This is really good Maddie...over the past year, I have chosen to take on a lesser workload in my solopreneur business.
At times, I have struggled with calculating the amount of $ I am leaving on the table (especially when calculated over the course of a calendar year).
Other times, I am "okay" with leaving money on the table for the trade-off of less stress, an actual "day off" during the work week, etc.
My best friend asked if I will continue taking this lesser workload moving forward or not (he asked because he knows that I am focused on savings and increasing our household's investments / net worth)...it's a question that I think I know the answer to, but still wallow back and forth depending on the day (darn Type A brain) 😉
"Revisiting that map is important because the act of walking any path teaches us things we didn’t know at the outset." I agree, Maddie. The past is full of lessons for us, including our own past and pathway.
I'm enjoying the climb. I'm not sure I'm using a map, though. 🙂
Oh man, I revisit it "all" all the time! One important lesson I've learned is to pay attention to the little niggles that pop into your head (or heart) in the midst of each day - even when something is going well there are often tiny signs that it may not always be right or last forever. And that's exactly the info you need when it comes time to make a change...
Every 7 years or so, I reassess:-) I didn't plan it that way. Just so happened. I'm in a pivot now with a ton more experience in what I want and don't want and a life fully lived. Cheers to your next season!
Gosh, it has been a while since I've revisited anything ha! I was in a way forced to when I had all these grand plans on a recent vacation and my husband/son didn't want to. It did give me time to reflect on how far I've come to even able to afford the money time off to be able to go somewhere for a week. It ended being such a refreshing trip and I'm reinvigorated.
Oh, I love this question, Maddie. It reminded me of something I heard on a podcast once, where the host said he'd heard the question: "Am I still enjoying being [your name]?" Am I still enjoying being Cait Flanders, the author, etc.? Yep! If anything, I only want to be more of her. Thanks for helping to prompt that reflection—and for mentioning AIOO! That was fun to see ☺️
I think almost all your points apply to me and my career right now. I’m a teacher and I’m ready to leave. But there where to is proving the difficult part! I’m not a teacher who is paid all holidays, but I do get the summer off (unemployed but still off). I can’t imagine going back to non-school calendar job after over so long.
Gosh, I love this framing—reassessing the route. I could even see this commitment to doing so being helpful at the beginning of choosing a route in the first place.
I see a lot of clients in my practice have a hard time with indecision because making any decision at all can feel permanent. I’m often reminding clients that they can always make another decision down the road if the path no longer serves them. The language you use here is really clarifying and reassuring.
I reassess my route about 5 times a day. It's a constant struggle to stick to a path! I get discouraged very easily...but at least I know that I wouldn't enjoy a shadow career. I have a good internal BS detector.
What a lovely post, Maddie! Thoughtful as always. I’ve been watching a lot of curling lately and professional athletes, to me, have a fascinating decision process behind when to retire. Do you go out when you’re at the top of your game or wait until your body forces you to quit or somewhere in the middle?
Isn’t it fascinating how many people become financial planners when they what they crave is financial security? Yet it’s not the most lucrative career out there. In some ways, I feel like I got bored of spreadsheeting my own finances, so now I do that for others.
So often I feel like people just continue along in life without stopping to ask themselves “Do I want to be here now that I’m here?” Every day is a pivot and choice point in our lives. I’ve been getting better at that lately, more frequently pivoting and adjusting than I used to.
I’m so excited to see you flourishing now, building something for yourself instead of for someone else.
The part about getting stuck in a shadow career resonates! I've seen this many times with women I've mentored over the years. I just signed up for your Substack. Love it!
This conversation is smack in the middle of my awareness, Maddie—thanks so much for your writing on it! I have the great honor and pleasure of coaching people through major life decisions and transitions, and often (very!) have to remind myself to do the exact same work: taking stock of and appreciation for the road already travelled.
Looking forward to reading more of your beautiful wisdom and writing!
As always, Maddie, I find your wisdom resonant. I am finding myself needing to reassess my route more often lately than I have in the past. And that feels right.
I'd love to hear from you! When’s the last time you stopped to reassess the route you’re traveling?
This is really good Maddie...over the past year, I have chosen to take on a lesser workload in my solopreneur business.
At times, I have struggled with calculating the amount of $ I am leaving on the table (especially when calculated over the course of a calendar year).
Other times, I am "okay" with leaving money on the table for the trade-off of less stress, an actual "day off" during the work week, etc.
My best friend asked if I will continue taking this lesser workload moving forward or not (he asked because he knows that I am focused on savings and increasing our household's investments / net worth)...it's a question that I think I know the answer to, but still wallow back and forth depending on the day (darn Type A brain) 😉
"Revisiting that map is important because the act of walking any path teaches us things we didn’t know at the outset." I agree, Maddie. The past is full of lessons for us, including our own past and pathway.
I'm enjoying the climb. I'm not sure I'm using a map, though. 🙂
Oh man, I revisit it "all" all the time! One important lesson I've learned is to pay attention to the little niggles that pop into your head (or heart) in the midst of each day - even when something is going well there are often tiny signs that it may not always be right or last forever. And that's exactly the info you need when it comes time to make a change...
Every 7 years or so, I reassess:-) I didn't plan it that way. Just so happened. I'm in a pivot now with a ton more experience in what I want and don't want and a life fully lived. Cheers to your next season!
Gosh, it has been a while since I've revisited anything ha! I was in a way forced to when I had all these grand plans on a recent vacation and my husband/son didn't want to. It did give me time to reflect on how far I've come to even able to afford the money time off to be able to go somewhere for a week. It ended being such a refreshing trip and I'm reinvigorated.
Oh, I love this question, Maddie. It reminded me of something I heard on a podcast once, where the host said he'd heard the question: "Am I still enjoying being [your name]?" Am I still enjoying being Cait Flanders, the author, etc.? Yep! If anything, I only want to be more of her. Thanks for helping to prompt that reflection—and for mentioning AIOO! That was fun to see ☺️
I think almost all your points apply to me and my career right now. I’m a teacher and I’m ready to leave. But there where to is proving the difficult part! I’m not a teacher who is paid all holidays, but I do get the summer off (unemployed but still off). I can’t imagine going back to non-school calendar job after over so long.
Gosh, I love this framing—reassessing the route. I could even see this commitment to doing so being helpful at the beginning of choosing a route in the first place.
I see a lot of clients in my practice have a hard time with indecision because making any decision at all can feel permanent. I’m often reminding clients that they can always make another decision down the road if the path no longer serves them. The language you use here is really clarifying and reassuring.
I reassess my route about 5 times a day. It's a constant struggle to stick to a path! I get discouraged very easily...but at least I know that I wouldn't enjoy a shadow career. I have a good internal BS detector.
What a lovely post, Maddie! Thoughtful as always. I’ve been watching a lot of curling lately and professional athletes, to me, have a fascinating decision process behind when to retire. Do you go out when you’re at the top of your game or wait until your body forces you to quit or somewhere in the middle?
Isn’t it fascinating how many people become financial planners when they what they crave is financial security? Yet it’s not the most lucrative career out there. In some ways, I feel like I got bored of spreadsheeting my own finances, so now I do that for others.
So often I feel like people just continue along in life without stopping to ask themselves “Do I want to be here now that I’m here?” Every day is a pivot and choice point in our lives. I’ve been getting better at that lately, more frequently pivoting and adjusting than I used to.
I’m so excited to see you flourishing now, building something for yourself instead of for someone else.
The part about getting stuck in a shadow career resonates! I've seen this many times with women I've mentored over the years. I just signed up for your Substack. Love it!
LOL. I'm still on flat land. xo
PS/forgot 👉🏻 that Steven Pressfield quote is SUCH a gem!!!
This conversation is smack in the middle of my awareness, Maddie—thanks so much for your writing on it! I have the great honor and pleasure of coaching people through major life decisions and transitions, and often (very!) have to remind myself to do the exact same work: taking stock of and appreciation for the road already travelled.
Looking forward to reading more of your beautiful wisdom and writing!
As always, Maddie, I find your wisdom resonant. I am finding myself needing to reassess my route more often lately than I have in the past. And that feels right.