I Applied for a Job and the Universe Said, Aww Hell No

I was all set to write about the top 10 things no one tells you about being a full-time writer when I was hit with a Universe Wake-Up Call. So, you know I had to switch gears and tell y’all about it.

I applied for a job.

Full-time. 9 to 5. Monday through Friday. Yep, one of those deals. If you read my last post on money, you know that I’m set for retirement. But, and this is a big BUT, I still need to earn an income for the next 23 years. Writing, selling my novel and Fear & Writing course, and teaching a few workshops is not bringing home the bacon. Let’s be frank, it’s not even bringing home bacon bits.

The job was to work as an academic and career advisor at a community college. I have 15+ years of experience in this area. It was work I’d done before and enjoyed. I thought it was a great match.

I worked hard on my resume and application, then I met up with a friend who’s the director of advising at a different community college to get her advice. She gave me great tips and encouraged me to go for it (thank you, Emily). So, I did. I applied.

Part of me was happy that I had applied and done the best job that I could on the application. But part of me wondered, should I stay self employed?

About a month before, I had written this on a piece of paper and placed it in my God Box.

Divine Spirit, If I am meant to stay self employed, show me the way to work and daily practices that will help me build a joyful, kind, nourishing, gratifying, fulfilling, and financially rewarding life and career. I am ready. If self employment is not right for me at this time, lead me to the right job(s). Thank you!

About a week later, I found the advisor job, and wrote this.

Divine Spirit, The right job is waiting for me. I find it, apply well and on time, am called for (an) interview(s) and do extremely well at them. The salary offered to me is a great match for my skills and experience. The path to the perfect job for me is already set. I am ready to walk the path.

Two weeks later–a week before I applied for the job–I wrote this.

Divine Spirit, I am trying to choose between getting a job and doing multiple streams of income. Please show me the right path. I am open to receiving your guidance and wisdom.

I’ve struggled with this question for a while. This job was not the first I’ve applied for. In fact, it wasn’t until today that I realized that it was the ninth job I’d applied to in my nine years of self employment. Nine in nine. I know. There’s some symbolism there.

Anyway, these worries had been keeping me up at night. So, I decided to give it up to the Universe, the Divine, whatever you want to call the Higher Power if you believe in that (it’s okay if you don’t). I stopped grasping for an answer and surrendered it.

Well, dear readers, that’s when things started to happen.

First, right before the job ad closed, I got word from the company I’ve been working for on a very part-time basis that I was being promoted from local event producer to regional event producer. That meant instead of coordinating three photography workshops a year, I was now going to produce TWELVE workshops a year. And not just in Seattle, but in Portland and San Francisco too. Travel costs paid. Even better, my hubs Marcus is a photo coach for these workshops so we’d get to travel and work together TWELVE times in this next year.

I was ecstatic!

But I wasn’t all the way home yet.

The money I’d earn through this gig was better than last year, but it still wasn’t enough for a “good enough” part-time job. It was more like a good enough quarter-time job.

I still wondered, maybe I should still get a job?

I offered that up to the Universe again. I prayed in the shower. (I admit it, that’s when I usually pray.) Help me find the right path.

I figured I had at least two months to figure it out. You see, it can take months for colleges to run their selection process.

The application deadline was May 10. It usually takes one month for them to pick who they want to interview–so I might hear from them by June 10. Then, interviews would take another month. I figured that if I got an interview and went through the process, I might know if I had the job by July 10.

Like I said, two months to decide which way to go.

Nope.

The Universe had other plans.

Yesterday, while I was meeting with Jenny, my self-employment coach, an email was sent to me from the community college. When I arrived home, I opened it and it said, “This email is to let you know that you have not been selected to interview for the position. We received applications from many well-qualified individuals, which meant making difficult choices among excellent candidates.”

For a second, I was in shock. 15+ years of experience and I didn’t get even an interview?!

Then, I started laughing like a crazy person.

Marcus asked me what was wrong and I read him the email.

He started laughing too.

You see, I had returned home from my meeting with Jenny with a new business idea. I was excitedly telling Marcus about it when I sat down at my computer and opened my email. That’s when it hit me.

I applied for a job and the Universe said, “AWW, HELL NO!”

Not maybe you’ll have to make a hard decision between a job and being self-employed. No, not maybe. Just, AWW, HELL NO!

With that email, the Universe said, you’re not even going to get the chance to try for that job.

I can’t imagine what strings the Universe had to pull to make the community college get back to me so fast. That email came less than four days after the ad closed, three days after receiving the promotion to regional producer, and on the same day (the same dang HOUR, people! I checked the time stamp on the email!) that I met with my coach and discovered a new business that I want to do.

Do you believe in messages from the Divine?

Well, I do.

With these three events, the Universe said this to me.

You’re going to stay self employed and produce those fun photography workshops on the west coast. You’re going to start a new business. And, last but not least, you’re going to keep writing. That’s right, girl. You’re going to keep writing. That’s what you’re going to do. So stop applying to jobs, Peg, and get going!

Thank you, Universe.

I hear you loud and clear.

And, I’m finally listening.

Peg Cheng is the author of The Contenders, a novel that asks, can enemies become friends? Peg is also the creator of Fear & Writing, a workshop for procrastinating writers from all walks of life.

Photo: Milky Way behind a full-scale replica of Stonehenge near Maryhill, Washington by Marcus Donner.