Maybe Its Time for A Plan, Some Research, and Living in the Questions

Maybe Its Time for A Plan, Some Research, and Living in the Questions Workin for the Man is Only Half the Plan by Adam Smith Because Im extremely cultured (please note sarcasm),  my husband I have had a subscription to the Sunday Times since, well, we moved in together, practically (aka years people years! Even before we were in it ourselves, um, twice). Luke and I enjoy having a picnic on Sunday nights, which consists of us bringing the paper to bed and playing Pandora while we read/do the crossword before bed (yes, were old). I always start with the Style section, and I perked right up when I saw that the cover story, Maybe Its Time for Plan C, was about peeps reinventing themselves and making their Passionate Careers come true. I love these stories! I love hearing about laid-off lawyers opening up Greek food stalls to indulge a passion, lead a healthier life and downshift professionally! I love hearing about a lawyer (is there a theme here?) who ditched her job to pursue a new life as a wedding planner because she loved in it college! I love hearing about the former software engineer (not another lawyer!) who started his own Etsy shop selling his stoneware, daydream(ing)of an unfettered life at his kiln, creating Bollywood-inspired teapots and butter dishes. I love hearing about a marketing associate who decided to make her Pilates Instructor dreams come true! and a former bank analyst turn into an ice cream shop owner! and a laid-off textile designer open her own antiques shop! and the pharma rep who started her own dress line! and a PR rep drop-out whos now a certified acupuncturist! and a media relations coordinator who made a go at her food photography business! and a marketer turned chocolatier! OH, HEAVEN! Or so I thought. Ya know what I dont love? The fact that it came as a shock to, oh, every single person profiled that working for themselves making their Passionate Careers their Real-Life Careers that it was HARD! It took WORK! The hours were LONG! The pay wasnt STABLE! The job is ISOLATED! They had to take SECOND JOBS to pay the bills! There wasnt INSURANCE included! They have to CLEAN their shops THEMSELVES! I got so mad, it took me 3 whole days to calm down enough to write this freakin post. I mean, the woman who decided to do wedding planning?! She couldnt believe that she didnt get to keep 9-to-5 hours!!!!!!! (Yes, 7 exclamation points necessary) But, in true Michelle/life coach fashion, I have to take a deep breath, put on a smile, and add what all these people could have done to not make everything so.shocking. Do Your Research I havent run the exact statistics, but when a client of mine is interested in possibly doing something as a career, information for said career is usually well within reach and I dont mean Google. If its been a dream to be a wedding planner because, um, you liked planning weddings in college certainly a start, but I cringe to think thats all that woman went on to make the decision to be one!- then find yourself a current wedding planner (or 3) to talk to. Nobody specific come to mind? Ask your Facebook friends or your tweeple if they know anyone, do a LinkedIn search and see who your contacts are connected to, or even reach out to the stranger whose blog youve followed for months whos doing exactly what you wanna. I cant recall one client who ever came up empty handed. Then, make sure to be armed with the questions you need answered to help you decide if its the right career for you. What are the needs/values/priorities/passions you wanna fulfill? Make a Plan Instead of the whole I-cant-pay-my-rent-and/or-student-loans-or-meet-my-friends-for-drinks realizations sneaking up on you, Geez Louise Louise, form your Effective Escape (aka what you need to leave your job/rely on your entrepreneurial income without falling on your face/having to live in your parents basement). Usually, my clients consider what they need financially to have a cushion big enough for them to land on (this can vary from $2000-$40,000 or more, depending on the person), if they need to get another form of insurance, and/or what they need (not want!) to feel confident as a professional (i.e. business cards, a certain amount of consultations coming in, a presence online, etc). What do you need to ensure you dont fall flat on your face within minutes/days/weeks? Live in the Questions Anytime I have a client who has no idea what they wanna be when they grow up one week, but comes back the next week 1000% certain what It is well, that always sets off a big red flag in my head. While that career is usually worth researching/exploring/investigating (I love that feeling of excitement a client has when they think they found It!), I think its soooooooooooo (so so so so soooooo!) important to Live in the Questions, taking time to really consider what comes up when you picture yourself doing that work and what youd need to counteract the fears/ doubts/ worries/ concerns. Despite the fact that the article only gives Martha Stewart as an example of Plan Bs going well (she went from stockbroker to, well, Martha Stewart), the article ends with, everyone interviewed said that despite the unforeseen bumps, they would not trade their new lives for their old jobs except for the marketing-associate-turned-chocolatier-apprentice (who at least took an apprenticeship to see what being a chocolatier would be like, but not til after she quit her job). The food photographer was quoted by saying, “Even though I hate taking on all the responsibility myself and I’m often crazed,” she said, “the moment that I hold a book I’ve completed, it makes up for all the uncertainty of getting there.” Which reminds mehave fun along the way. I know its hard, but Geez Louise Louise, its what makes it all worthwhile. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Looking for your Plan B (or A)? Let my rhyming (!!!), illustrated career-change workbook help!