On Day Jobs and Daydreams

At many times in my life, I've lamented having/needing to have a day job.  Having a day job felt like a necessary evil.  It paid the bills, contributed to retirement savings, offered health insurance. Aside from those (albeit very important) elements, a day job stood between me and all that I wanted to be or become.

Sometimes, I was dreaming of a future as a best-selling novelist.  Others, I saw my fledgling cake business as an adorable storefront with steady traffic and a staff of its own.  Some mornings, I simply didn't want to get out of bed and put on big girl clothes; some afternoons, my boss drove me up a tree.

Still, being the proprietor of Much Ado About Cake opened my eyes to the sheer weight of responsibility that comes with owning a small business.  Vacation and sick days cut directly into your ability to generate revenue.  Bookkeeping and liability insurance and health department inspections are far less glamorous than the ooohs an ahhhhs of delivering a cake in the shape of Fenway Park.

About six months ago, I left my job of more than eight years to accept a new position.  It wasn't a drastic change from what I'd been doing, but it was definitely a promotion.  I'm now an assistant dean at a college much smaller than the one I worked at previously.  I have a ton more responsibility and I've already worked more evenings and weekends than I used to work in a year. 

Yet, I feel invigorated.  I'm doing a much wider variety of work, which is great.  I'm also part of a decision-making team.  I work with and for the associate dean and dean--two smart and savvy women.  I earn a good salary--enough that I don't have to fret over whether I'm actually bringing in any money from  baking or writing.

Don't get me wrong, I still do my fair share of whining.  This is especially true when I have to work Saturday morning admissions events or talk to megalomaniacal alumni.  (Okay, they aren't really megalomaniacal, but I don't get to use that word enough.) 

I still fantasize about having my own show on Food Network or being on the bestseller list.  I'd abandon my day job if either of those things ever came to pass. I just no longer look at my day job as the thing that stands between me and those things.  It's more of an acceptable livelihood in the meantime--not a bad gig.