goodbye, february, i'm moving on.

i blinked and this month was over.  well, not really, because at times it seemed like this winter slump would never be done.  and well, it's still not. but now we can close another chapter of winter on this extra day for the year. hope you have a fantastic leap year friday.

in other news, (the "moving on" part of the title...)  i'm excitedly looking forward to march. HUGE, HUGE breakthrough in my life. i feel like i need somebody to pinch me! since i last whined about updated on the crappy job front, these are the events that have transpired:

• i had a great idea. a "duh!" moment. i don't know why i hadn't thought of this before.  i contacted an art licensing agency (via email) that periodically sends us (my current company) new artwork to look at for our products.  i know the woman who owns it, i've met her at  shows in NYC, atlanta, etc. i asked her if she was interested in representing another artist, as my stuff is very different from her current selection.
• she replied that yes, she would love to see what i have to offer. i sent her a sampling
• she replied again, that she absolutely loved all of my work and would definitely be interested. and was any of the work i showed her available for licensing?
• i was so excited... but had to tell her, no, that was work i'd done for my crappy boss and she "owns" it. BUT i would be more than happy to start working on a portfolio of new work for her if we came to an agreement
• she was also excited and replied that yes, that would be great, as her HUGE NYC show is mid-may and she'd be able to add my work to her portfolio  to exhibit at the show.
• we then had a two-hour phone conversation.  it felt SO RIGHT.  i asked 1000 questions and she answered them all.
• we talked about how the contract would be written up and other details......

so the positives of this situation are obvious. since i like bullet points, and they're easier to read, here they are...

• i will receive licensing money and royalties (ROYALTIES!) on any artwork she licenses of mine.
• my work will be shown to hundreds of manufacturers worldwide
• i get to be CREATIVE, anything i wish, at my leisure, with no dragon breathing down my neck and changing my artwork constantly
• i get to QUIT my DEPRESSING JOB mid-april (i set this date yesterday, it is subject to change, but no later!)
• no more boss. NO MORE BOSS!  that's music to my ears.
• i get the fresh start i so desperately need
• i will have a little more time to do photography
• i will be available for my kids more and not CHAINED TO MY DESK
• i will be able to network and join mommies' groups, for baby, for sanity, for NETWORKING.
• i will also possibly have time to work on my digital scrapbooking "biz" that's been in my head for a while
• i'm taking a week or so off in march (before i announce my departure) so i don't lose my vacation. smart, eh?

the negatives - well there are unfortunately negatives. more bullets:

• it will take a while to get me established. possibly a year to 18 months. could always be shorter.
• in that time, it will be tiiiiiiiight around here.  going from a decent salary to, well, nada for some time.
• not sure where the $ will come from for erecting my studio space.
• will have to pick up my own health insurance
• hubs will have to pick up a lot of slack.  hopefully not too much, but it is undoubtedly how it will be for a period of time.
• i have to actually QUIT my job. this is also in the positives section, but i'm just trying not to burn any bridges, and  the Crazy One (boss) tends to get really emotional, defensive, and bent out of shape. maybe i'll have the hubs quit for me. lol.

and one other SMALL negative... and i'm asking you (my blog reader) to help me out here.   ok - my boss goes to these art shows, looks through the portfolios of various licensing agencies, and even buys art from them.  so, i know that she will go there, see my name, my art, and flip out in an unbelievable way.  so what, you ask? why do i care?  i don't know!  why DO i care???  what repercussions could there possibly be?  a mad crazy woman?   the licensing agent said that i could come up with an "alias" name for myself. but then when i'm established, i'll have to go by that name. all just because my crappy (EX)boss would get upset?  so flippin what?  tell me i'm being ridiculous!  to forget the alias. i need a kick in the pants here. 

i am so, so, SO pumped it's unbelievable. it'll be a long road, but a NEW one and that's exactly what i need. i know it's going to be a bumpy road, but i'm willing for it.  change. is. necessary. and i realize it may not transpire EXACTLY the way i picture in my mind, but that's ok too. 
everything happens the way it's supposed to. 

Comments

[Jaime]

Every boss has to understand that they can easily be replaced. Just like every employee understands that they can easily be replaced. So, skip the alias. Thank her for the opportunity and experience (even if you don't mean it) and move on. You are going to do great!

[jenny]

i am SO excited for you! this is totally SWEET.

forget the crazy woman. you are the one in the driver's seat. this is your artwork. you are quitting the job for a sweeter deal and she shouldn't fault you for that. if she would have treated you better before, maybe things could have been different. use your own name - this is your art - you deserve the credit!

whoohoooo! happy friday!

[carrie]

congratulations! use your own name & forget about the crazy boss... let her stew in her own misery if that's how she is.

[Cass]

This is SO exciting. I made a career move about a year ago- going from vendor to client - which in my biz can go very poorly. I so wanted to change my name...but I didn't. And I'm glad I didn't. I hope your boss will see that no one wins when she behaves poorly.

[Jan]

I agree, no alias, but leave with grace. It doesn't hurt you to be better than your crazy boss, and will leave her mystified. By taking the high road, you'll be able to deal with her in the future from that position; and you'll love it. Good luck, it's scary, but you can do it.

[Mel]

Oh WOW!!!!! yay....Congratulations!!! I say screw the boss...use your name and use it loud. Heck, if I were you, I'd MAKE one of your art pieces be your name!!! Ha, ok I have NO idea what I'm talking about obviously, but I think it'd be funny:) You'll do wonderful and succeed, becuase you believe you can do it, which means you will:)

[Kim]

I agree with using your own name. It's just business. My husband and I have had five different jobs between us and we've only been in the workforce five years. Moving on is just a fact of life and it happens ALL the time.

Good luck! :)

[michelle]

That is fantastic news! I hope you can quit sooner though and who gives a crap about your crazy boss? You deserve to take full credit for all of the success that will come to you and if she's that much of a b-word, then why should you even care? It's not about her, it's about you and your family and that's it. Good luck and keep us posted! Yeah!

[Robyn]

That sounds so great. I'd love to be able to work from home. I wish you the best. I'd your your name. Crazy boss will have to get over it. Once you leave you won't have to deal with her anyways.

[zoe]

yahoo! what an exciting new adventure! can't wait to hear how it all goes!