Goodbye to My First Dream Job
February 14, 2018.
I couldn't leave without paying homage to a place that has given me so much LOVE.
December 20, 2013. The day I started at The Embassy Row Hotel, I noted it as my dream job in my Facebook status. And it was. All I wanted was to lead the marketing for lifestyle hotels, welcoming guests from all walks of life.
And at THE EMBASSY ROW HOTEL - the epitome of Washington, DC - rebranding and repositioning this new acquisition for Destination Hotels, this was a dream job… my dream job. I remember the night I interviewed, seeing all of Washington, DC from The Rooftop. I could feel the potential it had running through my veins, making my stomach do a funny dance.
Looking back now, it feels like I was a baby when I started which is a testament to all of the skills and life lessons gained (or gray hair). You could say I was thrown into the fire but I jumped in - learning from the experts in our company, researching what I didn't know and just pouring every hour into “my baby” as I call it.
It took me awhile to realize dream jobs are a test of your being. My first General Manager at the hotel who took me on this journey and now a lifelong friend and mentor told me, "I never promised you a rose garden." Dream jobs aren't meant to be a walk in the park.
But if you love what you do, it'll never feel like work.
To those who are reading this, when you think of walking away from your dream job, don't forget it was your dream job. Don't leave because of difficult personalities. People will come and go. Repeat, "This is my dream job!" You shouldn't lose out on that opportunity.
Don't run away when the going gets tough. Embrace it. It’s okay to be the last woman (or man) standing. Or, just yell HAM SANDWICH when you need help.
The Embassy Row Hotel is more than a building to me. It’s a special place, electrified with an energy that is contagious from the moment you walk in. It’s filled with people who impacted my life, made me more patient, and a bellman who taught me to pause and hug. It’s a place that made me love the city I call home with weekly 6 am Saturday marathon runs with my boss and co-worker. It taught me about generosity and giving back to the community. And, this list goes on…
To this day, I’ve never seen a team with an undying commitment to perfection - an entire team shedding blood, sweat and tears together. If you have the chance to be a part of a start-up or a product launch (and the time is right in your life), I encourage you to take it! What you’ll experience with your team will outweigh all of the long hours - it’s a bond that will stand the test of time and is indescribable.
On this Valentine’s Day, it’s an end of an era, “E-Row” team. I am humbled. I'll be watching from afar.
Thank you for this wild and rewarding ride. #embassyrowLOVE always!
What’s next? While I will miss The Embassy Row Hotel, I do have some news. I’m still in the DC-area, living the good life at Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Virginia. I am excited to share that my role within Two Roads Hospitality is growing. I’m truly thankful to have the opportunity to grow within the company, and grow this dream job. I’m overseeing Hotel Revival in Baltimore - a boutique art hotel that is reviving the Mt. Vernon neighborhood and paying homage to the entrepreneurial spirit in Charm City. And I’ll be traveling north to a stunning resort on the cliffs of Southern Maine, Cliff House. It's truly a special place suspended above the ocean and the way life should be (hint: that’s Maine’s state slogan). I hope you are able to find time to pause today and celebrate the LOVE in your life today - Happy Valentine’s Day!
*Sunrise Photo: One of the most incredible sunrises I've ever witnessed was on The Rooftop of The Embassy Row Hotel during Pope Francis' visit in 2015.