Changes, Changes

On Monday morning I did something that, three weeks ago, I could hardly imagine doing. I gave my two week’s notice to Unishippers. After nearly four years of great experiences in the marketing department at the corporate headquarters of one of the largest resellers of shipping services in the country, I knew it was time to move on. But it was really hard to tell all my friends there that I would be leaving. I have enjoyed the job very much and have grown a lot there. And Unishippers has been really good to me.

But opportunity knocked, and I had to answer. I was presented with an opportunity to work in business development with U.S. Bank as a relationship manager /business banking officer. The job will give me opportunities to grow and develop in new ways. It will allow me to use my talents of working with people, and it will compensate me for my extra efforts with a very attractive incentive plan for bringing on new business. Yes, it’s a career change. For the last ten years I have spent in public relations, marketing and corporate communicatioins. Now I’m changing industries to banking and changing career path to sales/business development.

But I feel confident that it is the right move for me at this time. And I feel excited to take on new challenges and have more control over my compensation based on my performance. Yes, it’s also a bit scary — to go from something you know to face the unknown. However, I liken big changes like this one to cliff jumping. You stand on the edge of the cliff watching others jump into the lake below. You see how much fun they are having, but your fears keep you from taking the plunge. You finally take the leap and as you are falling you think in desparation, “What am I doing?” But then as you hit the water, you get the thrill you were seeking, and you’re ready for more. Are people injured while cliff jumping? Certainly. But if done carefully, it can be a lot of fun. Risk and return I guess. I know it won’t be easy to make this career move. But I’m ready for the challenge and I hungry for success!

Happy Easter from the Lamberts

As I ponder the message of Easter, which for me is the eternal nature of life because of Christ’s atonement, I think about how grateful I am for the knowledge that I can be with these four beautiful children forever.

I rejoice every time I hear the words, “He is Risen!” I look forward with great anticipation to resurrection morning, when I’ll be able to be reunited with loved ones who have gone before. And I know it is all possible because of the infinite sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. “What joy this sentences gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!”

Here’s a great new website about the Savior, his teachings, his ministry and his sacrifice.

http://jesuschrist.lds.org/

Watching TV Online – Hulu Launches

Ten years ago, I you had told me that I would be watching TV on my computer, I would have said that you were crazy. However, over the past couple of weeks, that’s exactly what Robin and I have been doing. Instead of watching the typical stuff on regular TV, we’ve been choosing our own content by watching programs on demand on the Internet. Isn’t that crazy? Okay, we’ve actually only been watching one show — LOST. We’re two-thirds of the way through Season 3 and are trying to get caught up so that we can talk about it with our family members who are big fans.

The thing I like about legal online TV is that although you have to watch a few commercials, it’s usually only one commercial during the typical commercial break. The thing I like even more about it is that you can choose when you want to watch it and exactly which episode you want to watch. New technologies and broadband connections have made the loading time very short and the quality of the visual experience comparable to the TV. The only thing I don’t like is having to prop up my laptop on the coffee table and listen to the show through those wimpy speakers.

I am intrigued by the whole online entertainment movement. I recently read about a partnership with NBC and NewsCorp (FOX) that launched a new site yesterday call Hulu. Here’s an excerpt from the LA Times article I read:

“The online video service, which has been in test mode since October, launches with more than 250 television series, including current shows such as “The Office” and “The Simpsons” and classics such as “Arrested Development” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” Hulu also provides 100 free, feature-length films, including “The Big Lebowski,” “Me, Myself & Irene” and “Some Like It Hot,” along with short video clips from 150 television series including “Saturday Night Live” and “In Living Color.”

Hulu seeks to satiate the growing appetite for online video. More than half of all Americans — and about four out of five U.S. Internet users — watch online video at least once a month, according to a February report from research firm EMarketer Inc. One in four had viewed full-length television episodes within the last three months, according to Nielsen Media Research.”

If you want to take a look, just go to http://www.hulu.com/.

It will be interesting to see how this and other technologies changes how we consume entertainment and media. I already get most of my news and information from the Internet. I admit that I rarely watch the local or national TV news, and even more rarely do I pick up a newspaper. I can get most, if not all, of the same content on the web. When I got home from my mission 12 years ago, I had never even heard of the World Wide Web or email. Now it’s a ubiquitous part of my life. If I had to choose between my satellite TV and broadband Internet, I think I would choose the latter. It’s just so incredibly useful. And yet, it can be incredibly destructive if not used properly.

Weekend Getaway

Over the weekend, my older brother Matt and I took our older kids up to East Canyon Resort, a timeshare condo about an hour away from my home. My parents bought the timeshare years ago and I’ve gone up there once or twice a year ever since. I arrived with Parley, Brianna and Lily on Friday afternoon and we stayed until Saturday night. Matt arrived with his three boys – Sam, Ben and Jon – just in time to enjoy a pizza dinner together. During the next 24-hours, we played games (including pool), watched movies, ate snacks, went sledding and just relaxed at the condo. On Saturday afternoon, we spent some time in the loft of the resort’s lodge, where the kids played games, did puzzles and messed around while Matt and I hung out and talked.

At about 5:45, one of the employees at the resort told us that since we were planning to go home that night, we should probably leave right away so as not to get stuck in a huge snowstorm. So we hurried back to the condo, packed up, cleaned and left. The drive was harrowing with blizzard-like conditions in some parts and the kids were pretty worried. To aggravate this scary situation even more, I hadn’t planned very well and realized that I was running on empty. Parley prayed that we wouldn’t run out of gas, and we made it to Coalville just in time as we were seriously running on fumes. What a relief that we made it! (He bore his testimony about it the next day in sacrament meeting.) All in all, we had a wonderful time together.

Here’s a little experience that made me smile during our weekend trip. On Saturday afternoon, I took 3-year-old Lily to the restroom in the lodge which had automatic water faucets, an automatic paper towel dispenser and even an automatic soap dispenser. As I was helping her wash her hands, she reached out to get the soap and the motion sensor detected her little hands and automatically dispensed the soap. She squealed with surprise and delight and then exclaimed, “Daddy, it’s a miracle!”