It’s 35 degrees in mid-February. I am at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, wet and hungry.
I climbed down over 4,800 feet, and my knees were feeling every bit of the thirty-pound pack. Just when I sat down at the campsite, the rain started.
I couldn’t help but ask: what exactly was I doing here?
Months earlier, I left my steady job at a big bank. Call it a casualty of the Great Resignation - after two decades of going hard, it was time for a change. I needed a reset, and I pushed pause.
I spent the first part of the break resting. I hadn’t realized how truly tired my mind and body were until I stopped moving.
Once my energy returned, it was time to figure out the next thing. I was itching to get out in the world and had a grand plan that travel was the key that would unlock my answers. I headed to the desert - specifically on a 4-day trek in and out of the Grand Canyon.
Sadly, my answers did not magically appear in the vast expanses (wonderful experience that it was). No amount of wet, cold and hungry was going to solve this puzzle…
So I took off again and again and again - to the coast of California, to a 10-day silent meditation retreat, to the beach, to a quiet lake cabin.
No single event or activity provided the satisfying lightbulb moment I sought. But, along the way my creativity started to bubble up and the internal whispers got louder and louder.
I listened to the whispers during meditation, I listened while journaling, I listened out in nature. I had so many ideas.
Until one day it clicked - my next chapter didn’t have to be just one thing. There was no perfect lightbulb moment waiting for me.
Instead, I would explore three projects that excite me and align with my values and talents, learning and refining as I go.
Writing. Combining a love for writing and coaching into a career advice column that provides uniquely valuable questions, answers and practical tips for navigating our new environment. Check it out on my website (link in profile)
Fractional Chief-of-Staffing. Being a Chief of Staff was hands-down the most satisfying role from my corporate career. Now I provide value to clients in a diverse context and help companies and leaders grow. My verified approaches have helped dozens of executives develop into thriving, transformational leaders of start-ups and Fortune 500 companies. Drop me a note if you need a multiplier in your business!
Building a Story Product. Nearly everyone shares an inherent desire to feel meaning in their lives. I’ve coupled this demand with my passion for guiding people through the process of uncovering their own unique story. There is no reason to wait for the grave to appreciate your life and share it with those around you. A few brave souls are working through a pilot with me right now - stay tuned for a launch later this year.
I’m happy to chat about what I’ve been up to during this career reset, drop me a note if you want to connect!
