I had reached a point in my career and life where I wanted to make big changes. I have lived and worked in many different places and roles in the UK, mostly in the public sector. There is an 'old' friend of mine, Janette Hurles #Janette who is also a mental fitness coach, www.linkedin.com/in/janettehurles/ , who I go to visit most years, in southern Spain, and we usually end up having one of those conversations that really makes you think about life stages, choices and changes that we think about making. Just over a year ago I had one of those conversations and I came away with the goal of 'this time next year I want to have left my job and be working for myself.' I am very pleased to say that I managed to achieve that but the road wasn't an easy one and I am only at the start of the journey.
What stops us making those big changes?
For me, one of the big stumbling blocks was fear of not bringing in enough pennies to pay the bills. But also there was a big dose of imposter syndrome and not having the self confidence to have a go. I am not one for blowing my own trumpet and the whole idea of having to promote my business and use social media kinda made me cringe inside. Having been employed for the last 30 odd years with a regular salary coming in at the end of the month was all I had ever known. I am entering a brand new world, and yet here I am - writing a blog!
So what happened?
Another seminal conversation I had came from an unexpected source, my financial adviser, Emma Ralls Wealth Management Ltd - Financial Adviser - Whitehaven (sjp.co.uk) #EmmaRalls. Last summer I had contacted her because I was thinking about accessing my pension and wanted her view on the different options that were available. However, we didn't really talk much about pensions in the end, and she focused more on my ideas for the business and she was so encouraging, supportive and helpful that I came away really believing that it was possibly.
How is it going?
Well honestly, it's really weird not working and I haven't found it that easy. I took voluntary redundancy from my last job at NHSE which gives me a financial cushion, should I need it. But the whole not working and not having a routine thing is bizarre. I am still working that one through while trying to establish the business. There are only so many coffees and scones I can eat!! A huge help has been the experience of being an Associate with a training provider, and I am so grateful to Paul from Striding Edge #primarycaretraining, www.stridingedgeconsultancy.co.uk for the opportunity to work with his team.
What next?
I am genuinely passionate about helping people and organisations develop and grow. I would encourage anyone who is thinking about making a big change to really explore it, identify what's stopping you (if anything), and look into how you can get around those blockages and develop a strategy to move forward.
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