Drive to the Mountain
Christmas Eve..wake up, shower, pack gear, head to the mountain. The drive to the mountain had its typical charm. My playlist transitioned from classic rock, to country, to more of a “pump up” genre. The music was cut short by the all too familiar iPhone ring tone.. works calls. My coworker informed me of an issue on our project which seemed significant at first. Part of my growth as a project manager is resisting emotional reactions to bad news.. Instead, simply gather the whole story, analyze the options, and communicate the plan to the team. Many times, the significant issues end up getting resolved with little impact, which proved true in this situation. The big problem turned out to be zero problem.
Work calls are over, time to ski..
People of the Lift
On the first gondola of the day, I had the pleasure of meeting a couple from Maryland. I learned the gentleman to my left is a lawyer who is one week from retirement. He received much deserved congratulations from others in the gondola who joined the conversation (gondola friends are the best). Equally if not more intriguing to me was the profession of the lady, who I later learned her name, Molly.
Molly explained how she is a managing editor for SpinSheet Magazine. Wow, so cool and relevant to my writing journey. I knew I there was more to find out about Molly’s career and love for skiing.
Get to Know Molly
Age: 58
Home: Annapolis, MD.
2nd Home: Silverthorne, CO
Molly describes herself as “a writer and editor by trade, painter by passion, yogi, sailor, skier, hiker, traveler, cook, French speaker, fun aunt, and currently cat-less cat lady”.
Career
Molly began writing poetry as a child and discovered early on in school that she had a knack for writing. She credits her writing confidence to the teachers and professors who provided encouragement. Turning her passion into her career, Molly is currently managing editor for SpinSheet, a monthly sailing magazine for Chesapeake Bay sailors. Like most success stories, there’s steps before reaching the top.
Molly started by reaching out to local magazine editor and asking if he needed a story to be written. The first opportunity was a magazine story about the Annapolis Sailboat Show. She continued to write for the magazine which allowed for positive exposure. A sailing friend had been reading Molly’s articles and offered her a part time position at his co-founded company, SpinSheet. This freelancing opportunity continued for several years until SpinSheet hired Molly full-time as senior editor in the summer of 2006. Within two years, Molly became top editor and later managing editor.
So, what does a managing editor mean?
As managing editor, Molly’s role is to strategize on the big picture: which features will be run and how the puzzle pieces fit together. The job includes hiring photographers where Molly spends quite a bit of time choosing cover shots and photos. Of course, Molly writes as well, but it’s time-efficient to assign most stories to others. Molly adds, “Editors are often public figures in their communities”.
Molly speaks on panel discussions, emcee events or award ceremonies, and does radio or print interviews about the local sailing scene.
Molly’s advice to advice to aspiring writers: “Find a niche and get started”.
Molly Sailing a 50-foot sailboat in St. John, US Virgin Islands
Skiing Q&A
Q: When did you start skiing? With Whom?
A: My Dad started me on skis at the age of four. I skied a ton as a kid in Pennsylvania but not as much into my 20s (living in Maryland on limited funds). Luckily, my brother lives near Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) in northern California, so I’ve skied at Christmastime most years. I’ve only recently started to ski in Colorado, thanks to my amazing native Coloradan boyfriend, Dan.
Dan and Molly cross country skiing at the Frisco Nordic Center at Thanksgiving
Q: Where is your favorite place to ski?
A: Not sure I have one yet! I met you on my third day skiing at Keystone, and it’s quickly moving up my list. I love Breck and Palisades. I was lucky enough to ski in Valloire in the French Alps for a week as an exchange student in college. Magnifique! I also did my first cross country skiing there and was hooked. Now, the Frisco Nordic Center is one of my happy places.
Q: Why do you love skiing?
A: The fresh air, snow, beautiful views. I find it exhilarating. There’s nothing quite like the swoosh sound you make on skis. And Nordic skiing? It’s so quiet. No snowboarders.
More About Molly
Outside of skiing and work, Molly enjoys reading and listening to podcasts. She just finished “James” by Percival Everett and listens to 10% Happier Podcast among others.
Connecting the Dots
Reflecting back on day that started with work calls, but brightened as I met Dan and Molly, and ultimately an awesome day of skiing. I’m pleasantly surprised with the participation and people’s general excitement about my blogging journey. As someone who subscribes to “things happen for a reason” philosophy, I’m finding significance in meeting Molly. A true professional in a field I’m passionately pursuing. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
I’m beyond satisfied if this spotlight article is our only interaction, but.. I’m looking to strengthen my team of mentors as I embark on this writing journey. Molly is someone who I could facilitate guidance and provide honest feedback. In fact, she was quick to comedically correct my misspelling of “Advice” in my interview questions document. It was refreshing to get this feedback. I’ve found the most impact from coaches/teachers/bosses who are willing to provide feedback of positivity AND honestly pointing out mistakes. Bonus points if it’s funny.
Whether you’re a skier, sailor, writer, or simply someone looking to get the most out of life, Molly’s story can be used as inspiration.
Keep living your best life, Molly!
