The decision to leave a high level gymnastics coaching career of 15+ years to go full time with my art was such a scary decision. What I will say is that I don't regret even the hardest days for one second. When we have a creative spark it is like a magnet. As hard as we try our lives seem to land right back at the same crossroads time and time again until we surrender ourselves to what we are yearning for. Can't wait to read more about where this adventure takes you next!
It's so great to hear that you made a change and have no regrets. I think as soon as I made the decision to leave my job at the end of March, I knew it was the right thing. I felt lighter, freer and more like myself again.
Funnily enough, in the last few months I've started to feel like I used to when I was composing (the good feelings). It's a feeling of allowing myself to be creative, I think. There's a chance that I might get back into some composing too. I gave myself imposter syndrome about it several years ago, but I can see myself wanting to experiment with sound again. Let's see!
Love this! I’m going through a career transition at the moment too, which is also inspired by the idea of the multi hyphenate career. I started writing a Substack post about it, planning to share next week. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and book recommendations. Excited to hear more about the process in your next post 😊
Hi Hannah! I can't wait to read your post soon, and hear about your career transition too.
I think we're conditioned to believe that you have to have a career and stick with it, but the world has changed and if I'm going to be working for another 30 years I want to be doing things that keep me interested and excited. I also love the idea of not having to be 'pigeonholed' into one field.
Hope the book recommendations are of interest. I plan to share some more as time goes on and I love getting recommendations from others.
I loved reading your story, Hannah. As a teacher myself I know exactly what you mean about school taking up so much additional time! While I plan to stay in teaching, I definitely have scaled back on some of the “extras” over the years to make room for my creative life and side hustle.
I think it's important to make teaching work for you and not allow it to take over. It's a hugely rewarding job in so many ways. I am still going to be doing some part time teaching from September, and I'm currently doing a little GCSE tutoring and piano tuition at the moment as well, but having a mix of all these things going on is making life interesting and I love it!
The 'Explore' section of Substack helped me come across your newsletter, and I am glad it did. And weirdly/serendipitously, I began my teaching career in 2007 and recently left. Looking forward to hearing how you are exploring your career change and with what comes next.
Hi Sarah, thanks so much for reading and commenting. I’ve just been over to your page and subscribed with interest. I’m really interested to follow your next steps too.
Don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I’ve recently started a career change podcast on here featuring women who have made career changes a little later in life.
Thank you and welcome! Emma Gannon has been a big influence, especially the way she is such an advocate for doing your own thing and carving your own unique path through life. I'm always on the look out for other inspirational female authors, so let me know if you recommend anyone else I should check out! x
Oh wow, that's great to hear, and I'm so glad it worked out to be a good decision for you. I certainly don't have any regrets at all so far. In fact, from the moment I handed in my letter of resignation I think I knew that it was the absolutely the right decision regardless of what happened next. Part 2 coming soon!
I´m going through lots of similar thoughts and your post is stirring up a lot of things in me. I enjoy my work and yet after about 33 years at the same University that I graduated from I feel that at 58 I would love to feel more free to create my own things. Whatever they could be. Looking forward to post 2 & 3 <3
33 years is a long time, and it is so hard to move away from routine and the comfort of knowing what you're doing. Do you have any options for going part time in your current role?
I'm working on the next posts now. Part 2 coming on Wednesday!
Thank you Hannah for replying to me. There are proably plenty of options, at the moment I have my year full with projects but yes I have been thinking about part-time and then worring about pensions and finances as a consequences of that.
I know that feeling well! I gradually made a plan, noting down what I wanted to achieve and some possible ways I might be able to achieve it. Gradually I'm working my way through that plan. I think it takes time and realistic planning, but I hope you can find your way towards your creative calling. I'm working on a longer post about all of this, which will hopefully be published in a few weeks. x
I can truly relate Hannah!
The decision to leave a high level gymnastics coaching career of 15+ years to go full time with my art was such a scary decision. What I will say is that I don't regret even the hardest days for one second. When we have a creative spark it is like a magnet. As hard as we try our lives seem to land right back at the same crossroads time and time again until we surrender ourselves to what we are yearning for. Can't wait to read more about where this adventure takes you next!
Thanks Korynn!
It's so great to hear that you made a change and have no regrets. I think as soon as I made the decision to leave my job at the end of March, I knew it was the right thing. I felt lighter, freer and more like myself again.
Funnily enough, in the last few months I've started to feel like I used to when I was composing (the good feelings). It's a feeling of allowing myself to be creative, I think. There's a chance that I might get back into some composing too. I gave myself imposter syndrome about it several years ago, but I can see myself wanting to experiment with sound again. Let's see!
Love this! I’m going through a career transition at the moment too, which is also inspired by the idea of the multi hyphenate career. I started writing a Substack post about it, planning to share next week. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and book recommendations. Excited to hear more about the process in your next post 😊
Hi Hannah! I can't wait to read your post soon, and hear about your career transition too.
I think we're conditioned to believe that you have to have a career and stick with it, but the world has changed and if I'm going to be working for another 30 years I want to be doing things that keep me interested and excited. I also love the idea of not having to be 'pigeonholed' into one field.
Hope the book recommendations are of interest. I plan to share some more as time goes on and I love getting recommendations from others.
I loved reading your story, Hannah. As a teacher myself I know exactly what you mean about school taking up so much additional time! While I plan to stay in teaching, I definitely have scaled back on some of the “extras” over the years to make room for my creative life and side hustle.
Thanks so much Sarah!
I think it's important to make teaching work for you and not allow it to take over. It's a hugely rewarding job in so many ways. I am still going to be doing some part time teaching from September, and I'm currently doing a little GCSE tutoring and piano tuition at the moment as well, but having a mix of all these things going on is making life interesting and I love it!
The 'Explore' section of Substack helped me come across your newsletter, and I am glad it did. And weirdly/serendipitously, I began my teaching career in 2007 and recently left. Looking forward to hearing how you are exploring your career change and with what comes next.
Hi Sarah, thanks so much for reading and commenting. I’ve just been over to your page and subscribed with interest. I’m really interested to follow your next steps too.
Don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I’ve recently started a career change podcast on here featuring women who have made career changes a little later in life.
Looking forward to chatting more!
Hannah
Hi Hannah, I had seen that you started a podcast! I will definitely check it out and hearing what other people in my (our) position are up to :)
And of course, Big Magic!!
This is fantastic! And I love @emmagannon.
Thank you and welcome! Emma Gannon has been a big influence, especially the way she is such an advocate for doing your own thing and carving your own unique path through life. I'm always on the look out for other inspirational female authors, so let me know if you recommend anyone else I should check out! x
Such a brave leap, Hannah. One I doubt you'll ever look back on with regret. I'm looking forward to reading the juicy part 2!
I did a career pivot about five years ago, stepping off the treadmill and the very set out progress ladder that was ahead of me in the PR world.
I often think about how this was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The thought of going back...well I don't even want to think about it!
Oh wow, that's great to hear, and I'm so glad it worked out to be a good decision for you. I certainly don't have any regrets at all so far. In fact, from the moment I handed in my letter of resignation I think I knew that it was the absolutely the right decision regardless of what happened next. Part 2 coming soon!
I remember that feeling!
I´m going through lots of similar thoughts and your post is stirring up a lot of things in me. I enjoy my work and yet after about 33 years at the same University that I graduated from I feel that at 58 I would love to feel more free to create my own things. Whatever they could be. Looking forward to post 2 & 3 <3
Thanks Carina!
33 years is a long time, and it is so hard to move away from routine and the comfort of knowing what you're doing. Do you have any options for going part time in your current role?
I'm working on the next posts now. Part 2 coming on Wednesday!
Thank you Hannah for replying to me. There are proably plenty of options, at the moment I have my year full with projects but yes I have been thinking about part-time and then worring about pensions and finances as a consequences of that.
I know that feeling well! I gradually made a plan, noting down what I wanted to achieve and some possible ways I might be able to achieve it. Gradually I'm working my way through that plan. I think it takes time and realistic planning, but I hope you can find your way towards your creative calling. I'm working on a longer post about all of this, which will hopefully be published in a few weeks. x