OMG, What Happened?
What happened is this: I've gone back and forth, and back and forth (and back and forth, one more time) about "coming out" with my real name and picture on my blog. I finally decided that I'm ready to claim my work, my opinions, my mistakes and my accomplishments for myself.
So, without further ado:
Hi, everyone. My name is Jenn Barnes. That new picture you see in my profile is me. As in, for reals.
RSS and email subscribers: go ahead and click through to look. You know you want to.
45 comments:
Jenn, what did your support group at Bloggers Anonymous say when you told them about your decision?
I think it's the perfect moment for your "coming out" considering your ever-increasing success and participation in BlogHer, HRM Today and HR Bloggers. Good for you!
The queen / HR Wench is dead, long live the queen / Jenn Barnes ;-)
Oh, thank goodness - I was afraid I'd out you again. Hee. Besides, your so much prettier than the graphic you were using! :>) Can I still call you Wenchie, though?
ACK! *You're* so much prettier!!! That's what I get for posting before breakfast with a toddler hanging on my leg.
Welcome out! Having done it myself recently, I think it's worth it.
Booyah!
Happy - They said "You're good enough and smart enough and gosh darn it, people like you!"
'netta - The blog is still called HR Wench and *I* am still THE HR Wench / Wenchie. But now you can call me Jenn, too! :)
AAM & Lance - Thanks for your support!
Yay -- nice to "meet" you Jenn :)
Yay Jenn! Now tell *all* - you and I know how fabulous you are!
I, for one, am very happy to meet the real you and look forward to connecting more in the future.
I think you'll be very happy with your decision -- it definitely was the right one for a whole lotta reasons.
Kimberley, Dr J & Anita - Thank you!
Betcha it helps you get a perfect job for you, now people know who they're talking to. Congrats!
So nice to meet you! Take a deep breath, it will be all right. . . Darn, I may just have to post a picture too!
Congrats Jenn! I think it is a great decision. Your blog, your writing and your thoughts are wonderful - 'bout time you stood up and proudly claimed them!
Eeep! You're all non-anonymous! Now I have to reconcile Jenn and Wenchie. Jenchie? Wenn? ;)
Congratulations! :)
You guys are the best. Thanks for all of the wonderful support!
Congrats on coming out!!! Sorry I'm late to the party, My nose has been planted in a book since last night (when I wasn't getting a quick power nap so I could read more). Nice to meet you again!
Hi Jenn, you are brave and I congratulate you for coming out and I agree with other posters here that it is a good idea. You are an excellent writer and should have nothing to hide!
I have enjoyed reading your blogs about human resources. Having worked a little in H.R. myself, there are so many posts here that I have completely related to; there's no doubt in my mind that you are well-informed in the field and you do your homework.
Minion - I know exactly what book you're talking about, too! I pre-ordered mine from Amazon and thought I would get it today but I didn't read the fine print :(
Critter - Thank you so much for the compliments!
I just got home from AA (Ann Arbor) but the timing of
a) returning home from AA
b) and seeing this post
is priceless!
PS - I want to scream a 60s boomer protest chant for you because I'm so proud that you've come out of the closet, but the only thing in my head is I'M HERE/I'M QUEER/GET USED TO IT.
Funny enough, that's totally appropriate for a blog on HR!
Laurie - How about "I'm here, I'm in HR, Wait...where are you going?"
Jenn, good for you. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision. Just curious - why did you start with an anonymous moniker and why did you out yourself? It seems like an evolutionary move - but I'd love to hear about how you came to the decision.
Once again, just curious.
Best to you.
William
Jenn -
Wow, I come home from vacation and everything's different. But in a good way. It's a pleasure to meet you, and congratulations!
JWT - That is a very good question! I'm thinking it's also an upcoming blog post. Stay tuned my friend. :)
Dan - I timed it right, eh? :)
Cool! Good to meet you Jenn! :)
C - You too! :)
Welcome to this side of the door. We all have secret identities, both revealed and unknown.
Congrats! Now you are going to need a professional photography (for all the photo shoots) and a publicist! :)
Here is an interesting question? Do you include your blog writing on your resume?
Congratulations on the change. As someone who still writes "undercover" I can appreciate the difficulty in coming to this decision. You are courageous!
Undercover Lawyer
RMSJR - Kind of a poem!
Maven - No, I don't include it on my resume. But, I'm working on something related to blogging that I will probably soon add to it. Stay tuned!
Undercover - Thanks!
That is great. I have been blogging for years but have always been careful to keep my HR career separate. I am starting to change that. I am careful not to discuss anything directly related to my company unless fairly veiled in non specifics, but HR is a huge part of my life, so why not express that side of me. At least until I am world famous novelist, lottery winner or something else that will allow me to give up the day job. Nice to put a face/name to the online presence.
Corey - Since I'm unemployed right now things are a bit easier. If I do get another HR job I will have to decide how I'm going to swing things as just "not giving names" won't be enough if people know where I work (and if, horrors!, my co-workers read the blog).
Welcome to the fold Wenchie. Funny, everyone who was anonymous said what a difficult decision. I never even considered it. Guess that something about my ego. LOL
Congratulations on your decision! I look forward to continuing to read out your HR adventures, misadventures, and the kittehs!
Michael - Well, you work for yourself my dear...that's less complicated than explaining your blog to the corp legal team at Widgets, Inc. :) Or maybe I'm just a scaredy cat?
Jen - We're all kittehs, all stations, all the dayz!
hey Jenn welcome !
Personally, I think the real you is much more to the point than the gruesome one. Congrats on going public.
But, you've just invalidated my own post from last Friday -- didn't you get my ping? ;)
I like the new look very much. Coming out while unemployed is a tricky business, I agree, but I think you made the right decision. You should have your own name associated with both your writing and your expertise.
Jenn,
Glad your out and, to be honest, that wench picture kind of scared me.
Thanks you guys - this is a record breaking comment string for my blog. I love it!!
CONGRATS JENN!!!!! Your blog is great and deserves to have your name on it. I hope that potential employers find your blog when they Google you and will read it and realize that you're an awesome catch. :)
I was a journalist for more than 10 years, and I understand how attaching a name to your opinion is scary when it might damage your career. So many employers are nervous about employees having opinions and/or revealing something about the company on a blog. But your boldness in "coming out" proves that you are the right person to make tough professional decisions and stand by them.
GO YOU!!!!
Late to the party, but congratulations and I'm really glad to see the face behind the blog.
Congrats Jenn. Very cool. Your new pic is so much better than the one before! :-)
Lea - I'm printing that out and taping it to my monster!
Kelly - You're not late, you made an Entrance :)
Bryan - So I hear...
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