Happy September!! I have moved and am settled in Brooklyn with boxes everywhere. I love my new apartment and the life that has started to take shape. It is invigorating to see potential everywhere I look while at times daunting as well. The most interesting thing that has happened from a business perspective, is the complete flip in how I am working and where it looks like this path will take me. If I continue this way I will probably end up doing a combination of teaching, business mentoring, house calls, private practice, and work for organizations (Alzheimer's Association, Hospice) with a contracting job or two on the side. This is a change, although it seems like a natural progression, from my 7-15 jobs a month that I have been doing for the past 6 years now. The lesson has been to stay flexible and see where the road leads. I am relearning that self-employment can mean using the momentum created by unexpected twists to keep moving forward. Exciting Opportunities Just last Tuesday I began teaching, as adjunct faculty, for the graduate art therapy program in the School of Visual Arts located in Manhattan. It's amazing! I love it and am very excited to inspire and support students on their way to becoming art therapists. This did not happen by chance or in a simple way. Last January I sent every program in the area my cover letter and resume to both share about the upcoming publication of my book and also the idea that I was interested in teaching. I heard nothing back. I let it go, deciding to follow up after I figured out where life was taking me and put it out of my mind. Then I got a phone call in June asking if I had any interest in interviewing for a position at SVA. I was thrilled! However, after the interview I heard back and didn't get the job. I was reassured over the phone about how impressed they were and asked if maybe next year I would be interested in teaching a section of the thesis class. I was enthusiastic about the opportunity and thanked them for considering me. After the conversation I put it out of my mind and looked forward to trying again next year. A couple weeks later I received another call. I was asked to come in for another interview and the head of the program said they were considering adding another section to the thesis class thIs year. I was stunned and immediately jumped into action, pulling together a new syllabus and interviewing packet. Less than an hour after the interview I was offered the job! There is no way to know what will come out of something. Just stay positive, gracious, and patient while always putting your best foot forward. Now, back to unpacking and settling in. My next break will be to prepare for class number two on this coming Tuesday. Oh how I wish these boxes would unpack themselves! Happy new school year everyone!
2 Comments
Alison Hurst
9/28/2013 01:14:59 am
I think you're right! Being gracious is defined as kind, compassionate, having a generosity of spirit. It seems to me that this is the key to harnessing the positive energy one needs to move forward creatively in any endeavor.
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Emery Mikel
9/28/2013 09:55:45 am
And, to take it a step further, I think surrounding yourself with friends and colleagues who both share that mindset and support your forward momentum helps maintain the openness to change and positive flexibility.
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Emery is excited that Water & Stone is becoming a reality and hopes this blog will inspire others and be a place to share challenges, success, and exciting moments. Archives
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