I recently read an article from Seth Godin about reinvention on Successmagazine.com. I was particularly struck by this article because it falls right in line with how I have been changing - or reinventing - myself and the way I have learned to approach business and life.
I have a certain set of skills. You have a set of skills. If we narrowly consider those skills only in the context of the here and now of what our 'job' is at this moment, or was last month, last year, or if you are unemployed, then you are not stuck, you are trapped.
Fifteen years ago I was a rockin' TV producer who worked 60+ hours a week. One day my husband came home and suggested we had a baby. Ok, how bad could that be? I did not anticipate how having a baby would completely shake my confidence as a professional. My life up to that point evolved around my career. I defined myself completely based on that career, highs and lows. I seriously believed that because I chose to stay home with our son, I doomed my future in television forever. I was certain I would never work again and there was no way I could get back on that track. We are talking about a whole seven months away!
I did go back to work part-time and even worked on some national shows. Somehow, it truly wasn't the same. I'm not sure anyone treated me differently, but I certainly felt my career was basically over. That was the first time I had to hit the 'reset' button.
I took a job teaching at the Art Institute of Seattle. What I discovered was I had a deep understanding of television production and the knack f or sharing and teaching what I know. I learned, along with my students, I had a lot to give.
Once our son hit preschool, I was pretty skilled at seeing opportunity to reinvent or more accurately rewrite the sell on my skills. I volunteered - A LOT. I chaired an auction, which led to paying jobs as an event coordinator. Did I suddenly have a new skill set? No. I just realized that what I knew how to do could translate into a lot of other areas... succcessfully. Event planning is about details, organization, creativity - that is what a producer does. That is what I had been doing for years. I did a reset and changed my game.
Two things I have learned that can lead you to a reset:
- Look at your skills, really look at them. If you aren't working, get yourself into a volunteer situation where your particular talents, and ideally passion, can shine. Every minute you are using those skills - whether you are paid or not - you are honing those skills.
- Don't be afraid to jump on what scares you. Afraid you have missed the social media wave? Nonsense. Read a lot of books. Embrace the idea of teaching yourself. Then do it. We all make social media mistakes - you learn from it. Friend everyone on Facebook whether you know them or not. I have learned so much from my virtual friends. I have tripled my circle of influence by friending people in my community and city.
Recently, I stumbled upon an organization that had a mission and a message I like, called ChickChat. It was started by a go-getter gal named Tracy Klinkroth who saw an opportunity to host 'savvy soirees for smart women' in order to grow her research company. We met. I pushed my reset button. A few short weeks later I was hosting my first party for the South Sound addition of ChickChat.
I am using my entire skill set - refined over years as a producer and writer - to create events that I call 'connectworking.' I haven't walked away from who I am. I am still at my core at Producer. I love my company - Two Dogs Barking - but like a puppy it has grown and changed and now has a bigger bark heard around a bigger neighborhood. I often refer to all the 'other things' I do as the four legs of Two Dogs. Reinvention!
This is your time. Throw yourself into what moves you. Talk about it endlessly on Facebook. Learn to tweet. But more importantly, to quote Seth Godin again:
"Do work that matters.
Those four words are available to anyone; they’re available to you if you want them. The economy just gave you leverage—the leverage to make a difference, the leverage to spread your ideas and the leverage to have impact. More people have more leverage (more chances and more power) to change the world than at any other time in history. What are you going to do about it? When?"
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