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Ryan Paugh graduated from Penn State in 2006 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and a minor in Business. After working in corporate communications, freelance writing and reporting, he co-founded 
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New here? Employee Evolution is a blog written by Ryan Healy. Ryan is a Co-Founder of Brazen Careerist, the webs #1 social network for young professionals. Ryan speaks with organizations on best practices for recruiting and retaining Generation Y and how to effectively use social media to reach your target market. To contact Ryan, please visit our contact page.
On Monday I finally did something I’ve been thinking about doing for over a year – I bought a puppy. His name is Charlie and he’s awesome.
Finally doing something that you’ve wanted to do for a long time is an amazing feeling. And it makes me realize that putting it off was worth the wait. I couldn’t have handled the responsibility until now.
Taking on new responsibilities has never been something I take lightly. If I’m going to do a job, I want to make sure I do it right. Here are a few questions that helped me know I was ready to take on more responsibility.
How will it affect the relationships in my life?
I have a hard time taking on a new responsibility if I know it’s going to have a negative impact on the important people in my life. Whether it’s friends, family or the people I work with, it’s hard to make a decision without thinking about how it will affect them.
When you work as closely as Penelope, Ryan Healy and I do, there’s no question that our personal and professional lives get mixed together. So before I picked up Charlie, I asked them what they thought. I’m glad that they both thought it would be a lot of fun to have a Brazen Careerist mascot.
Who’s going to support me when things get tough?
It doesn’t matter who you are. Everybody needs backup. And if you don’t think you need backup, you’re just not thinking.
Between Healy, Penelope, and my three awesome neighbors, I knew I’d have enough support to handle Charlie when times get tough. Considering my upcoming travels, my workload and the other important relationships in my life, I’d be lost without a little backup. Right now, Healy is watching the little man so I can sit down, focus, and write this post. Thanks, Healy.
Will I do a good job?
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. So when I know I can’t do something to best of my ability, I just won’t start at all.
Having a start-up career is what makes my new responsibility possible. If I was still sitting in a cubicle from 9 to 5, there would be no Charlie. It wouldn’t be fair to me or him.
What do my parents think?
Alright, in all honesty I didn’t even call them until two hours into my drive to pick up Charlie. I was scared that they’d think I wasn’t ready. But when I told my Mom and Dad they laughed and said congratulations.
Say what you will about my generation being overly dependent on our parents, because I really don’t care. If you’re as lucky as I am, you have parents who know you better than anyone. Show me a better place to go for advice and I’ll reevaluate my life.
Do I have enough passion to make it work?
Let’s face it, life is all about things changing. And when that happens, am I still going to want to take care of Charlie? I know the answer is yes, absolutely. Because the bottom line is that you couldn’t take my dog away from me with an army behind you. And if you’re that passionate, you know you’re ready.
As much as I don’t like dogs and never want to have one, I have to say that this same type of determination is needed in a career too. Determining when you are ready to take on new responsibilities is a good way to decide whether or not to move on from your current position. If you’re in a job where there is nothing left for you to do or learn, there’s no promotion in sight, but you know that you are ready for more responsibilities, it’s time to move to a new job. Thoughts?
What will you do with Charlie if you decide to take a 9-5 in a couple (or 5 or 10) years?
Eventually owning a dog will become second nature. You have to make your decisions by taking the dog into consideration, the same way you would with kids or a spouse. It’s a commitment, but you have to make those eventually, unless you want to be alone.
Josh:
I’m glad it was your instinct to go there when you read this post. It’s exactly what I had in mind when I wrote it. When I left my corporate job to work at Brazen Careerist the same questions ran through my head.
Thanks for picking up on that.
LM:
Good question. And the answer is, I don’t know. But I do know that every decision I make from this point forward is going to have an extra factor involved, my pup. And as Monica points out it’s a commitment and like a spouse or a kid I’ll always have to take him into consideration.
But my goal isn’t to jump back into a 9 to 5 anyway. If I have it my way it won’t happen for a long time, if ever again.
Congrats on getting the puppy Ryan - it’s so cute. But watch out, as it looks mischievous
I always think that if I had a dog I’d be too lazy/selfish to regularly take it out for walks. Being responsible just for myself is enough to cope with… for now
Congratulations, Ryan. It’s sooo worth it!
Sounds like a good motivation to get some exercise if you needed any help in that direction. Hey, maybe I should get a dog. But then I don’t really want anything depending on me to feed it right now. It’s enough of a challenge making sure I eat myself.
Congrats on the new buddy. We’re all expecting him to blog frequently, letting us know how you’re treating him.
A lab no less? Labs are the most needy (but most loving) large dogs. I bought a pug - the most needy (but most loving) small dog and ended up getting another pug just to satisfy the first.
My one warning: They’re worse manipulators than anyone you’d deal with in the business world.
Please consider getting your next doggy from a shelter. Please? Thanks.
Charlie is a good looking pup! I got my first dog as a “grown-up” about three months after I started my first job. It was a nine-to-five, and though raising a puppy with such a job took an awful lot of dedication and some flexibility, it was absolutely and completely worth it. That puppy is almost seven years old now, and she is the best dog I’ve ever known.
Now, if only I could find a career to which I could devote such commitment and dedication… You are fortunate you have both!
Congratulations on the new responsibility and enjoy!
Congratulations on the pooch, getting a dog is one of the best things I have ever done (mine is sleeping next to me at the moment). For me, having a dog is perhaps the most challenging thing I have ever taken on, but also the most rewarding (guess it is practice for kids, eh?)
Congrats Ryan! Cute dog! Now you have to get him one of those little doggy tshirts with the BrazenCareerist logo on it! ha ha
Charlie looks beautiful - I love him.
Unfortunately we have just lost our dog, Sam. (you can click on my name and see why if you are brave - it is very sad).
We had Sam from a puppy and your priorities change. The dog becomes a priority and other things less so. Sam got my wife and I out of the house walking in places we wouldn’t never have visited.
And another thing, via Sam we found new friends. People with dogs just talk to each other!
Andrew
Yeah! Puppies, ryan also just got a puppy (Rushford) & it is alot of work. My Fiancee and I timed it for a week that I was not that busy with shcool and work likfe. Luckily I work from home and can give the attention that puppy needs. With the buffalo ny weather getting warmer we have time to go outside.
Having a puppy has actually helped me shift some things - less unecessary work and more freee time. More quality and focused work less email checking.
Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. This past week has been exhausting, but well worth it. This weekend I begin crate training (for real this time) and it’s going to be hell…but hey, that’s all part of the new responsibility.
As a few people pointed out, there are there drawbacks. Rachel points out that labs are the neediest dogs, and they are, but also the most loving.
It’s really exciting to have a new way to make connections. Last night at the dog park I talked to a few people who also had labs. Sure, the conversations didn’t really go anywhere, but it was fun. And Charlie had fun too. He’s such a little wuss with the big dogs, but I’m sure he’ll get better once he’s older.
HR Wench:
I will absolutely consider it. In fact, I did this time around. But I just love labs and I wanted to have to experience of raising a puppy. When Charlie is old enough to have a friend (and if I can handle more responsibility) I will definitely adopt a dog.
Ryan,
Congratulations on the dog! As a fellow and recent first-time dog owner, I can understand how exhausting it is and how important it is to have a good support system. On of the things that went into my decision as well, was how much help could I get from friends and my housemate. I went as far as asking them how involved they could be with my puppy’s growth. I would never have gotten Pippi if I didn’t have the support system.
Although I do have to say I cheated on the hardest part, crate and house training. I knew with a 50+ hour work week, I just didn’t have the time, so I outsourced my parents to house train her for 2 months. Sure I missed some of the great puppy time, but I got to enjoy a large part of it without the strain of house training. And my parents had the same response when I brought it up to them that I wanted a dog; they laughed and actually volunteered the time to train her!
I have to say, that even with the stress, she is totally and completely worth it. Good luck on the crate training!
Congrats, Ryan. I was reluctant to get another dog after the last one moved out with my roommate, but my tiny little apartment seemed far too big without another living thing to keep me company. Now I even miss her for the short time she’s at the groomer every couple months.
To LM:
There’s no way any of us could possibly plan 5-10 years ahead. If we had to take that kind of thing into consideration, none of us would ever have pets, or children for that matter. The fact of the mater is that puppies take far more time than older dogs, so even if Ryan does go back to a more traditional job in the future, Charlie will be just fine. Especially if Ryan does a good job of training him now.
Circumstances change - I’m sure my best friend never thought he’d be re-enlisting in the military and leaving for training for 3 months, 3 years after adopting his puppy. But, as Ryan mentioned, he had a support system, and now I have two dogs with me for a few more weeks. It’s been a great experience for all three of us.
I’m busy with grad school and I’m gone a lot, but both dogs are about 3 years old and even at that young age, when I have a day off, they act a little annoyed that they can’t get their all-afternoon naps.
Charlie is a lucky little puppy, and I’m sure Ryan and all of his friends will have a great time watching him grow.