The Power of Relationships.

If I take myself back 18 months ago, I was visiting different workplaces, working on change management projects, design, furniture, and fit outs, delivering consultancy, facilitating workshops, working with a fantastic team of people and had a client list many could only dream of. I loved my role.?

When the pandemic hit, several things, aside from the pandemic, became difficult and things were just not clicking for me anymore. I was working long hours, frustrations were building, I did not feel healthy...mentally, physically, or emotionally. I had reached burn out.

In February I decided I was going to resign from my role and began to put the feelers out. I had a few interviews and turned down a few offers. On reflection, I was turning down those jobs because I didn't really want to let go of what I had pre-pandemic. I was grieving.?

I had one of those chats with my wife where I knew it was a big deal, and tried to play it down, I just said, "I haven't got a job, but I need to leave" and she said the best thing she could ever have said to me, "Leave. You will find something that is right for you, I believe in you....and take a break, it's been a rough year".

I had been wondering for a while whether freelance was the way forward. So again, I chatted with my wife and again she said, "Just do it, if it doesn't work, you will easily get a job".

Ok so you are probably realising now, I'm the planner, the security, the dependable one who packs the money, the passports and the insurance documents... she is the laid back, "fun one" who packs way too many clothes and an inflatable unicorn.?

A few weeks passed and I walked downstairs and said, "I’m sticking the kettle on, do you want one? ...oh, and by the way, I've just submitted my resignation". I thought she was going to pass out. I thought I was going to pass out. Who quits their job in the middle of a pandemic, with a half-baked plan?! I felt physically sick. I sat in the garden, got some air, rang a friend, rang another friend, and rang another. I finally went inside when I thought, "I've got this". That week I had a session with my coach, by the end of it I was confident that I was going to put my big brave girl pants on and go for it.?

As the days passed, the number of job opportunities were increasing. 4,5,6...9, wow, 9 job offers on the table. Sh*t, now I had a new challenge, how do I decide what to do? I made a chart of pros and cons. Employed vs Freelance vs Freelance with long term retainers. Then another chart of the pros and cons for all the offers (I told you my wife is the fun one!).

My head was spinning, I was overwhelmed and totally confused. I grounded myself and reminded myself to reconnect with my purpose. What did I want from work and from the people I work with and for?? After much comparison, there was one company that I really felt a connection with, that were not on my chart. Part of me was saying, "Seriously Simone, are you never happy?" but my gut was telling me, "Be brave. Ask. Don't ask, don't get".?

Anyway, I asked and ta-da, success!?

I had a cracking 5-week break, reconnecting, resting, reading, and reflecting. I am on week 2 in the new role, and I have that nice warm feeling. Regarding everything I thought I was grieving for; well, the majority was insignificant and the thing that matters has not actually gone anywhere.

I had been grieving for the loss of my team... my mates, my tribe, my safe place, the group of people who pick me off the floor and dust me down, the ones who always make me laugh, the ones I can speak my truth to without them judging. Once I had owned my own thoughts and feelings, I started to process them, I talked about it, and hey, I even had a few tears. In 6 weeks, there is not a day that hasn't passed where I have not spoken to my old team in some capacity - what on earth was I worrying about?!

Trust and believe in yourself and always know that there will be people around you to pick you up and dust you down. Thank you to everybody who played their part and gave me enough breath to blow my inflatable unicorn up!

Take Care,

SFJ.