From EC to CEO

“If you would have told me at the beginning of 2024 that I was going to give up my day job I would have thought, “No way!  Why would I do that?”

But that was exactly what happened and no one was more surprised than me…except for my former boss, perhaps.

I had been in my role as an Executive Coordinator for 11.5 years and while I had good relationships with my VP and his team, I was bored.  I had grown the role as much as I could and learned all I could.  I truly needed something new and I was ready for the next challenge.

In April 2023 a company re-org was announced (we knew ahead of time it was coming) and I had hoped the refreshing side of change would come my way; as I already said, I was ready for it!  But it didn’t and I was not at all happy with where my job landed.  While my job Grade remained the same, I would no longer report to my VP, but to a manager.  To me, it felt like a demotion and my immediate reaction to the news was denial (ie. “No!”).

It’s funny how the circumstances of life can push you out of your very comfortable nest and force you to fly and the re-org provided a very good opportunity for me to ask myself three important questions: 1. What legacy did I want to leave?  2. What impact did I want to have?  3. How did I want to spend my time?  Those questions and their answers have never left me.

The idea to give up my day job actually came from my husband who asked, “Why don’t you retire?”  Hmmmmm, I hadn’t thought of that.  In the fall of 2023, I had started my own business, DW Coaching, providing public speaking coaching services and I ran it as a side business while I worked for my employer.  My vision for myself and my business grew over time.

My husband’s suggestion stayed with me and I spoke to not one, not two, but three Financial Planners to see if this was feasible.  It was. 

Those who know me well, know I am not given to whims and wouldn’t make a decision as big as this in haste.  Rather, I thought and considered, and by October it became clear that this was my next step.  At age 53 (the plan was to retire at 55 or 56), I didn’t want to spend two more years being bored and then look back with regret.  Rather, I felt the time was right to take this step of faith so that in two years’ time I could look back and see how much I had accomplished.  Decision made – I made the announcement, left everything good behind me and transitioned to full-time self-employment.  Regrets?  None.  Second guessing?  Not even for a second.  Instead, I flipped the letters of my job title and gave myself the biggest promotion going from an EC to a CEO and pursued my vision!  Best decision ever!

Can you recall a time when life forced you out of the nest?

We you able to spread your wings and fly?

Do you have a vision for yourself?

Recommended Resources

-          Daily Motivation by Deborah Byrne Psychology – “Be Grateful When You Get Pushed Out Of The Nest” – https://deborahbyrnepsychologyservices.com/be-grateful-when-yo-get-pushed-out-of-the-nest/

-          Article by Melissa (at Medium) – “Rising Above: Turning Life’s Challenges into Strengths” – https://s0ulxs4ga.medium.com/rising-above-turning-lifes-challenges-into-strength-5f42c4261239

Monthly Challenge

When was the last time that the circumstances of life pushed you out of your comfortable nest?  How quickly were you able to spread your wings and fly?  How did it feel?