Quitter to Winner

INTERVIEW: Marketing + startup best practices with Bidwell ID

2011-03-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

You’re starting your own small business. Congratulations. Overwhelmed by “expert advice” on marketing and business best practices? Understandable.

That’s why we spoke with John Bidwell, strategic marketing and branding whiz, and founder of Bidwell ID. He’s seen what works for his own business and his clients. John offers valuable marketing insight to startups, and shares small business do’s and don’ts: from how to keep clients to weathering down markets.

What branding advice do you have for startups?

I don’t recommend investing too much into branding until after a year or two in business. If you’re looking for investors, you should focus on creating a solid, professional-looking business plan. If you’re launching a product or service into the marketplace, I recommend the following approach.

1. Choose a name. You can brainstorm on your own, or buy some “trusted advisors” dinner to help you come up with names.

2. Due diligence. Google the selected name to see if a url is available. I also strongly recommend running the name by a lawyer. They’ll do additional due diligence to see if the name is already taken. I’ve seen big, costly mistakes with companies having to change their name because they didn’t do their homework.

3. Create a logo. I don’t recommend getting too fancy during the launch phase. Work with a freelance designer to create a clean, simple mark. Be sure to use it consistently.

4. Know your audience and what you want to tell them. Ask yourself:
a. Who is my audience?
b. What do they want to hear?
c. How is my offering relevant?
d. Is the audience large enough to support my model?
While it’s costly, market research is valuable in helping answer these types of questions.

5. Take good notes. You’ll learn a lot about your business and customers in the first year or two. Use that information to shape your brand and message.

Bidwell weathered the recent economic downturn. What suggestions can you offer startups to help them stay afloat?

1. Focus on sales. It’s easy to want to spend a lot of time on branding. It’s fun and creative. It also helps define how you talk to your customer. But if you’re not drumming up business, it’s not the best use of time.

2. Watch your spending. It’s wise to evaluate your expenditures. That varies in each business. For us it’s time management. We don’t sell widgets. It’s our time that’s billable.

3. Maintain existing relationships. Remind clients that you care, and that you want their business. Never take them for granted. Schedule a formal meeting, or meet them for coffee. Tell them you appreciate their business and you look forward to more work.

4. Keep their trust. Never squander a client’s trust. You can’t get it back.

What are some ways small businesses can build long-term client relationships?

1. Work with people high up the ladder. The more integral you are with the decision makers, the better your chances of staying on their radar.

2. Remind them you care. It seems obvious, but letting clients know you value their relationship and the work goes a long way. Keep in touch with them formally or informally.

3. Find the right match. Ask yourself what type of clients is the best fit for you and your company.

4. Hire good employees. Attitude is just as important as aptitude. Getting a bad fit is an immense waste of time. Look for team members who are optimistic, enjoy working with clients, and are persnickety yet willing to roll with the punches. If you need help starting the hiring process, the Employers Association is a great resource.

Tell us your thoughts about the social media buzz.

Absolutely. While it’s free, it requires a decent amount of time and effort to do it right. I’d say it’s a half-time job to do Facebook, Twitter and a blog justice. Some of the work is certainly a good project for interns. Pay attention to the metrics and the types of people following you. Are they potential customers? Will they pay for your service? Tailor your posts and tweets about your business to your audience.

Why did you start your own agency?

I always wanted to run my own business. Both of my grandfathers had their own businesses. And my father started a local insurance agency. I had a strong family model for doing your own thing.

I starting working as a designer for several publications and marketing agencies, but I also had strong writing skills. Problem is that most companies see creatives as writers or designers, but not both, and designers never move up the ladder beyond the title of creative director. Leaving my career in other’s hands was far too limiting. Opening my own shop was a way to avoid falling prey to all of that. It allowed me to control what I’m doing and where I’m doing it.

INTERVIEW: How to maximize Twitter with MMJ Tech's Jonathan Mast

2011-01-18T16:04:00.000-08:00

By the end of 2010, Twitter boasts about 190 million users and counting. A good portion of Tweeters are entrepreneurs. I asked Jonathan Mast from small business social media experts MMJ Technology about some basics on how to use Twitter to its full potential.

What are the five must-do's when setting up a Twitter account?

- Pick a memorable user name. jonathanm or jonathanmast is good. jon3234m not so much.
- Upload a picture to your profile.
- Fill in your bio. Use keywords relative to your business.
- Send out a tweet (that would be a Twitter message).
- Find people (tweeps) you are interested in and follow them (at least 20 to start with). Use Twellow.com to look for people with similar interests or in similar industries. This is a great time to follow your competitors and see what they are doing!

2. What are some strategies to keep in mind when you start tweeting?

- Tweet regularly. At least a few times a week; a few times a day is better.
- Don't talk about yourself all the time.
- Use Twitter to establish yourself as an expert in your field. I recommend sharing links to articles and blog entries that would be of interest to your audience.
- Try not to have more than 120 characters in your tweet. This makes it easier and more likely that your tweets are re-tweeted (shared by others). Use a URL shortener like bit.ly to shorten long links that you want to share.

3. Can you describe how and why to use some of Twitter's features? (Lists, mentions, etc.).

- Lists are a great way to keep track of and manage your followers (or if your a bit paranoid to keep tabs on your competition without following them).

- Use Direct Messaging (use "d USERNAME" to send a direct message) to send private messages to other tweeps.

- Re-Tweet (share a tweet you like) regularly. If you read a good tweet choose Re-Tweet to share it with your followers. This shows you're willing to share the credit for good stuff!

- Use hash tags like key words to help get your tweets noticed. A hash tag is the "#" follow directly by a keyword (i.e. #socialmedia #marketing #business #branding).

- Use Twitter search for tweets mentioning you or your organization and then respond when you find them.

4. Which company do you think best uses Twitter?

- There are hundreds ranging from street vendors in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to major firms like Southwest (@southwestair) and Jet Blue Airlines (@jetblue) as well as international companies like Ford (@scottmonty). There are literally thousands of success stories from small, one-person operations to large, multi-national companies. ALMOST ANY company can be successful on Twitter.

5. How do people manage to attract tens of thousands of followers?

- The most reliable way to get thousands of followers is to share and write content that your audience is interested in. Pick a topic and stick to it for the most part.

- FOLLOW BACK when someone follows you. It's simply the right thing to do and will increase your following.

- Be consistent. Tweet regularly and on topic.

6. How can you generate sales using Twitter?

- Twitter is a great vehicle to establish your credibility. Focus on establishing your credibility first (this takes MONTHS) and then focus on selling. Oh, and remember, no one cares about boring, mundane updates like "eating breakfast - oatmeal and toast."

- Remember that Twitter is only a tool. Use it to establish and maintain connections and always remember to reach out in person when ever possible. If you find someone interesting arrange a phone meeting, schedule introductions over coffee, etc. It's still about personal relationships.

BONUS TIP - To save yourself a lot of time, use a tool such as Hootsuite (you can get a FREE trial at http://ht.ly/3BIAo).

INTERVIEW: How to maximize LinkedIn with Jonathan Mast

2010-12-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Many colleagues of mine are on LinkedIn. During a conversation about the site, we all came clean: none of us use it to the max (if at all). I asked Jonathan Mast from small business social media experts MMJ Technology how startups can use LinkedIn to its full potential.

Why should a startup join LinkedIn?

As a startup you need to generate business and to connect with possible customers. LinkedIn provides one of the best ways to do this online. Think of LinkedIn as the Facebook for Business connections. LinkedIn is an online networking tool that will allow you to connect with people and businesses. It’s also unique in its "Get Introduced through a Connection" feature that allows you to find out which of your existing connections know someone you are trying to connect with and ask them to introduce you.

What are the top "must-do's" once they join?

1. Complete your profile to the fullest extent you can. Adding in items like past schools and past employers helps you connect with more people and can dramatically increase your connections. Remember that the value of a social media connection is not always simply to do business. On LinkedIn in particular your past connections may be of more value in helping you connect to new individuals that you are trying to reach out to.

2. Add a photo to your profile. A profile without a photo is much less likely to be productive in helping you connect with others. If you don't have a current photo use your mobile phone to take an updated one and upload it to your profile.

3. Once you have completed filling in all the information you can start finding connections and ask them to add them to your network. One tip, when adding a connection you have the opportunity to write them a note. Don't just accept LinkedIn's standard text, write a personalized message and you will dramatically increase the likelihood your connections accept.

What are some do's and dont's regarding generating sales on LinkedIn?

1. Don't try to sell everyone you network with right out of the gate.

2. Do use LinkedIn to share information that is relevant to your connections and that establishes you as an expert in your field. For example, I am an Internet Strategist and I make money by selling websites and consulting projects. I share information about how to use social media successfully, how to brand your business or organization effectively and what is going on in the industry.

3. Do reach out to your LinkedIn connections and try to connect with them in person. If your connections are local, propose meeting up over coffee. If your connections are outside of your area, propose a phone conversation. You can glean huge benefits from your connections if you actually reach out in person.

How can I use LinkedIn to promote my company?

LinkedIn also allows you to setup company profiles. This is valuable to your firm as it allows people to follow your company and also allows LinkedIn users to see what is happening with your company and your employees (if you have them). You do not establish connections from your company to others. Although by sharing relevant information that's going on in your firm, others can keep up on the latest news and offerings from your company.

How has LinkedIn helped MMJTech?

We use LinkedIn to establish connections with other individuals and companies that can help grow our business and to keep tabs on our competition. Our technical staff uses LinkedIn to establish connections with other technical professionals. In a sales role, I use LinkedIn to establish connections with existing and prospective clients. By using LinkedIn effectively and by connecting to the other staff that I work with, I can then leverage their connections when I need an introduction to someone outside of my network.

By using LinkedIn we minimize the number of true "cold calls" that we make and in turn find ourselves getting more appointments through leveraging the "warm" connections we have via LinkedIn and reaching out to connect with them in person. Ultimately, LinkedIn helps us generate more revenue by working smarter.

You can also read Jonathan's first interview with Quitter to Winner here.

INTERVIEW: Career break pro Sherry Ott

2010-11-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT. She's now a long-term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She's a co-founder of Briefcase to Backpack, a website offering career break travel inspiration and advice. She also runs a global travel blog writing about her travel and expat experiences at Ottsworld. She is one of the driving forces behind Meet, Plan, Go! Events across the country to inspire more people to get out and travel. Sherry talks about her own career break experience, and offers advice to those considering taking the plunge.

Is it safe to say that your current career is helping others take career breaks?

Yes, that’s certainly part of my current career. I actually have many jobs that all form a career! My main focus is to inspire and help others take career breaks and travel – via BriefcasetoBackpack.com, Meet Plan Go! events, and our upcoming Career Break Boot Camp. Quite frankly, it also can expand beyond that niche of career break travel. I really want to help people understand and see the world through travel. That ties in my personal website – Ottsworld. Finally, I also do IT freelance work managing a retail website for a small company, photography, and occasionally I teach ESL.

Career breaks are getting more and more attention in the States. Why do you think that is?

I think there are numerous factors at play.

1. The Boomers and Gen Xers are realizing that our traditional definition of retirement is not necessarily going to happen for us. The world of work and retirement are changing. Whereas my father worked for the same company his whole life and is supported by a pension, that’s no longer the case. With the disappearance of pension programs – the idea of ‘we have to take care of ourselves’ has evolved. Each generation has moved around more from company to company trying to further their career. People don’t expect their employers to take care of them any longer…especially Gen Y. This movement in careers allows more people to take a break in between them or even negotiate them as they change jobs.

2. The workplace is demanding that we become more global. We travel more for work, we work with people from around the world. I think that naturally starts to grow curiosity and desire for more global travel. There’s no better international education than to travel to different cultures.

3. The explosion of the internet over the last few years has now allowed us all to be voyeurs in people’s lives. I think there were always people out there doing extended travel and taking career breaks – but there was no way to really hear of them unless you were their personal friend. Now we find many people are doing extended travel and career breaks thanks to our tendency to want to tell the world about it! Reading about other’s doing it plants seeds. When you ‘know’ someone (even virtually) who has taken a career break and traveled – all of a sudden it becomes a little more mainstream and accessible to you personally.

4. I’d love to believe that the work we are doing at Briefcase to Backpack and Meet Plan Go are also contributing to it a little!

What advice do you have for someone concerned about explaining their sabbatical to prospective employers?

The first thing to keep in mind is if a prospective employer feels taking a break and traveling to increase your international experience and maintain your balance and well being is negative – then you need to consider whether you want to work for a company that isn’t in alignment with your values.

We recommend to people not to shy away from talking about your career break to prospective employers. However, prepare yourself for that conversation. You need to take the time to go inward and really think about what you gained and learned from your break and how it benefits the company. Does it make you a better manager and employee – most likely. People who do extended travel AND try to incorporate some knowledge building and volunteering into that travel come back with better soft skills such as: Risk taker, negotiation skills, flexibility, patience, adapt quickly to changing environments, and enhanced decisions making. In my opinion, much of these skills fall into one important area in business – leadership.

One of the most important things to possess as you are working your way back into the workforce again is to have confidence in your ability to do so. If you don’t believe that your career break was beneficial and you are simply trying to create a sales pitch, then it won’t be as successful. As you converse with future employers and network with colleagues, you must ooze confidence about your career break. No regrets!

What parts of the world do you find most open to the idea of career breaks?

The idea of career breaks is very accepted in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, I would probably lump most of Europe in there, too.

How have your breaks helped your career?

My career break actually helped me change my career! I worked in corporate IT for 14 years. I was good at it, I moved up the ladder, but I didn’t really like what I did. Finally, I knew I had to make a change and I took a break when I was 36 years old. Once I got away from my cube – it provided me the time to really explore what I wanted to do; what I was passionate about. I’ve made the choice to be entrepreneurial and give the travel industry a shot; I love writing, speaking about and photographing travel and the cultures of the world. However, I know that if one day I want to go back to corporate, I could do it. I now have so many more skills that I’ve developed from a leadership standpoint and I’ve developed my knowledge and expertise in new areas such as social marketing. However – I’m not ready to go back to a cube anytime soon!

Meet, Plan, Go was quite a success. Did you find most attendees were already unemployed and were tired of job hunting? Or were they burned out and were ready for a break?

Most people still had jobs and were trying to figure out a way to take a break for a bit. Or they were planning on leaving their jobs and knew they wanted to travel before they started a new job or started a new chapter in their life such as marriage of parenthood. Surprisingly, we learned that many people not only wanted to travel, but they wanted to do some sort of work on the road and explore areas further. People were eager to really experience a country or place.

When is your next trip? Where are you headed?

I’m constantly on the road now. I’ve given up my ‘home’ and now don’t have any home base. So in some ways – I’m always traveling! However, this December I will be in Chicago and New York City before leaving for Italy for a week and then to the Middle East; Amman Jordan and Beirut Lebanon. I will be doing volunteer work for GeoVisions in the Middle East this winter and will be writing all about the realities of international volunteering. Then I’m back in America for the spring, and then this summer I take off on an adventure of epic proportions – the Mongol Rally. It’s a charity rally where me and three other bloggers are driving a car from London to Ulanbataar Mongolia. A journey of 9,000 miles where we’ll be raising money for charity. Our team website and information on the rally can be found here - http://thesocialmediasyndicate.com/

How startups can maximize the web and social media with MMJ Technology

2010-11-09T16:59:00.000-08:00

Having a web a social media presence is key for any startup. MMJTech's Internet Strategist, Jonathan Mast, offers sound advice to help entrepreneurs maximize SEO, social media and web development partners.

What are some social media/web best practices for a new small business?

I think the most important thing a new small business can do is to establish a presence online where their potential customers and brand evangelists can find them. In my mind, that's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in addition to a good website. I believe it is important for new business owners to understand that although the social media channels are valuable in attracting attention and communicating with your audience, the fact that you can not control what happens there means you need a solid website as the core of your online marketing strategy. Use social media channels to drive traffic to your website - not the other way around.

I recommend the following simple steps:

1. Register your domain name (abcbusiness.com).
2. Setup email at your domain name. Do not use and AOL, Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail address for your business. You instantly lose credibility.
3. Set up a Facebook business (fan) page and begin branding the page by using a 200x600 graphic as your profile picture. This 200x600 graphic should be seen as a "mini-billboard." It's an excellent way to brand your Facebook page and provide information to your audience.
4. Get a Twitter page for your business. Think about your Twitter profile icon. Most people will not see your page although they will regularly see your Twitter profile icon. You don't have much room although it's another chance to effectively brand yourself and/or your company.
5. Get a YouTube page for your business.

Even if you don't know how you're going to use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, claim your pages now.

What questions should a startup ask a web developer during the vendor selection process?

Ask about results. Your website is essentially useless if it is not helping you make more money or, at a minimum, save money. Many web developers are enamored with "cool" technology. Don't get caught in that mind set. Think about what your potential customers are going to be looking for and provide that type of content.

Also, make sure to ask about changes to the site. DO NOT get a site that you can't make changes to on your own. I'm a big fan of Joomla!, an open source content management system. Joomla! allows you to add, edit and modify your content easily. Other common platforms are Wordpress and Drupal. If you have to pay your web developer or learn a programming language to make changes to your site keep looking.

Ask about support. You will have questions as you grow your business and make sure that the developer you choose has the capabilities to grow with your business.

One last thing, as small business owners we are regularly looking to save money. Do not trust your website to someone who you wouldn't want to be representing your company in person. Your nephew may think he knows a lot about web design from the class he is taking in school. If web design/development is not his business, find someone else. Studies show that over 90% of your potential customers will get online to learn about your company prior to contacting you. Your web presence needs to create a positive and credible image for you.

To CMS or not CMS? What are some pros and cons to a content management system?

Choose a web developer that uses a CMS. Joomla! and Wordpress sites do not need to be expensive out of the gate, yet they will provide you with tremendous flexibility and ongoing development savings as your business expands. Choose a CMS that is commonly used though (such as Joomla!, Wordpress or Drupal). Avoid "home grown" or "in-house developed" CMS systems. Remember, you want flexibility and that may include the flexibility to choose a new web developer in the future.

What three things must a startup know about SEO?

1. There are NO guarantees. If a firm offers you guarantees run away.
2. SEO is an ongoing process. It is not a matter of simply entering key words and waiting. Content matters.
3. Google, Bing and the other search engines keep changing their algorithms to provide the best results to their customers. Do not try to beat the system - you will lose.

Can you really get sales from Twitter and Facebook?

To some extent it depends on your business, although the answer is almost always yes. Remember though that your primary goal with social media is to communicate, not to sell. By using social media to communicate with your audience you will better connect with them and establish yourself and your business as an expert in your industry. Use social media to get your prospects and customers to reach out to you, when they do that it is time to start selling.

One last thing. Social media is not an event. It is not something you do once and then forget. Your website and your social media presence need regular, ongoing input and work on your part.

Contact Jonathan Mast at jonathan@mmjtech.com for more information.

Stories from Huffington Post's Small Business America

2010-11-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Huffington Post recently launched Small Business America, a new blog where entrepreneurs can exchange ideas, get advice, and keep up with the latest small business news. Below are some of my favorite posts.

Band membership is good entrepreneurial training ground:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/03/pandora-founder-being-in-_n_778387.html

Flight attendant turned CEO:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeremy-shepherd/the-pearl-paradise-story_b_777181.html

The guy sells pens:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mit-entrepreneurship-review/jetpens-how-to-be-an-entr_b_774039.html

Bringing jobs to rural America:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-hytry-derrington/building-a-bulwark-agains_b_755002.html

INTERVIEW: Engineer > Career break > Ice Cream shop owner

2010-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Jim Ingram opened Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream seven years ago. A total 180 from his engineering career. Jim shares the why and how of his transition.

How did your career break come about?

I wasn’t one of those guys who hated working for someone else. I worked for a good telcom company with decent pay. Got my masters for free. I left at five every day and never took work home. It wasn’t bad. I did that for about 13 years. But one day I recall sitting in a meeting. I looked across the hall at a guy 25 years my senior. He worked at the same company for many years, probably doing pretty much the same thing day in and day out. He looked pretty beaten down. I didn’t want to be that guy in 25 years. While I was comfortable, I started to think that something was missing. It was like a dull ache. I thought I should push myself before it’s too late.

I took a director-level position with a tech startup. Going from a comfortable job to startup was a big risk. It crashed and burned after 18 months. After my layoff I went to the beach wondering, now what? I had essentially been working most of my adult life without a real break. I thought, how could I make this an opportunity? Travel was my first choice. I drove cross- country, coast to coast. I spent that summer living out of my car, camping or couch surfing and journaling. I didn’t think much about future during that time. As I was heading home I got a call from a buddy asking if I wanted to do another trip backpacking through Australia and New Zealand. That turned into another year of travel.

How was your reentry into the workforce?

My heart wasn’t in the job hunt. After all that time off, I thought about what I really wanted to do. I realized I had a chance to do something very different. I started to look out of the box. One day I was having breakfast with my dad. We were talking about his long run as an ice cream shop owner. It sounded like a fun business. It was also serendipitous. In an entrepreneur class I wrote a business plan to start an ice cream shop. So I had a rough plan and 40 years of real-life experience to tap into. My dad discouraged me at first but he came around. He said if you find a good location, go for it. That’s when another fateful incident occurred. I ran into a friend I hadn’t spoken to in years. She knew someone who was looking to rent the space I’m in now. It was perfect. Everything was lining up. I thought I’d give it five years. If it didn’t work, I could go back to engineering. I’ve been at it now for seven years.

Peoples’ careers are very much a part of their personal identities. How did you manage the “identity crisis” of a career transition?

I didn’t have much of a crisis. I did get a masters in engineering. I was going down corporate path pretty hard, and I did take it seriously, but I didn’t live to work. I didn’t work late or take work home. I actually work much harder and longer hours now owning my own business. I have to say the transition really wasn’t a problem for

How has your life improved since becoming an entrepreneur?

One thing I always tell people thinking about starting their own business: it’s a lifestyle. It’s so intertwined with your whole life. That’s why it’s so important to create an environment you enjoy. For my shop, summer is very busy. It’s fun but exhausting. The rest of the year it all balances out. It requires sacrifices, but that word sounds negative. The rewards so far outweigh the negatives. I take the month of January off. It’s sometimes tough to find a life/work balance, I’ll admit. But I try to remind myself of my Dad’s saying: I’m not going to work; I’m going to play.

Creativity is unlimited with owning your own business. If I have a cool idea, I can try it out the next day. You can’t always do that in a corporate gig.

An unexpected positive to my business is my connection to the community. People in town know me. Kids say there’s the ice cream man. It’s unexpectedly satisfying. I’m also creating jobs for high school kids. For some it’s their first job. The work habits they learn here will stay with them for their career.

Do you miss anything about your corporate gig?

I had a pension, health care, three or four weeks of vacation, and nights and weekends off. Those are the obvious perks. But one I didn’t think about was the social network built into working with a big company. When owning your own business you have to create your own social structure.

What advice do you have for someone considering:

A career break: If you get laid off, I recommend taking a break if you can manage it. It’s a great opportunity to do some things you can’t do on two weeks vacation. You can also decompress. You can view it as an open slate and look for opportunities.

An entrepreneurial venture: My dad’s biggest concern with my decision was, why throw it all away to become ice cream guy? What I’ve learned is that when you start your own business, nothing is a throw away. I was a supply chain engineer. That thought process in my old career works with how I deal with suppliers, vendors, and manage the numbers. I was also a shop supervisor. I found out how to find the good in people. My work experiences all became relevant in some way at the ice cream shop.

I also recommend viewing it as an adventure. There are a million reasons not to do something. There are another million reasons to do something. I didn’t want to look back on my life with regrets, wishing I had done something.

Talking to other people in the industry helps a great deal. I went to a local ice cream conference and spoke to vets in the industry. A lot of people helped me out. I’m willing to do the same.

What was your biggest obstacle when you started your business?

I bought the place in October seven years ago. I had to build out the kitchen and buy the equipment. I never worked a cash register. I had to learn everything from the ground up. I finally opened for business in the middle of winter. An ice cream shop in the winter. Needless to say there were a lot of lonely days. I certainly worried sometimes that it wouldn’t work out. But it was good in a way. It gave me a chance to work out kinks while it was quiet. When summer came around, I had more flavors and knew how to run things. Getting the word out took time, too. Word of mouth has been very helpful.

I’ll ask you the same question you ask others on your blog: What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?

It’s tough to call yourself a failure if you try and give it your all. It’s a life experience. You could define some things as a failure, but you don’t have to look at it that way.

Finally, why do people love Mt. Tom’s ice cream so much?

It ties to the philosophy of starting a business. How can you create something better than competitors? If you don’t have a good product, people won’t come back. I’d have to say my ice cream is really creamy and good to the palette. I try to add something unique to each flavor as well as come up with new flavors. I recently made maple bacon ice cream. A lot of people tried it, and tons of people talked about it. I also made Guinness ice cream for St. Patrick’s Day.

People also like the experience. In an era where you can buy just about anything on-line, I think it's never been more important to foster the 'experience' aspects of your business. Someone once told me as ice cream shop owners, we're selling 'memories'. I clearly and fondly remember going to the local old-fashioned
candy store when I was a kid. If I'm able to create a memory or two like that with my shop, I will have succeeded beyond my greatest expectations.

INTERVIEW: Serendipity and sports cars with Robin Hood Rally's Kevin Sweeney

2010-10-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

Kevin Sweeney, VP of Business Development with The Robin Hood Rally always loved motor racing. He never dreamed a casual business lunch would lead to a partnership with a road racing reality show. Kevin shares the how and why behind his involvement with a startup as well as tips to help others follow their out-of-the-blue opportunity.

What were you doing before Robin Hood Rally?

After graduating college, I joined an entertainment company as a tax accountant. Within six months I was miserable. I decided to do some temp work. What was supposed to be a three-week assignment turned into an eight-year career in finance at Cadbury Schweppes. I then joined a marketing division of CBS as their lone finance guy. It was exciting to be a part of a major television network. Our whole department had TVs in our cubicles so we could watch “our product” during the day.

After two years there the company was purchased by Viacom. I left to join a regional recruiting firm in lower Connecticut to do something much more entrepreneurial – headhunting! I am still at the firm after 12 years. On the side I’m one of the co-creators of the Robin Hood Rally along with Stephan Condodemetraky, (Creator and Exec. Producer, Michael Ferrier, CFO, and Steven Higley, VP of Operations).

Why did you decide to help build Robin Hood Rally?

I have been passionate about motor racing since I was a kid. I grew up in the Toronto, Ontario area, and my Dad was an avid racing fan. My parents are British and my Dad spent a lot of his youth watching many motorsports legends race in England, including Juan Fangio, John Surtees and Mike Hawthorne. Needless to say, I was brainwashed early in life and have amazing memories going to F1, Can Am and many other road racing series at Mosport racing circuit near Toronto. I always wanted to get into the motorsports business at some level. I had an opportunity to work for Skip Barber in sales, but the salary was prohibitive and would have required relocation. I sought other opportunities along the way, but nothing panned out. However, I didn’t lose my belief that something good would happen if I kept looking.

About two years ago, I received an automated email from Stephan about The Lime Rock Club, a motor sports project he had helped build. I called him and we decided to meet for lunch. He shared his idea about the Robin Hood Rally and I was hooked. I knew I could help build this and it was the entrepreneurial opportunity I had dreamed about. We believed from day one that we could make it work. We knew that nobody had ever tried, nor succeeded, in pulling off a concept like this in the U.S.

Would you consider your current job a career reinvention?

I would certainly classify this venture as a major career change, but also an extension of who I am. I have always had an entrepreneurial spark and knew I could not let this opportunity pass by without putting my heart and soul into it. Stephan, Michael and Steven never wavered in making this idea become reality and I truly feel blessed to have such incredible business partners and friends. We have poured thousands and thousands of hours to make this happen and have been unrelenting in our execution and belief.

Creating and funding a reality show in shaky times is pretty risky to say the least. Despite the obvious stress, why would you rather be doing what you’re doing instead of a corporate gig?

I have done the “corporate gig” for many years. It was a great experience and I learned a lot about what it takes to successfully build and maintain a business and relationships. I have always wanted my own business, but so many of the business models via franchising, etc. were pre-built by someone else with their own vision and passion. I wanted to help create something that has never been done before. We have had many naysayers along the way, which only pushed us harder to succeed. I knew this my shot and I was going to make it work with my business partners no matter what. I have sacrificed a lot of time with my wife and son over the past couple of years, but now that the show is taking hold, they have been able to spend a lot more time with me and be a big part of the excitement. My wife has a good business mind and has also helped keep me grounded throughout this process. My family has been so supportive and I’m very grateful.

Looking back on your transition, what would you have done differently?

Since this is our first foray into producing a TV show, everything was new. We learned so much OTF (one of my newly acquired acronyms in the TV world) “on the fly.” Not only were we involved in production meetings, camera shoots, interviews and the creative process, we also had to contend with the massive logistical issues of getting 55 participants with their racing trailers, families, etc. to each of our racing sites. We planned and executed as best as we could, given our very small team. It really is hard to say what we would have done differently since everything was new to us.

Many of my readers/followers are contemplating an entrepreneurial venture. Business development will be a necessary component to their work. Can you offer any tips/best practices when it comes to drumming up business?

After 12+ years in the headhunting business identifying top finance talent for my clients, one must have a system that works for them to bring in new business. I would recommend “relentless consistency” as one my keys to gaining new business. There are millions of written gems that one can use to motivate themselves and others. I like what John D. Rockefeller said, “the secret to success is to do the common things uncommonly well.” You must embrace networking and gaining new contacts because you never know who might know someone that can help you. You also have to be willing to help others throughout your journey. I believe that is one of the primary reasons we are on this earth.

Speaking of business development, what’s next for Robin Hood Rally?

We have come a very long way in a very short period of time, and gained some incredible relationships and learning. This has allowed us to take our project to the next level and engage with some big players in the entertainment industry. We are feeling even more confident that our show and concept will make it to a major TV network. We also have a number of other projects in the pipeline that will work well with our business model. We have now become growing production company and have a better handle on how to incubate new projects. We’ve built a foundation that gives us greater flexibility and the ability move much faster and efficiently with new ideas.

Be sure to read our earlier interview with The Robin Hood Rally's Michael Ferrier.

INTERVIEW: Part two with anti-resume career coach Angela Lussier

2010-10-11T06:02:00.000-07:00

Angela Lussier is an award-winning speaker, author of the Seth Godin recommended book The Anti-Resume Revolution and chief creative career consultant/owner of 365 Degrees Consulting in Springfield, MA. Her advice can be found on Yahoo!, NBC, ABC, The Ladders, and in many career and business books. Speaking engagements and clients include TEDx, Boeing, MassMutual, Comcast, UMass, Westfield State University, and many others.

Below is part two of Angela's interview. She shares success stories of her clients, her take on sabbaticals and career reinvention, and her own Quitter to Winner moment.

How do you guide someone with multiple – and unrelated – passions and interests?

It’s not as hard as it sounds! Often times, what looks like a mish-mash of random skills can actually be turned into an interesting pitch for quite a few jobs! For example, I worked with a client who worked in sales and marketing in the casino and hotel industry for quite a few years. He also worked part-time at a nursing home and animal shelter. Before his work in the hospitality industry, he was a healthcare recruiter. At first glance, this looks like none of it goes together – until we realized that he would be a great candidate for a high level position in an upscale retirement community. He had all the skills for the job, and brought in an interesting perspective from the hospitality field. The key was in how we pitched his skills and telling the story about why he would be more of an asset to the company than the people who were coming directly from a similar position. It worked, and he loves the job.

Can you give an example of someone you’ve worked with that’s now doing exactly what they want? What was their process like?

I was working with a journalist in western Massachusetts who wanted to move to Washington DC. She was quickly learning that strictly being a writer for a newspaper wasn’t going to put her in the running for many of the higher tech jobs. She took on a multi-media role at the paper and started producing videos for their website. She did a ton of networking and built herself a website with her video clips, articles, and resume. With her new experience, she was able to land a job as a producer at a television production company in the heart of Washington, DC. She is now not only producing, but creating many written materials for the company as well with her strong journalism background. While her journalism experience alone wouldn’t have landed her the job, the fact that she coupled it with a cutting edge skill is what made her a competitive candidate with an edge.

What advice do you have for someone considering a career reinvention after working in the same job for 20+ years?

My first piece of advice would be to make sure you are thinking about the big picture, not just the allure of a change. After 20 or more years at the same place, you get used to the benefits, the perks, the rapport with co-workers and management; you may start to gain flexibility as a reward for your commitment. You have accrued many weeks of vacation, sick days, a pension, a retirement plan, a solid and reliable paycheck that may continue to grow, a commute you can do with your eyes closed, etc. In my experience, when I see a professional get to the end of his/her rope and want to quit and do something else, these are all the elements that often go unconsidered. Don’t forget that when you start over, there will be a lot of changes in your life that you may have not had to think about in a long time. The emotional charge that comes from greener pastures may make you overlook the most obvious stress of a complete lifestyle change, so make sure you are considering all of the elements and not just job responsibilities!

What’s your take on the growing popularity of career breaks and sabbaticals?

I think they’re great if they’re thought through. I learned the most about myself when I decided to run my business part-time for 4 months. Even though I was still working, going from working 60 hours/week to 15 was a huge change and gave me a chance to re-evaluate the way I was living. I completely re-prioritized and cut out many initiatives I wasn’t seeing clearly. I think this time is critical for anyone who wants to take stock in their past decisions, present dreams, and future goals. It does wonders to step back and take a break. I also highly recommend going away (even if it’s just an hour away) for at least a few weeks. It does wonders for perspective.

Have you ever left a job without a traditional backup plan? How did you navigate that move?

I did. I should say that I did this because I knew that the consequences would be small and the risk was relatively low. I quit my full-time recruiting job to start my career consulting business without any backup income streams because of the low overhead and lack of financial responsibilities. I lived alone, paid off my car, had no kids, and knew there was a huge market for the work I was offering. It made sense to do at the time, but I rarely recommend that other people do that, unless they’re living in their parent’s basement and have a great idea!

Part One INTERVIEW: anti-resume career consultant Angela Lussier

2010-10-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Angela Lussier is an award-winning speaker, author of the Seth Godin recommended book The Anti-Resume Revolution and chief creative career consultant/owner of 365 Degrees Consulting in Springfield, MA. Her advice can be found on Yahoo!, NBC, ABC, The Ladders, and in many career and business books. Speaking engagements and clients include TEDx, Boeing, MassMutual, Comcast, UMass, Westfield State University, and many others.

Below is part one of Angela's two-part interview about discovering the right career path.

Before we start, quickly explain your anti-resume theory.

The term “anti-resume” means being unique in the way you approach your job search. Rather than relying on one document to determine your future, you create strategic relationships, build a brand for yourself, craft a vision with achievable goals, and do it all in a way that feels right for you. The anti-resume mindset is all about saying no to the old template of following a linear path and creating a future you want, based on who you are and where you are going.

Many of my readers comment/tweet about not wanting, but needing a career change. Is this a signal to make a move fast, or simply time for a vacation? (Or both?)

It definitely varies. I have come across many people who like their job, but don’t like their boss. Others love the mission of the company, but don’t feel respected or appreciated. Some are in the right position, but in the wrong industry. To give an umbrella answer to this question that applies differently for everyone, I would say to first diagnose the main problem that is causing the unhappiness. Underpaid? Too many hours? Long commute? Angry co-workers? Whatever the main problem is, can it be addressed without leaving the job and simply coming up with creative solutions? If not, then now is the time to look at what job responsibilities/fields/locations would be best for what is most important to you.

While some may dislike their job, quitting may not be an option for various reasons. What advice do you have for someone in such a bind?

Assign a fixed number of hours each week to be spent on career exploration. For example, dedicate five hours per week to exploring other career options. This could include setting up informational interviews, taking a class, reading books about career options, meeting with a career or life coach, going to events & seminars, or other methods of research. If you are actively learning about what else is out there while building relationships and keeping track of what you are encountering, it will make each hour of work you do at the job you don’t like much more bearable. It’s about seeing the light at the end of the tunnel by finding the opportunities you might miss if you don’t go and look for them.

“Working for yourself” might sound great when you’re burned out, or can’t stand your boss. How do you help someone figure out if entrepreneurship really is the right next step?

Do it while you’re still employed. This answer is similar to the last one. Dedicate a fixed number of hours per week to building your business. If you straight out quit your job and rely on your income from a new business, you may want to kiss your home, and car, and food, goodbye. First year earnings for a new business are typically low and probably won’t match whatever your cushy full-time job was offering. Instead of creating a panic situation for yourself, see if you can cut back on your hours or get more flexible hours so you can start to build your business while employed. If that’s not an option, try to work in key networking events and meetings during your lunch hour or before your day starts. It will be tricky to schedule everything in the beginning. However you’ll get an idea of whether or not there is a market. You’ll also learn how much you actually enjoy the service or craft you are thinking about going into (before giving up what you already have).

What can someone who’s never worked with a career/life coach expect?

Clarity, a renewed sense of enthusiasm, attainable goals, new ideas, creative solutions, a partner in crime, to name a few! Clients have come to me to figure out their brand, come up with ideas for jobs they would be good at, creative marketing ideas to stand out from their competition, or simply to talk about the rejection they have been facing and how to turn it into a learning experience. It is different for everyone, but I’d say the main service we offer is to keep our clients moving in the right direction, while remaining cognizant of their passion, fear, and concerns.

Be sure to check out Angela's free resources for job seekers.

INTERVIEW: Eco-designer Metal Wood Common Good

2010-09-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

Here's an interview I did with eco-friendly furniture designer Metal Wood Common Good I did for another blog at a previous job. But I thought his story works well for Quitter to Winner.

How did your studio in Springfield come about?

I developed a business plan to create a remodeling and building company that would use only recycled materials as part of my coursework for STCC’s Associates in Entrepreneurship. At the same time, I won an Entrepreneurial Spirit Award through the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. My story was in all the local papers. That’s how the Gasoline Alley Foundation on Albany Street heard about me. They were working on a business plan to create a furniture company that uses recycled and abandoned materials. They asked me to work with them on their recycled furniture project. I've been at Gasoline Alley for about a year.

Tell us about Metal | Wood | Common Good’s philosophy.

MWCG is a functional art, furniture manufacturing and artist co-op. Our pieces are made entirely with reused materials. We follow the triple bottom line methodology, which values people and the planet as well as profit. In addition to taking building materials out of the waste stream, we work with local inner city kids and teach them a trade. We also provide the community with an affordable alternative to buying new furniture or having to pay over-priced contractor rates. We reinvest profits into the business and Gasoline Alley to help create a space in Springfield that promotes positive energy and a young entrepreneurial spirit.

How does your shop work?

We’re located right next to ReStore. That’s where we get all of our materials to make countertops, tables, kitchen islands and cabinets as well as for restoration work. As of right now MWCG is a one-man operation. However, local artists help out when needed, and I’m always looking for local collaborations.

Where can people buy your work?

We have an Etsy store and roadside sales on most Saturdays. You can also visit the shop Tuesday through Saturday from 10 to 5. You can buy something already made or request a custom order.

Have you made furniture for other Springfield-based businesses?

We’ve made custom counter tops and cabinets for Six Point Creative. But we’re open for new challenges!

What other plans and initiatives are on deck for MWCG?

We’re making some big changes to our shop. We’re bringing representatives from the local farm workers’ union to help us teach inner city kids the building trade. We’ve expanded our space to allow for more room for the kids to have a nice spot to hang out, work, and learn a good skill. We’re also working with ReStore to build a custom kitchen island for their booth in the Spring Home Show. In addition we’re building a custom desk for a recording studio in Boston, and preparing for spring and summer trade and craft shows.

INTERVIEW: Small biz PR whiz Michael Kusek

2010-09-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Since 1992, Michael Kusek has provided marketing/public relations, strategic planning, branding and event management consulting to a portfolio of national and regional organizations and businesses. He spoke with Quitter to Winner about how start-ups can maximize the PR efforts to boost their profile and bottom line.

PR is a great way for a new small business/entrepreneur to get the word out. Why do so few take advantage of it?

If you’re just starting out, PR can be a very cost effective way to let your local market know who you are, what you provide and what differentiates you from the competition. Unfortunately, many people have a narrow view of public relations. They only think in terms of getting picked up by the big three: TV, radio, and daily newspapers.

Of course if you think your story would interest these producers/editors, by all means, pitch away. But small businesses should also add social media into the mix. Facebook, Twitter, and blogging are all more accessible than mainstream media. They also allow businesses to craft messages directly to their audience on a regular basis. That’s not always easy to accomplish if you’re only navigating the big three.

Say an entrepreneur just opened shop. What kinds of PR opportunities would you consider “low-hanging fruit”?

1. Reporters are looking for positive business stories. In a bad economy, there’s a glut of downer stories. Reporters are hungry for an “inspirational” or feel good business story.

2. Reach out to your local weekly or monthly publications. Start building long-term relationships with editors and writers from these outlets. They’ll be more likely to cover your future stories about the opening of your second store, the hiring of your 50th employee, or a big new contract.

3. Network. Go to local special events or seminars. Nail down your elevator pitch and carry plenty of business cards. Also, you might run into a local reporter. Introduce yourself. They may not be interested in talking to you for the story they’re covering, but they might want to talk to you for a piece down the road.

Give us an example of a PR campaign you put together for a small business.

Infinity Music Hall & Bistro were opening their doors in a very small Connecticut town in a formerly abandoned building. Not what one would call a recipe for a happening place. But they had a great story to tell from several different angles. We looked at all the elements of the story and thought, how can we make the story resonate with different types of writers in a variety of media outlets? We reached out to arts writers, business writers, and travel bloggers. We pitched stories to the small town papers, the regional daily media, radio, TV. We created a buzz about a place people would want to check out, but a business that the community would root for and support. The space is doing great. Their calendar is packed.

How have you used social media in your PR campaigns?

I use social media as a good extension of word-of-mouth advertising. I also funnel any publicity into the stream, or trumpet good news about the business. Some might argue that it can be more of a PR tool, but to me it’s about friends talking to friends.

In your opinion, what local business maximizes their PR opportunities?

Jackson & Connor is a modern clothing boutique for men in Northampton. I helped them develop and manage their PR campaign when they opened a little over two years ago. Since then, Tara and Candace have taken the PR bull by the horns. They’ve been very creative about telling their story from every angle. They were profiled as a woman-owned business, for their charitable work, and unique promotions. They’ve also been very smart with how they use social media. As a result of their efforts, they’ve gained a loyal following, and are considered the final word on fashion for men in the Valley. I’ve seen some new businesses open shop, get an announcement in the paper, then…crickets. That’s not the case for these ladies.

What are some common PR do’s and don’ts for new small businesses?

Do’s

1. Become a good news source for journalists. They’ll be more likely to run your future stories, or cite you as an expert in your field.

2. Provide enough information. The more fleshed out the story the better. Think like a big business. Create a press kit with photos and relevant background material.

3. Write a history/background for your business. An “about your company” paragraph at the bottom of a press release is often very helpful to writers.

4. Take quality, professional photos of yourself and the business. Photos on your phone don’t count. Make sure you have them ready to send electronically to the reporter.

5. Keep files of news stories, preferably on your website. This offers journalists a point of reference of what’s been said – or not said – about your business.

Don’ts

1. Don’t make things difficult for reporters. That includes not returning calls and emails, or not providing enough detail or contact information.

2. Don’t send out press releases willy-nilly. No one likes too many emails, especially reporters. Only pitch a compelling, relevant story. Think strategically before you hit send.

3. Don’t hound reporters. It’s ok to be persistent, but aggressive follow-ups aren’t a wise move. You have to keep in mind that not every story is a winner. Plus all newsrooms have dramatically cut staff. They may have received your release but are too busy to respond right away.

4. Don’t hem and haw with bad publicity. Deal with it head on. Look how BP and Toyota handled their scandals. The story will go away faster if you come clean from the get go. Explain what went wrong, why it went wrong, and how you’re going to resolve the issue.

INTERVIEW: How to turn passion into profit with Travis Smith

2010-09-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

Collector, designer and author Travis Smith tells us how he turned his passion for mid-century modern design into a 20-year-long career.

I guess I'll start with the obvious: how did you turn your passion for mid-century design into a job?

I began collecting vintage modern back in the early 80s when it was still called "junk." Then it went to being called "retro," and now "mid century modern." Back then I did not know what it was or why I even was drawn to it. I just knew I instinctively loved the design aesthetic from the period of the 50s through the 70s.

In the early days this stuff was filling up the local thrift stores for pennies! Nobody knew what it was or that it had any value. All of the office buildings in town were updating their look and donating their "old" furniture to the Good Will and Salvation Army stores. What I eventually would discover is that this "old" furniture was in fact iconic designs by some of our most famous 20th Century designers.

So it was not uncommon back then to walk into a thrift store and find furniture designed by Charles Eames, Harry Bertoia, Eero Saarinen, George Nelson, and others. I remember finding a thrift store in South Phoenix that had a back yard with stuff piled up. There was this huge heap of Diamond Chairs by Bertoia, plus dozens of his dining chairs and tables. I bought the entire lot for $100!

And while I did not quite know it at the time, that was my introduction to becoming a "vintage modern dealer." As my "collection" grew so did my need for storage. Soon I was renting two large storage units to house all of this stuff. At the time I was working at an interior design showroom as their visual merchandiser and doing sales. I liked my job, but I was becoming increasingly passionate about my newfound love for "retro junk."

And then one weekend I visited L.A. with some buddies. It was there that I discovered the hipster area called Melrose. I remember seeing my first retro furniture store and looking into the window display with all of the same kinds of stuff I had been collecting - and then I looked at the price tags. Oh my God, there was a market for this stuff?!! I walked in and introduced myself to the owner and asked him if he would be interested in buying from me on a "wholesale" basis. He did indeed. And right then and there I became what’s known in the vintage industry as a "Picker." And I never looked back.

What were you doing before you started your own thing?

Well like most things, my career in mid-century modern evolved in stages. When I first became a "picker" I had a full-time job at the interior design showroom.

Did you have to work a "real job" while you got your own business up and running? If so, how long did you have to juggle both?

I kept my job for a few months but I was frustrated and wanted to be picking/selling vintage full time. I finally quit that job and devoted myself to mid-century full time. I did that for about a year while living in Phoenix, and then I visited a buddy in Washington DC for a vacation. While there, I met two guys who were about to open one of the first retro furniture stores in DC called Retrospective. They ended up hiring me as the store manager, and without hesitation I moved to DC and waved goodbye to my life in Phoenix where I had grown up.

After moving to DC in 88, and opening Retrospective, I would embark on one of the most rewarding and exciting times of my life. This period was the beginning of the "Mid-Century Modern" movement - and we were on the cutting edge of it all. It felt so validating to be finally working in an environment that suited all of my loves and talents - and the store was immediately successful. We really were some of the first "pioneers" of that retail concept and it was quite gratifying to become so successful so quickly. I would end up working there for four years before I would strike out on my own again.

I then opened my own store called Good Eye, which I ran with my partner at that time for ten years. Hard work and many hours but it was very rewarding to own my own store and be doing what I loved and believed in.

Did you have any regrets in the beginning?

Nope. I listened to my heart and followed it - when you do that you will ultimately be successful whatever you end up doing in life. Very simple: Do what you love.

You've parlayed your interest and expertise in modern design into a varied career. What else have you done besides open a store?

I continued to freelance as a visual merchandiser on the side and for a while, had about a dozen retail stores as my accounts where I did their window displays, etc. I also parlayed this into interior design, and eventually designed 12 nightclubs around the country as well as residences - all of my passions continued to feed off of each other and kept creating new career opportunities for me.

Designed nightclubs?!

Yes, while living in D.C. I was working at Retrospective when this guy literally jogged into the shop. He asked me about a 1940s sofa and chair grouping we had for sale - he wanted to know if we could find six of these sets for him? I said yes, that was possible - was he working on some kind of commercial design project?

He told me about his plans to open a themed billiards club, which would be part bar, part coffee house. I thought the concept was brilliant and started giving him design ideas. He told me that he was impressed with my ideas and asked me if I would be interested in designing the club for him. YES!!! Of course I was interested!

I ended up designing about a dozen clubs for him - all with different themes - Buffalo Billiards, Car Pool, Havana Lounge, Continental Pool Lounge, etc. including locations in Philly, Nashville, and Austin: http://bedrockbars.com/ Very rewarding and fun work. And you are probably seeing a pattern emerge here - by following my initial dream, I put myself out there to receive other opportunities to come my way - that continue to expand that dream and help it grow in other directions.

You also wrote a book - "Kitschmasland!" - how did that come about?

I had a dealer booth at a Modernism show in NYC - an Editor from Schiffer Books stopped by and out of the blue asked me if I had ever thought about writing a book. I told him, as a matter of fact I had. He asked me what kind of book. The first thing that popped out of my mouth was a Christmas book. I think he was quite surprised as he thought I would want to do something on vintage modern. But one of my collecting passions has always been holiday decor from the 50s through the 70s, so it seemed like a natural for me.

My former partner, Skip Przywara did all the photography on the book and it turned out really beautiful. It is a coffee table book with over 400 photos and descriptions of all the vintage Holiday stuff I love and collect - ornaments, trees, Santas, etc. Plus we shot mid-century modern homes decorated for the holidays with all vintage décor. I think it turned out super cool. It is still in print and available on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Kitschmasland-Christmas-Through-Schiffer-Collectors/dp/0764323563

Do you have any other books in the works?

Yes, I am working on one right now but it is top-secret. Stay tuned.

What advice would you give someone thinking about turning their passion into profit?

I'll just repeat my mantra: Do what you love. I'm not saying there won't be any obstacles or hard work, but it will be completely rewarding because you are following your heart and dreams and the payoff will be huge.

What's next for you?

My best friend and new business partner, Chris Bale, and I just launched a niche Facebook page called Modern Bear - devoted to the gay bear community (and the people who love them). It combines my love of modern design with bear lifestyle tips, pop culture, and a little beefcake thrown in haha. We are also working on a book based on this same concept. And hope to eventually offer a line of Modern Bear products! This time of my life reminds me of the late 80s - very exciting and feeling like we are on the "cutting edge." I'm in my zone again and I can't stop smiling.

INTERVIEW: How to Network with Career Coach Val Nelson

2010-09-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Val Nelson is a Career and Business Coach based in Northampton, Massachusetts. She helps people bring their superpowers and their hearts to work so they can have more clarity, more ease, and more impact. She specializes in helping introverts mobilize their unique strengths. She provides tips on her blog at www.valnelson.com.

Val spoke with Quitter to Winner about the art of networking.

Why do you think people are resistant to the idea of networking?

Most people I talk to have very low confidence in their networking. They struggle to understand what to do for networking, and they often think they are bad at it. Their lack of confidence in it even stops them from learning how to do it. Ironically, once they understand what effective networking really is, they usually become much more relaxed.

There are some people who think they know how to network effectively but then their results still aren't what they would hope. If it's not working, they are probably trying to network using some old-school (pushy, "salesy") method that doesn't work in today's world.

What are the main do's and don'ts of networking?

1. Be authentic! Don't put on a mask or try to be something you're not. Fakeness doesn't work.
2. Listen and ask questions to learn more about the person you're speaking to. When you respond, speak to their needs and how you might be able to help, if possible.
3. Be helpful. Even if you can't help them, refer them to someone else if possible. You'll be remembered by both parties.
4. Speak from the heart. Hopefully you're passionate about what you're offering so speak from that place -- so that it's obvious you care and that your work makes a real difference. That's the person that gets remembered. (If you're not passionate about what you're doing, get help from a career coach to resolve that.)
5. Follow-up and stay connected. So many people skip this step that you'll stand out if you do it. If there's a big interest, set up a meeting. If no interest is clear, touch base at a minimum by connecting on LinkedIn. It might be a year later that they'll refer someone to you, but only if you've stayed on their radar.

Can you offer any tips for networking on Facebook and Twitter?

Same philosophy applies there: Be authentic. Listen and ask questions. Be helpful. Speak from the heart. Follow-up. The #1 key to online networking is connecting your online and offline networking, as I described in more detail on my blog.

Your upcoming workshop focuses on networking for wallflowers and introverts. Can you give us a preview of some tips and topics covered?

For starters, I'm going to help people understand what networking is and isn't. It's so misunderstood! We tend to picture pushy salespeople working the room to get tons of business cards. That doesn't work, so you can let go of trying to be anything like that!

Then I'll help folks find the overlap between effective networking and what they actually enjoy!

I'll also help people understand what introversion really is. And I'll help them tap into their introvert strengths (such as listening) to become great networkers.

When people understand what effective networking is, and what introversion is, they often start to think that introverts might actually be better at networking than extroverts!

Then I'll help participants create their own unique networking plan, including with the help of a workbook and an individual follow-up session with me.

When I held this workshop a few months ago, I captured some of what the participants learned in this post: http://www.valnelson.com/introvert-power/networking-secrets-from-an-ex-wallflower/

Here's where folks can learn more or register for my workshop:
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/794450222/mketix/6098846157

What are your networking recommendations for those thinking about a career reinvention?

1. You CAN make a transition, even in a down economy! Actually, you often HAVE to make a transition when the economy is changing. Make sure you choose wisely. Consider seeing a career coach to make sure you're on the right path before you waste time.
2. Make sure you have chosen a new direction that you're passionate about, because people will notice that passion and pay attention. Being on the right path for you not only makes you happier, it's also the way to get noticed!
3. Much of your networking is probably about exploration of possible directions. Let yourself be in exploration mode. It's OK not to have all the answers about what you're doing. It's OK to say "I'm exploring..."
4. If you're asking for informational interviews, respect that people have limited time but trust that they like to help. Ask for a specific amount of time and tell them the questions you'd like to ask. The more specific you are, the easier it is for them to say yes or to refer you to someone more appropriate.

Tell us the meaning behind your black swan logo, which I hear is relevant to this topic.

When I first saw a black swan, I was so struck that I had to stop and pay attention, because it was so unique, so unexpected. Yet, it was just sitting there, quietly on a pond. The message of the black swan is that if you are uniquely You, you will have the impact you want, in a way that is easy or even quiet.

From that inspiration, I created what I call my Black Swan Formula for success: More You = More Ease = More Impact.

In other words, the more you let people see your unique self, the easier it will be on you, AND the more impact you'll have!

I find this gives my coaching clients hope and guidance. So, you can see the swan means a lot to me.

How can people reach you for more information?

They can learn more about me, my work, and these ideas at http://www.valnelson.com. They can also contact me via my website. I offer free sample sessions so people can see if coaching might be useful for them. I provide both career coaching and business coaching, which means I help anyone get more clarity and more impact in their work.

Quitter to Winner named "Favorite Blog"

2010-09-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Briefcase to Backpack for naming Quitter to Winner their Favorite Blog. Here's the write up:

We recently discussed how many career breakers remain in the “career break closet” – keeping their upcoming travel plans from friends, family, and especially colleagues and bosses. Some spend months, if not years, planning their escape, but are afraid to share the news too soon out of fear of losing their jobs – much like Keith & Amy Sutter. “We could not afford, either financially or professional, for word of our plans to leak back to our companies before we were ready.”

Quitting can be difficult for anyone, especially career breakers. Doubts can seep in as you start to question your decision. Hearing others stories of quitting can make it that much easier, and now you can on “Quitter to Winner”, a resource for those quitting their job for a career break, sabbatical, entrepreneurial venture or new gig.

The blog was started by Michael Sjostedt, who noticed that “over the last few years people held onto jobs they weren’t satisfied with. But recent stats show that more and more workers are voluntarily leaving their gigs for yet-to-be-determined opportunities.

Job burnout certainly plays a role in the trend. Some might have a little red devil on their shoulders who whispers ‘life’s too short.’ Others have the hutzpa to strike out on their own, thinking they can crack the ‘earn more, work less’ algorithm.

Everyone’s got a reason and a story. I’m curious to learn why people jumped, how they navigated the free fall, and if they succeeded.”

You can read stories like Alice Gray and Lyon Graulty, who are taking several months off between jobs to bike the West Coast and raise money for Posada Esperanza, an Austin-based shelter for immigrant women and their children. Or James Morgan, who talks about his difficult transition from a teaching career into architectural woodworking. And Ryan Fuller and his wife, Jen, who got burnt out from their high-pressure consulting jobs and are now in rehab: via extended vacation in Argentina.

And be sure to visit their Facebook Fan Page and Twitter as Michael features inspiring career-related stories, blogs, and job boards from around the web.

INTERVIEW: Career Breakers Coastingnow.blogspot.com

2010-08-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

CoastingNow is the career break journal for Alice Gray and Lyon Graulty. They're taking several months off between jobs to bike the West Coast and raise money for Posada Esperanza, an Austin-based shelter for immigrant women and their children. Here they talk about what prompted them to take a break on bikes.

What made you both decide to leave your jobs (and Western Mass) for a career break bike trip?

Alice: I'm originally from Austin, Texas. While I love Western Mass, I've always missed home and my family. Austin has changed so much since I left when I was 18. I want to be a part of the growing art, cycling, film and music scenes. As for the cycling trip, that was an idea that always lived in my mind, but one I never thought possible. When we decided a year ago to move, we racked our brains trying to think of a zany, fun way to spend our time between jobs, between apartments, between cities. I kept hearing about friends of friends who were going on insanely long cycling trips. The thought excited and inspired me. The West Coast is one of the more popular touring destinations for cyclists, and I've never been to California, so it just developed from there.

Lyon: I've lived in Western Massachusetts all my life and I've been in bands for nearly half of it. Over that time, I've been lucky enough to enjoy the support of a loving family and a great group of friends and musicians. I have been fairly successful as a part-time musician and have been employed as an audio editor at More Than Sound since early 2008. So why leave this steady job that allows me the freedom to pursue my musical career? I didn't want to become complacent and too comfortable in my life. This move is a challenge to myself to go somewhere different, make new connections and have new experiences. But this move is less about turning my back on my friends and family as it is about extending the network that they form. The bike tour is an extension of this desire for a challenging experience that will at times be uncomfortable, but will also offer exhilarating rewards.

How long have you been prepping for the trip?

Alice: We can trace the original spark for the idea back to a coffee shop in Burlington, Vermont where, on a cold January morning, we met a waiter who was about to quit his job and fly to Arizona with his bike. His plan was to ride all the way to Vancouver, which made my jaw drop. That night I created the blog, Coasting, and wrote my first entry, but didn't share it with anyone (except Lyon) for quite a while. Since then, we've been making small steps towards preparing for the cycling tour, and recording our progress on our blog.

Lyon: When we first got the idea, I was a bit hesitant because we are not expert cyclists by any means. I am a commuter biker that will occasionally go out for longer rides, so the cycle of six weeks of biking/camping/biking/camping/etc. seemed a bit daunting. It still seems a bit crazy, but we have been slowly getting prepared for it since the winter.

Tell us about the fund raising aspect of your trip. Do you have a monetary goal?

Alice: It seemed natural once we had decided to embark on our ridiculously long cycling trip, to pair our efforts up with a local organization. When I was in high school I volunteered at an Austin-based shelter for immigrant women and children called Posada Esperanza. I knew that any money we raised for them would go far. Lyon was familiar with the organization too since for the past couple of years we'd been donating a little money on each Mother's Day to Posada (and in exchange they send our mothers a card).

Lyon: We are hoping to raise a dollar for every mile we travel on our bikes. (It is about 1000 miles from Seattle to San Francisco.)

What are your plans after your trip?

Alice: Good question! Immediately after the trip we are driving to Louisiana for a music festival that some of Lyon's friends are playing in. Long-term, however, is a bit fuzzy. We'll stay with my family in Austin while we recover from the trip, and look for jobs and a place to live. I plan on using that limbo time to explore things I always think I don't have time for; learning how to sew, reading and writing more, finishing some film projects I started, learning how to play the accordion. And then there's salsa dancing! I love to salsa dance and I'll need to find the cool places to go for that in Austin.

Lyon: I am looking forward to being in Austin and enjoying the vibrant music scene. I am hoping to meet up with some good players and play as much as I can.

Alice and Lyon will periodically check in with Quitter to Winner while "on the road."

Visit http://coastingnow.blogspot.com/ to check in their Alice and Lyon on the road and to support their fundraiser.

Business Week Interview: Career Reinvention

2010-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

In today's tumultuous workforce, flexible talents, skill sets and a willingness to change means job security. Best-selling author and Business Week columnist Marshall Goldsmith talks with The Reinvention Institute's Pamela Mitchell on how to effectively transform careers.

You say that in today's marketplace, the old concepts of career change don't work. Why is that?

Over the past several decades, the pace of business cycles has sped up considerably. Cradle-to-grave employment is a thing of the past. Within the space of a decade, what's been considered to be a good field for jobs can disappear. Take a look at the phenomenon of outsourcing, which has decimated U.S.-based opportunities for many industries, like software programming. Or consider the media field. With traditional revenue models struggling and new technologies competing for audience attention, newspapers are trying to find new niches to replace lost profits.

How do you cope with these factors? Career change has tended to focus on typical job transitions—strategies for climbing to the next level of seniority within your organization or moving to a similar position within the same industry. But what do you do when your company is reducing headcount and opportunities in your field are disappearing?

Great point. How is career reinvention different from career change? In this day and age, the ability to reinvent yourself—to recombine your skills, talents, and experience to move between job functions, departments, or industries—is the new form of job security. More than just repackaging your background, career reinvention involves changing your assumptions about how your career will evolve. It means being prepared to take advantage of new opportunities by developing your skill sets with a strategic eye toward emerging business models.

That sounds great for someone who is new to his career, but what about if you've been working for 10 or more years in the same field? Is still possible to reinvent your career when all your experience has been in the same industry?

This is one of the most common questions we get! Yes, it is possible; in fact, we have a number of clients who have made successful switches after long careers in a particular industry.

That said, it is crucial that people understand that career reinvention is not an easy process. I like to draw the analogy that switching between job functions or industries is similar to moving to a foreign country. To be successful in your new land you'd have to learn the local language and familiarize yourself with its customs and cultural expectations. The same is true when you want to move to new career territory. To bridge the divide between your old and new careers, you need to learn the language and customs of your new field…and decide what to bring along from your former job.

If someone with 10 or 20 years of experience is leaving a field, that's a huge loss of talent for their organization. How does the trend toward career reinvention affect companies?

Over the next 5 to 10 years, as boomers retire and the available pool of workers shrinks, companies will be forced to rethink their strategies for retaining talented workers. But this requires that they break out of the old mindset of slotting employees into function-based boxes. They need to ask themselves: Do our people feel they can transform themselves beyond their current role, or do they need to leave us to grow?

For corporations, reinvention is the road to retention. Leaders need to become the architects of employee reinvention within their companies. One of our recommendations is that companies develop their workforce by facilitating ways for their talent to move within the firm.

Along with reducing layoff costs, this strategy can minimize the expenses associated with pursuing new business opportunities. Some forward-thinking organizations are already creating these types of reinvention programs.

What are some of the stumbling blocks people face when they're trying to reinvent their careers?

People tend to fantasize about new careers and are often unprepared for the amount of work that's involved in actually making the switch. They also have a hard time shifting out of their old work identity, which means that they often try to pitch themselves in a new field using their old language. This results in a translation failure, where hiring managers don't understand how the candidate's background applies to the job they're seeking.

Identity can also be a big obstacle when people are trying to reinvent themselves within their firm. Because they've been defined by a particular job function, they cannot get a shot at a new role. A number of clients come to us after hitting this barrier.

What advice do you have for people looking to reinvent their career?

Understand that whether it's within your current firm or a totally new field, successfully reinventing yourself requires you to establish your legitimacy as a candidate. Hiring managers, both internal and external, have goals they need to meet. Your mission is to prove—in tangible ways—that you can be a valuable asset to them in reaching those objectives.

Minimize translation failure by learning how to repackage your background so that it highlights those skills that will be directly useful in helping you succeed in your new role. Ask yourself: "How can I benefit from what I've done in the past?" Analyze your talents and identify the work successes that demonstrate them. Match those previous accomplishments to future career deliverables—this will help you see what achievements in your background are of value to hiring managers in your new field.

Source: Business Week, Marshall & Friends July 1, 2008
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jul2008/ca2008071_219231_page_2.htm

INTERVIEW: The Robin Hood Rally's Michael Ferrier

2010-08-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

Michael Ferrier took a break from corporate consulting to pursue his passion: cars. Now it's his second career. Michael is now the Vice President of Financial Operations with the new race car reality TV show The Robin Hood Rally. Here's how he landed the new gig.

What were you doing before you helped start The Robin Hood Rally?

I spent about 20 years in the financial services industry. I worked for several major organizations, my last being a contract gig for MassMutual. When I finished my project ahead of schedule, the economy broke loose. They wanted to keep me on but couldn’t afford me at the time, so I said thanks but no thanks. It was a good time to explore something different. I was burned out on the corporate culture.

What did you do during your career break?

Racing and collecting cars has been a long-time passion and hobby. A friend of mine races down in Connecticut. I started hanging out with him at the track racing Ferraris. This was September 2009. That’s when I was introduced to my current business partner. We started hanging out at the track. One day he invited me to lunch and pitched me the idea of The Robin Hood Rally. He wanted me to help build the company, the show and be the Vice President of Finance. I didn’t hesitate to jump on board. He started several successful entrepreneurial ventures, so I was confident he could pull it off. Plus, how could I turn down an opportunity to work with cars and finances. It was a dream situation that fell right into my lap.

Tell us a little more about The Robin Hood Rally.

We’re a production company that puts on a reality TV racing show. We race legally on public roads across the country. The large part of the show is the back stories on the racers and some on the town. Another large part is the charity aspect. We attempt to raise as much money as we can. At the end of show we present a check to an individual in need or a local charity. This year we’re filming races on 10 roads in 10 states. The series will air in late Fall of 2010 through the Spring of 2011.

We’re purchasing the time to air the series, and are independently producing it. We want to maintain control of the content to focus on the cars, drivers, and charity versus manufactured reality TV. We want it be remain a competition for individuals that are interested in showing, not telling, everyone what they are made of behind the wheel. The show will run on closed scenic public roads. People won’t know the course until they arrive at the venue. This makes it a true test of driver skill.

What’s it like going from the corporate world to a reality TV production start-up?

Exciting, nerve wracking, fun, tiring, scary, and anything but boring. I love it. It’s great because we’re breaking industry records. When shopping around the essence of the show to potential investors and producers, everyone is shocked by our well thought out our concept. It normally takes people years to get the where we’ve gotten in months. Of course, we’re still learning as we go. None of us have ever worked in the TV or film industry. We’ve hit some roadblocks but it has not deterred us.

How have you generated buzz without a big budget?

We’ve gotten a lot of momentum from our website and just from word of mouth within the passionate racing community. We get some good turnouts in the towns we race in. Plus some fans have been posting clips on YouTube, which has also helped get the word out. The local media has also covered our races.

How have you navigated the drastic income shift?

It’s not easy but I’m managing. I’m on a very lean budget. I went from a comfortable job with a steady income to putting everything I have into this venture with virtually no income. I’m not going to lie. It’s scary. But I haven’t once thought about going back to a corporate job. Despite the drawbacks, I have freedom in my job. I can work from home. I get to meet new and interesting people. And I’m following my passion. The image of success isn’t important to me. When you do what you love, success will follow and everything else falls into place. I’m also doing something good for others. We’ve helped out some people in need in the towns that hosted our races.

What would you have done differently?

It’s hard to say. When I left my consulting job I wasn’t out looking for another job. I was just enjoying myself, then one thing led to another. I’m very lucky to play with cars and money for a living. I will say that it’s a good thing I’m good with money. If you’re going to get into an entrepreneurial venture, you need to budget your finances very well. You can’t spend like you did when you had a steady paycheck, especially when you’re first starting out.

INTERVIEW: Ghostwriter and entrepreneur Jeanne Yocum

2010-08-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

Ghostwriter and public relations consultant Jeanne Yocum has been on her own for decades. She shares some words of wisdom for those thinking about making the entrepreneurial leap.

Jeanne, you've been working for yourself for nearly 21 years. Why did you decide to go solo?

I freelanced for a couple of years in the mid 1980s before I was offered a job at a Boston public relations firm. The offer was so good that I didn’t feel I could turn it down. But after three years, I realized two things: 1) I really was much happier being my own boss. 2) I really am a writer at heart. I was spending more time managing people than I was writing. So I decided to go back out on my own. I’ve been at it ever since.

I am a public relations consultant, helping people get their company’s news in front of key audiences either through publicity or through Web sites and marketing brochures. I also do event management. The other part of my business is ghostwriting books and book proposals, primarily about business topics. I’ve co-authored two books, ghostwritten four others and edited another handful.

My Web site is www.yourghostwriter.com. You can see my blog, “Small Business Success: 20 Years and Counting,” there and I also write a blog on business topics for MassLive.com.

What are some of the perks of self-employment?

The thing I enjoy most about being self-employed is the ability to pick who I want to work with, which was something I didn’t have at the PR firm where I worked. I have specialized in working with consultants in various fields who are coming up with cutting-edge ideas. I always say I’ve earned an MBA from my clients because they’ve taught me so much about all aspects of business. The variety is great and intellectually challenging.

The other thing I enjoy most about being self-employed is the ability to make your own dreams come true. For example, 10 years ago I decided I needed a new writing challenge and that I wanted to try my hand at business books. A year later, I had sold a client’s book idea to a publisher and we were working on the manuscript.

How about the pitfalls?

The most obvious pitfall is that you’re out here all alone and if, like me, you’re single, you have no financial fallback position. It can be scary when a client is slow to pay or if business slows down as it did in the recession. But I’ve managed to survive three recessions, so I’m more sanguine that things will work out now than I used to be.

Some people may also find it lonely to always be working on your own. You have to arrange your day to include people in other ways than seeing them around the water cooler at work.

A third pitfall can be the unevenness of the workflow. Just yesterday, I had a sudden influx of business that made me wish I could clone myself. If you’re all on your own, you can end up working some pretty long hours and on weekends.

What advice do you have for people making the entrepreneurial leap?

Have a realistic view of self-employment, not a pie-in-the-sky view. Talk to a lot of people who are self-employed and ask them to share with you the good points and the bad points. And really listen to the bad points; don’t just let them go in one ear and out the other because you’re so enthusiastic about the idea of working for yourself. Self-employment is definitely not for everyone; be self-aware enough to know if you are someone who could cope with the downside.

Also, make sure there is a market for what you’re offering. Too many people start businesses about something they’re passionate about without really doing the research that is needed to know whether what they’re selling it something people will want to buy.

Is there a social media outlet that's helped your business more than others?

So far, I have used Facebook only for non-business purposes. But I am quite active on Twitter (as JeanneYocum) and in various groups on LinkedIn. I’ve met new people through both of these sites, but I can’t say I’ve gotten new business as a result. But I am ever hopeful!

Anything that introduces you to new people is a good thing and eventually will pay off. I had my Web site up for years before I landed any clients through it, but several of the clients I have gotten through it have been big ones, including book project client. So you just have to stick in there and sooner or later, you’ll see results.

Can you recommend some profiles on your blog that might help new entrepreneurs?

I’ve been doing a series of blog posts in which business owners answer questions about how they have succeeded. Here are a couple that I especially thought had valuable advice:

Small Business Success Q&A #1: Ann Brauer, Quilter Extraordinaire

Small Business Success Q&A #4: The O-Tones

From Consulting Rehab: Interview with Three Month Visa

2010-08-22T06:49:00.000-07:00

Consulting Rehab recently published an interview with Tara Russell, founder and president of Three Month Visa. TMV is sponsoring the Briefcase to Backpack Meet, Plan, Go event on September 14. Here's an excerpt from their conversation about the event and Tara's involvement with the movement.

Tara, tell us more about the origins of Meet, Plan, Go! How did it get started and why does it exist?

The seed for Meet, Plan, Go! was planted back in January of 2010 when Michaela Potter and Sherry Ott who founded Briefcase to Backpack were in town and we met up for coffee. We realized that there were so many cool ways that we might work together that what was meant to be a half-hour meeting turned into a 5-hour brainstorming session! Our goal working together has been to take this conversation about Americans and career breaks and start building some critical mass behind it – get it out from the underground and take it national. One thing that came up was the success of a group I have been running for a few years now in SF – SF Travel Book Club and Lectures Series – and we started to wonder what it would look like if we could take the strength of that in-person group dynamic and expand it nationwide by doing a day of coordinated events across the US. From there, Michaela and Sherry were able to leverage the strength of their online network to recruit hosts and panelists from across the US and that’s how Meet, Plan, Go! came to be!

Why do you think that taking a Career Break and traveling is beneficial for people?

I would go beyond even saying “beneficial” – I think career breaks are absolutely essential for people…perhaps now more so than ever. Consider that our office desks are no longer stationary items that we can leave behind after 5pm…with the introduction of cell phones and PDAs, many of us are forever wired and always accessible from the moment we wake up in the morning to the time we go to bed at night. In an age when we are hearing more and more about work /life balance, it seems increasingly difficult to truly “unplug.”

Career breaks and travel give us that opportunity to unplug…to really take a step back, get perspective and regain balance in a way that we just can’t do while we are caught up in the pace of our hectic 9-5. (Or – let’s be honest – given the crazy hours many of us work, our 5-9.)

Travel gives us fresh and new perspectives, expands our horizons, strengthens our sense of adventure, pushes us to challenge ourselves, feeds an appreciation of our own strengths and abilities and provides us with space and time to examine who we are and what we truly want out of life. I’m passionate about helping my clients find that and taking that message national is what MPG is all about!

Who is this event for?

Well, it’s pretty simple, really. Here’s a quick and easy exercise to help readers determine if MPG is right for them…

Close your eyes and imagine taking time for yourself to do exactly what you have always wanted. Do you see:
* Surfing lessons in Costa Rica?

* Taking classes at a local university?

* Hiking the Himalayan Annapurna Circuit in Nepal?

* Renovating your house into the home you dream of?

* Volunteering at an orphanage in Brazil?

* Japanese lessons in Kyoto?

If you came up with anything other than “I’d like to be right here where I am…in my beige cubicle.”, then Meet, Plan, Go! is definitely for you.

This event is for anyone who has ever had a travel dream and wondered how to make it a reality. Anyone who has ever thought “Oh, I would so love to do something like that, but… Anyone who is currently reading this from their tiny little corner of cubicleland and thinking “Man, I wish I was lounging on the beach in Fiji right now.”

You get the picture…if you close your eyes and dream of being somewhere other than where you are, this is the event for you.

What exactly will happen at the event?

We have put together a stellar panel of travel experts – travel writers, photographers, podcasters and bloggers as well as me wearing the hat of Travel Coach. We will be presenting on the big Whys and Hows of career breaks and long-term travel and helping participants get an idea of resources that they turn to when they can start planning and go for support as they move forward.

What do you expect that people will get out of it? Why is it worth their time?

I would say this really breaks down into the “big three” of what you need to make your plans for a career break a success – inspiration, resources, and community. People who attend will be inspired by a panel of speakers / travel industry experts, they will be connected with some of the resources they need to start making their travel dreams a reality and they will be surrounded by a dynamic, supportive community of people who “get it”. Each element of that formula is really key for us.
Ok, let’s talk about the San Francisco event for a minute…

What are the logistics (e.g., when, where, how long, how do people sign up, etc.)?

The SF event is being held on Tuesday, September 14th from 7-9pm at NextSpace in downtown San Francisco. The event is free but participants do need to reserve their space and print and bring their ticket with them. RSVPs can be made at: http://meetplangosanfrancisco.eventbrite.com
Switching gears a bit, let’s talk about you…

How and why did you personally get involved in this?

When I met Sherry and Michaela back in January, there was such a cool synergy there when we combined our skill sets. Given their professional and personal backgrounds and their experience running Briefcase to Backpack and also blogs of their own, they are incredibly savvy about the internet, blogging, online networks and marketing, etc. What I brought to the table was years of experience running in-person travel-related events and also working with one-on-one coaching clients as they prepared for career breaks of their own. From that, (coupled with my own experiences planning and realizing a year-long career break of my own,) I had a keen understanding of the self-imposed limitations and perceived obstacles that often deter people from taking the sabbaticals that they really want. When we put our heads together, in short, I saw the opportunity to work with really cool people on a project I was extremely passionate about – how could I say no?

What do you do with your time when you’re not working on Meet, Plan, Go?

I am thrilled that I get to spend a great deal of my time working with one-on-one travel coaching clients, helping them work through the logistical and emotional preparations that go into making a career break possible. In addition, I’ve been able to do quite a bit of speaking in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond on topics revolving around career breaks, life sabbaticals and long-term travel. Loving my work makes it something I am pleased to dedicate a lot of time to.

When I’m not coaching, reading travel books or arranging events for SF Travel Lit & Lectures or working on MPG, I do my best to get out in this gorgeous city with friends to enjoy all the great sights, music, food and museums that SF has to offer. I also dedicate as much time as possible to my passion for photography and some of my work can be seen at www.greentaraphoto.com

And (of course,) whenever I can, I travel!

INTERVIEW: Briefcase to Backpack's Michaela Potter

2010-08-18T18:53:00.000-07:00

Briefcase to Backpack co-founder Michaela Potter talks about her mini-career breaks over the last 15 years.

How did Backpack to Briefcase begin?

Here’s a synopsis. Briefcase to Backpack began when Michael Bontempi and I decided to leave our jobs at the same time. We capitalized on the opportunity to hit the road. I was a seasoned backpacker, so I was used to traveling for extended periods of time. But after 14 years in corporate America, this was a huge step for Michael.

During the same period, Sherry Ott was well into her own 16-month journey half way around the world. She also had grown tired of her corporate career and a fast-paced life in New York. She decided to leaver her job, box up her life and hit the road.

In 2008 we all returned to NYC. Each one of us gained new perspectives on life. We also shared the same thought: How could we inspire others to take a cultural career break and gain insightful lessons on life.

Sherry gained a following from her travel blogging. We knew that there was a similar group of people wishing they could also take a break from their Blackberry. And thus began Briefcase to Backpack.

Tell us more about your career breaks. You’ve taken more than one, no?

I’ve incorporated several mini-career breaks into my ‘career’ over the past 15 years. It all stemmed from having backpacked through Europe and studying abroad during college. After I returned from my junior fall semester abroad, I knew that I wanted to incorporate extended travel throughout my life.

My next big trip was about eight months after I graduated from college. Rather than worry about a ‘career’, I got a job in my field to gain some experience, but also to make money so I could travel to Australia and New Zealand for six months. That set the stage for my future career breaks. Here’s an excerpt from journal entry from my first trip. [Gap Year to Career Breaker: http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2010/06/gap-year-to-career-breaker/]

When was your first “official” career break?

The first one came in 2001 after working for five years at the Starlight Children’s Foundation in NYC as the Event & Marketing Manager. Originally I was to spend three months in Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia but my departure was delayed due to the fact I was flying out of Newark Airport on September 11th. Needless to say, I spent the next month sleeping on my couch (I had sublet my room) and volunteering for the Salvation Army (I had left my job) before finally leaving. I wrote more about my experience here. [Reflecting on Nepal: http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2010/07/photo-friday-nepal-mandala/]

What did you do when you returned?

I transitioned into a video production career, which actually stemmed from my time at Starlight. Part of my role was overseeing Starlight’s fund raising videos. I worked closely with the corporate facility that sponsored them. As I enjoyed the production process immensely, I jumped at the chance to join the company when a position was offered. During the next five years I worked in all areas of video and event production, even becoming the in-house editor – a skill I learned on the job.

I was starting to get antsy after five years with the production company. I was ready to move on. I decided that I wanted to return to the non-profit world, but before doing so, I spent the summer volunteering outside of Cusco, Peru with the organization – Peru’s Challenge. I wrote about that experience here. [http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2009/02/peru-cusco/]

That particular career break experience then led me to my next job, which was with a similar international volunteer organization. I was inspired to help others prepare for volunteering abroad and loved using my personal experiences to help guide them through the process.

And that leads us back full circle to how B2B started.

Yes, my most recent career break is what inspired Briefcase to Backpack. My boyfriend (now husband) was frustrated with his corporate job. He had been with the company for many years and was ready to move on. He’s a great example of a “Quitter to Winner”. Rather than look for a job while he stayed in his current one, he decided to leave. That’s when I jumped at the opportunity to suggest we go backpacking first, and he was up for it. We wrote a testimonial about that experience here. [Testimonial: Michael & Michaela - http://briefcasetobackpack.com/2008/12/testimonial-michaela-michael/]

Read more about Michaela’s story here:

http://briefcasetobackpack.com/about/who-we-are/michaela-potter/

INTERVIEW: James Morgan's successful career transition

2010-08-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

It's never too late to start over. James Morgan talks about his difficult transition from a teaching career into architectural woodworking.

You gave up not just your teaching job, but your teaching career. What happened?

There were a couple of factors in play here. For one, I had promised myself from day one that teaching would be viable only as long as I was effective. I have worked with lots of teachers who have far outlived their “expiration dates,” and I did not want to become one of these creatures. For me, being an effective teacher has to do with many things and includes, but is not limited to, relating to students, relating to college leadership, relating to peers, and generally being happy in the role. I found that I had trouble with all of these areas toward the end.

Another factor was my growing interest in transitioning from a service job to a skill-based, production-oriented job. Quite frankly, I wanted to be able to see the end result – and the quality – of my work. With teaching I was finding that students were nearly universally resistant to learning (sometimes resorting to astounding measures to get out of doing schoolwork). Administrators were nearly universally incompetent. My fellow teachers were fragmented and isolated for the most part. I wondered daily whether or not I was doing any good at all. About two years ago I decided to make a change. After a yearlong course of study at the New England School of Architectural Woodworking I made the transition from college teaching to woodworking. I now spend my days in the finishing area of a local company. I walk or bike to work. I could not be happier with the incredible transformation in my life.

What was the most difficult part about leaving your job/career?

Leaving my job was surprisingly easy, at least logistically. In fact, it was cathartic on some levels because I was able to say a few things that needed to be said (even though I am certain the words fell on deaf ears). What was difficult was philosophical: worry about finances during my year in school, worry about what would happen afterward, and the break in the existential connection one makes with their identity and career. I was also worried about the impact my change in direction would have on my partner. There was one other more ethereal worry about how I might feel at the end of my life with choosing to leave academia. That is a question I will have to answer in about 40 years. What I can say is that, given my current level of happiness, I am now far more likely to live that long.

You're now an architectural woodworker. Was making the switch easier or more difficult than expected?

The transition is happening, but is not by any means over. My work is going to take shape in two important ways. First, I am continuing to learn by working for an established business. The field is vast. With an open attitude one can learn indefinitely. I’m fortunate to have found a position where the culture is keyed into this concept. Second, I am interested in creating my own business. This was, in fact, always part of the vision of this transformation. The initial switch has been practically frictionless: I had almost no down time between attending NESAW and starting work after graduation. The establishment of my own studio will in all likelihood be a more drawn out process, and I am doing my best to prepare for whatever challenges await me!

Would you have done anything differently? Perhaps listen to your gut early on when you knew teaching wasn't for you?

I find this to be simultaneously the easiest and most painful question to answer. I remember a day in graduate school, after about $50,000 in loans had been taken out and perhaps two-thirds of the way through when I had an epiphany (with appropriate thanks to the Scottish play): “I am stepped in blood so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er.” I remember feeling that I had invested so much, and not just money but time, sweat, tears, everything that I just had to press on. Honestly, I don't think I will ever feel that my master's degree was worth it – at any level. I lost too much time for the return. And, for those who know me well and know just how well I can teach, and how much I really liked teaching, this is a powerful statement. So here it is: I wouldn't change a thing. I firmly believe that all of my experiences are critical to my composition as a person.

Based on your experience, what advice would you give someone contemplating leaving a job/career without another one to fall back on?

1. Have a plan that is not just a formula but that speaks from your being. And, as important as formulas are to a math teacher, this is a serious thing: do what you have to do, not what you think you should do. The key is a plan that is well thought-out, includes options for unexpected hurdles, and encompasses short, medium, and long-term goals.

2. Make sure that you have a support system in place: family, friends, social network of some kind.

3. Don't expect everything to happen overnight. Prepare for endurance. Real change is exciting, challenging, and takes time. In change you have to balance the opportunity you are creating with the difficulties of the journey.

4. Don't forget to fully experience the journey. If you always keep your eye fixed to the future, you will miss out on the joys of the change you are creating. This simple idea kept me energized along the way because I was so happy with the day-to-day progress I was making. Some ways to do this: take pictures, write a diary or blog, and talk lots with friends and family.

Tis the week to quit your job

2010-08-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

In grand, messy, burn-your-bridges fashion. New York Magazine assembled the "best" of the best stories on the web. Do you have one to share?

http://bit.ly/dz634U

INTERVIEW: Consulting Rehab Part 2

2010-08-10T13:21:00.000-07:00

Jennifer Ransom of Consulting Rehab offers her perspective on the couple's career break and what's next for the pair.

Congratulations on getting named one of the top 10 travel blogs in Argentina! You're a hit there, no?

Thanks! We’re flattered that we seemed to have gained traction in the Argentina travel blog space, which is pretty crowded. It’s so gratifying to hear from readers from all over the world planning trips here and hearing that our blog has been helpful to them - people from the US and even as far away as Australia. We’ve made plans to meet up with a few people who’ve used our blog once they make it here - so fun to meet like-minded travelers (although it’s a little weird that they know all about us)!

Is this your first foray into blogging? Has it been learn-as-you-go, or did you consult any how-to sites/blogs?

Yes, this is definitely our first attempt at blogging. Ryan has a tech and entrepreneurial background, so this was right up his alley (and, as such, he’s the blogmaster in our family). He’s spent a lot of time reading different things online about how to build a good blog and we’re starting to get the hang of it. We’re definitely learning as we go.

Have you considered the ironic opportunity of changing your career to blogging about career breaks?

I can’t say it hasn’t crossed our minds! We love what we’re doing and we’re so glad that we took the leap to leave our jobs that made this possible. It’s incredible how much perspective you gain by being away from the daily grind for a while. The typical 1-2 week vacation just isn’t enough. We absolutely believe that besides this being a great life experience for us, we’re much healthier and happier than we were before. We also have a clearer perspective on our life priorities. As such, we’d love to encourage and enable other people to do the same. Not sure if this will turn into a career, but we definitely plan to continue sharing our thoughts on career breaks and the adventure that life can be!

What's been a typical day on the road for you and Ryan?

We took the approach of trying to get to know one place well, rather than traveling around to a lot of different locations. We haven’t been on the road all that much. As such, for much of our time, our day consisted of getting up “early” (I use the term lightly - typically 8 or 8:30am) and walking to our Spanish school for four hours of intensive Spanish lessons. After class, we’d usually go to a leisurely lunch, and then a nap was necessary. Post-nap, we’d study and do our homework, then do something fun like check out a new neighborhood or walk over to our favorite park to watch the dogs play (I love the dogs in BA!). Then we’d usually go to a low-key dinner and enjoy some good Argentine wine. We found that we needed a break from so much studying every couple of weeks so took a week off here and there to travel and see other parts of Argentina or just be tourists in Buenos Aires.

Do you have a return date to the states/back to work?

We thought we did. Then we discovered Santiago, Chile. Our plan was to return to the US at the end of August and start looking for jobs, but it’s looking like we’ll delay our return flight. Until when is TBD. We visited Santiago as an afterthought, after our wine-tasting trip to Mendoza, and absolutely loved it. It’s such a bustling city and seems to be a great, exciting place to live. We’re thinking we’ll hang out here for a bit, spend some time learning about the economy and job opportunities and see where that takes us. It’s definitely about time to go back to work, but that might end up being here in South America rather than back in the states.

Have you learned anything new about yourself while on your career break?

Yes. We’ve learned that we need to have some sort of purpose in order to feel fulfilled and happy - we’re definitely not perpetual vacationers. At first, vacation mode was great and we just enjoyed not having to get up early and work late. We signed up for Spanish classes pretty quickly after we arrived. We’ve kept busy with learning Spanish and working on the blog, but we’ve definitely noticed we start to go a little crazy when we don’t have anything productive to do.

At this point in our journey, that “something to do” might turn into work (or some other income-generating activity). I think this time around we would put a lot more weight on finding something that we enjoy doing, rather than just something we think we’re “supposed” to be doing to advance our careers. There are things we genuinely enjoy about working (camaraderie, pursuing and achieving a goal, building something), and we’d like to work in jobs that highlight these without being clouded by all the things that made work too intense before.

What are your plans for the blog if/when you return to work? Or will you travel to another country and start Consulting Rehab Phase 2?

We’re still trying to work that out. If we stay in Chile, we’ll have plenty to write about, with the extra spin of how to live long-term and assimilate in a different country. Regardless, we’d like to explore more the “career break” theme - we’re starting to meet other people who’ve designed their lives to allow them to travel and take career breaks periodically. We’ll be featuring them on our blog in the future. After that, we’ll just have to see where life takes us.

Do you think you have a story to pitch a TV show idea to the Travel Channel? It certainly would be a unique angle: couple leaves high-powered job to explore/immerse themselves in another culture. I think many professionals would relate and enjoy the show.

Love it!!! We hadn’t thought of it but think it could be so much fun! There are so many people, particularly in the US and particularly with our backgrounds who feel this external pressure to climb the ladder without really knowing why. Something like this would be a great way to share an alternate path, whether temporary or as a long-term shift in life goals. That might be relevant for a lot of people. Our day-to-day life isn’t as thrilling and dramatic as “Man vs. Wild” but there might be an audience out there for it nonetheless!

Briefcase to Backpack's Meet, Plan, Go Event

2010-08-08T18:23:00.000-07:00

Considering a career break, sabbatical, or a self-designed “gap year?” Briefcase to Backpack wants to help you make it happen.

The group is hosting their first Meet, Plan, Go! event on September 14 – a nationwide movement to raise awareness about career breaks and long-term travel.

Together with Three Month Visa, B2B will host a night of FREE events with travel experts in major cities across the country.

Attendees will:

- Meet inspirational speakers and like-minded travelers.
- Get motivation, contacts and resources necessary to plan their trip.
- Start taking steps forward and get ready to go!

And if you have already made the escape, they’d love to have you join them to share how you did it!

Be sure to sign up for updates on the Meet, Plan, Go! site as they add locations and participants. Also let them know if you would like to host or participate in an event in your town/city.

http://www.facebook.com/meetplango
http://twitter.com/ #meetplango
http://meetplango.com/

INTERVIEW: Erich Bennar is not his career

2010-08-08T06:55:00.000-07:00

Erich Bennar's life and ambitions were shifting. Instead of muddle through his job at a company he helped build, he decided to take action and create new opportunities. What he thought would be a terrifying experience turned out to be a relief.

What prompted you to say "ok, not working might be scary, but working just doesn't work for me right now."?

It came down to me wanting to be happy. I had reached an impasse at my job. I was with a technology company for about six years. The company was experiencing growing pains. The direction the company was growing toward and the direction that I wanted to grow in didn't match up anymore.

For the previous three years I'd been involved in Pioneer Valley Roller Derby as a coach and a team captain. I really enjoyed working with people and helping them accomplish their goals. I also learned a lot of great communication skills, management tactics and leadership skills that just weren't being utilized at my job. I felt restless sitting behind a computer and was ready for the next step in my career.

How long did you process the decision?

It's hard to tell. Prior to leaving the company, I was stepping out of my roles with the PVRD to free up some time to pursue other interests. Part of me was realizing that giving up so much control in the organization I helped build wasn't as scary as I anticipated.

Stepping down from my derby roles and leaving the company were intensely personal decisions. Both organizations represented things that I helped build, refined and kept moving forward. At some level I used them to mask insecurities surrounding my divorce.

The decision had a lot to do with me taking a leap of faith, embracing change and having confidence in myself and my abilities to not only survive, but to find something better.

Once you made the decision, did you panic or feel relief? Or both?

More relief. I felt good for making the decision. It was hard to give up generous benefits for who knows what I'd find, but ultimately it was a relaxing break. I definitely needed that.

What have you been doing since you left?

During the couple months I was out of work, I halfheartedly looked for a low relief job to draw out my vacation. I also started building a pretty serious business plan to open a roller skate shop. Numbers weren't looking too optimistic so I put that project on hold, while I looked for something else.

I picked up a couple jobs - one moving boxes at a wine cellar, and the other as a management consultant for another local technology company.

What's your next move?

Next move is taking on a new role in a new industry. Both the technology company and the wine cellar wanted to bring me on full time. Both offered benefits comparable to my previous job. At the technology company, I enjoy working with the people and helping them build their team, but the industry is more fast-paced and demanding than I want to be involved in.

I took the job as the Warehouse Manager at the wine cellar. The job is laid back, still allows me to utilize my management and leadership skills, and will eventually use my technology skills as we enhance our inventory infrastructure and company portal. The environment is more in line with what I've been working to build in my other organizations, so it feels like less of a struggle. Also I get to immerse myself in a topic that is new and exciting.

Some people feel a slight identity crisis after leaving a job without a traditional plan/job in place. Did you experience that?

Maybe a bit. When you're a kid everyone asks 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' It makes you think that you are your career. I struggled with that a bit. But between my roles in derby, and an earlier identity crisis, my biggest concern when finding a new job was balancing: 'what are my skills worth?' with "what am I willing to accept if it makes me happy?" I'm fortunate that I found something that I don't have to compromise on either.

Do you know anyone else contemplating making the leap into the unknown? What advice do you have for them?

If you're seriously contemplating it - then something is wrong. Try to figure out what's wrong first. That way you won't regret it or keep wondering 'what if..?'. If it's not something that can change - then take the leap.

Also, take some time to figure out your expenses and income for the next few months and budget yourself. It'll be much easier if you know that you can survive without a job for one month or six months.

And don't be afraid to apply for government assistance. If you have a pride thing to contend with - get over it. You need to eat.

Whatever you do, keep your head up and keep working toward finding something that makes you happy to get out of bed in the morning.

Interview: Renowned chef Michael Chandler

2010-08-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Becoming a chef is a dream job for many. Over a decade ago Michael Chandler was debating policies and passing budgets in the Governor's office in New York. In 2006, Food and Wine recognized Michael as “One of the Best New Chefs in America." Honolulu Magazine named him “Hawaii's Best Chef” in 2008. How did he pull off leaving a powerful government job to become a renowned chef? Here's his story.

What were you doing before you went back to culinary school? What happened after school?

I worked in executive management (finance/budget/policy) in the New York Governor's office. I left that to attend The Culinary Institute of America. After culinary school I apprenticed for a well-known chef in Paris and returned to New York City to work in two restaurants. I worked hard and moved fast into two chef-manager roles, Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine. I then left New York for a position in Maui. I eventually became Executive Chef of two restaurants and opened my own private chef/catering company.

What was it about your high-pressure job that attracted you? What was it about your job that drove you away?

I was an idealist. I understood and was intrigued by policy debates. I could formulate and respond to any level of issues and build consensus for support or opposition. My education was very specialized: a BA in public policy and an MBA in finance. In many respects, I was right where I was supposed to be. I was young, idealistic and close to the center of power, which was exciting. I also believed we were doing the right things for New York.

On the flip side, I always had to be available. When the BlackBerry buzzed, I had to be there. It was so bad that many of us called it the CrackBerry. The budgetary and legislative process doesn’t stop because you have weekend plans. I worked 70-80 hour weeks with little time for myself. I was exhausted. I told myself after a year of non-stop madness, I would take a break and follow my passion -- cooking. That summer, I bought out my lease in Albany and went back to New York City. I worked in a restaurant and applied to the Culinary Institute. That September I was in culinary school in Hyde Park, New York.

How long was your transition from seriously considering leaving the job to the first day of school?

Even before college I had considered going to culinary school. But it had been two months from the time I made the decision to go back to NYC and the day I started school. Everyone thought I was crazy, but I was bored and tired. I felt a change was what I really needed.

What would you have done differently regarding your transition?

Nothing. If you follow your passion, you'll be much more content when you realize you followed your heart. It’s a comforting thought. It expels doubt and energizes you. That doesn’t mean you won’t encounter rocky roads. But here’s a word of caution. When you make the transition, ensure that your finances, feelings of a spouse/partner toward this change, and support network are behind you. You’ll need all of it.

How has your life changed for the better?

Haha, better? Well, the hours that I complained about in my old career are worse as a chef. The nights are also longer and hotter (sometimes 130 degrees) but I’m doing what I love. There’s great meaning working as a chef. The rush of a busy night and the speed of an excellent bunch of cooks get me through. At the end of the night, you hobble to the bar, have a drink with your crew, and say, "See you tomorrow, guys!" If you're truly lucky, all of your cooks will make it to work sober or not need bail money.

But seriously, I think we all need to find more meaning in our work. It’s what carries us through and makes life better. I take great pride in what I do. I find meaning in the madness and chaos of a busy kitchen. I find meaning in shedding all of my degrees and academic theory and putting on a chef coat to prepare cuisine people remember. Becoming a chef is not a career for those seeking stardom or money. Although the money gets better, far too many in this industry are overworked, under paid, and without benefits. We don’t cook because it is all we know. We cook because it’s what we love.

What do you tell people thinking about becoming a chef?

I recommend they read Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly or Michael Ruhlman's The Making of a Chef. I would also say that you don’t have to spend $40,000 a year on culinary school. If you have passion, drive and are willing to wash dishes and peel potatoes you can find an entry-level job in the best restaurants. They’ll give you a shot when they realize you’re serious.

When I became a well-known chef, I would get invited to culinary schools to talk about the career. I tried to let the kids know about the harsh realities of the industry. There are high rates of divorce, alcoholism and drug use. I’ve watched many lives fall apart. I also let them know that the day-to-day of restaurant life can be like a dysfunctional family. For instance, one night a cook almost cut off his finger and my dishwasher found out his wife had a baby in Mexico and wanted me to be the godfather. Then he asked what my name is because he always called me 'chef'.

I also explained that good chefs should take care of their crew. Your cooks often look up to you or treat you like a father figure. Your role becomes part drill instructor and part social worker. Fortunately I enjoy helping people. Many on my team are from abroad, trying to make it in America. They work hard and they deserve a leg up.

Have any former colleagues switched careers?

Yes, many of my friends from the government days are in the private and nonprofit sectors. As far as the culinary world goes, career change is pretty constant. Lots of wannabe's (that's the industry term, not mine) try and can't hack it. They go back to desk jockeying, or even worse, become restaurant managers and sometimes critics.

What advice do you have for someone considering a career break?

Breaks can be refreshing but remember to not stay out too long. As someone who hires people, breaks in employment look like you are not serious or unstable. In my profession, it can also insinuate you went to prison, rehab, or worked at every restaurant in town and are looking for a new place where nobody knows that you’re awful. Consider the ramifications. If you take a break, take a class. Make it known that you’re not just loafing. Actively explore your options.

How about a career change?

As for a career change into culinary arts: think twice, maybe three or four times about it. It's tough work. It's guts and no glory until you make it. I notice a fair amount of career changing older students in culinary school. Honestly, I don’t think that it’s a good industry for older second-career folks. They tend to be Food TV watchers and aren’t aware of the stresses in a professional, fast-paced kitchen. When I was a visiting chef-instructor at culinary schools, I noticed they were more mature but lacked the elbow grease and strong back needed to get through a grueling 11-hour shift in the heat.

I also have a comment about career changer-ism disorder (yes, a disorder). When you career change, nobody cares about how awesome you were at your old career. You gave that bragging right up. They also don’t care about how much you made in a year. Also, don't expect a big initial pay off. Put your head down and work hard. I only mention this because over the last 10 years I’ve seen career changerism disorder in all its glory. One cook in New York City was a former Wall Street hack and lost it all only to become (you guessed it) a cook. He pissed off and alienated everyone because he had a massive chip on his shoulder. He thought he was better than a few cooks. In the end, he was a lousy and arrogant cook. I fired him. A happy family is an efficient family and he didn’t cut it.

More about Chef Michael Chandler:

Graduating with Honors from the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America, Michael set out to apprentice in Paris under the legendary Michel Rostang. After a one-year apprenticeship, Michael returned to New York as a line cook under the famed Executive Chef/Owner, Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin. Within a year, Michael was promoted to First Sous Chef.

Recognizing Michael’s promise, restaurateur Drew Nieporent hired Michael as Chef de Cuisine of Corton, an exceptional French restaurant located in Tribeca. Chef/Owner Paul Liebrandt says, “Michael is truly in a league of his own. He exhibits passion that is reminiscent of the giants of the culinary world. He never misses a beat and his attention to detail renders some of the most beautiful and creative cuisine I’ve seen.”

Michael joined celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck as Chef de Cuisine at Spago at the Four Seasons Resort & Spa, Maui. While at Spago, Michael began to gain a greater appreciation for the fusion of Hawaii Regional and California cuisine with European technique. “For me, Spago was one of my most exciting and challenging experiences. I had to rethink food, flavors, and pairings. I pushed myself to develop cuisine that our patrons would savor using the freshest, fish, meats, vegetables and exceptional sauces in an über creative way. After all, who wants boring food? I really believe this made me a better chef.”

While at Spago, Chandler earned critical acclaim from many national food writers, appeared on Food Television's, Chopped, winning its inaugural season. He earned a prestigious James Beard Foundation Nomination for Best Chef of the Year 2008. While finishing third in voting for the Beard Award, he was only the second chef from Hawaii to cook at the legendary Beard House. Honolulu Magazine named him “Hawaii's Best Chef” in 2008.

Upon leaving Spago, Michael became Executive Chef of two Maui landmark restaurants, Nick’s Fish Market at the Fairmont Kea Lani Hotel and Sarento’s on the Beach at Wailea. Admittedly, a “challenge to head two restaurants” Michael brought the restaurants to incredible accolades. He went on to open Elite Private Chef & Catering of Maui with Chef Linda Domenico-Clark (formerly of New York City’s famed Tavern on the Green in Central Park). He's since moved his catering business to western Massachusetts.

Consulting Rehab hits the top 10

2010-08-02T16:58:00.000-07:00

Consulting Rehab was named one of the top 10 travel blogs in Argentina. Take a look:

http://www.gooverseas.com/argentina-blogs

Don't forget to read Part 1 on Consulting Rehab's interview on Quitter to Winner:

http://quittertowinner.blogspot.com/2010/07/interview-ryan-fullers-consulting-rehab.html

Stay tuned for Part 2!

INTERVIEW: Singer sonwriter Shawn Levesque on chasing your dreams

2010-07-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Now seems to be the time for Shawn Levesque to make a go at becoming a working singer. He talks about what lead him to this path, which included leaving a job working with disabled youth.

Shawn, what have you been up to since you left your job in April?

I left a job working with severely disabled/medically fragile children. The job itself was challenging as the students were not able to talk, but they sure could laugh. The best part of my day was getting a student in who was having a hard day, for health reasons or what have you, and turning it around for them by making them laugh. LAUGHTER is medicine. Unfortunately I left due to the caustic work environment, I don't want to get into details but it was a very unpleasant place to work (the staff not the students). Since I left, I've been working on music, busking, practicing, writing and growing two large organic raised bed gardens. I'm also job hunting A LOT, and making time to reflect and make some huge decisions in my life. For instance I'm focusing on finding work in Boston, where I started my musical dream.

Many people claim they're "bored" without a job. I don't get a sense that you have that problem. True?

True for sure. I wouldn't say that I'm bored. I'd say that I'm a little stir crazy as I wish I could contribute again to a child's self-esteem and belief in themselves, as I have a history in working with at-risk youth and neglected children. But the dichotomy of that is that I'm busy writing music as I really want to be a singer songwriter for a living, like Melissa Ferrick or the plethora of other performers out there traveling and singing for a living.

How is your CD coming along?

I'm still not at a place financially to get back into the studio but I have been writing and practicing. I set up an account with Kickstarter.com, which is a great site to get your name out there for funding for all kinds of creative projects. I'm hoping to raise enough money to get both the recording done and to purchase a CD package through Discmakers that includes tee shirts, down load cards, 1000 CD's in cases and posters. I have some great rewards for donations including the donator’s name in the liner notes ($10.00), a digital down load of my CD ($15.00), a physical CD with lyrics of my songs ($25.00). Or all of the above with a t-shirt ($50.00).

I've been really lucky to have my friend Maria McNeil sing on what I've recorded thus far. She's an amazing Berklee educated singer, an amazing musician and a really sweet person. I've also had my friend Dave Buerger lay down some bass to a few of my tracks. I'm hoping to have him come back in and lay down some hand percussion along with me to some of the tracks as well.

Is teaching still in your long-term plan?

I feel that by nature I'm a teacher, so in some way it will happen. Whether it's as an elementary school teacher, a guitar teacher or a mentor. Music teaching is a huge part of my personality.

Describe your ideal work/career situation.

Touring, as I LOVE to perform and I love to travel. I don't need to be famous, I just want to make a living doing it. I have amazing role models in the folk and singer songwriter community who didn't go the major label route and have made their musical dreams come true. They maintained their creative freedom, which is very important to me.

What websites/books/self-help hoo-ha have you turned to for insight/tips during your time off?

I'm a HUGE advocate for therapy. I know this isn't a website/book etc, but I have friends from college come up to me years later and tell me that their lives have improved from seeking help via therapy. I see it as a kind of self-care. I also recommend and have used "THE ARTIST WAY" written by Julia Cameron. It's a self-help journey that helps you work through the creative blocks and crap that's still in your head from childhood. As a friend once said to me "Why you lettin’ them nasty voices have say in yo head? They ain't paying no rent". The Artist Way helped me with that a lot and turned me onto “artists dates.” For instance you may be working hard on a project but you're not moving anywhere. An artist date is alone time spent doing something that you find to fulfill you, that makes you resonate at a higher frequency if you will.

Imagine you're a motivational speaker (complete with headset microphone). What are three career tips you would have in your flashy Power Point presentation?

1. Do what you love. We've all worked jobs to pay bills. At some point that starts to wear on you. Life is too short to work a job that makes you mentally drained and in turn physically ill. Your job is the majority of your waking life. If your job is unbearable, then the rest of your life is going to suffer as well. Go after what you LOVE.

2 Never give up. We are the person that is most capable/powerful to let a dream die.

3. This may seem in conflict with #1, but there are times where you HAVE to take jobs that aren't ideal. There are merely stepping-stones as long as you go after what you love.

INTERVIEW: Ryan Fuller's Consulting Rehab

2010-07-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

Ryan Fuller and his wife, Jen, burned out from their high-pressure consulting jobs. Now they're in rehab: via extended vacation in Argentina. Ryan and Jen are part of the many professionals taking careers breaks. They're chronicling their literal and figurative journey on their website www.consultingrehab.com. Ryan talks with Quitter to Winner about what lead the couple to where they are now and what's next for their career.

I read about your intense careers. Wow. What was your long-term life goal in the midst of your high-pressure job? Why were doing it?

Ha! Good questions. What were we thinking? Not really sure. When you go to a top business school you meet tons of very interesting, dynamic and talented people. You are given a general set of guidelines of what success looks like. This usually involves going into some intense field like management consulting (what we did), investment banking, private equity, etc. The competition for these jobs is enormous, making it feel all the more important to go after them. Many people find themselves getting caught up in the momentum of it all and end up getting very excited about the 'achievement' of attaining one of these mystical jobs. Few have the time or inclination to consider what the job actually looks like on a daily basis, the sacrifices it will require in the rest of their lives and/or whether they might actually enjoy it.

We didn't know each other at the time, but it's fair to say that we both had a somewhat overly glorified view of what our consulting jobs would be like (and were also very excited to get them!).

In terms of longer term goals, I think most people go into management consulting for the option value of it. It's a great place to learn core business skills, build expertise, gain a network and begin to pay off the vast student loans you acquired in getting there (we hate them). I always had relatively short-term aspirations in consulting (just wanted to gain some skills and resume credibility after working primarily in tech start-ups before b-school). Jen had longer term aspirations for the job, but after having already lived in Tokyo and Nairobi for extended periods of time, she too was always planning to have a more dynamic and diverse life/career over the long term. Eventually the 12-18 hour days got to us.

What was the time frame from seriously considering a career break to boarding the plane on your trip?

While we had toyed with the idea a bit previously, it always seemed like something that was at least six months away. When we finally decided to do it, we were on a plane three weeks later. It was a pretty intense three weeks: we quit our jobs, moved all of our stuff into a storage unit, got married and drove from San Francisco to Seattle. Without the whole wedding part, it probably could have been quicker (haha!).

There is never a convenient time for something like this. All conventional wisdom goes against it. At some point, if you want to do it, you just have to go. It's worth it. Everything will be OK.

Did you tell your boss that you were taking a career break? What was his/her reaction?

Absolutely. Most of the reactions were jealousy/envy. Consulting is a bit unique in that the work is very short-term project based, so everyone is relatively easily replaced. The partners at our firm were extremely supportive and excited for us, which we are grateful for. I think many of them secretly follow our blog.

What did you friends and family think?

"There they go again."

What's been the reaction/response to Consulting Rehab? (Excellent name, by the way.)

It's been really fun. We started it primarily with the intention of using it to keep in touch with friends/family. We wanted to have a digital scrapbook of sorts to remember our trip. Over time, we started getting more and more people reading the blog that we hadn't met before. It felt a little odd at first having so many strangers know so much about us (particularly when people come up to us in Buenos Aires and tell us that they recognize us from our blog!). But it's extremely satisfying to be able to help people in trip planning and to inspire people to get out there and do whatever it is they've always wanted to do. Also, it's been fascinating getting to know other bloggers such as yourself and start to become part of a community of people that have chosen very unconventional paths in life and are thriving. There truly are so many more possible paths out there than most people consider and seeing people succeed in them is thought-provoking to say the least.

Preach, brother! Are any of your friends/colleagues following your lead?

We tend to be a bit careful discussing former colleagues at our firm so as not to anger anyone important there. Suffice to say, we know of many people who are off doing different and exciting things now. We certainly can't and wouldn't take credit for it, but it is unbelievably gratifying and exciting when we get an email or call from a friend that tells us that we've inspired them to go off and take flying lessons, work for a non-profit, travel, etc. We’re proud to play even a very small part in anyone pursuing the life they dream about rather than the one they think they are supposed to have.

Does the term "career break" help you overcome any stigma associated with leaving a "good" job to travel, especially with high unemployment rates? Or did you hit a point where, recession or not, I need to split?

Interesting question. To be honest, we only recently learned about the term ‘Career Break’. I think I actually found it while using StumbleUpon and came across BriefcaseToBackpack (a very cool site!). I like the term a lot though and do think it makes it sound like a more reasonable and less whimsical thing to do. For us, we haven’t yet worried too much about finding future jobs. Having gone to the business schools that we attended and the consulting firm that we worked at, theoretically we shouldn’t have too much trouble finding jobs when necessary. That 15 hours a day should count for something! To be sure, it helped to see that people leaving our firm even in the height of the recession had very little trouble finding jobs quickly. We likely would have thought twice about it otherwise. That said, I am a big believer that doing something like this exposes you to many new opportunities that you may never have realized existed (most of which involve doing things you truly enjoy) and that if you wait for a convenient time, you’ll never do it.

What do you think might have happened if you hadn't taken a career break? To your health? Relationship? Job?

We were both seeing a chiropractor two days a week and getting professional massages at least once a month in San Francisco. Yet we still had pretty significant back/neck pain. We no longer have any back/neck pain.

While the high quantities of cheap yet phenomenal steak and wine here in Buenos Aires are unlikely to have done much for our overall health, it’s fair to say that we feel much healthier without all of the stress and take-out dinners while slaving over laptops.

In terms of our relationship, we went from seeing each other for 20 minutes in the morning and maybe an hour in the evening. Occasionally we’d sneak away to have coffee for 10 minutes during the day since we worked in the same office. Now we're spending 24 hours a day together for the last 4+ months. In many ways it’s like a different relationship altogether. It’s been great, but be sure you really like each other before you do something like this as a couple. That’s a lot of time!

In terms of our job, if we hadn’t left, we’d still be working the same hours under the same stress. Lots of benefits to having a job like that, but lots of down sides as well. Thanks to how supportive the firm was of our plans, I’m reasonably confident that we could likely pick back up where we left off, which is pretty great.

How do you feel now that you're out of the pressure cooker job?

Younger, more energetic, healthier, more excited about life and more open to crazy ideas.

How will you approach the work-life balance if/when you decide to return to your career?

With far more emphasis on the ‘life’ part and without feeling that we have to do things a certain way in order to be successful. Success is often defined for you rather than by you. It’s not just about having a great career, it’s about having a great life. This requires balancing a career, a relationship, a family, a set of experiences, and whatever else you want. If you define it broadly enough (e.g., your career is only one piece of a much bigger puzzle), it's easier to make decisions that will make you happy. Too many people get caught up defining ‘success’ to mean getting the next promotion, raise, etc. and end up choosing their career (which offers more concrete and emphasized success metrics) at the expense of their overall happiness without even realizing it. Not sure what our future careers will look like, but the option set and criteria are far broader than ever before, and that is very exciting.

INTERVIEW: Kelli Allard's project manager approach to quitting

2010-07-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Kelli Allard was a project manager for a bustling web development company. After nine years she thought it was time to seek new opportunities - even without another job offer in hand.

You left behind your job of nine years without a "plan." What prompted you take the plunge?

I wasn't feeling passionate about my job anymore. I mapped out a strategy that would secure uninterrupted employment; I went on interviews, but nothing felt quite right. Which makes sense. Nine years in one place is a long time. You can't figure out what your “dream job” is overnight. I had a crazy thought one afternoon: “What if I left without a plan and gave myself a break to regroup before moving on? Wouldn't almost anyone do that if given the chance?” Instead of feeling panicky about this obviously insane rationale I felt excited and calm. I gave my notice the next day.

What was the hardest part about making your decision?

Worrying about how my husband would feel and how he would cope. He's a very rational, rule abiding, point a to point b kind of guy. Luckily he also trusts me, loves me and respects my decisions. He agreed with my “non-plan”. Surprisingly, I think he made the transition a little better than I did.

How did you deal with the "oh, man. I just quit my job. NOW what?!" feeling?

Ha! Although it was subtle at first I'd have to say that feeling started to tickle me about 14 minutes after I locked the door behind me for the last time. Over a month that feeling became overwhelming at times. I knew I was supposed to be relaxing and regrouping but I couldn't. I became overly concerned about the condition of our kitchen floor, our living room floor, what overachieving dish I should make for dinner; I couldn't sleep. I felt twitchy and nervous a lot of the time. Luckily while I was twitching I was also reading “Happy at Last: The Thinking Person's Guide to Happiness”. In his book, Richard O'Connor describes how leaving behind the adrenaline rushes of a high-pressure job is not unlike withdrawing from an addictive substance. Just knowing that I was a junkie in recovery and that this was “normal”, made me feel better.

That’s so true! What are you doing now?

Planting the seeds and keeping myself busy while I wait for the “right fit”. Since leaving work I feel like I've never really stopped working. Sometime I feel like I'm working more. In addition to my job search, interviews, and networking, which all feel like their own full time job, I'm a licensed massage therapist and have been seeing clients. I'm doing some freelance workshop planning and assistance, and filling in occasionally at my old job, too. I'm also half of an acoustic duo. I'm not having any problems keeping myself busy.

Additionally, I've been consulting with Val Nelson (http://www.valnelson.com/) a local career counselor. Knowing that I'm being productive and proactive helps keep that “oh, man. I just quite my job. NOW what?!” feeling in check.

It’s best to stay busy enjoying life while you regroup. Do you regret your move?

I do not regret my move but I miss the routine, rhythm and flow of a full time job. I miss being part of a team and being with people all day. It sounds so corny but I miss that feeling of putting in “an honest day of hard work”.

Being in limbo is hard, too. It's been very challenging, but also rewarding to just NOT KNOW what is going to happen next. I was a project manger for so long that my brain is hardwired to feel like it has to know exactly who is going to do what, and when, and what the result will be. You can plan all you want during a job search but you never know exactly what you're going to end up doing or who you're going to meet next.

What advice do you have for people who want to quit without a traditional plan?

I have three ideas for you crazy people.

Read Richard O'Connor's “Finding Happiness...” book first. In it he talks about the mental risks of leaving one job before finding another.

Being unemployed in our society, even if it's by choice, can wallop your self-esteem and self-image if you're not careful. Make sure you are engaging in some kind of self-care that keeps you happy, healthy and motivated. If I don't run almost every day I don't sleep.

Have some kind of project set up and ready for you to work on during your first week of unemployment. It's tempting to think about luxuriating in nothingness for a week, but if you're leaving a highly stressful situation your mind and body may need some kind of active transition to fight off the withdrawal symptoms.

INTERVIEW: How Scott LaGreca became the "Science Guy"

2010-07-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Scott LaGreca wasn't loving unemployment. But he wanted to stay in the museum field. Fortunately a volunteer gig at the Berkshire Museum eventually led to securing a hard-to-land job.

Scott, I had no idea you left a job(s) without another one waiting in the wings. When did that all go down? And what led to that situation?

I was living in London 2004-2008 and dating my partner at the same time (he was in Boston). That was tough, needless to say!! I was also making very little money in London relative to the cost of living there. It was unsustainable.

In 2007, my partner took a job in the lovely Berkshires of Massachusetts on the condition that I move back home and be with him and try to "make a go" of it. I was lucky because he was making a good salary and could support me for awhile, while I looked for a job. I moved back to the states in spring 2008.

How long did it take you to "land on your feet" with another gig (or something else)?

I was unemployed from February through July of 2008. I applied for tons of jobs. I'd never been unemployed before and it was a VERY rough period for me! I was depressed and moody and gained weight (haha). I never want to go through that again.

Do you regret taking the job you had to leave?

I do not regret taking the job I had to leave. The job was my "dream job" in many ways. It simply didn't pay enough given the cost of living there. Plus, there was my relationship as well as other family considerations.

What are you doing now?

I started volunteering at the Berkshire Museum while I was unemployed. Then the woman I volunteered with left her position. I applied for the position and got it. I'm now the Natural Science Coordinator, otherwise know as the "Science Guy." I handle all the science content for their exhibitions, public programs and collections management. I also help take care of the live animals there. (That's quite a stretch for a botanist with no zoology or zoo background.)

Do you think our generation are quicker to say screw it, I'm out? Or is that we've been led to believe by our parents who tell us to suck it up, they had it much worse?

Yes, I definitely believe that our generation is more mobile when it comes to career choice. No question! It is mostly a good thing, because turnover is good in most fields. In the museum field (my field), however, it can be a detriment, because it's good for both the institution and the individual to cultivate a long-term working relationship. Both the museum AND the individual curator benefit greatly by long-term arrangements.

What advice would you have for someone who absolutely needs out of their job but may not have a plan in place just yet?

Wow. I would say GO FOR IT. Find the support system you need, be it (a) saving lots of $$ to support yourself during unemployment or (b) finding friends, family members or a partner who can "spot" you while you look for another job. Life is too short to be miserable if you can avoid it!!

INTERVIEW: Athan Vennell bags waiting tables to make killer bags

2010-07-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Fashion designer/crafter extraordinaire, Athan Vennell, bagged waiting tables and retail gigs to, well, make killer bags (among many other things). Athan's only regret? "Why didn't I make the leap sooner?!"

You finally made the plunge to work for yourself. What made you decide to give it a go?

It had been a long time coming. I reached my breaking point in the restaurant/retail world. Who cares what people want or where they want to sit anymore. I wanted to know what I could do for people creatively, not socially.

Did you take a while to prep for the transition?

I had been doing freelance design work in addition to a restaurant or retail job. I was doing, and still do, home projects, bridal dresses, clothing and accessories for some people, and that lead me to doing craft shows. The craft shows really helped me understand just how large of an audience wanted to buy my stuff. I think that was the major catalyst for me to know that there was a space out there for me to do what I wanted. It did sort of become a, “I just can’t do this anymore” situation at the restaurant. I do love restaurant work, but it takes up so much time and energy that at the end of my days I would be too spent to do anything else.

I tried once before to break out on my own, but I was always aiming too big and trying to do too much, like design a collection and put it out. Now I’ve learned to work with just a few designs that you can produce easily enough. Start SMALL and work your way to BIG. I had too many stars in my eyes. Once I paired everything down to what I knew worked and knew I could do, it all just started falling into place. Like the line of bags I make from recycled pants. I wanted to go big right away but made myself just start with two different size tote bags. They were a hit so I slowly added new designs as I went along. Now I have seven different bags in the line with ideas for a few more hopefully to come this year. This process also helped me figure out what the customer was looking for and what I was actually capable of producing.

Was funding an issue when you went out on your own?

Money is always the issue, whether you have it or not. It’s scary putting everything you have into your ideas and hope that you get a response. Even with money executing the idea can be overwhelming. We blame money, but I think it’s all about confidence. I’ve discovered that the money happens all on it’s own. I sometimes freak out and wonder where the next bit will come from, and then it happens. It sounds cliché, but asking the universe for what you want helps. Whether you are spiritual or not, it’s about actively asking and stating what it is that you need or want and making it heard, even if it’s just you listening. Sometimes you’re the only one that needs to hear it. Looking back, the jump was seamless. It made me wonder ‘why not sooner?’ I was just being chicken about the whole thing. I knew I was very good at what I did, and knew that there would be work out there for me. It was just daunting realizing how much work I needed to have in order to do it well, and eat at the same time. I was over thinking things. Sometimes it’s just a matter of throwing caution to the wind and taking the plunge.

What else are you doing for work?

Anything that anyone needs stitched. I haven’t closed myself off to new ideas. That’s how I keep things interesting. I just finished creating costumes for Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl for Old Deerfield Productions. That was a wonderful project. I was given total creative freedom. It was so nice to be trusted and needed in that way. Thank you Linda McInerney for that!

In addition to my line of bags made from recycled pants, I do the alterations for Pearl Bridal in Holyoke’s Open Square buildings. I also have a line of leather wallets and cuffs that are made from scrap leather from garment production, and a line of t-shirts that involve turning them into cardigans and stenciling. Then there are the window treatments and basic clothing alterations.

I’ve also worked with people to create design prototypes for new products. If things go well with one project in particular, I may continue as the designer. It hasn’t been launched yet so I can’t say much more about it, but that’s what makes it exciting.

People think that working for yourself allows you so much "free time." That's not the case for me at all! How is it for you?

Free time has taken on a whole new meaning now that I am on my own. No more ‘calling in’ that’s for sure. When things come up they have to be taken care of, which can throw a wrench in the well-planned schedule. I found that it’s harder to make social plans, but I do enjoy the freedom of not doing as much one day and a lot the next. None of my time is really free anymore though.

Are any of your friends considering quitting their gigs to go out on their own? What advice do you have for them?

I do have friends who are more interested in making the plunge. I think some have, partially due to me. I would tell them to be calm, believe in who you are and dig deep. There is so much more support out there, including from your friends, that you wouldn’t expect. People are very willing to help those who are trying to do it on their own. Living in the Valley helps that scenario, too. There are so many more people here that are trying to do it for themselves.

I’d also say make a schedule and stick to it. You need to create your own boss/employee relationship with yourself. It’s a bit schizo, but it helps. Start small, know yourself, know your product/skills that you want to put out there and believe in them. No one else will if you don’t. No one else will know you are there if you don’t tell them.

If you’re an artist waiting tables, say you’re an artist not a waiter when someone asks you what you do. Waiting tables is just the means to an end. It’s not who you are. You need to tell people who you are and put it out there. I was a hot head Leo fashion designer in NYC when I started. I would often wonder why I wasn’t getting this gig or that job. In the end it was because I hadn’t started telling people that I was available, or could do something they needed. It’s up to you to talk about you.

Finally, if you could do it over again, what would you do differently?

I would simply have done it sooner. I think everything else would stay the same.

Visit www.athanvennell.com and www.athanvennell.etsy.com to see more of Athan's work.

Quit-your-job-to-travel bug

2010-07-14T05:10:00.000-07:00

Here's another example of professionals who got the "quit-your-job-to-travel" bug. Check out Consulting Rehab.

Visit facebook.com/QuittertoWinner for a link to their Facebook page.

Interview: Geoff Rice - a self-proclaimed "career coveter"

2010-07-12T19:12:00.000-07:00

Geoff Rice is the creative director for a high-end organic skin care company. Not bad for an admitted wanderlust. Or is it?

Geoff, have you ever left a gig without another one lined up?

Oh yes. In the days of my youth I'd pick up and quit after a year or so at any one place. I would often follow that by packing up the Toyota Tercel and move to a completely new city--no job prospects, no apartment lined up. It was exciting, but I had nothing to lose. Typical twenty-something wanderlust.

What prompted you to hightail it?

Back in the post-college days I was more or less adrift, so I had very little to lose by dropping everything and moving along. Still, I will say that even back then I found myself staying longer than I should have in a handful of dead-end jobs, just out of convenience. I can be very susceptible to the forces of inertia.

How long did it take you to land something else? How did it fall into place?

Well if you're talking about employment--and not the pursuit of any sort of cohesive career path--it was always fairly quick and breezy. It was rarely difficult to find something that would cover my relatively modest bills. The real secret is to have no expectations, no preconceived notions and very low standards. I'm only 1/4 kidding. See, the thing is that I was, for a long time, convinced that I was going to somehow be making a name for myself in the performing arts, so the "day job" was never my primary concern. After that shifted (in other words, once that dream was finally crushed for good), what I did with my days took on a different level of importance. My job is now very much a part of my identity--which certainly wasn't the case in my 20's.

A major reason people stay in jobs they don't like it because it's makes up a large part of their Identity. For some the idea of redefining themselves is scarier than leaving a job. Have you ever been in that head space?

So clearly, that mindset is relatively new to me. I guess I'm currently going through the process of defining just what it is I want my professional life to look like, and what it should say about me. I suppose if I have any fear of moving on at this point it's coming partially from the fact that the process is incomplete. The picture is still unclear. Even more influential in keeping me put, though, are the pressures of needing to provide security and stability for my family. Having a kid is a pretty powerful argument for staying put, especially when the jobs market continues to be such a wasteland.

What's the longest you've stayed in a job you didn't like, or worse, dreaded? How were you able to keep going?

There have been a couple of jobs that ended up being completely draining, to which I dreaded going every morning, and yet held me prisoner for years. I believe the longest I've been in such a situation is around three years. A long time, I know. The mind comes up with a number of coping mechanisms to survive those grueling days, none of which seem to be at all healthy in the long run. One can try to quarantine ones work and personal lives completely, which ends up feeling disingenuous and is ultimately exhausting. I've also fallen into the oh-so-tempting trap of the gossip culture, with similarly horrible results. Sneaking off to kvetch with other people, but never effecting change? Exhausting and demoralizing. Ultimately, what I want is a job in which I can be a more honest version of myself, and through which I can grow and change in a way feels true. I don't want to have to play a role other than myself. I also want to feel that I have a genuine and positive hand in helping to shape the culture and vision of the organization.

Have you surveyed jobs out there and thought, hmm, I think I'd rather do that. What's that job/career?

All the time. I'm a nonstop career coveter, and I can muster up jealousy of jobs in just about any field. I'm jealous of all of my friends and family who teach (especially in the summer). I envy all of my freelancing friends for lots of reasons, not least of which is the mind-boggling amount of time they seem to have available just to read and write/blog. I want to go on tour all year like my musician friends. I suppose what all of my many "dream jobs" share in common is that they offer the opportunity to be imaginative, creative, and honest while having lots of fun. Oh, and ideally I'd be making lots of money. Is that so much to ask?

Quitter to Winner on Facebook

2010-07-12T03:31:00.000-07:00

Become a fan of Quitter to Winner on Facebook for regular posts of useful articles to help you through your job transition. You're invited to share your links to stories (or your new business' website/blog) on the Quitter to Winner wall, too.

www.facebook.com/QuittertoWinner

Entrepreneur Magazine's resource for "Mompreneurs"

2010-07-10T10:29:00.000-07:00

Are you a working mom who quit/is thinking about quitting your day job to start your own business? Entrepreneur Magazine has an online resource to help "Mompreneurs."

http://www.entrepreneur.com/mompreneur/index.html?cm_sp=SocialMedia-_-Facebook-_-Article

http://www.facebook.com/QuittertoWinner

Interview: Nicole hasn't quit her job - yet

2010-07-10T03:37:00.000-07:00

Nicole Graziano left a steady yet unfulfilling job to pursue a teaching career. After many years of school and sacrifice she landed what she thought was an ideal job. She soon realized it was anything but. Nicole is still employed as a special education teacher. However she's reached the "think-out-loud" stage about why and how to make a another move.

Nicole, you mentioned that you've grown to dislike your job, and possibly your career choice. What is it you're doing? What don't you like about it?

I teach special education in an inner city to middle school students. Most read at a kindergarten to second grade level. I find the majority of the students to be rude and disrespectful. Many parents are irresponsible and uninvolved. My frustration comes from the struggle of working extremely hard (usually 3 hours per night after the school day is done) with little reward for my work.

Why do you stay?

Now for practical reasons. I need a steady income to pay my mortgage. Prior to owning, I stayed because I wanted to reach my goal of owning my own home. I didn't want to prolong or jeopardize that. I do have a savings, but I hate the idea of having to touch it.

Fortunately there are other gigs out there that can pay the bills - even in a down economy. Is there a chance things can improve?

I do think that in time I will be able to find myself a better teaching position.

A lot of people find it more difficult to reinvent themselves than to stay in a job they hate. Are you in that head space right now?

It’s funny. I had always wanted to teach. I worked in logistics and distribution before moving from New Jersey to western Massachusetts about five years ago. That was my reinvention right there. I made my way through school and earned my teaching license. Little did I know how difficult it would be to find a position outside the realm of the inner city. I still remember my first few days of teaching in the city. It was unlike anything I had ever seen in school growing up. My expectations were way off. I’ve toughened up quite a bit, but that still doesn’t mean that I like it.

Have you thought about ways you can get out?

Last fall, I went through a really hard time. I landed what I thought was a perfect teaching job. Little did I know the amount of work that would go into it. I grew frustrated quickly about spending my days and nights working. I tried to think of ways out, but five years out of the logistics field doesn’t exactly make you a desirable candidate for a job. Temping and substitute teaching weren't great options. I would have nightmares about my house falling into foreclosure. I stuck it out and finished out the year thanks to an extremely supportive staff and principal and some really great kids who I didn’t want to let down.

Do you feel you'd be happier if you left with or without another job? Or would you regret it down the road if something else didn't come through right away?

I would only leave with another job to go to. Aside from finances, I know that I’d come down on myself for quitting. I worked hard to get the teaching license and would hate to see it go to waste.

Do you have a revised career goal?

I would love to do anything involving animal rescue. My dream is to open a farm animal sanctuary. I suppose I’d also like to teach, but only under the right circumstances. I’m drained at night, even on the occasion that I don’t have extra work to do. The job just isn't for me.

What was it about your current career that interested you? What was it that changed your tune about your original choices?

I used to get frustrated that my logistics job didn’t have anything to do with who I was and that it was of little value. I wanted to do something that produced real results. I realize now that teaching produces very little of that feeling for me. When the kids and parents care very little, it leaves the teacher with nothing. I guess those inner city teacher films are somewhat accurate somewhere, but I haven’t seen it. My students don’t even bring pencils to school. It’s really maddening. I’m not about to take a “they don’t care, so why should I?” attitude. It’s not in my makeup although sometimes I wish it was.

Luckily, I have a lot of people at work I can talk to. Let’s just say that I’m not the only teacher who is frustrated. My aid is a godsend. I couldn’t do the job and stay sane without her.

Have you been in other situations where you felt you would never resolve an issue, yet you did? Can you transfer any bits of knowledge onto this situation?

Getting myself out of the funk I was in last fall is proof that I can do anything. Funny though, I’m still way too scared to leave. I just approach it differently now. I‘m not out to be a superstar teacher. I just do my best and try to preserve myself in the process.

Helpful article for those who plan to go it alone

2010-07-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

11 Essential Online Resources for Consultants

One of the keys to being a successful consultant is information - having it at your fingertips the moment you need it.

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/technology/article/11-essential-online-resources-for-consultants-sharlyn-lauby

INTERVIEW: Thomas Dudley - one year later

2010-07-06T04:16:00.000-07:00

Artist and graphic designer, Thomas Dudley, left the Happy Valley for the big, bad city - without a gig lined up. Scary? Oh, yes. Worth it? Oh, hell yes.

It was about a year ago that you gave your notice to move to New York City - without a job! I know you stressed but you survived. Can you relive that time without twitching, or was it a good "learning experience?"

I'm still learning and twitching. Everyone likes to tell me that it "takes a year to get adjusted." I'm beginning to believe it. I think the worst assumption I made came from being a big creative fish in a very small pond. Everyone here is either good at what they do or good at networking or, even worse, both. The key, though, is that somehow I'm making it work. Every big, stressful bump has dissipated in a fog of success.

If you had to make the transition over again, what would you do differently?

Line up a job first.

Oof. Easier said than done sometimes. What's your current employment status?

Fragmented. While that perfect agency or boutique job continues to float just beyond the horizon, I'm scrambling together a bunch of freelance jobs. Career counselors often suggest treating job searching as a full-time job, so I can at least congratulate myself for being over-employed somehow. BTW, career counselors fail to mention that the pay is terrible for a full-time job hunter.

The pay isn't so hot as a career counselor, either. You're quite a good artist and designer. And you're in the perfect place to pursue both, no? But would you like to explore something OTHER than art? If so, what would it be?

New York is still, despite what a handful of crabby apples say, full of artists and opportunities. Manhattan may be an expensive Disney shell of its old-school self, but the boroughs are happening in a way they never really did in the past.

I've spent most of my working life exploring: the short list is something along the lines of dishwasher, cook, telemarketer, special effects technician, video editor, camera assistant, data entrist, warehouseman, land surveyor, carpenter, printer, laser engraver technician, reggae bassist, corporate collections thug, on and on it goes.

I'm the worst Village People tribute act ever. The trick is that most of these jobs are just crutches to support my art affliction, and the worst occupations force the best work out of me in my free time. If I'm getting paid to be creative, the last thing I want to do when I get home is make something. I get a lot of accounting done when I have a full-time creative gig. I fully subscribe to the philosophy that if you don't want to work, then get paid to do something you love. But I get bored easily, and sometimes I want to work. While I wish I could say I'm a full-time designer, I pad my lunch money by going out and moving art. So I'm open to change, but I'm becoming intolerant of wasting my time on any position where a paycheck is in some way dependent on dress code or false cheerfulness & vapid robotry.

Word. Are you impressed that you were able to step so far out of your comfort zone and pull it off? Or do you think you were nuts for doing it and would never do it again?

My comfort zone is a nebulous, mercurial thing. I know at some point a few years ago, fattened on newspaper layout & freelance web design spoils, I was pricing digital cameras or buying motorcycle parts or some sort of (relative) luxury activity, and I thought "Boy am I glad I don't have to live on ramen noodles & dahl anymore". Last month I was cooking some ramen & my brain was all "yo, you remember when you was all proud you wasn't eating ramen no more? SUCKA!!!!!". To be fair, I like ramen. HOWEVER!

Yes, I've toughened my day-to-day life considerably in the last year & sometimes have absolutely no idea where rent & food might be coming from (answer: incredibly good luck & piles of last minute salvation). So on one hand I'm impressed, but I'm also a little disappointed that I'd become so spoiled. I'm also doing my thang in NYC, so what I lose in consistency & materialism, I make up for in museums & outstanding chinese food.

What would you say to someone who told you they hated their job of 10+ years yet they don't know how to quit, or what to do?

People actually like telling me that, I have no idea why. I've become so hard assed about it: you don't like your job? There are 2 realistic options available to you: 1) shut up or 2) do something else (this, as it happens, also applies to thirst, coldness, lousy roommates, etc.). Life is so short, why spend 1/8 of your go-round in abject misery? Community colleges are great, they hand out cheap, fast degrees. Make your interests & hobbies pay. For god's sake don't gamble, the house always wins. Which is something else I can't stand: folks who are waiting for that big lottery windfall to make a significant change but fail to consider the probability. The vast, hopeless, more-likely-to-win-an-insurance-payout-from-being-mauled-by-a-truck probability. But I digress.

Make a nice resume and a web page. Sell grandma's silver on Ebay & get a smaller car. Fix yourself up for a change, batten the hatches and quit. But don't do it like a spastic drunk, make lists & maps & a plan. Or at least just a plan.

What's your quitting point?

2010-07-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

Alexander Kjerulf AKA The Chief Happiness Officer is one of the world's leading experts in happiness at work and the best-selling author of 3 books including Happy Hour is 9 to 5. Take a look at his post about why (and how) more people are quitting lousy jobs - with or without a job lined up.

http://positivesharing.com/2007/06/find-your-quitting-point/comment-page-2/#comment-247210

NPR Story: People Quitting Jobs is a Good Thing

2010-07-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Bureau of Labor Statistics tells us that more people are quitting their jobs than are getting laid off.

http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/06/10/pm-more-people-quitting-jobs-is-a-good-thing/

Young and Successful Article

2010-07-03T04:25:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting post about quitting your job without another one lined up courtesy of Young and Successful.

http://youngandsuccessful.com/i-quit-without-having-a-job-lined-up/comment-page-1/#comment-5437

INTERVIEW: From bad job to bed and breakfast

2010-07-02T11:06:00.000-07:00

Jim Rizzo left an unsatisfying job to open a bed and breakfast in Provincetown, MA. The rest, as they say, is history.

What prompted you to leave your job without a backup plan?

The dream of running a successful bed and breakfast called Christopher’s by the Bay in Provincetown, MA! It was a quite a leap of faith going from a steady paycheck to not knowing if the bills would get paid.

Was that the first time you left a job without another one in the queue?

No. The first time I left another job without one in the wings was early in my career. It was one of those "agreements" that it just wasn't a good fit for either of us. Part of the reason it wasn’t going to work was my closet case boss constantly hitting on me. His boss, another married closet case thought it was intriguing when I brought up the issue. As I said, it just wasn't going to work out.

How did you navigate the "oh, no, what have I done. NOW what?!" feeling?

The first time, I felt much more at ease not being in a hostile environment. I took the severance and immediately started networking with friends and associates searching for another position. Most recently, I again turned to friends and experts in the field for moral support and an understanding of what it takes to be successful. After buying my own business that I had no background in, I most definitely had that pit in my stomach "now what?!" feeling!

Looking back, would you say that you made the right decisions to split without a backup plan?

I do feel I made the right decision. Sometimes you just have to let go and trust that it'll all turn out OK.

If you had to leave a job again (without another job to go to), what would you do differently?

Find a silver daddy!

Based on your experience, what would you tell someone who's ready to call it quits?

Life is too short to be unhappy. In my opinion, its better to be poor and have a better quality of life than to draw a paycheck in an unfulfilling position.

INTERVIEW: Ken Molnar's big leaps in life

2010-07-01T07:05:00.000-07:00

Ken Molnar pulled off what many would deem impossible (or crazy): leave a well-paying job at Yale University and move to Northampton, MA without friends, job or housing prospects. He explains the why and how of his daring journey.

You moved to western Mass a few years ago without a job (or much of a solid plan). What prompted you to leave your job and move to a strange place?

Well, I have this theory that I really have to change things up in a big way every four or five years, which has so far been very true for me. I think I want to do a lot of things in life. I have a lot of interests, and any more than five years in a single place starts to make me feel like there are other things out there that I am not exploring. By year four in the same place, I have definitely begun to stagnate.

At the time of my last big leap, I was living in New Haven, didn't have a great car, not a lot of money, lived right on the edge of a sketchy neighborhood -- although here I was working at Yale University. But the particular office I worked in at Yale was really quite terrible. I loved my immediate boss but other than that it was a very cold and condescending atmosphere -- and I had suffered at that job for four years. See? There's that four number again.

Prior to that I had been in New York City for five years, and left -- literally -- on Sept 11. At that time, I was sick of the city, sick of brown buildings, and lack of trees, and lots of noise, and garbage, and an all-around unaesthetic atmosphere. The excitement of the place had definitely worn off by then. And I remember I kept thinking, "I just want green. I want trees. I want more open spaces." I still wanted civilization, mind you, but a more open version.

When I got to New Haven that kind of worked for me for a while. It was more open. It was greener. And there was lots of open country very near by. But New Haven is urban in it's own way, and can be kind of sketchy. I still had this picture in my mind of living in this place with hills and mountains. I remember writing a sticky-note to this effect and putting it on my fridge in New Haven. I remember looking online at farmhouses in Massachusetts and Vermont. It was like a longing.

Typical me, I spent Year four in New Haven in agonized turmoil. I didn't know where to go. Impulsively, in January of my fourth year in New Haven, I started taking improv classes down in NYC. I felt like I needed something to shake me up. And I spent the year in therapy. That's where I really figured it out.

In the end, it really came down to the idea of following your own energy. Even though I had only been to Northampton on two separate afternoons -- maybe a year apart, and only for a few hours -- I remember being struck immediately by the difference in energy in the people up there. Everyone seemed happy, creative, and productive. There was a palpable energy. But, typical me, I dismissed that type of place as a pipe dream. But in therapy Northampton came up again, and the more I talked about it, the more I realized I had such a strong energy about the place -- which stood out in total relief against all my other low-energy whiny complaint. I realized with some shock that I was probably going to move there. It was just a matter of when.

I struggled through the summer, listless, and then had a "beach epiphany" right at the end of the season. I was sitting on a log at the start of the dunes, watching the sun come up, thinking about everything, and my favorite word in all the world drifted up in front of me, loud and clear: No.

"No" to all the negative bullshit I had been putting up at work and the completely dissatisfied life I had been living in New Haven. When I felt that "No" I knew it was over. I walked into Yale the next day and told them I was quitting. Even then, it still took me about three more months to get myself together to do the move up.

How did you navigate the "oh, no, what have I done. NOW what?!" feeling?

I always have the same feeling when moving on from a bad place: relief. While I do think about it, it's never so much of "now what will I do?" It's always more a feeling of cutting away dead weight, of finally being able to start moving up.

What I find, too, is that -- scary as it is -- you always get SO MUCH MORE ENERGY by quitting than you think you have. The problem is that when you stay in a bad situation too long, you become like a car with its headlights left on: you feel constantly drained. And when you feel that drained all the time, you think you can't possibly make a big move, because you start to believe that your low-energy state is somehow permanent. Worse, you start to think that low-energy state is a fundamental quality of you, not simply a result of the bad situation. The secret is learning to scan the horizon for when a scenario if no longer serving you -- energetically speaking -- and making the move to get out before you become drained.

But you can make a big change. And what you don't realize in your drained, usually depressed state is that all that energy that has been seeping out of you has actually been going into layaway. You get all of it back -- and more -- when you finally decide to start making active choices for yourself again.

Looking back, would you say that you made the right decisions to split without a backup plan?

Keep in mind that big leaps are not for everybody, but I do think it is the most direct and effective route towards big change. When there is no going back, you actually commit yourself much more fiercely to a positive outcome. If instead you go slow, you give yourself too much time to think about what can go wrong, you make much "safer" low-impact choices, and you also become much more susceptible to other people's doubts and fears -- which they are always very happy to share with you, by the way. ("What about health insurance?!")

I find that the way I work, I almost have to make a crazy impossible change in order to actually do it. I find it easier to make huge crazy changes than little safe ones. It's like the difference between jumping into a cold pool and getting it over with versus going in one toe at a time, trying to acclimate slowly at each step. No matter which way you do it, the pool is still going to be shockingly cold. Might as well get it over with.

Which brings me to my other theme: life is short. If you know a scenario is not right for you, why spend one more second remaining in it? You only get this life once, and this day once. Why spend it on something that makes you miserable? Does that bad job / bad boyfriend / crappy city / bad career choice deserve another day of your life? No. So do something about it.

But to answer your question about a plan, even if a leap looks crazy, keep in mind that the person has probably been mulling it over internally for a long, long time. Actions look spontaneous on the outside, but there is often a lot of preparation internally, even if it is only that person accumulating enough frustration to actually do something about it.

If you had to leave a job again (without another one in the wings), what would you do differently?

I don't know that I would do anything differently. Clichéd as it is, there is that whole "leap and the net will appear" thing. I think in many small ways, I have been taking a series of chances each time I made a change, all of my adult life. (Moving to big scary NYC straight out of my childhood bedroom in CT was another one of these leaps.) But when I finally quit my well-paying job at Yale to move to a much smaller town, where I did not know one single person, and did not have any job prospects, and did not have a place to live, and had very little money in the bank, with a bad car, and with winter coming -- well -- I was aware how crazy it all was. I also remember thinking that this move to Northampton was the first real, true leap of faith I had ever made in my life. Everything before that had been mere practice by comparison. I remember thinking "so this is what a real leap of faith is." Make no mistake: I had tons of anxiety, and moments of panic, and "what am I doing?" ... but I also kept this thought in mind: I will be alright. Even if I fail, I will be fine. Even if I lose what little money I have I’ll survive. Like my father says, as long as you have your health you're doing pretty damn well. And I kinda just kept this is mind: It's OK to fail. The worst is that I would have to start all over again.

The only thing I can think of that might have eased my anxiety a little would have been to have had more money in the bank. Although there is a really interesting Catch-22 here. I think the more money people have, the more they are afraid of losing it. So, where more money should provide more of a sense of security to take risks, I think it actually makes you less likely to take chances. But, I mean, no one wants to end up sleeping under a bridge, so you do need a little bit of money before setting off on your next journey...

Based on your experience, what would you tell someone who's ready to call it quits?

It's OK to mull things over. It's OK to be confused, or depressed, or to feel lost, like you don't know what your next move is. It's OK to feel trapped. Because what this means is that you are waking up. Sleepwalking people don't feel unhappy, only people who are waking up and not liking what they see are unhappy. But it means you are becoming conscious, becoming aware of what needs to change. I really believe this is part of the process. Because all those feelings of frustration are getting stored up somewhere and later it's all going to serve as the rocket fuel that propels you forward, once you decide what your next big decision is going to be.

But as soon as you know that the place you are is not for you, DO buckle down and start saving your money (despite what I said above). You are going to need some kind of life raft, after all. The other interesting thing about money is this: I never felt like I had enough money at Yale, even though I made more money there than I ever made in my life. But what happens is that when you're unhappy, you unconsciously spend your hard-earned money on lots of little things to make you feel better: pizza, movies, ice cream, clothes, dinners, bars, trips. I would actually argue that you spend less money when you are happy, not more ...

But I've found that the moment you gain a new focus and decide you are going to make a big change, saving money becomes a necessity, and it actually becomes a lot easier to save money because now you have to. I was shocked at how quickly I was able to save money at Yale once I decided I was leaving. I felt so much richer in the process of quitting my job than all of the four years that I dragged through that place, buying little things here and there to make myself feel better.

Do you feel an itch to make another change? If so, what do you want to do next?

I am at year four-and-a-half in my cycle so -- yeah -- I do feel another change is coming. As usual, I am confused, and lethargic, and complainey, and cynical. And I'm eating lots of ice cream to make myself feel better. I am in the process once again. And I don't know where I am going. I am in the mulling phase. This can last quite a while I have found.

But I do know I have to do something radical and different again. Well-meaning people keep suggesting incremental changes to me (finishing a degree, or getting a similar-but-different job elsewhere) but that is not what I want to do -- at all. Mostly out of survival, I have managed to do pretty well for myself in office environments. (This alone is an achievement -- without ever having gotten a degree I have worked for many major financial corporations in NYC: Citigroup, etc. I've been successful for four years at Yale, four years at Smith College. Not bad for someone whose resume once only had: factory, retail store, Stop & Shop.)

But I feel the need to do something entirely different this time. Office work is a dead-end for me. There's nothing new I want to learn here, no more energy in it. I'm going through the motions, but that's it. I totally get it that up until now I have always made decisions out of sheer survival. "I need a job, and I can do this," has always been good enough for me, because it's had to be. But it's no good anymore. The part of myself that I have totally neglected -- in terms of making a living -- is the creative part. I've gone from lifting with my arms, to lifting with my intellect, but now it's time to start lifting myself up -- if possible -- with my creativity. Wish me luck because I still don't know how the heck I'm going to do this yet. But the not knowing is part of the process, so I guess I'm OK with that. I've been here before, in this exact same place, so I know I can do it all again.

Become a Fan

2010-06-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

The Quitter to Winner Blog Facebook page is up. Become a fan and tell your friends!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quitter-to-Winner-Blog/139622302721064?created#!/pages/Quitter-to-Winner-Blog/139622302721064?ref=ts

Let's start at the end

2010-06-22T14:32:00.000-07:00

I quit.

Telling the boss that you're moving on - even without a backup plan - is an endorphin rush. Yet common sense (and Suze Orman) tells us that leaving a "steady" job without another lined up isn't too swift. Especially during a recession.

Over the last few years people held onto jobs they weren't satisfied with (read: dreaded). But recent stats show that more and more workers are voluntarily leaving their gigs for yet-to-be-determined opportunities.

Job burnout certainly plays a role in the trend. (More layoffs x tripled workloads without raises + crabby bosses = peace out.) Some might have a little red devil on their shoulders who whispers "life's too short." Others have the hutzpa to strike out on their own, thinking they can crack the "earn more, work less" algorithm.

Everyone's got a reason and a story. I'm curious to learn why people jumped ship without a "logical" plan, how they navigated the free fall, and if they succeeded.

If you're someone who has left a job without a clear next step, I'd like to feature your story in a Q&A format for future posts. If you desperately want out of a job and wonder how others pulled it off, stay tuned.

Contact me at msjost@gmail.com to participate. Keep an eye out for Quitter to Winner on Facebook and Twitter.

Cheers,

Michael Sjostedt