So at work we have these services that are available to us regarding all kinds of life issues. I like to call it, the life-balance initiative consultants. Basically, if we have any kind of need for advice, counsel, training, you name it regarding health, relationships, career, finance, legal consultation, we have a 1-800 number and general email to reach out to. Once we’ve reached out, the first level support decides what you are really asking for then directs you to the appropriate help (shrinks, screened counselors, lawyers, etc). Awesome hey? Well, I find it so because now that I am made aware, I will milk this service for sure especially considering only 10% of my coworkers use it at all.

Anyway, today, they had this lady come in to give us a speech about effective communication at work, like a Lunch and Learn. It was great! Some things were redundant but there were tips that were new to me and I learned something that I didn’t know before. Aside from the seminar itself, the trainer in particular fascinated me. She looked rather young, mid thirties and her portfolio ranged from teaching at a university on subjects such as psychology in the workplace, owning her own consulting company and giving seminars in big corporations for older employees who plan on retiring (how to deal with the major changes) and working part time for our company’s outsourced work-life-balance-initiative-company! From the sounds of it, she probably had a degree in psychology, did graduate studies and made some extensive gender research for 6 long years.

From an engineer’s perspective, typically we scoff, look down and roll our eyes at “art” students and folks who lead the path of the “artsy” life but, making $$ while basically teaching at many different places on topics like communication, gender issues, life changes, etc., in my opinion isn’t work at all! And the best part is, consulting for her must be so flexible on the hours, owning her own company must give so much more tax leeway than being an employee and to spend all her “working” hours basically talking about something that I’m sure she loves, now that’s what I call a decent life. Who knows if she’s a millionaire or not but the beautiful thing is, even if she’s not, it’s still a very decent life!

Enlightening myself of all the different paths out there asides from working for big corporation X in terms of career possibilities always makes me happier. Ignorance is not always bliss!