Lot's of New Pages Turning...

After a period of slow-down and readjustment, I've finally decided and am moving in a few new directions:

• First, I interviewed with a handful of different employers, and have accepted the most challenging (and probably craziest) challenge of my professional life: a Commercial Real Estate Internship.

I interviewed with NAI Utah http://www.naiutah.com/ (a commercial real estate firm which manages acquisitions and dispositions, leasing, tenant representation, lease administration and audit, investment services, due diligence, and related consulting and advisory services), the 3rd largest commercial real estate firm in Utah, for the chance to "compete" in a 3-month long internship in which the top 2-3 of 10-14 candidates will be offered permanent positions with the company (kind of like the "Pursuit of Happyness" movie). They interviewed 36 candidates, and I was 1 of 7-10 that were accepted! Starting August 25th, For 12 weeks, I will be judged on my ability to learn commercial real estate practices and policies, present and sell properties, create an over-all personal business structure to be judged by a board of 5 managers, and pass a series of classroom and field tests in a plethora of on-site scenarios. (Scarry?!)

If I am one two of the top performers in my class, I may be offered a permanent position with the company, in which I will be required to work 2 years in EACH of the company departments (research, acquisitions, marketing, sales...etc). After the 2-year period, I will be able to work as a Junior Agent and start performing sales to earn commissions. After 2 years of Junior Agency, I can graduate to a full independent Commericial Agent.

I know it sounds like complete insanity, working my brains out for 3 months which MAY or MAY NOT result in a career, to earn very little income for 4 additional years... but at the end of 5 years, this MAY result in one of the most respected positions in the Commerical industry, in which case most agents earn well over 6-figure incomes! That's what I'm talking about, baby.

• To gain an additional professional edge, I'm going back to school full-time starting May 1st, to earn my Broker's license. It's nearly double the requirements as the Real Estate Agent program, and my days will begin at 4 am and end at 8 pm, but it'll be worth it. I hope to start, end, and test within a 3 month period of time, so I can complete my Broker course before the NAI Internship starts in August. Wish me luck.... I know it's going to kick my ass.

• Third, to balance the need for personal gain, I've joined (AND FALLEN IN-LOVE WITH!) a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization committed to creating the political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty, called RESULTS. The group is committed to individuals exercising their personal and political power by lobbying elected officials for effective solutions and key policies that affect hunger and poverty. (http://www.results.org/)

I randomly read a book called "Banker to the Poor" by Professor Muhhamad Yunus, which is the story of the Grameen Bank, and how 1 man created an entire system of Micro-lending (giving small loans to poor people) which enabled entrepreneurship for poor individuals and alleviated millions from poverty! Not only that, he tells readers how to get involved and make a difference. I joined the suggested Salt Lake Chapter of "R.E.S.U.L.T.S." as a "constituent" to work with local legislators to focus on presenting and passing Bills that will help achieve the Millennium Development Goals of 2015:

1. Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty
2. Achieve Universal Primary Education
3. Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
4. Reduce Child Mortality
5. Improve Maternal Health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria and other Diseases
7. Ensure Environmental Sustainability
8. Create a Global Partnership for Development

I've officially decided NOT to join the Peace Corps (yet, LOL), and have taken a rain-check on marriage and kids for another 4 1/2 years. I've decided that my career is really important to me, that establishing a name for myself and accomplishing the goals I've held in my mind since I was a kid needs to be achieved before I feel comfortable turning my attention to motherhood and wifery. I just don't want to wake up in 30 years and feel like I "didn't give it my all."

So - I'm officially putting an end to the State of Crisis since being laid off from my last job, and I look forward to my working, school, Broker's license, eradicating world hunger and disease, racing motorcycles, and generally kicking ass!

Let's turn up the music and rock on!