Mentor me

Yesterday, I had my first meeting with my new mentor, Jane Perdue. I decided to participate this year in the Charleston Young Professionals Mentor/Mentee Program. While I’ve had informal mentors throughout my career, especially my early journalism career, I’ve never gone through a formal mentoring program.

You might say, “Holly, you’re almost 35 years old, do you really need mentoring at this stage of the game?” Yes, I do.

Mentoring isn’t just for 22 year olds in their first job. Yes, my mentoring experience will be vastly different from the 20-something’s experience. And who’s to say a 45-year-old professional couldn’t be mentored by someone with more wisdom? In my opinion, you’re never too old to be mentored because you’re never too old to stop improving yourself, growing and learning.

So, why did I feel the need for a mentor in 2011? If you know me or have read this blog over the last couple of years you’ll know I’ve gone through some fairly big – and stressful – situations, including a complete career change. When your career change is a matter of circumstances and isn’t exactly something you’ve had time to think about and plan, the transition can be difficult.

Plus, I continue my struggle with how to keep all the balls in the air, while making time for myself and some personal writing projects I hope to pursue this year. I’m eager for guidance in that area as well.

So Jane and I had lunch, laying out four goals for the coming year and my task is to figure out some steps to make those happen (with her input, of course). I’m eager for an outside perspective, someone who can look at my life from 5,000 feet and offer up ways to improve, change or grow.

I’ll blog some of my experience and lessons learned along the way. Would love to know if anyone else has ever gone through a mentor program and whether you found it helpful.

Merry Christmas From the Fishers

At the beginning of the holiday season, I had grand plans for fabulous family Christmas cards. Alas, the month got away from me and here I am opting for a digital version. (I’m going to say it’s because I wanted to be green and use less paper, which is partially true.)

So, let me update you on the happenings in our lives over the last year. Clint spent the majority of the year working in Djibuti, Africa, while I held down the fort in South Carolina. It was a challenging year for us and we were thrilled when Clint came home Oct. 1. He has readjusted to life at home, and I had no trouble handing off all sorts of household and parenting duties! Hey, he missed the transition to the toddler bed and potty training, so it’s only fair. I’m grateful to the friends and family members who pitched in over the last year to help me with babysitting.

Clint has headed back to his job as a project manager at Honeywell, where he does IT security for various government clients. I added to my workload at Step Ahead Inc., where we do public relations, social media marketing and Internet marketing. I handle most of the PR accounts and a fair amount of our social media work for businesses. And while there are days when I miss the newspaper business, it’s been fun working in this new field and learning new skills.

I also joined the steering committee of the Charleston Young Professionals, led a couple of discussions at the Center for Women and volunteered with Metanoia to plan its annual holiday Jubilee fundraiser. I marked 15 years as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (which I admit made me a feel a little old). I’ve been volunteering with the national membership committee and host a monthly podcast called Your SPJ Membership. Who knew a print gal could turn into a radio host?

I started CrossFit classes in July and Clint joined me when he got home. We love it! I never imagined I’d be pumping iron and doing pull-ups!

Over the year, we watched Kate make the transition from “baby” to “toddler” and now to “little girl.” She looks like me and acts like Clint. The poor child is a perfectionist and doesn’t have much patience, having inherited some of our less desirable traits. But on the upside, she’s smart as a whip and keeps us on our toes wondering what she’ll say next. I swear she talks like she’s almost 5 rather than almost 3. She enjoys going to school each day and has Stretch-n-Grow classes each week, where she recently learned to point out her biceps, triceps and abdominals. We’ll be looking into dance and swim classes next year.

We’re happy to be back together for the holidays and look forward to what 2011 will bring.

Here’s wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and God’s many blessings in the New Year!

Lots of love,
Holly, Clint and Kate

Keep up with the Fishers
Holly: holly@fishers2000.com / 843-991-1689 / www.facebook.com/hollyannfisher
Clint: clint@fishers2000.com / 843-991-1690
Holly’s on Facebook and trying to get Clint there as well. :)

Photo credit: Chris Smith

Marriage is not dead

Everywhere I turn there’s another article, blog post or magazine cover story questioning the importance, relevance or necessity of marriage. Enough!

Just a few months ago, our church did a series called “Love Songs” and the very first sermon was about making a case for marriage. Of the three points, one that truly stuck with me was the fact there are some experiences in life you just won’t have unless you are married. And I don’t mean a wedding or co-signing a mortgage, but the experience of sharing your life with someone. In a marriage, you know your spouse has your back, is committed to you and will be at your side for all those amazing – and not so amazing – times.

Having been married 10 years, I believe can speak with some authority on this subject. I love the fact I often know what my husband is thinking without even looking at him. I love that we share inside jokes and can make each other laugh. Well, you argue, unmarried people make each laugh. True, but our joys, sorrows and special moments run deep. They stem from a connection and a commitment and that – at least to me – makes all those moments extra special. It’s easy to laugh during the good times, but I know my husband will stick with me during the hard times, the times when I’m struggling and not so easy to live with.

Anything worth having takes work. Like your career, raising good children or developing a relationship with God, these don’t just happen. You shoulder a large part of the responsibility and marriage is the same way. It takes some effort but, as our pastor pointed out, it comes with a great benefits package.

A lot to be thankful for

This Thanksgiving I breathe a sigh of grateful relief that I made it through the last year and now have my sweet hubby back home. This time last year, we’d barely started our 11-month separation as he worked in Djibouti, Africa. I am truly thankful we survived.

I am also very grateful to the friends in Charleston who helped me while Clint was gone as well as those who sent words of encouragement from afar. With a 2-year-old, two dogs, a house and a full-time job, I had my hands full. Thank you, friends, for your assistance.

Here’s wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

The happiest of reunions

I wore a path in the carpet at the airport. I was nervous, excited and overwhelmed. I was seeing my husband for the first time in 11 months.

When I saw him round the corner and head up the hallway from Terminal A, I had to hold myself back from busting through the “do not enter” security sign. (But I hated to have our reunion spoiled with me in handcuffs and suspected as a possible terrorist.)

I have never hugged someone so tightly. A kiss has never been so sweet. I am so relieved to have my best friend back home.

Vote for me!

I wouldn’t make a great politician – all the campaigning just isn’t my thing. Writing about it as a reporter, sure. Doing it myself, well, not so much. But next weekend, I'll be putting my campaigning hat for my run as at-large director with the Society of Professional Journalists.

As we converge on Las Vegas next week for the national SPJ conference and journalism convention, SPJ chapter delegates will select a new slate of board members.

After serving on the board for six years as a regional director, I took a break to have a baby and just to let someone else have a turn (I have a feeling the folks in my region might have let me stay indefinitely!). This year I decided I was ready to return to board service, but in a different role. So, I’m running for the at-large director’s seat against two other very capable SPJ members.

Why head back to the board table? It’s simple: I really love this organization. I’ve been a member for 15 years and honestly can’t imagine not being a member. It’s a piece of who I am. Just as journalism is a piece of me, so is SPJ.

I'll save the rest of the story for my campaign speech, but wish me luck! Here's a preview of my campaign stickers:

'Excited' barely covers it

To say I’m excited that my husband comes home next week after working 11 months in Africa would be the understatement of the decade. Excited barely scratches the surface of my emotions. Aside from the joy of having help with an independent and headstrong 2 year old, I’m just happy to have my best friend back.

Here are just a few of the many things I’ve missed:
• Someone to roll the garbage can to the curb on Monday mornings.
• Back up in the murder of a particularly large and fast-moving Palmetto Bug.
• A foot warmer when I go to bed with cold feet and am too lazy to get up and find socks.
• A hug when I feel sad, stressed or discouraged.
• Someone to laugh at inside jokes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen something hilarious that only Clint would find funny.
• In-house tech support. Although I have learned how to install Windows on a new laptop and set up a new wireless router.
• Someone who can make our two Labs mind with the simple snap of his fingers.
• Parenting support and all that goes with it.

I could go on with a list a mile long. But we’ll keep it simple and say I’m excited.