Unintentionally Hard to Get: Job Hunting & Wife Hunting

I've discovered something in-fathom-ably-optimistic. I'm not sure that's a word, but I'm going to treat it like one.

Job hunting and Wife Hunting are incredibly similar.

For the past two months I have been doing everything I can to find a job. The first month was great. I was interviewing all over the city, spent almost 2-3 hours a day on an online job seeking service (LinkedIn) trying to find the right fit and got nothing. It was exciting because I got to meet so many people, but there was no fruit on the trees.

After 6 weeks I got very discouraged and was ready to die unemployed. It was really tough, I was hard on myself and the couch I slept on.

I completely stopped applying for jobs. Books became my new hobby. I was reading, cycling and babysitting. Those three things kept me alive for a couple weeks. I started smiling again! You should have seen it. Many saw it from a bench on the pier where my favorite reading spot was. There were these massive sail boats I would watch slowly rock back and forth. It is so clear in my mind that I can almost picture it beneath this paragraph:

All of the sudden my inbox started filling up with people wanting to meet me. I stopped chasing them and they started chasing me.

In 4 days I got 2 job offers, accepted one of them, found an apartment, and moved in. It was the most odd yet miraculous thing I've ever experienced. I called it, uninentionally hard to get.

I didn't mean to act that way, I just did, and got a job.

There you have it. I stepped on a plane in Salt Lake City on May 1st. On July 1st I will step into the Sprinklr offices as their newest employee.

I can't believe it. My dream is happening!

As far as that and dating, I'm still single, so I'll get back to you.

PS: A detailed job description of where I will work and what I will do is up ahead, so keep your facebook page up and running the next couple of days.

Parallelism : Double Universe : Black Eric

I have a theory. You probably believe in the same theory, but haven't had the guts to disclose it because it could potentially cause social explosions. The theory is that everyone has an exact replica of themselves somewhere else on the globe.

For example, I am a twin. I was lucky enough to find my replica just seconds after I was born. Many other people are highly unfortunate because they may never get to meet the "New York Version" of themselves.

Last night I saw someone on the subway that walked, dressed and pondered exactly like my old roommate/cousin. I called him, Black Eric. Before this moment, I thought parallelism only existed in-race,  but this guy was black and my old roommate was white.

If you know Eric Sumsion, then you will laugh for twenty minutes when looking at the picture below:

From the bow tie to the nice shoes, this guy is the Black Version of Eric Sumsion.

Since coming to New York I have seen loads of "New York Versions" of my friends. I have never had the time and capability to sneak a picture. 

Jump the gun

Have you ever burned your tongue? Of course you have. Like me, you probably get impatient and take a bite, knowing you are risking the ability to taste for the next couple of days.

The other day I remember staring at something on my plate and analyzing what I was planning on eating the next couple of days.

Long story short, I jumped the gun and burnt my tongue.

I feel like I have done everything I can in order to find a job. I am confident that I have applied to more jobs than Obama. Nothing against him, I just really want to say that.

There is a pier on at the end of Wall Street that shoots into the Hudson. When you look out, you see the Brooklyn Bridge in all it's massiveness. When you look in you see a wall of enormous buildings keeping out anyone that questions their ability to make money. Thus the Wall Street Paradox is born. I'm convinced that the only people suited for New York City are those that have big heads. If your head is big enough, someone will squeeze you in.

Behind June, my niece, you'll see the tightly knit wall of the Financial District.

Some people have told me that they think I'm too nice for the City. The only people that make it here are severely cut-throat. They know what they want and won't let anyone stop them. I would agree. I am a nice person, unfortunately my niceness doesn't mask my massive ego. I think I have a lot of great ideas and can be excruciatingly creative. That's why I'm here.

Time change

Today I realized that I've officially been here for more than 3 weeks and I have yet to adjust to the new york time zone. To the untrained eye, some would argue that deems me a tourist. But to that un-intrinsic argument I proclaim that I have clipped my fingernails 3 times since arrival. Case closed.

Things are going great!

I got a job offer with a startup company that promotes events. Called Fever or something. I've also got pending opportunities with companies in St. Louis and San Francisco. My initial dream was to be in New York, but now that I'm here, I'm opening up to other cities.

Due to the current condition of my knee, I've been biking instead of running. This picture is a sweet  thingamajig I saw an hour into my ride on the West Highway path.

Day at the fountain

I'm going to be brief because you have a lot to digest in these photos.

Today, after hours of applying for jobs and adjusting my personal site, I decided it was time to get out of the apartment and unwind. I thought it was just going to be another day, but I decided to bring my camera.

When we show up, June is drawn to the fountain and immediately takes a dip. 

While she was thus entertained, I left June and Allison to find a bench.

I sit down and saw this drummer next to me and I was like, what kind of a person just brings a drum set  and expects people to pay them. You need music.

I have since repented and gave him a dollar. Check this out:

Here are some of the photos I got.

Season's Change

Last night Curt and I were up really late watching the last few episodes of The Office. Since Steve Carell's departure, neither of us watched the show, watched the show, but both felt compelled to see the ending.

While watching the episodes, I almost felt like I was watching the end of my childhood. It's funny that the same year I graduate from college is the same year the show ends. I remember the first time I watched the pilot in 2005. I was so impressed with the characters that I began to base my own personal jokes off what I saw in the series. I attached myself to Jim Halpert because I loved his style and many people often said that I had a similar persona as he.

My favorite thing about the show is Jim's relationships. I loved how he and Dwight would use clever tactics to humiliate one another. I also loved how Jim never gave up on his love for Pam. Don't tell anyone I said this, but I've been secretly looking for my "Pam" over the past few years.

I'm convinced there is a time for everything. The time for The Office is now over. My time in College is now over. It's time for me to move on to something bigger.

Baby steps

It is starting to hit me that I'm not in Utah anymore. Everything was all great and dandy until I called my old roommate / cousin / best-friend. We talked about how great life was back in Provo. When he get's hungry, he is back at home in under 15 minutes with a full fridge and an enormous quiet back yard. That's when it hit me. I could have that. I could throw in the towel, pack up my two bags and be back in Provo in under 24 hours. 

I could do that. What if... I really haven't doubted making the decision to come out here yet. But if I could come close to doubting, to the point where I look in the mirror and wish I saw the exact same person, only in Provo. I could do that, but I won't. 

I keep thinking about at talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. He said, "Don't panic and retreat. Don't lose your confidence. Don't forget how you once felt. Don't distrust the experience you had. That tenacity is what saved Moses when the adversary confronted him, and it is what will save you." (Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence, 1999)

I have to admit, I have wondered, feared, struggled, and blamed. I don't doubt nor will I ever that I wasn't supposed to come to New York, but I do wonder.

I literally feel like I'm standing on a sidewalk and the only light is coming from behind me. It's peaking through a door that is slightly ajar. In front me is a big black nothing. I can't even see the ground in front of me. I can feel that I'm not supposed to turn back to the door, but to keep moving forward. Because there is no light, I only trust myself to take feverishly small steps. Safe steps. Baby steps.

The interesting thing about Mother's Day

I moved to New York thinking I would spend a lot of time with my Older Brother. One week later and I'm realizing that I actually moved in with his Wife and 18-month-old princess. I spend most of my day watching this young mother raise her little princess.

I don't think it's a good sign that Mother's Day is one of the hardest days of the year. It's funny because us men try to do everything for the mothers/wives and usually fail at over half of it. The mothers/wives then pick up the slack and clean the messes we make.

A few days ago I "helped" my sister-in-law Allison watch her toddler, and another the same age. It was a site ne'er to be forgotten. Two young screaming (for joy) kids running around the apartment grabbing things that ought not to be grabbed, and dropping things that ought not to be dropped. I remember saying to Allison, "I don't know how my mom raised twins." 

Mark Twain said, "My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it."

Corey and I made huge messes that caused both mops and pops to spend decades of their time cleaning. I don't know How my Mom raised twins, but I know that she Did. And that is Awesome. 


I love my Mother!

Happy Mother's Day.

When times are tough

I had a deep realization this morning. Every time things get really tough and I'd love to throw in the towel, I picture the last turn of my marathon last summer. At that moment I have to decide, am I going to walk across the finish line or am I going to do what I did last summer and dance across the finish line?

Unfortunately I have only had this image appear in my mind twice this week. Both times were on the treadmill on the top floor of a very tall building in New York City.

That being said, I have now had 7 interviews in The Big Apple. All interviews were "good". Each interview ended with an extremely convenient "we'll get back to ya".

On average, I check my email every two minutes (that's factoring in my 7 hours of sleep every night).

Still single, still unemployed, and still can't wait to make it big.

Just checkin' in.
-Clint

PS, before selling everything, I graduated from BYU

this is actually Corey's yellow tassel. I'm a proud owner of a white one.