Down (but not Out) in America – Tales from the Unemployment Line Pt 3 - Create the job you want

You’re going to hate this analogy. Stick with me – I promise it’ll pay off.

I intentionally adopted a small dog (Rizzo) so she could come with me on trips – she’s 15lbs soaking wet and would easily fit under the seat in front of me. I wouldn’t know though. In the 2 years we’ve been together, I’ve been on countless planes, trains, and automobiles (RIP John Candy), all without Rizzo. Why? Because it seems complicated to figure out how to bring her along. What kind of carrier do I need? Are there documents I need to complete? Do I have to buy a special ticket for her? I realize we’re not talking open heart surgery, but it’s daunting. I don’t know where to start, so I don’t.

I have a fear of the unknown (it’s part of my charm?). This fear extends far beyond canine travel; it resurfaces anytime I think about something new. Let me get back to the analogy (still with me?). I’ve been applying to lots of jobs lately – my wheelhouse is standard HR leadership - but whenever I start to think about the world outside my little bubble, I retreat back to my comfort zone. Why? Because I know what I know how to do and anything else is scary. Wait. Did I just equate traveling around the country with my tiny dog with looking for a new job? Yes. Yes, I did. The common denominating factor here is that fear is getting in the way of some potentially amazing things.

I read somewhere that our brains are programmed to prefer a familiar hell to an unfamiliar heaven (I’d love to say it was a respectable source like the NY Times, but it was probably Instagram). And that stuck with me. Instead of focusing solely on roles that fit a certain criteria, why not create my own opportunities?

I’ve often thought about taking on consulting/freelance work in either an interim or project capacity. I have a ton of valuable experience that organizations would benefit from, even if they don’t have a permanent role. OMG Bryan! Do that! Real talk - I haven’t gone down that path for one very specific reason. And here it is (insert embarrassed face emoji) – how would I invoice a client and receive payment? Follow up question – would I need to set up an LLC? How would I do that? What about taxes? Ok, so I have many fears about freelancing. And yes, I know all of these questions are easily answered if I’d spend just 5 mins researching. But It’s an unfamiliar heaven and my brain just won’t let me.

Fortunately, I have friends who have experience with this exact sort of dilemma. Let me tell you about a couple of these fabulous women.

My friend Miriam built her career working for a number of ad agencies and start-ups. The work was thankless and intense, and she often dealt with demanding clients, tight deadlines, and complex deliverables. She worked long hours that dramatically affected her work/life balance (having worked in consulting myself, I can relate). After a while, Miriam noticed that all this stress was affecting her physical health, so she thought about how she could continue doing the work she loved, but in a way that wouldn’t burn her out so quickly. She had a broad set of consulting skills and a strong network. Freelancing was a great fit. But, it was an unfamiliar heaven. Miriam had questions. How would she start? How much should she charge for her work? How would she get clients? Miriam reached out to her network – those who she knew were already successful freelancers with questions and asked for help. They gave her advice on setting up an LLC, banking accounts, and shared templates for contracts, statements of work, and invoicing. Once the foundation was laid, Miriam had to sort out what she wanted to be known for. How would prospective clients find her? Sure, she was good at a lot of things, but how could she focus that into a service offering? Think about it this way, have you ever gotten completely overwhelmed by the Cheesecake Factory menu? So. Many. Options. Also, no shade to Cheesecake Factory – I approach that menu like a to-do list. But, the moral of this particular story is that what seemed scary and overwhelming to Miriam at first, was overcome by the greater desire to do something amazing for herself. She didn’t let her fear of an unfamiliar heaven stop her from trying something new.

Do you believe in fate? When Nicole was downsized, she planned to take some time off before beginning a job search. But, the universe had other ideas. As soon as word hit the street that she was a free agent, she received a call from former colleagues about a new opportunity, but it wasn’t full time and she’d have to work as a contractor. Never one to turn down something new, Nicole decided to make it happen. Her main concern (her unfamiliar heaven), was that she’d need to find additional consulting work to supplement her income. How does someone who built a successful career in corporate America start to drum up new business for herself? Fortunately for Nicole (and much like Miriam), she’d developed a strong network. And that’s where she started. It wasn’t long before she established a sustainable amount of regular work. She was over the hump. But then what? That’s when Nicole started developing relationships with staffing companies who could connect her with additional work.?Ultimately, she successfully ran her own LLC for four years, which prepared her for a permanent consultant role with a technology start-up.?By not letting her fear of the unknown stop her, Nicole was able to pivot her career from corporate to contractor to consultant in a meaningful way.

Besides feeling lazy by comparison, I learned a lot from my recent conversations with Miram and Nicole. Mostly, that both were brave as hell and it paid off. It’s inspiring to speak with someone who knowingly ran towards the unknown and lived to tell the tale. I’m still scared though. But, maybe not too scared to start having more of these inspiring conversations.

*Stay tuned for part 4 (the final in this series) next Monday when I’ll talk about being the only candidate they’ll want to interview.

Suggestions on topics for my next series? I want to hear from you!

#unemployment #unemployed #downandoutinamerica #talesfromtheunemploymentline #human resources #HR #HRleadership #HRleader #humanresourcesleadership #humanresourcesleader