This week I'm introducing you to my closest friends. My hope is that you see success from a different angle and come to realize that everything is possible.
The first friend I want to introduce is also one of my oldest friends. Jennifer (Jen) Crandall and I met in high school English class freshman year and have been friends ever since.
Jen embodies creativity, resourcefulness and tenacity.
From hard working exec to stay at home mom to a mix of the two, Jen has created a successful life on her terms. A Manager of Pharmacy Services for a medical service organization, this mother of four found a career she could manage around her family's chaotic schedules.
Jen thinks outside the box and is always my first text when I'm debating something for work or family. She has the unique ability to see all sides of a situation and then plan and act.
As her story unfolds you'll also understand why I call her the adventure manager.
Emily (E): What was your major in college?
Jen (J): I have 2 Bachelor of the Arts degrees - the 1st one is a BA in Political Science with a contextual emphasis in law and politics. The 2nd is a BA in Philosophy with a concentration in East Asian Studies. Basically I went in the first semester of my freshman year and declared a Political Science major so I could begin my path to law school. By fall break, I had taken a philosophy class and renounced my Christianity. And by Christmas break, I determined if I pushed a little harder, I could graduate in 3 years instead of 4. And by Spring break I had set my path and added Philosophy on as a 2nd major (i.e. my fun classes).
This ability to take action with her desires was a foreshadowing into what Jen's life would eventually become. She married her college sweetheart, started her career and a family.
E: What made you become a stay at home parent?
J: There was a lot of change in our life, my job, my husband’s job, etc. and I could see the real priorities slipping away. I was lucky to receive a severance package - so I used that and eased us into the transition of a 1 income home and maintained a pretty great life on $50k/yr for a family of 5 for 4 years.
E: What made you dip your toe back into the working world?
J: I had a friend call me because a little company he was working for needed some consulting work on their pharmacy offerings. I was 6mo pregnant with baby #4 and decided it would be something to do during nap times, so I said yes. Then in a matter of 2 months my husband changed jobs, I moved our house and my mother’s house, and my baby came 2 weeks early. And after only 7 weeks of me being “out on maternity leave”, my company asked me to come back as a full time employee.
You read that right, she worked during nap times. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone in that company who even realized these were her working hours. I was curious though.
E: Now that you're working again do you miss being a full-time stay at home mom?
J: I loved my time home with my kids - playgroups, music class, library story time, park trips - it was wonderful . . . but I don’t miss it.
What Jen did next will blow your mind. A Tennessee native, she picked up her young family, and moved to Colorado.
E: Why Colorado? What made you decide to make such a dramatic move?
J: My husband and I visited Boulder separately before we had kids. We both said for all of the years following that we wanted to move to CO to retire. After a trip out for work, and standing and staring at the Rocky Mountains, I knew that it was dumb to wait - and someday became today. I went home and told him about this realization I had and that I wanted to move - luckily, though we are opposite in personality and mannerisms, he is my equal when it comes to our wanderlust. We put the house on the market and less than a year later were in Colorado and haven’t looked back.
E: How did your family and friends react?
J: I had several people think we were insane - but to me, the insane people are the ones who live somewhere they loathe or have some job they dislike - change is the only thing in the universe that is constant - and if you don’t jump on and ride the wave, you get stuck in the boredom!
What Jen isn't telling you is that she's a planner. Since Jen was already working remotely her location didn't matter to her company. She found a house that suited her large family and her husband also found something he loved doing even more. When she sets her mind to something she makes it happen but always with a plan of action.
E: You’re one of the most resourceful people I’ve ever met. If you were going to give someone a crash course in resourcefulness what would that look like?
J: Take the opportunity and the chance - people do not look back on their life and regret all of the things they tried, they regret the ones they didn’t. If you take opportunities when they come your way, and take enough of them, you will find your thing. Also - the age old wisdom of my grandpa - it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission . . . he put a man on the moon with that philosophy, so I figure it works . . .
E: What would you say to women who want it all? You’ve done it but by no means was this easy. What is a tip or some tips you would give?
J: Be realistic with yourself - set your expectations and sights as high as you possibly can, but remember you are rooted in reality. No one can do everything well. Even Michael Jordan had to leave basketball in order to give baseball a try. You most certainly can be a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend, and an executive level director (my next position) - but don’t expect to do every area perfectly all the time. You have to pick the things that are most important at the moment, and be open to the fact that they will change depending on the season.
The only reason I appear to have it all, is because I have done it all trying to find the mix that works for me in relation to my family. Full time office and full time daycare never worked - I did it for 2 years, but it never worked . . . staying home full time was a privilege I will be forever blessed by, but I am not meant to finger-paint all day . . . working full time from home and having the flexibility to pick my kids up, or take a break to color - THAT works for me.
The old cliche that states that the grass is always greener on the other side is true - the problem is, most people use the phrase with the assumption that you have to pick a side of the fence - nobody ever asks about the view from on top of the fence that allows you to jump to either side when you want?!?!
E: Where do you see yourself in 10 years when your children are grown/older?
J: Where I am at . . . after spending so many years having babies, you realize you can’t make plans for “when the kids are gone” - because for me, that’s a really long time away!! So I am doing now what I anticipate i will be doing in 10 years. I love my job and I love the view from my window every day - I’ve done a lot of looking to come to the place I want to be - but I’m here NOW, and will be here 10 years from now.
If you look up the word planner listed under it's synonyms you will find creator. And that is what I call my friend Jen, the creator of her happiness.