Do you know what Groundhog Day’s Ned Ryerson, Truman Burbank, the lead character in The Truman Show, and Harvey Milk, in Milk, who begins the movie woefully unhappy with his life, have in common?
They are all insurance salesmen. And their jobs are used to illustrate the mundacity of their lives. You would have also been correct if you had said that they are characters in movies that I’ve seen in the past month, who have made me think twice about my decisions. That’s because I’ve been moving forward with a job in the insurance industry and studying for the New York State Licensing test.
And today, I passed that test!
That means that starting tomorrow, I can go out and sell people policies to cover their lives and their livelihoods as a captive agent of _______ Mutual Company. But unlike those guys in the movies, I’m going to give insurance sales and financial planning a good name! It will help that this company is focused on business insurance and community networking, which means that I can focus on two of my passions: independent bookselling and the Hudson Valley. And I’m going to keep it cool because I’ve already had the exciting life of working freelance, and working for a struggling independent everything. This time, I’m in the mood for some mundane pension plans, benefits, and stability, knowing I can look back and say, “been there, done that.”
How I got into this whole thing is a twisty story, depending on where you want to begin. If you’ve been reading this blog diligently, then you can skip this paragraph like it’s the second chapter in a Babysitter’s Club Novel. You know that I was a theatre major in college, worked at that for a while, then switched to film and television, then burned out on that like a shooting star, and got an opportunity to move to the Hudson Valley to sell books to independent bookstores. Then the economy tanked and lenders stopped giving money, and the start-up company that was already struggling went poof. But before that happened, I put my resume up on CareerBuilder and got contacted by said insurance company which was opening a branch in the Hudson Valley about as far from my house as you can be and still be in the Valley (that’s one hour away, btw.) I went in for an interview and wowed them, and many, many weeks and many days in Panera Bread studying later I found myself in the office of a state exam company passing my test.
Now I find myself in Panera again, slowly getting snowed in while I write this update, which I why I need to wrap this up. The next step is to use the tools given to me by Stacy & Clinton to buy some new clothes, because successful financial planners don’t show up in hoodies and ripped jeans. And after that… well, I can’t wait to find out.
I can’t promise that means a full return of the Daily Tannenbaum, because I’m looking at some long working days in the near future. But, per the request of Nancy Pearl Wannabe, I’m not killing her off just yet. So that’s what’s news!
Posted by kir on March 2, 2009 at 1:31 pm
hooray, a big congrats to you!!! if only i didn’t already have 2 life insurance policies…
Posted by bing on March 2, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Congrats on passing the test! My parents both work in insurance, though not selling it, and they really don’t mind it. Plus I know the sales folks end up with decent flex schedules, so you have that to look forward to. Good luck!
Posted by abbersnail on March 2, 2009 at 1:49 pm
That is terrific news, and I’m so happy for you!
Posted by Allie on March 2, 2009 at 1:52 pm
That is awesome! Congratulations! And have fun shopping!
Posted by Christina on March 2, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Congratulations!
Also, I loved this:
I hope your shiny new job leaves you some time for writing. Kafka, after all, spent most of his life as a traveling insurance salesman…
Posted by 3carnations on March 2, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Congratulations! Enjoy this new adventure!
Posted by -R- on March 2, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Congrats!!!
Posted by dan on March 2, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Woohoo! Congrats
Posted by Little Fish on March 2, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Congratulations! Here’s hoping you don’t find out that this is all a part of a network television show and there are secret cameras all around it. That’s probably not happening, but if a brooding mysterious stranger shows up and asks you to fly to Paris for the weekend maybe you should be wary (but go- it will make for good television).
Posted by nancypearlwannabe on March 2, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Hooray! A new job AND a return to the DT! I’m excited for you and your new beginning. Also, is it bad that I don’t even know if I have a life insurance policy? That probably means I don’t, right?
Posted by heidikins on March 2, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Congrats!! Hooray for new jobs and new outfits!!
xox
Posted by The Modern Gal on March 2, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Seriously, that second BSC chapter was always so annoying. She just needed to write a primer book for anyone who didn’t want to read the series from the beginning.
But anywho, congrats are in order!
Posted by Stefanie on March 2, 2009 at 9:46 pm
It amuses me that when you’re on a blog break, you still post more than I do. (Apparently I’m not feeling it so much either.)
Anyway, congrats! Also, good luck! And finally, is “mundacity” really a word? (If it’s not, it should be.)
Posted by alexa - cleveland's a plum on March 2, 2009 at 11:58 pm
the thought of passing any kind of test is ridiculously daunting to me right now.
kudos to you!!
Posted by Amy on March 3, 2009 at 10:39 am
Congratulations! I know the “joys” of freelancing well, and commiserate.
Posted by courtney on March 3, 2009 at 11:52 am
Congratulations on passing the test! I really admire your attitude — taking a job that is stereotypically mundane and making it cool, because it’s yours. Good for you.
And welcome back! We’ve missed you.
Posted by Jennifer M. on March 3, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Congratulations on passing your test! I’ve missed going through My Favorites and clicking on your blog, so it will be good to have you back. I believe the true measure of how awesome your new job should be how generous they are in letting you order whatever you want from the office supplies catalog.
Posted by cadiz12 on March 3, 2009 at 4:17 pm
way to go on the exam! i think what people call “mundane” jobs are underrated. but maybe that’s because i’m freelancing, too.
Posted by mickey on March 3, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Um, I’m going to agree with NPW: your blogging days are not over.
And congratulations! A job is a good thing to have right now (No, not always; just right now.)
Can we start calling you Needle-nose Tannenbaum?
Posted by Howling Hill on March 4, 2009 at 8:55 am
I’m so glad to hear things are turning out well for you. Too bad you’re not in NH because I’d totally hire you to help sort out our pathetic finances.
Posted by lizgwiz on March 5, 2009 at 10:40 am
If I lived in the Hudson Valley and needed insurance, I would totally call you.
Posted by Pants on March 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Excellent news. Congratulations!
Posted by Jennifer on March 9, 2009 at 1:40 am
Hoodies and ripped jeans – not even on casual Fridays?
Glad to get an update on you. Sounds like all good news, except for almost getting snowed in at Panera Bread.
Have a great week Noelle.
Posted by Kelli on March 10, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Congratulations! I was happy to see a new post up when I swung by these parts.
Posted by Brando on March 10, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Congratulations on the job. I know no one dreams of working in insurance (the way no one dreams of working in marketing), but it’s a steady field and you gotta pay the bills. Hope you get to blog again soon.
Posted by erikka on March 13, 2009 at 10:57 am
glad to see you back. i could use some of your wry sense of humor about now.
Posted by rdl on March 17, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Congrats on the new job! and glad to see you back on the blogwaves. I’m sure the new job will provide lots of fodder. I’d love to see the before and after pics too.
Posted by Jennifer on March 23, 2009 at 12:43 am
Happy Spring. I miss you!
Posted by erikka on March 24, 2009 at 8:06 pm
this new background is NOT cool….sorry.
Posted by Vicious Headbutt on April 2, 2009 at 10:01 am
Congratulations! Sounds like everything is going well, except for the cat puking. That towel sure has held up well for all the use you get out of it. Mine tend to start to fray.