Me & Mr. T

I'm sitting at my table. Tea mug next to me, its mossy-colored liquid rippling and sending its tea bag on mini waves to the beat of my laptop typing. Mr. Tea looks on. He's got his classic mean grill going. But he's just serious. And seriously misunderstood.

I'm glad he's here, because so far, the weirdest thing about working "for myself" is the silence.

I knew that in the beginning, I probably wouldn't interact with as many people as when I was reporting in to an office, but I don't think that I realized just how drastically different it would be.

Instead of the buzz of meetings breaking, colleagues on the phone, papers being spit out by the local printer, this is what I hear from my kitchen table:
- My typing, which sounds louder than ever, without tons of other competing sounds
- The planes flying overhead
- The above ground subway in the distance, especially when there is honking involved
- Birds chirping
- Children laughing as they get pushed in strollers
- A car's bass as it drives by with the windows open and music pounding
- My refrigerator motor starting up after settling down for a bit

Ok, that last one made me feel a little crazy for noticing.

I know that it won't always be this quiet - I have a bunch of meetings this week and will only get busier and busier with people. And re-reading the list, I'm realizing that it's not really that quiet. It's just that I'm not talking. Ha!

With that said typed, I'm going to be conducting a number of interviews to talk to people about what Swirl should be doing and aiming for in its next decade of work. If you'd like to break up this staring contest between me and Mr. Tea, let me know now! Would love for you to be a thought partner!

Comments

[Vanessazoltan]

I would love to talk to you! I have some thoughts about inter-faith stuff. Remind me to discuss. And say, 'hi' to Mr. Tea for me.

[Alison Chang]

Hi Jen,
Stumbled on your blog through facebook (long story, but we went to Wellesley at the same time). Anyway, I don't know if you've heard of the Mavin Foundation-- it immediately sprung to mind when I read about Swirl-- it was founded by a friend from high school.

Good luck with your new venture!
Alison

[Tobins]

Wow! Congrats! (:

By the way have you thought about working out of a "co-working" space a few times a week/month? Not some place where you get a desk, but it's about community and independent people/workers sharing a space to help feel like you're not "alone".

One of my favorites is New Work City down in tribeca. http://nwc.co it's geared towards mostly tech, but there are other people as well that are working in the non-profit arena.

Tobin

[Jen Chau]

V - can't wait to discuss! Mr. Tea misses you, as does Charlie.

Alison - Hi! Thanks for reading, Wellesley sister! You went to school with Matt Kelley? Yes - he and I definitely knew each other and worked together in the early years when he was starting the Mavin Mag and I was starting Swirl. It's a small world. Thanks for mentioning!

Tobin - Nice to hear from you! Funny - I have been thinking about that. I may do that at some point. Thanks for the great lead. Looks like a perfect place!