Tuesday, July 15, 2008

It's not personal, it's business.

"Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal." Kathleen Kelly
"You've Got Mail"

The past two weeks, I have been weighing and re-weighing my options about my job and career and everything that I know about the business world.

To better explain... my company Odyssey HealthCare bought out VistaCare a smaller hospice, which made us the biggest in the nation. Like all smart businesses do, they begin to look at all of the sites that were doubled up in each market. For instance there is a Vista Care in Waco and an Odyssey. We are both smaller in census, so of course the simple answer is to merge.Save on over head, staff, etc. Well, initially my boss told me that VistaCare would absorb Odyssey (my company) she said wanted me to stay with Odyssey and that she would move me up to the Temple office, give me some of the best accounts and life would be great. Most of the other staff would have to go to VistaCare. They didn't really have a choice. It was either that or find another job. So, I thought I was sitting pretty, and had nothing to worry about. Until last week, when my boss asked to see me before our weekly Sales Training Meeting and dropped the bomb. She said she simply did not have the budget to accommodate 3 marketers and I had the choice to either go to VistaCare and be their Marketing Rep or take another position in the Temple office, which would be a 6 thousand dollar pay cut and about a hour commute one way. After, interviewing both positions, and even considering moving to Colorado a month early, I have decided to take the VistaCare position. It sounds simple and a "no brainer". I mean same salary and no commute, but I'm just not happy. I will be starting all over again. The thing is I love my boss (her name is Robin too), and the staff I work with. I love the Odyssey Company. I also just really hate change. Next Monday will be my first day at VistaCare and I know that I should be excited, but instead I have a knot in my stomach. I guess that's why business is not supposed to be personal.

2 comments:

Misty said...

Well I'll continue to hold out with you and believe one day we can live in a Kathleen Kelly kind of world. Surely we can....

I counted. Only 52 days. No problem.

The Norvells said...

Robin Richardson, If there is one thing I know about you, it's that you and "new challenges" go hand in hand. I have never known you to back away from a tough situation just because it is tough (your senior year as Rho president comes to mind when writing that sentence) Consider this a new challenge, something that will increase your resume, give you new life skills to take to Colorado, something that God wants to use to change and mold you. Now I don't have much expreience with the business world (I mean, come on, I work at Starbudks for pete's sake), but I know that any company would be stupid to let a go-geter like you get away. Have an awesome first day!
PS- love the new layout!