elainegrey

I had the energy to get through the work day, but anxiety ate at me in a self-sabotaging sort of way. I used the tools i've been amassing, even going out for a quick walk. I think the first thing that bent me out of shape was that i had a fairly clear day when i checked my calendar, but had meetings 9:30 to 1:30 by 9 am. Fortunately, some were meetings i was not engaged in, and i multitasked like mad through those, getting not only time-card like paperwork done, but i also planned when my next breaks are.

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I know i live under a rock, but the fact that there is a drug that PREVENTS HIV -- did this just not get reported widely? I'm looking at HIV prevention pill receives approval by FDA from July 16, 2012.

The cost, $13,900 in the US, is challenging. How does this get to the places where HIV is rampant, up to 20% infection rate in one country in Africa?

--==∞==--

After work i visited with someone from Meeting who is becoming a friend. She is starting up on a new job and has an enthusiasm that comes from the new success that she is sharing with me.

What i discovered as we talked is that i still have some fairly substantial and practical discernment to do. Some of that discernment may be helped by the career coach, but i'd really like a therapist who is a good listener, too. I may go back to my body therapist, just because she is saavy.


I suppose i should write out the decisions and try to map them.

Interests
* making information available.
** Compare to Wikipedia, Evernote.
** Background with museums, archives, libraries.
*** several years working on copyright issues in developing system to discern copyright status of US items
** User-centric "data bank," helping individuals manage and mine personal data, with appropriate sharing with business
*** current specialization in Identity management
* Environmental issues
** GIS certificate
** analysis skills from nuclear physics training
** hobbies of gardening, hiking, botanical identifications
* (Data) analysis
** physics training
** interest in analysis in GIS, "data bank"
** undergraduate work in nonlinear analysis
** system design and identification of gaps
** UX analysis: identifying user needs, interface design issues
* "servant leadership" and managing teams
** working with team members to find meaning for them in their work
** agile practices
** Quaker decision making process
** forward looking at full system issues, problem identification & solving
** "professional development" - helping people shape their work to be most effective, energizing
* Design & arts
** hobbies include photography, acrylic painting, crochet design, card design

First: How "good" is my current job? Is it worth the negatives[1] to stay for the general area of specialization, benefits and people?

1) If i was to leave my current job for a similar job, what are the odds of a frying pan to fire experience?
1a) How similar is "similar"?
1a1) How likely is it to find a smaller company that isn't a start up?
1a2) How likely is it to find a management position that is far more creative if i am not a coder?
1b) If i look for the job title "architect," how should i package myself? What are the odds of finding something? [ie: how frequently would a non-computer scientist, non-programmer be accepted]
1c) If i look for the job title "UX manager/developer," how should i package myself? What are the odds of finding something?
1d) Is there another software development focussed job title i should examine?

2) How possible would it be for me to move to a leadership job in the bay area with no financial management background but an interest in team management? The COO position?
2a) in software development?
2b) in something else?

If i decide the current job is good enough for the immediate time, then there is the exploration of what to do in a mid future:
-- in a year, year and a half when Christine looks for a PhD school and we may move
-- in 2016 when a loan against my current retirement plan is up

[1] (1) Poor ability to influence upward because of (a) distance from the hq, (b) poor understanding of the role of management by director, (c) lower priority yet critical infrastructure project; (2) narrowing of job to more restrictive role so less 'creative' activity; (3) constant meetings during east coast overlap with many 6 am meetings -- which is the best time for me to do 'hard' work. Afternoons are my best meeting time.


I guess it's time to dash.