The View From Inside

Sunday, April 5, 2009

 It’s been more than two months since I’ve written to this community, and much has happened for me in the interim.

Truth is, I was hit as hard by the economic downturn last fall as anyone else, and in the face of that, I realized that I had overextended myself - financially and otherwise - for the sake of my company and who I could serve, and now needed to get very selfish with my time, energy, and focus while I found a solution that would serve me and my family.

Turns out the answers to my financial woes were in what I’d been doing all along: offering insight, empathy, and strategy to those who find themselves wanting. It just so happens that where I ended up offering those talents was a very different place than where I had been.

Those of you who know me know that I have been self-employed for more than seventeen years. But when the economy shifted, I was faced with the reality - for the first time in a very long time - that self-employment alone was not bringing the financial stability that I require.

But I didn’t just run out and look for a job, any job. I knew that no matter what, I needed to be doing work that I love and that is a great use of my skills.

But where to begin? Everywhere I looked, people were saying that no one was hiring, and even though that was hard to ignore, I insisted on believing that somehow this economy would be the perfect time for a company to hire someone with my experience.

That being said, keeping the faith was difficult - on my ego and my checkbook. I was so attached to the identity of being my own boss, that it was hard to think of working for someone else without gravitating toward all the reasons why that would be a bad thing. You see, in the world of the self-employed, much attention is given to the evils of corporate life; the drama, the inflexibility, the lack of appreciation from your superiors, etc.  At the same time, having preached financial stability for so long, I knew it was imperative that I do whatever it took to keep walking that talk for myself.

So I kept focusing on the possibilities, and told some people close to me of my plans to find a job to supplement my business (funny, it’s usually the other way around). A great friend then gave me a wonderful book, Expert Resumes for Career Changers, and I got to work on writing a resume for the first time in forever.

What an amazing, humbling exercise that was, as was the first interview I went on, where I got to hear my first “you’re overqualified.” Rather than be discouraged by that response, I chose to see it as validation of how far I had come in my professional life, and let it be a reminder of just how much I would bring to the table for the right position.

The next thing I knew (and it truly was serendipitous) I was in conversation with the managing partner of a law firm I had done some executive coaching work for, talking about coming on board with his company to direct their external marketing and communications. Not only that, they wanted me to provide coaching and training support for their staff. In short, I was to handle their business development, inside and out. And they were going to pay me very well for it. And give me an office. And benefits. And support. And an unbelievable group of people with whom to work. And the ability to keep working on my own with clients who want me to coach them.

So here I am, a little more than  two months into the new position, and having a ridiculously good time with it. The people I work with are fun, hard-working, and hold great respect for each other. My position as Business Development Director gives me the chance to use all of my skills to better the lives of the people in the firm, their families, their clients, and the community. And I still get to talk to all of you, and coach whomever would like the help. Life is beautiful, and I am exceptionally grateful for these opportunities.

I’ll keep you posted more often now, and not only bring you financial tips, but also professional development strategies that can support you on your journey. I know we’ve all hit some tough spots in the road, but let’s keep marching on together - I’m certain we’ll find a smoother path ahead.

Abundant regards,
Jenifer
www.afinancialminute.com
www.playthecoach.com
jenifer@afinancialminute.com
 

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