This evening, one of my mentees from the University of Washington called me so excited with delight about having gotten a second round job interview with a local consulting company that she's been dying to get a job with.  (Side note: this mentee of mine is AWESOME - when I first met her, I saw a bright shiny sparkling person with a great future ahead of her.  I wanted to do everything I could and tell her everything I knew to help her get there.)  i reviewed her resume, her cover letter, there were emails flying back and forth the past couple of weeks, she got the first round interview for today, she prepped and prepped, we texted back and forth.... and she moves onto the second round!  LEVEL UP!  (I was hardly surprised - seriously, this young woman is going to kick butt no matter where she lands).

Then it hit me...  I am so on her team!  I was reminded about this thing I came up with, "Team Arry".  I've always had a circle of good people around me, to turn to, watching out for me.  It wasn't until maybe a couple years into my very first corporate job at Microsoft that I realized that I needed a "Team Arry".  A brain trust of people that were more experienced, smarter, wiser, more successful than I could ever imagine to be.  At that point, I wasn't getting it from the manager I reported into at work - I needed to make sure I was getting it somewhere.  I had to be proactive about it.  And so, I did - I've grown the brain trust of people I turn to for feedback, suggestions, thoughts.  Not just professional mentors - mentors on the various life stages, on being a strong woman, on maintaining my woman-ness even while working in technology, the world of startups, taking care of my financial commitments and goals, etc...  My mother has taken a grand seat at the table of "Team Arry" too - more and more so as I grow up.  It pains me sometimes, but my mother always has a way of calling it, telling me what I don't want to hear even though it's the right thing to do. 

Being safely vulnerable.  "Team Arry" isn't only about mentoring and being mentored.  Having a close  relationship with your braintrust - and growing that relationship over time is sort of like growing a community of people that know you, can speak about you and your character, and can vouch for you.  "Team Arry" supports me no matter what - I expose my innards, my fears, my troubles to them - and they are the ones that strategically advise me, back me up, and support me. 

I love mentoring.  If you aren't already, take the opportunity to join another person's "Team" - and serve them.  It feels amazing to be thinking about another person's well being, helping them optimize their opportunities, helping be a part of shaping their future and being a part of making their dreams come true. 

xo,
Arry

I. Am. So. Behind. ...  I can't believe I haven't had a chance to sit down and write a post this week yet - well, I could have last night finally around 330AM, but I decided to go to sleep instead....  Excuses.  Anyways - topics at top of mind: Managers versus Leaders, Job versus a Career, Humility, Startup Challenges, and Relationships.  Yes, relationships are back in the bucket of topics on my mind - it's been a little while, huh?  Yes, I probably have some updates there for you in that department, too.  Too many things I could write about I don't know where to start.

I've been trying to get to know G-d again this year and a half (as I wrote in the original blog I started writing in, the All Things Wishful blog), after having lost touch for almost a decade - and the process has been quite interesting, heart wrenching at times, joyful, moving and humbling.  This year, with the diligent and kind help of my man, we've been regularly attending church.  I've started to realize, that going to church is kinda like a way for a person to regularly date G-d, get to know Him, spend time with Him and the church community.  So interesting.  So humbling.  ... So amazing.

The pastor the other week posed the following that I had never thought of before.  It was like mathematical wizardry or a proof that suddenly turned the light bulb back on for me. 

A.   True.  There was a man named Jesus.  Historical fact.
B.   Prove that Jesus is the son of G-d.  He was the perfect man and without sin.

Okay.  A is True.  Now, to prove that B is true?  The question comes down to 1) was Jesus a good guy or 2) was Jesus a bad guy?  He can't be both.  If Jesus was just a man and not G-d as many religions think, then how can they consider Him to be a good person and a great prophet?  How could that be?  Jesus called Himself the son of G-d, the Messiah - if He was a just a man, wouldn't that just prove that He's crazy?  How does a supposed good prophet going around town calling Himself G-d make Him a great prophet, or the enlightened one?  It doesn't - that just makes Him plain crazy.  But if B is true, and Jesus is indeed the son of G-d... well then, it'd mean that He's not only a historical figure, but He's really the Messiah.  If all the other people who vouch for Him agree that He was a very good man, enlightened, a prophet...   then obviously He wasn't crazy.  I come to the conclusion: A + B = Jesus was an awesome man and is truly the son of G-d.

This is what's on my mind lately.
A lot.

xo,
Arry

Yay!  Hip hip hooray!  Arry Table launched a little over a week ago and the responses have been awesome.  Over 2,000 visits within the first 24 hours of launch, over 155+ Facebook shares, ... and wow, so many messages inquiring about the table.  [Yes, you can email me for information - arry (at) arrytable (dot) com]. 

It's pretty amazing - I had NO place to eat like a normal adult human being for THREE years because I didn't want to settle.  I used to stand at my kitchen counter-top, sit on the floor by my coffee table...  I cannot believe I went that long without a table.  I was like a broken record - obsessed about finding that perfect table looking everywhere, asking people about where I could buy this, drawing and describing... and even making daily trips to the corner art supply store to create mini Arry Table models made of wood, plastic, sticks and crazy glue to show whomever I could.  Thankfully, I have good people in my life - and was advised to go build it.  It took a long time to find that right person to work with me.  Finally, I met Jeff F. my co-inventor, who helped me build that first perfect table.  He understood my non-technical non-mechanical non-carpenter talk and helped by translating it into the beautiful Arry Table that is today. 

Check it out - let me know what you think!  They are for sale... NOW!  :D

xo,
Arry

Check it out at: www.arrytable.com
Throw me a "Like": www.facebook.com/arrytable

My boyfriend and I recently went and visited a bunch of companies while in the Bay area: Facebook, Apple, Zynga and Level 3 Communications.  It's pretty interesting when you see how different a company's culture can be from other companies - and the impact that it has on employees, recruiting, and public perception.

#1.  Our favorite was Facebook.  Hands down.  Definitely.  My friend from college, Melissa, gave us a tour through the new Facebook Campus in Menlo Park.  It is no doubt a work culture that I can identify with - SO FUN!!!  :D

#2.  The second favorite was Zynga.  GAMES.  Games.  GAMES everywhere!  One of my old buddies who's a GM there showed us around.  I snagged a bag of peanut M&M's - and we each got to partake in their Friday beers.

3.  Then there was Apple and Level 3 Communications.  I'm gonna tell you about Apple.  I was shocked to find that Apple is all closed doors, tight lips, ... no tours.  The only thing we got to see there was the entrance, the cafeteria, and... the small company store.

Anyways - that sums it up.  Very interesting how different company cultures can be.  What's your company culture like?  Where does it come from?  How do you fit (or not) in?

xo,
Arry

A legend and visionary passed today.  He lived a good life - brought his game to the table every day.  I'm reminded of a great speech I heard recently that talked about seeking greatness,taking the cards you've been dealt and make something of them.  Life is a gift - and we need to make it count.  There's no doubt in my mind that Steve did just that - made his life count every day - day-in and day-out. 

"Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." -- Steve Jobs

And let's not forget his inspiring 2005 Standford University commencement speech: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

~Arry