Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I jumped. Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I took that giant leap of faith, or some might say insanity, that turns a comfortable existence right on its side. Monday afternoon around 5 PM, I accepted a job as Director of Community for Project 7.

If you are not familiar with Project 7, it is a cause-related company founded by “social-capitalist” Tyler Merrick that makes every day consumer goods, like bio-bottled water, gum, mints and coffee. And with every purchase of a Project 7 product, tangible good is done in 7 areas of need: Feed the Hungry, Heal the Sick, Hope for Peace, House the Homeless, Quench the Thirsty, Teach them Well and Save the Earth.

Gnarly, huh? {Yeah, I don’t imagine I will ever be able to pull off that word. I better stick with cool.}

Cool, huh?

And my job is even cooler. As Director of Community, I’ll be overseeing all strategic partnerships, relationships and sponsorships in faith-based channels. If someone could craft a position just for me, I believe this is it. It will allow me to utilize the various marketing, merchandising, and communications skills and the relationships that I have honed over the last decade at Thomas Nelson and Books-A-Million.

I know what you are thinking, none of this sounds so crazy.

Well, the kicker is that the job will be based in Southern California. I am still in the process of working out logistics of how to close up a home, and a life, in Nashville and begin anew in Orange County, CALIFORNIA, but imagine I’ll be west coast bound in early September.

So truth be known, I am feeling excited, scared, sad, and a tad bit overwhelmed. But most importantly, I feel a gentle peace about the decision. I know it is the right thing and I am ready to start this new adventure. I hope you will join me on this journey. And I am sure there a lot more to come {read: weepy posts} in the next few weeks as I begin to process this big change.

Appreciate you all!

My first real experience with change was when I was elementary school. My family moved the summer between 3rd and 4th grade and I had to change schools. It was traumatic. I made the change, but there was plenty of kicking and screaming (Literally kicking and screaming, usually my classmates).  But life went on, I made new friends, and I realized that change wasn’t so bad. More recently, at my last employer, Books-A-Million, in five years I had five different roles (Special Events Manager, Assistant Buyer, Buyer, Director of Special Events and Director of Advertising and Promotions). Man, did we waste some business cards! But I learned a ton, worked for some amazing people, and the depth of experience I accumulated has been wonderful for my career.

Candidly, even though I embrace the process of change, sometimes I do not enjoy the effects of change. And when that happens, I really have to work at staying positive and trying to find the good in the situation. There is always good in the situation, whether it be personal growth or strengthened faith.

I realize that I am probably in the minority here. There are people who are hoping and praying that there world will stay exactly the same. Unfortunately for them, it just won’t happen like that. (You might have read that we announced some pretty significant changes at Thomas Nelson earlier today). So below are a few resources for dealing with change:

Who Moved My Cheese? - A wonderful allegory about dealing with organizational change.

Orbiting the Giant Hairball – My friend and former boss, Jeff Skipper, gave me this book before I started work at Thomas Nelson. It is a hilarious look at how to emerge from the impenetrable mass of rules and systems.

Managing Transitions – Deals with the human side of organizational change.

How do you handle change? Do you have any resources for those who are struggling in the midst of change?

George Washington

2. I used to plan all the special events for Books-A-Million and met a long list of famous authors and celebrities in that gig — Pat Conroy (my favorite), Nora Roberts, Paula Deen, John McCain, Joel Osteen, Patricia Cornwell, and Lou Holtz – just to name a few.

3. I Twitter, a lot. It really is a technology you should check out (www.twitter.com). Through it I have found a church, met new friends, and learned a ton.

4. I love to take road trips. Mostly because they area great excuse for me to sing and do dramatic interpretation of songs. One of my many talents. Seriously, you should see me do it sometime — I am fantastic.

5. This is embarrassing but I prefer really cheesy television that is designed for teenage girls. ABC Family Channel Movies, Gossip Girl, 90210, and One Tree Hill are a few of my favorites. I know I need to get a grip…I am 32, not 13.

6. My older sister, Marcie, pushed me off a ski lift when I was in elementary school. I was unharmed, but I am not convinced that she was trying to off me.

7. I dream of someday being called “sporty.” Probably a more honest adjective is “gluttonous” but someday “sporty.”

8. Confession – I pooped in the shower at camp. Before your imagination runs away with you, I was in First or Second Grade but still I knew better, which is why lied about it. I tend to blurt out this confession when the mood is somber and typically get a good laugh.

9. I used to tell people that once we met & hung out with Rob & Chad Lowe on a ski trip. My sister had to tell me a few years ago that this was only a figment of my overactive imagination. I had no idea. Ever since them I am a little reluctant to trust my “memory.”

10. I have the cutest nieces in the world – Macon (6) is beyond her years, Anne Shelton (4) has this sassy spunk that they should bottle and sell, and Kate (1) has these CHEEKS that make you grin from ear to ear. They live in Raleigh, NC and I miss them terribly.

4 Years Old and Sassy - Anne Shelton Porterfield

11. My goddaughter Sarah Trammell (9) rocks! I am loving watching her transform from a little girl to a teenager.

12. I LOVE camp. I have the fondest memories of my days at Sky Ranch, Camp Mystic, Frontier Ranch, and Windy Gap.

13. Sometimes I snort when I laugh. Not very attractive, but true.

14. My favorite food is Risotto, any kind of Risotto.

15. I usually order my meals based on what sides accompany the meat (mashed potatoes, grits, pomme frites, etc.)

16. I think I look really cool in this green wig that I have stolen from a friend.

17. The thing I miss most about living in Texas (besides my amazing friends and family) is Mexican food. Hands down, the Mexican food.

18. I wish there was a place for cool thirty-somethings to square dance. I would SO be there.

19. I have incredible friends in my life. I have collected them from every period of life (high school, college, Birmingham, and now Nashville) and feel so privileged to call each of them “friend.”

20. I think that Ben Harper wrote “Walk Away” as a special lesson just for me. Haven’t learned it yet, but working on it.

21. I sometimes go a whole month without going to the grocery store.

22. I am running the Country Music Half Marathon with Powered by Hope. Maybe this will help with #7?

23. I am addicted to my blackberry. Isn’t admitting your problem the first step to recovery?

24. I lose my debit card ALL THE TIME. Seriously, I think I have already misplaced it twice this year. Regions Bank sends me like 3 at a time.

25. My dog, Molly, is the best dog ever. If I really think she could model, win dog shows and agility contests – I just am not ready to share her with the world. But I will share her with you now…

Molly

Now how about you share three things I don’t know about you?