So for my first 18 years of life I lived in a small city in Ohio and then moved to a small city in Arizona. I spent a long time living in that small Arizona city with the goal of eventually moving to a big city for all its grand possibilities. Unfortunately like a lot of people I either procrastinated or let my unfounded insecurities get in the way of my goal.
But finally the planets aligned and next thing I know I’m living in the fifth largest city in the United States. I could leave the story at that, but I’ll give a little more context. I was at a junction of my professional career where I didn’t feel mentally or financially fulfilled, of course this didn’t happen all of a sudden. I had worked at my employer for 14 years, an employer that I never thought I would stay with over a year. I had learned a lot about the industry over that time to the point that I became a respected resource of information for many of my co-workers. I had looked for jobs before and even interviewed for some, but these small city options just didn’t feel worth the effort. So that was the first planet rising into place.
At the time I was in a long term relationship with a woman from Washington state who had moved to my small city right after college, this would be the second planet slowly moving into its spot. Unlike me who toiled through the years at a job I didn’t like, she was less hesitant to make a jump. She had grown up in the Seattle area, so a bigger city was more enticing than the small desert city that I had call home for years. She set her eyes on Phoenix, a city that I had often considered over the years. She applied for a job, interviewed for it, and then was offered the job. She soon came to me and asked if I would be willing to move to Phoenix. Even though deep down I was eager to shed the small city shackles and see what I could do in the big city, I was still hesitant. I told her I would need to think about it first. Second planet now rising into place.
I’ve always been the analytical type when making decisions but that has always been a double edged sword. I thought of how it would be moving away from a city that my family and friends lived in. I thought of how it would be starting a job at a new company for the first time in 14 years. I thought of what life in the big city would be like on a long term basis. I continued to think of every possible difference and possible outcome. At work things had been picking up and my stress levels were peaking. Due to various stretches of single life, my employer was used to me putting in extra hours due to not having much going on, but as a man in a relationship I needed to seek a better work/home balance. Also I had made it known that my department including myself were not being fairly compensated, which led to back and forth negotiations. While the negotiations led to a pay increase, it was not nearly what I wanted. So with the work/home balance issues, stress, and pay issues leaning in the direction of leaving I made the decision to go. And with that the third planet rose into its spot.
So now the job hunt begins. Even though I had wanted to leave my current industry for another I decided it would be a better transition to stay in the same for my next job in Phoenix. I applied with various companies within my industry and hoped that my resume would grab their attention. I also spoke with various people in the industry in Phoenix to get some insight on the various companies. I was contacted by one of the larger companies and they scheduled me for an interview. I drove up to Phoenix the night before the interview to make sure I was fully rested for my interview. I went into the interview a little nervous because mentally i had a lot riding on this. The interview was like most I have had in the past confident on most my answers, while questioning a few of the others. I drove the 3 hours home, going over all the interview questions in my head, and thinking of other possible places to apply. I arrived back home and prepared for a nap, when I received a phone call. I didn’t recognize the number, but answered it because I had my resume floating out in the Internet. The call was from HR with the company I had just interviewed for and they were offering me the position. I was not expecting a call that quickly, but it was appreciated. While the other three planets had aligned, there was always a chance that without a job lined up I would stay in the small city. Now with the fourth planet aligned there was no going back, just forward to the big city.
The next month went by quickly as I prepared for the transition. I did a drug test, background check paperwork, looking at houses, and finally the big move. I had finally done it, I finally start Big City Life: A New Beginning!
