My long overdue blog about starting my new job…

So, I GOT A JOB!  I had my first meeting on August 14th while my first day was the 17th…  Rapleaf (www.rapleaf.com) is an SF-based technology startup that focuses on social media research.

Since starting my gig, I have been trying to figure out my whole work/life balance thing.  It turns out, my pendulum had swung very far to the life side during the six months between gigs (and man was it a fun ride). So, fittingly enough, the pendulum hit a hard down swing and the momentum carried me through the first (almost) two months of work. The balance certainly tilted toward work (but really, I have been having a fun ride).

Here I am, figuring it out as usual, trying to keep the balance in check. I think being in the office from 8am to 6pm is about right, hopefully limiting the couch sessions of email/ upkeep to only a couple nights a week.  Eating at my desk is out moving forward; it just doesn’t set my afternoon up with the right attitude/ vibe.  Coming in early is in… the east coast needs me too.  And, odd as it may sound, I am the old guy on the team in many respects…

The team is great, all really smart and excited to be there. Rapleaf is about 2/3 software engineers (wicked, crazy smart software engineers) and the aim is to keep that balance and focus as we grow.  The shop is still small enough that all eyes can be on you in a hurry, helping correct a course or congratulate a win.  At the same time, our company is big enough that we are getting noticed and revered by big companies across many industries. It was crazy to walk in and talk to some of the holy grail clients of the auto industry within the first few weeks.

As for now, I am having fun and hoping you are too.
~N