GUEST BLOG: It Works If You Work It (DCA)

#recruiteveryone …Even at a job interview

I have been a consistent member of the NPDC tribe since the beginning of September 2016. I have hugged a lot of sweaty strangers, accidentally jumped on a lot of toes during bounces, and developed what I would consider to be an adequate buff collection. I usually #justshowup with my friend/accountabili-buddy Amanda, who, despite what Jeremy has told people, is not my actual wife. Amanda and I are, however, work wives. But that is about to change.

Last week I interviewed for a new job at a different organization. I love where I work now, but the move will benefit me in the long term on my quest to become a museum director. At my interview, my interviewer started by saying,

“Tell me about yourself.”

So I started with the usual self-promoting banter,

“I’m from the Pacific Northwest…some joke about loving rain…from a big family…moved to DC after college for internship…love exercise…”

And before I knew it, my love for NP was coming up like word vomit.

Not only did I get into explaining what NP is in the general sense, but I told my interviewer about the times and locations of each workout, named a few choice exercises that we do, and tried to convince them that the sunrise makes everything worth it. It was around the time when I was getting into the origin story of NP and the rowers from Boston that I had somewhat of an out-of-body experience. I looked down on myself and thought, “holy shit Emma, you have been talking about NP for so long. Shut the hell up and tell them about your nonprofit financial management skills.”

I ended my NP love monologue, and waited for my interviewer to ask me another question. It was then that they responded,

“Wow. That sounds really fun. I want to come workout with you guys sometime.”

I realized in that moment I had accidentally done what I previously thought was impossible: I had recruited someone while on a job interview.

While NP may not improve your nonprofit financial management skills, there is something to be said for the resume-worthy experience you gain from being a part of this tribe. Navigating group dynamics, reliability, inclusivity, dedication, and being weatherproof (think metaphorically), are all attributes that everyone in NP has in their toolbox. In addition to being some of the most beautiful eff’n humans on the planet.

If you’re like me, your non-NP friends are sick of you talking about NP. They will make some cult joke and then compare it to CrossFit, which, if you’re like me, you will defend slightly heatedly but with a smile on your face, because you know they have no idea what they’re missing.

When someone asks you to talk about yourself, and NP is one of the things that comes to mind, it just goes to show how powerful this movement is. Your NP tribe is so much a part of who you are, and you want to everyone to feel as good as you do on M, W, F.

An injury in high school ended my plans of playing college soccer, and ever since then I have been trying to figure out what kind of athlete I am, and how exercise fits into my life. NP has provided me with an outlet to be competitive, fit, motivated, and to push myself like I haven’t done in years.

I will miss my work wife **sob** and my work family, but I am excited to start a new chapter at a new organization, aka, a whole new place to #spreadgoodvibes.

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