Frequently Asked Questions

Why will values-based living/working work for me? Because you have been in a job where you’re disillusioned and left despondent. You need to pivot with purpose. Otherwise, you’ll go to another job without having your purpose and passion at the forefront! Then you’ll be disillusioned again after a couple of years.

 

Finding out what the core issues are is important rather than just putting on a plaster/band-aid with a tip or trick.

 

You have had decades in this life, so you have developed ways of thinking that were adaptive for your stage of life/career. These may not be serving you or making you happy. They are stopping you from exploring other options and careers.

​

"I know I just need to look at what my transferable skills are. Can you help me do that?"

​

Like me, you've scoured LinkedIn and jobs pages for skills and keywords to match what you do now. The blogs about transitioning jobs are like raisins in an oatmeal cookie… they seem like they're good for you, but are pretty useless in a super sugary snack. You can find tips on blogs. But you have yet to find what you want from a job. You know what you don't want but not what you really want to feel fulfilled.

​

You need to do a deep dive on the kind of life you want and then make that the focus of any job/career searches.

​

"I know I need to change but I'm really busy right now as I step up my game to apply for a promotion or jump start my career; I'll cut back on my work commitments later then spend time on myself and my family."

​

I think we're all familiar with this myth or this pressure to spend our youth chasing fast career progression. I've read Reddit posts where people talk about making it to 6 figure salaries quickly while working 70 to 80 hour weeks with the aim to retire by 35-40 years. Of course, 40 is still young! I have to think that! But the idea is still the same: you need to sacrifice present joy for future success. 

​

The reality, however, is that people develop further goals that require more sacrifices… then the person has no idea how to cut back, how to calm down, how to focus on what really matters. Or the person feels burnt out and tired and so prioritizes work over rest. After all, if you've been exhausted while at work, you've not been as productive as you'd like so you try to make up for the lack of productivity by giving up your evenings or weekends.

​

"I need to commit to obtaining more degrees/qualifications first"

​

That mentality is what got you in your academic job, but it's not a reflection of reality. Obviously, it depends. If you want to be a lawyer and you currently teach anthropology, then you need to retrain. But ask yourself if spending money and time on a degree is worth it or if you could use that time and money to invest in yourself right now.

​

Find out what your purpose is.