Toys vs Tools

Years ago I read an article that noted the average child worldwide has a total of 3 toys as compared to a child in America who receives on average of 70 new toys each year.  This has clearly stuck with me so with Oskar I have tried to make it a point not to buy him toys but rather use everyday things to hold his interest and provide some play.   Case in point, the only "toy" I have bought him is a silicon orange pastry brush to help with his teething... and this was purchased before he was even born.  

That is not to say he doesn't have toys; he has plenty thanks to friends, coworkers, extended family and the Breuer Family, Martin included… He has received so many great toys from his German relatives: a stand up balance bike (which he will be able to use in a few years), a wooden train, finger puppets, bean bags, stuffed animals, wooden rattles, etc.  And to supplement, Martin has purchased a little red push wagon, a sit on wooden bike (that is still too big, but will work before the balance bike) and a wooden xylophone all within the past week.  Oskar's toy box has gone from being just books to overflowing with fun toys. 

To be fair, while Martin is spending his ice cream money on toys, I have been spending mine on gadgets and tools for the little guy.  Behold exhibit A: 

These are the five sippy cups I have bought in the past four months in hopes of finding one that Oskar will be able to figure out... so far none have really worked but here's to hoping that changes soon.  I have also spent money on multiple baby carriers (2 ergo babies and a mobi wrap, which was supplemented by the hiking backpack from Ange) and we now have three strollers (one for everyday use, one for travel and one for biking/skiing).

I suppose between Martin and I, Oskar will be well prepared for life; both the fun side and practical side. 

Vegas with the Rents?

Who wouldn't want to go to Vegas with their parents?! It is clearly the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Vegas.  Okay, probably not normally, but after our trip there last week it is definitely no longer unheard of or unthinkable.

To back up, last year my dad and I had an epic night at the AC/DC concert in San Francisco.  And after that night we began compiling the concert bucket list for us to check off.  Elton John was at the top of that list and next to take down

So a year and a half later, I landed in Vegas to meet my parents on a Wednesday afternoon for dinner and a show.  After a half day at work and a quick flight down, I met them at Caesar’s Casino and Hotel; our home base for the night.  It was parents first time to Vegas so I was excited to introduce them to the City of Sin and see how they liked it so far: my dad’s the initial reaction: “this place is nuts, I need a nap.”

And nap my dad did while my mom and I took a hot lap through the forum shops and a quick stroll outside for some fresh air. 

I dropped my mom off at her hotel room to get changed and check in on work.  We met up just an hour later for appetizers and drinks before the show.  We spent a few minutes figuring out the game plan and trying to decide where to go among all of the various restaurants in Caesars.  My dad was extra excited about Rao’s, the famous restaurant in New York City that is impossible to get a reservation for, especially since we could get a table for the three of us, no waiting in Vegas… it might have also been because it was 5 pm on a Wednesday night.  However my dad commented that he didn't want to eat there and be full and tired for the show.   But further remarked “man if I come back I would do dinner at a nice restaurant one night and then a concert or show the second night.”

We opted for Mr Chows where we enjoyed the fancy Chinese dumplings and sipped on expensive champagne.

With the show starting at 7:30, we wrapped up our pre-show drinks and made our way over to the Coliseum for Elton John’s Million Dollar Piano show.  We arrived early enough to find our seats, grabs some drinks and take in the fact that the place was packed even though Elton John plays there at least four nights a week and has been for over two years.  We enjoyed the show (me singing along to the few songs I knew) and both me and my dad drinking our massive Vegas sized beers….I was not secretly pregnant like the last concert and neither my dad nor I were afraid to miss a song with a bathroom break.  When leaving the show my dad commented “That show was awesome.  I can see how this place grows on you.” 

After the show we stopped by the Old Homestead Steakhouse for after dinner drinks and dessert.  We talked about the show, the family, and life in general while enjoying our decadent apple crisp and berry tart and 15 year port (or Don Julio tequila for my mom).  It was during this dessert, while talking about Oskar, that my dad started rummaging around in his wallet looking for something.  A few seconds later he pulled out this amazing gem.  It was taken over 33 years ago and he has carried it with him since.

It was also during this time that my dad started making plans on whom would join him and my mom on their next trip to Vegas.  I think they settled on getting the cousins together for a few nights in Sin City. His exact words to my mom “Do you think your cousins would like this place?  We should get a weekend planned with them.” 

We said good night and good bye that night around 11:30.  Unfortunately I had a 6 am flight to catch the next morning to make it to work while my parents had the day to explore some more of the Strip. 

It was less than 24 hours in Vegas but it was perfect.  We had a proper meal, saw a great show and I had some serious bonding time with my parents.

As a side note: I love how my dad's first experience of Vegas went from cold to hot with him not sure about the place at first to planning his next trip before the night was even over.  Conversely my first time went from hot to cold…with me thinking it was the most amazing place in the world to oh man, this place is crazy, followed by I can only manage two nights, and wrapping up with the need for a shower and my own bed and vowing to never return. 

Change of Plans - Part 2

With 10 days off between jobs and Oskar in Daycare (I didn't want to disrupt his routine) I was excited to take advantage with some “me” time.  I was going to work out, get a massage, get a haircut, and clean out my closet and random clutter around the house implementing the newly found KonMari method.  I was going to do lunches with friends, play dates with other stay at home moms, take Oskar to swim class, and maybe even see a movie! It was going to be beautiful.

That is until Oskar came down with a nasty cold that turned into a virus on my first day off.  My grand plans of being a lady of leisure for one week quickly changed into being a stay at home mom with a sick little one.  But to avoid confusion, I am not complaining.  We had four really great days of just the two of us, sleeping in late, snuggling on the couch and him napping in my arms.  And while I could tell he was miserable with his runny nose, persistent cough and slight fever, I was happy to be able to spend the time with him before jumping into my next job.

And with him feeling much better by the following week I was still able to get a day in for just me.

Change in Plans - Part 1

In June 2014, after a really bad week at work I was heading to Chicago for a much needed girls weekend and, while at the airport trolling through LinkedIn job postings, I came across this one:

It immediately caught my eye (obviously since I took a screenshot of it with my phone) and I started the magical "what if” journey of potentially applying.  I was so convinced it was the right move that I told the girls about it that very night over too many bottles of wine on Lyndsey's humidity wrapped roof deck.

However back in the sober cold reality of San Francisco I realized that I had none of the experience (10% at best of the required skills) and actually really loved my job at salesforce.  In the end I decided not to apply.  Therefore it only seemed like fate when 6 weeks later I was contacted by a recruiter I trusted and loved about the very same position and was talked into throwing my name in the hat.  And even crazier, I kept on making it to the next round of interviews all the while being completely honest about my lack of experience.  I told Martin that if they offered me the job I had to take it.  It was the next logical move from a career perspective and I wanted to take a company public.  This role seemed to fit both perfectly. 

And so in September 2014 I left the job and team I loved to become the Corporate Controller of DocuSign.  In the past two plus years I have learned the ins and outs of accounting from processing accounts payable to collecting money from customers.  I rolled out a new payroll system, closed the accounting books 24+ times, went through two year-end audits with full responsibility of the numbers. I learned the various accounting processes and systems and how difficult life can be when those processes and systems are not automated or effective. I learned international tax laws, filed state sales and use tax filings, expanded internationally, acquired two companies and managed a team of 18 remotely in Seattle and 5 in San Francisco.  I spent my time mentoring my staff, building a new team and transitioning those out that weren’t performing.  I built relationships and a huge support network both inside and outside of the company.  It was amazing. 

But I also routinely worked 60+ hours a week, missed too many dinners (with Martin calling me at 8 pm at 8 months pregnant telling me I had to come home and get some rest). I travelled every month to Seattle and felt the brunt of the thankless job that accounting can be.  I was, at various points in time, the AP manager, Payroll manager, Revenue manager, GL manager, AR manager, Tax manager in addition to the corporate controller.  And as such, I was approving all POs, invoices, journal entries, payrolls, and tax filings... And I was burnt out.

And so with a new baby at home and the need for work life flexibility (because let's be honest work life balance is a myth) I decided to change my career plans and head back to salesforce... because while taking a company public would be awesome, it is no longer something I need to do to prove I am a smart, talented or accomplished person.  And while I loved seeing my team grow and develop, I was ready to step back and have a more limited scope of responsibilities.   

It was an amazing opportunity, one where I learned countless new skills (both accounting based as well as soft skills and survival skills).  I built an incredible team and loved everyone I worked with.  But it was time. 

Thank you DocuSign for the adventure, I am truly excited to see what you accomplish as a company in the next few years! And to salesforce, I am coming home!