Last week, Ryan posted about his first month at The Planet, and as a new employee on the training team, I can’t help but echo his excitement and enthusiasm. 2009 was certainly a year of difficulties and change for me. With the downward spiral of the economy came an unexpected turn in my career.

After more than 13 years with the same company, I received the proverbial pink slip last summer. At 40, I lost a large part of my identity with the click of a mouse. How could this happen? What do I do now? I was fortunate enough to have a severance cushion for my abrupt nudge out of the nest, so I took some time and enjoyed the summer with my kids.

With the daily silence of the phone and the vast wasteland of my inbox came a foreboding sense of doom. What if I never get a job? I felt the first trickle of panic around the time my kids went back to school. They had returned to their normal routine. Where was my chance?

Then one day I opened my email expecting the same “inbox empty” message that had mocked me for months. This day was different: there was a response. The Planet wanted to talk to me! I was even more excited and promptly contacted the office to schedule an interview.

The phone interview fueled my excitement, followed shortly by an in-person meeting. I walked into the office and was immediately impressed. This was not your normal corporate land of cubicles — this had style. I felt an energy I knew I wanted to be a part of. After I had what I hoped would be the best interview of my life, I waited patiently for next steps. It came a few days later when I had the opportunity to meet with the director and further explain why I felt this company simply could not live without me. I walked out, sure this would be my new corporate digs. I was so confident that I immediately started planning my first-day outfit.

Given the holiday season, the actual “welcome” took a little longer than expected, so I was anxious to hear if I had finally made it back into the productive work force. As I was waiting, I got a call from my old employer out of the blue with the possibility of going back to work in a different department. Not my dream job by any means, but it was a job. And I felt vindicated. They had made a mistake in letting me go.

And then I received an offer letter from The Planet. I was at a crossroads. Two paths awaited my decision that would forever change my destiny. One was well traveled and familiar; the other bright and shiny and shrouded in mystery. I had some serious contemplating to do. I talked with my family and weighed the pros and cons of both. Enlightenment often comes from the most unexpected places. My son, with all his ten-year-old wisdom chimed in: “Mom, your last company betrayed you and that is not good. The Planet needs you!” Now, how was I going to argue with that?

I immediately accepted the offer with The Planet, and the day I started knew it was the best decision I had ever made.

In my short tenure I’ve learned that one of our core values is about passion for the business and for our customers, and those “aha” moments come every day. The team here at The Planet offers an immediate feeling that I belong , and they are glad I finally made it.

I may have traded my thirteen years for 42 days, but the rewards are already priceless. I am proud to be part of this company and look forward to work every day.

I still think this is one of the coolest offices around. I gaze onto downtown Houston with a smile on my face. It is so much more than just a job — it’s a true sense of belonging. When I attend meetings and get to hear about the great things that we are working on, I am thrilled to be a part of it. It is a new horizon that seems endless in opportunities. I am still in awe of the massive amount of knowledge that sits behind these glass and steel walls.

Just like Columbus explored his new world, I am navigating my very own Planet. Although I doubt seriously he had to worry about throughput and bandwidth on his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

-Tracy