My client's "life sabbatical"

In November, one of my longtime clients took a much-needed break -- she calls it a “life sabbatical.” After going through the motions of wake up/work/repeat for many years, she said that she had lost herself somewhere along the way.

And I'll admit that quite a few clients of mine are going through similar times -- perhaps it's our age or our amount of time in our careers. So many of us are experiencing burnout or, in the least, we can see it on the horizon.

What I really loved about my client's sabbatical was the structure she put into it. I recently talked to her about that structure and I feel compelled to share it with you, my wonderful community!

Meet my amazing client, Cecilia Romero ! Cecilia has been going through a major transition since she experienced intense burnout from her executive role at a Silicon Valley startup. As a result, she decided to go on a "life sabbatical." In order to get her hands around this time, she built 3 intentional phases to support her rest, rejuvenation, and creativity. We recently discussed this "sabbatical" format and what she learned from each phase...

Sabbatical phase 1: EXPLORE. This phase was about unstructured time in order to decompress and clear her mind. What it has turned into is a deep curiosity for the spaces around her. She explored her city of San Francisco, visited friends on maternity leave, and unexpectedly rediscovered her joy for reading.?AND guess what? The concept for a small business came very early in Phase 1, but knowing that she was just in the beginning of this process, she forced herself to put a pin in it.

Sabbatical phase 2: REALIGN. Cecilia knew she needed to dig into what she wanted to do next. In order to do that, she reread a few newsletters she had saved. In those newsletters she found over 50 questions that she put into a document and then, over time, answered them.?A few example questions: what do I love doing, what am I great at, what does success look like if no one is watching, what is my biggest fear, what can I compromise on & not in my next role & so much more. **Special gift from Cecilia: her incredible?REALIGN questions!**

Sabbatical phase 3: WHAT'S NEXT??All about taking action towards the next adventure. And she HAS! Remember that pinned small business idea from Phase 1? Well, it's REAL and it's LIVE! All of those walks in San Francisco led to a deepened love for her city, and the need to share it with others.

Meet Miss 7x7, Cecilia's new business!?Miss 7x7?is a love letter to San Francisco, creating?tailored, delightful?experiences for travelers and locals alike.?Whether you check out her cocktail or mocktail tour or ask her to build a custom itinerary to suit your needs, Miss 7x7 will create an unforgettable experience for you and your loved ones!

As for the name,?San Francisco is often called “7x7” due to its approximate dimensions of 7 miles by 7 miles, totaling just under 49 square miles.

Please join me in celebrating Cecilia's incredible achievement!! And it's not just the launch of her new business, but also the process to get here.

To say that I'm proud of her is an understatement. What I really am is in awe of her...for her optimism, resilience, and steadiness. Bravo, Cecilia -- I am honored to witness your growth and support this new venture!

Check out Miss 7x7! Use promo code COPPER10 for 10% off (promo code expires September 21st).