Five months ago, I left my corporate job and I’m not looking for a new one. Instead, I’m doing the most important job in the world. I’m getting to the core of who I am, breaking down walls I didn’t know existed, and having so much fun in the process. I’m exploring, learning, and growing.
Couldn't say I am in the same boat yet but I am trying to get there as well. Freedom to be yourself fully is so liberating and I hope you will get there soon enough with your wellness coaching aspiration
You're an excellent writer Syd! I found myself typing your words as I was reading so I can see your prose at a better level. A few of my reactions:
1. "What was limiting my time? A self-created timetable of how long I had before I needed to get a new job. A well-paying, highly-competitive, desk-bound corporate job. A job deemed socially acceptable by my culture, one that loves to ask “what do you do?” at a party, second only to asking your name."
I resonate so much with this! A lot of the "pressure" we feel is actually fake (I know, crazy right?), meaning it's not real. I'm glad you realized this ("self-created"). And now at parties — when I get asked what I do — I tell them "I'm a world traveler." And leave it at that. It's usually quite fun. But that's who I am!
2. "Decisions are coming easily. I used to be terrible at making decisions. It turns out decisions are a lot easier when I stop searching for the answers outside myself."
I feel the same way!!! I used to be very indecisive but ever since I started to trust myself — decisions became easy. Crazy how that works. Maybe this deserves a second piece.
I'm glad I met you through Foster. Best luck with writing and health coaching! Cheers, Leo
Thank you for sharing this - very valid and sometimes scary realizations of de-corporatizing (is that a word?) I am in a similar position - but with the distractions of family, school, parenting and then of course, survival. I loved your observation about looking over the horizon of our past experience into new fields of interest - I am struggling with this and still find this anchor of what I know best holding me back. Good luck - and again - thank you for sharing.
"I challenged myself to survive outside the walls of the political productivity mill I experienced in corporate America, a challenge to pursue passion rather than praise, and was failing. Leaving corporate America physically doesn’t mean much if you can’t leave it mentally. I needed to stop being and doing what made me great at my job: “highly-motivated,” “detail-oriented,” and a “self-starter.”"
Beautifully worded! I was recently laid off and am still grappling with this myself. Some days are easier than others when it comes to the feeling of running on that self-imposed time table you spoke of—one that is pretty much engrained after years in the corporate world (tech for me). The freedom that comes from learning to just *be*, though? So, so worthwhile.
Love this so much Syd :)
Couldn't say I am in the same boat yet but I am trying to get there as well. Freedom to be yourself fully is so liberating and I hope you will get there soon enough with your wellness coaching aspiration
You're an excellent writer Syd! I found myself typing your words as I was reading so I can see your prose at a better level. A few of my reactions:
1. "What was limiting my time? A self-created timetable of how long I had before I needed to get a new job. A well-paying, highly-competitive, desk-bound corporate job. A job deemed socially acceptable by my culture, one that loves to ask “what do you do?” at a party, second only to asking your name."
I resonate so much with this! A lot of the "pressure" we feel is actually fake (I know, crazy right?), meaning it's not real. I'm glad you realized this ("self-created"). And now at parties — when I get asked what I do — I tell them "I'm a world traveler." And leave it at that. It's usually quite fun. But that's who I am!
2. "Decisions are coming easily. I used to be terrible at making decisions. It turns out decisions are a lot easier when I stop searching for the answers outside myself."
I feel the same way!!! I used to be very indecisive but ever since I started to trust myself — decisions became easy. Crazy how that works. Maybe this deserves a second piece.
I'm glad I met you through Foster. Best luck with writing and health coaching! Cheers, Leo
Thank you for sharing this - very valid and sometimes scary realizations of de-corporatizing (is that a word?) I am in a similar position - but with the distractions of family, school, parenting and then of course, survival. I loved your observation about looking over the horizon of our past experience into new fields of interest - I am struggling with this and still find this anchor of what I know best holding me back. Good luck - and again - thank you for sharing.
I can't express how unbelievably happy i am to read this, and how beautiful and amazing of a writer you are!
"I challenged myself to survive outside the walls of the political productivity mill I experienced in corporate America, a challenge to pursue passion rather than praise, and was failing. Leaving corporate America physically doesn’t mean much if you can’t leave it mentally. I needed to stop being and doing what made me great at my job: “highly-motivated,” “detail-oriented,” and a “self-starter.”"
Beautifully worded! I was recently laid off and am still grappling with this myself. Some days are easier than others when it comes to the feeling of running on that self-imposed time table you spoke of—one that is pretty much engrained after years in the corporate world (tech for me). The freedom that comes from learning to just *be*, though? So, so worthwhile.
❤️