Tomorrow is my last day of maternity leave. Monday I go back to work and start all over again. Mixed feelings doesn't even begin to describe it. I am excited to go do something, to think, to be with adults and wear something besides yoga pants all day. I'm not ready to see my kids only on nights and weekends. I'm not ready to feel stressed out because I don't have time to do anything. I wish I was going back part time.
This feels much more like a first day of work than going back. I'm going to a completely new office where I know very few people. The department in which I did every single project last year doesn't exist in this office. There will be many new clients, new partners and a new environment to figure out. I really hope I like the people I will work with, but my last office set the bar really high and I'm more than a little nervous.
Since I love clean slates and fresh starts, I'm embracing January 23rd as a chance to re-define myself. I can make a new reputation for myself, make a good first impression on potential supervisors and co-workers and try to fill my plate up with work from the get-go.
2011 was slow. S-L-O-W. My billables for the year were at only 57% of pace, 87% if you pro-rate it for maternity leave. Needless to say, I did not get a bonus this year and I certainly did not deserve one. I probably made the most per hour of any first year at the firm, but I think I need to step it up this year. January and February I tried desperately to get work with little success. July and August there was almost no work to be had and I didn't do much to get any of it. There were only four months in between that work flow was fairly steady and in that time, I think I learned a lot.
My professional goals for 2012:
* Introduce myself to every partner or senior associate in the practice area I want to work in within the first week. You only get to use the "Hi, I just transferred to this office" intro line for so long, and that is the least awkward way I can think of to break the ice. Since this office is so much smaller, I don't think it's unreasonable to try to meet them all.
* Drum up as much billable work early on as I can. Work begets work. It was so stressful and so frustrating to always be behind on hours and begging for work. I found that the people who were crazy busy always got staffed on the new deals. The sooner I can fill up my plate, the sooner I will be able to integrate myself into the office.
* Work while I'm at work and be at home when I'm at home. As much as possible, I want to bill for the hours I'm at the office and take time to enjoy PJO and the kids when I'm at home. I know there will be time wasted on the internet at work and checking the blackberry at home, but I could have done a better job separating the two last year.
I have some broader goals, like figuring out what department/practice area I want to work in and what my eventual next step will be, but before any of that, I need to really become a part of this office.
If I focus hard enough on these things, maybe I'll forget that I'm so sad to be leaving behind my little Ellie bean.
5 comments:
good luck on your first day!
Good luck! I need to copy those goals, too.
Those are really great goals! The best way to make the most of your time home is to be as productive as possible at the office. I had problems with this last year too! Good luck with starting fresh!
Break a leg!
Good luck tomorrow! I remember feeling like I was jumping off a precipice before that first day of work, but like everything, you find your rhythm. Maybe a new office will actually help? No matter what, can't wait to hear about it!
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