What to do instead of hiding

In conversations lately, I’ve heard a lot of insecurity about the world and our place in it, money and having “enough” of it, and time and losing it to constant recalibrating. And that was before the virus started spreading.

I can’t be the only one who wants to hide when things happen that have no clear solution.

Of course plans need to change in order to keep people healthy, and of course our businesses and lives will change along with those plans. Kids will be home from school. Customers will make less of some purchases while buying a whole bunch of toilet paper.

And what do we do in the face of all of this?

Some ideas, and I’d love to hear yours too:

1. Remember the basics. Take deep breaths, drink water and wash your hands often. Like every great goal you’ve achieved, the small consistent steps are the most meaningful.

2. Stay grounded. Brush your teeth while looking in the mirror and really see yourself. You’re here. You’re safe in this moment. You are loved big time.

3. Show people you care. Tell people you love them. Phone calls, sending letters (there’s still time to join my real mail #hugtour or start your own!), smiling at drivers you pass on the highway or shoppers in the aisle over. Thanking postal workers, school bus drivers and pharmacists.

4. Create contingencies. Life changes all the time, and though now feels unprecedented it will feel that way again in the future. What’s most important? Really answer that question for yourself, your family and your work, and then make plans accordingly.

5. Make lemonade. I’m pretty sure you’re already good at this one. Enjoy the first signs of spring by looking for them everywhere. Get dirty finishing a home improvement project and feel good about the accomplishment. Re-start that daily gratitude journal. Borrow more books from the library. Use the changes as a way to innovate your work.

And if accountability helps—we are A students after all—email me about how you’re making lemonade.

Maybe we can brainstorm some fun ideas or inspire each other to get creative.

Let’s make the most of this time. How special it is.

Do you have to make less to do what you love?

When contemplating a leap into a new career or business, it’s hard not to start negotiating right away.

I could probably live with a small pay cut.

Maybe the hours won’t be so bad.

Yeah, it’s a lot of driving, but hopefully it’ll be worth it.

Because of that pre-negotiating, it can feel nearly impossible to leap. As if you have to choose between what you value, like either you’ll enjoy your work or have the financial security you crave.

How could anyone choose between those? Why should anyone have to?

You don’t have to give something up in order to be happy at work.

You can make a stable, sizable income enjoying what you do.

The first step toward that is to stop negotiating before you have to. Instead, picture what you really want. All the bells and whistles. Benefits, paid vacation, freedom and flexibility.

Yes, even if you work for yourself all of these are possible.

Once you’ve made an initial list, get more granular. Based on the number of hours you want to be working, what will you do with the rest of the time? For instance, if you’d also like to finish your novel, then specify how many hours per week you want for that too so you’re building the fullest picture.

Your list, what we call your Ideal Work Profile, can contain details about what a work day looks like, how much travel is involved, how many or few people you interact with, what your office looks like or if there is one at all, how you feel valued, how you’re compensated, and what you do when the work is done.

Normally during the second call with clients, we make this profile together. If you really want a change, we need to know what to aim for.

Don’t know yet what you’re doing to make this salary? No problem. Believe it or not, the smaller details on your profile will inform the bigger questions that may still be fuzzy.

Meaning, if you know you want to work 5 hours a day mainly from home with a couple outside meetings each week, then the industries, organizations and opportunities will sort themselves around these requirements. Or rather, you’ll start seeing opportunities coming your way through the lens of the Ideal Work Profile you’ve created.

Make your list first and let everyone else, including your customers, negotiate themselves into your ideal.

It’s pretty incredible what happens then.

I’ve watched clients achieve the income they desired, the appreciative colleagues and clients they hoped for, and the downtime with loved ones that had felt like a far-off dream.

If you want to build your Ideal Work Profile together, we can discuss that in a consultation.

If you’d like to build this list in an intimate circle with everyone doing it together, comparing notes, and supporting each other really going for it, my signature program Career Clarity & Community starts on Wednesday. The other women coming forward are building their own businesses, clarifying what they want for themselves and why so we can get there together.

Let’s make your leap a reality.