Back in the saddle.com

Wed, 13 Sep 2000 19:00:00 +0000

Falling into the "tired and not rich" category, my hiatus from years in Internet land was well spent, but short-lived. I had barely defumigated my swimsuit from the sulfur springs in Italy, when I was back in New Jersey contemplating my next steps. My burnout occurred simultaneously with the April Web "crash," so before going back full speed into the fray, I dipped my toes in cautiously, undertaking a few consulting stints before plunging completely into an uncertain landscape.

The phone interview

At 1:30 p.m., I drew the curtains in my apartment. Beautiful weather and the pool beckoned, but I had to focus. With 30 minutes to go before my phone interview, I needed quality prep time.

I strategically slurped sips of Coke while surfing the company's Web site. I tried to plan my caffeine allowance to last the duration of the interview. When the stove timer went off at 1:45, I kicked it up a notch and did super shots at five-minute intervals.

Dot-combusted

Thu, 20 Jul 2000 19:00:00 +0000

After five years in the Internet industry, I got tired of phoning the office from a ski trip in France, disgusted with cellphone calls at my grandmother's funeral and literally sick from the endless stress-induced colds and flus.

So I quit.

The first month, I rested. The second month, I traveled. Fresh from (and rejuvenated by) the rolling hills of Tuscany and the gothic castles of Germany, I was poised to dive into the fray again, landing plum Internet interviews in Manhattan and San Francisco. But it took just one meeting to discover the industry had left me disillusioned and worn out.

During a freakish June storm, I hurried off the New York subway in my mishmash ensemble, a blend of corporate America and hipster Net chic. Attempting to shield my portfolio, I headed down Hudson Street with my Mini-Me umbrella, battling heavy rain and a 30 mph wind. Suddenly a gale-force gust overtook me and collapsed my umbrella into a crumpled heap; a bent metal rod hooked onto my hairclip. Unable to extricate clip from umbrella, I felt my way toward the shelter of a doorway, finally prying loose the clip and my drenched locks.

Salon.com > Rennie Sloan

Back in the saddle.com

Dot-combusted