loud, but I'm going with it because I got a better job—a job—with a higher salary—a salary, so things have to be looking up.
I wink at my reflection and force a smile because eventually the smile will supposedlyfeelauthentic too. "You got this, Madelyn. You have what it takes," I tell myself.
I snatch my straightening iron from my dresser and flatten one last strand of my rose-gold blonde hair before unplugging the device.There, I'm good enough.With a positive outlook, I spent a little extra time this morning making sure I offer a good first impression. Therefore, I was careful to create a natural glow with my makeup, offering just a hint of vibrancy, which offsets the light pink nail polish, matte lipstick, and non-distracting jewelry … because the book said that too.
Step Three- "Dress for the job you want." So, I went on a little shopping trip and bought myself a lovely zip-up royal-blue jumpsuit, a sharp-black blazer, and polished patent-leather black stilettos. It's a small price to pay to end up in the CEO's seat by the end of the week. Maybe not the end of the week, but at least I'm a proper display for who I want to be someday, which is not a stripper.
I tussle my hair, widen my accented dark-lined blue eyes, and do a little turn to double check that everything is in the right place—or that no price tags are exposed. Check, check, and check. I am good to go.
Step four- This part will be the most challenging for me. It said, "Speak to others the way you want them to speak to you, and if you want them to like you, like them first." I guess if I can manage to control my mouth, everything should be peachy, but it's still a work in progress.
With one last pucker and teeth check, I grab my clutch from the back of my door and head down the hall.
"See ya, Layla. I'm off, and I'm positive." This is so hard. I sound like such a freak.
"Yes, you are, wow, look at you," Layla drones. "Do you want me to take a first-day of your second-new-job picture of you?"
"What are you talking about?" I ask, grabbing my coat from the side of the couch.
