Congratulations Cherry Lane. How did your boss react? Was s/he surprised? Incredulous? Non-plussed? I think any of those reactions is equally likely.
Thanks, aperture! Initial surprise, lots of pacing around the office in a panicked manner. She admitted that she knew I wouldn't be there forever but had been avoiding thinking about it.
I asked her not to share my plans with anyone, as I was just telling her as a courtesy for succession planning and am not ready to go public. So far she hasn't told anyone, so that's good.
My likely successor has been out of the office since this talk. She and I need to have a conversation when she's back next week. I'm working on how to frame the message that I'll need her to step up this year and do more of the work on my program without telling her why. She would not keep my news to herself.
Cherry Lane-- Congratulations! I'm reading this thread because I am considering joining the 2019 cohort and wanted to read what other nearby cohorts are up to. Having met Cherry Lane in person, I'm just particularly pleased to hear your plans are getting so real!! So cool. Sorry I can't congratulate you in person-- I moved away about a year and a half ago.
Hi, jfer_rose! Thanks for stopping in. I'd heard you moved away and have missed seeing you at the meetups. I've done the same as you, keeping up with the 2016 and 2017 threads - it helps to know what people just ahead on the timeline are planning/doing/thinking/feeling. Very exciting that you are looking at 2019!