My Journey Out of Corporate America
Some people take a leap into a new role. For me, it was a long, rocky adventure where I stumbled, tripped, fell, got back up and did it all over again.
And it was exhausting.
I had made the decision in my heart but it took my mind over a year to catch up. I am a very logical thinker but after writing out my 50th pros and cons list, I had enough of the decision fatigue.
And so did everyone around me. I spoke to Colin about this for a year straight, sometimes multiple conversations a week on my decision to stay in corporate America or pursue HERself and a few other business ventures full time. He was on board from day one knowing how happy these other adventures made me and also knowing having two travelling parents was hard on our marriage and on our family.
But even with his blessing, I needed more reassurance. I talked Amy’s ear off for months before making the decision to go part time and then eventually leave altogether. Our walks consisted of the back and forth that analysis paralysis can often bring.
And it was again, exhausting. Not just for me but for everyone involved.
Looking back, I don’t know why I waited so long.
Was I worried what others would think?
Was I having second thoughts about the identity shift that would come from it?
Or maybe it was those four words that plagued the achiever in me: “What if I fail?”
Whatever the reason was, the energy spent going back and forth made me inefficient in many of my roles and titles. And being stuck in the messy middle wasn’t good for anybody.
And it definitely wasn’t good for my future self.
If any of this story resonates with you, let’s save you some time. Maybe the right answer isn’t to leave your career… but I am positive that the right answer already exists inside of you. These are the questions I wish I would have asked myself in the beginning to get crystal clear on my thoughts, and therefore the action I wanted to take:
Imagine your future self. Everything she is, has, pours into the world. What do you need to do in order to become her?
What if you fail? What is the worst that will happen?
What is one thing you could do today to take action towards this decision?
For me, I knew that in 20 years I didn’t want to look back and have regrets on the missed dance recitals and hugs as our kids ran to the school bus. I didn’t want to look at my husband and see a stranger because we had spent so much time in the day in and day out that two 50+ hour a week jobs had in store. I didn’t want to feel drained from living out a job that although I was good at, wasn’t in line with my values. I knew that if I failed, I could always go back to sales but that the benefits outweighed the consequences on paper and in my heart.
Taking action could be as small as naming your business or as big as putting in your two week notice. But it’s the combination of brainstorming and then taking action that will help you feel unstuck. And you may not be leaving something you hate. But sometimes you need to leave something good in order to step into the great. We need to leave behind what is comfortable to discover inspiration and our true purpose.
Only you can create your life, and only you hold the keys to your possibilities. Let today be that day you take a step towards that future self. ✨✨✨
On Purpose,
