Should I stay or should I go (To LA) now?
I’m working up in LA this week and have some major things in the works for Marketing Melodie! I’ve worked hard at running and growing my business for the last few years and throughout all this time I’ve made some amazing contacts and come across many incredible opportunities to work with large national brands such as Microsoft and most recently AT&T! After my meeting today, it’s official! I’ve been made an offer that’s virtually impossible to refuse. I’m being brought on board as a full time consultant for an incredibly successful and well known, national brand. What does this mean for my company, Marketing Melodie? Since I’m not working as an employee, this company is basically going to be my largest client and my business is still going to be in full swing! I’ll still be available for speaking engagements and consulting as I was before. I’ll also have more funds available and will be looking to hire several full time staff to manage things as I devote time to this new opportunity. Before I continue, here’s to the Clash writing a song for my situation.
I say this offer is “virtually impossible” to refuse but not simply “impossible” because with accepting this new gig, it means I need to move up to LA. I never, ever thought I’d be contemplating moving to LA. I grew up in San Diego, it’s my home, it’s where all my friends are. I love San Diego more than any place in the entire world! Anyone who knows me can vouch for how much I love my city. I have until Monday April 2nd to decide if I’m going to accept this offer and move to LA! After accepting (if I accept), I move almost a week later! (Barely enough time to plan a going away party) . My moving costs are being covered, in addition I’m being provided a stipend for rent that is separate from my consulting fee. I basically need to make a decision by the end of this week! I AM TORN!
Marketing Melodie at the Getty Center in LA
Should I stay or should I go now? I’ve definitely visited LA my fair share of times and have had some fun adventures in the city of angels. But to actually call this place my home seems a bit scary when San Diego is what I know and love. I can never, ever see myself being a Dodgers fan and I can’t even imagine how I’ll deal with the dreaded LA Traffic! Aside from that though, this move would mean significant growth and opportunity for my business and I do have some great friends who in LA. And San Diego is not too far away as I know I’ll be coming back to visit a lot! Anyway, if anyone has any advice for me on living in LA please let me know! Has anyone lived in both LA and San Diego? How do they compare? What are other positive things about LA I should know about? And on the other side of things, are there reasons I should stay in San Diego and put this on opportunity on hold? It’s not easy to leave everything I know and move to a new city. I am so indecisive about this decision that any insight, advice or support would be sincerely appreciated! Whatever I decide, I’ll be sure to keep you all posted!
Those saying Studio City is a bad place to go are probably right. All of the drawbacks of Hollywood proper (no parking, everything’s packed, etc.) with none of the benefits.
The North Hollywood Arts District, which borders Studio City, has in the last six months gone from “mostly under construction” to a new hotspot. I’ve been living there for four years and it’s become incredibly nice. I find myself staying closer and closer to home simply because I can have all the fun just by walking around.
If you want to go south of Hollywood and out of the Valley, if you can afford it, the Culver City area is way nice.
Sherman Oaks is west of Studio City and is affordable and close enough to everywhere you’d want to go that it probably wouldn’t be a bad choice.
If you can stay close to the 101 or the 405, you need only focus on finding a place in a good neighborhood and the rest will sort itself out. Further away you get from an onramp and it becomes less worthwhile.
Thanks Logan! This is very helpful especially since I’m not familiar with the geography of LA!
Congratulations Melodie on this exciting new offer!!! It’s really hard to make a decision like this especially when you want to grow your business and also LOVE where you live (San Diego is SO hard to leave!! Who would ever think to do that?!?! Lol) Despite the dreaded LA traffic and it being 2 hours from SD, LA is such a beautiful and cosmopolitan city!! I lived in West Hollywood/Beverly Hills for 2 years and I just loved it! The people, neighborhoods, attractions and shopping are just GREAT!!! There is always something to do, a party to go to and so many people you will meet! I have soooooooo many fond memories of West Hollywood and all of my experiences and the people that came into my life while I lived in LA. As much as I love LA, I do love San Diego and I find it hard to get back to LA to visit. I probably get up to LA once every 2-3 months, not often enough even though it’s only 2 hours away.
Either way Melodie, good luck with your decision and if you do decide to go, at least let a few of your friends and colleagues here throw you a little going away party! You can’t go out without a celebration 😉 I wish you nothing but the best because you work VERY hard and you deserve it. Call me soon.
Inga
Hi Inga! Your support is always appreciated! Love seeing how you’ve been growing your own business too! (Just LIKED your new Facebook page!). I’ll be back in SD in a couple days, let’s definitely catch up 🙂
If you love the sense of adventure and if you really enjoy the idea of embarking yourself into an additional job (that, I repeat, you should be able to enjoy) then go for it! If you don’t really love the idea of your new job and if it will interfere with your own company, then you need to think harder. But, at any rate, any decision you made should be accompanied with a great bottle of wine! Check our blog where we make this point more emphatically.
Good luck
Ben
http://www.napaandbordeaux.com/blog
I frequently travel to LA a lot as well and I know what you mean when you say San Diego is your home. I’ve also contemplated moving there for better job opportunities. Having said that, I think you should go. If this is an opportunity for you to grow your business, why not? It might be tough in the beginning but you’ll do fine! Like you said, San Diego is only a few hours away. You can always visit if you want. And, you can always move back to San Diego eventually! Good luck and hope this helps!
Thanks Bonny! I always appreciate your comments and insight!
Such decisions are never easy to make. Sometimes plus & minus columns help. Sometimes listening to your inner self is the way to go. Whatever your decision, all the best of luck.
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Congrats, very exciting. I hear Santa Monica is THE place to be. Thriving tech startup scene too.
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