Change Work Life

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#097 - Kerry Parkin explains how, having been made unexpectedly redundant as a result of the Covid pandemic, she took the opportunity she’d been waiting for to start her own business.

What you'll learn

• [1:12] What a communication agency does.
• [2:36] What led Kerry to this career.
• [4:02] What Kerry enjoys most about her job and what her main drivers are.
• [5:00] What Kerry’s last marketing job was before Covid hit.
• [6:34] The extensive traveling Kerry had to do as part of her job pre-Covid.
• [7:57] What Kerry’s career plans were before the pandemic hit.
• [8:56] How Kerry’s company responded to the pandemic and the shock of being made redundant.
• [10:51] Kerry’s immediate reaction to getting made redundant.
• [13:11]  How to decide what’s next when facing redundancy.
• [14:38] How spending time with your children can make you reassess your priorities.
• [16:27] The process of finding your purpose and what’s really important to you.
• [19:50]  The benefits of working for yourself rather than another organisation.
• [20:48] Why Kerry hadn’t started her own business in the past.
• [22:16] How to attract clients when first starting a business. 
• [24:09] The importance of continually reassessing business ventures to see if they’re still working for you.
• [25:40] Where Kerry would like her business to be in five years.
• [26:36] The resources that have been most helpful to Kerry.

Resources mentioned in this episode (some of these are affiliate links and we may get a commission in the event that you make a purchase - this helps us to cover our expenses and is at no additional cost to you):

• Three Feet from Gold, Sharon Lechter, and Greg Reid
• The Chimp Paradox, Prof. Steve Peters
• Truth To Power, Jess Philips

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/covid-stories-from-redundancy-to-opportunity/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#096 - Stephanie Geyer had worked in higher education all her career when she was unexpectedly made redundant and left unsure what to do next.  Instead of seeing this as a setback she saw it as an opportunity and started her own consultancy firm helping colleges and universities with their strategic marketing and branding.

What you'll learn

• [1:14] The ways Stephanie helps education providers improve their marketing and brand development.
• [2:47] How Stephanie found herself working with educational institutions.
• [3:54] How Stephanie ended up being made redundant from her previous job.
• [6:04] What it felt like to be made redundant.
• [7:35] What a DISC assessment is and how Stephanie decided what she wanted to do next.
• [10:45] How Stephanie thought about buying a franchise.
• [14:20] Why Stephanie decided to stay working in higher education.
• [16:13] How Stephanie got the courage to contact others to ask for help.
• [18:30] The impact calls with old colleagues had on Stephanie.
• [20:38] The fears Stephanie had to overcome in order to start her own consultancy.
• [22:29] The most surprising parts of starting your own consultancy firm.
• [25:03] Where Stephanie sees her business going in the future.
• [28:46] What Stephanie does when she starts to second-guess herself.
• [31:34] How Stephanie has built her network of connections in the higher education sector.
• [35:04] The resources that have most helped Stephanie in becoming a business owner.

Resources mentioned in this episode (some of these are affiliate links and we may get a commission in the event that you make a purchase - this helps us to cover our expenses and is at no additional cost to you):

• DISC assessment
• Clubhouse
• FutureX Tribe on Clubhouse

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/finding-opportunity-through-redundancy/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#095 - Chris Bryant’s well-paid finance job was having a seriously detrimental effect on his mental health.  He explains how the Covid pandemic made him reassess his career and gave him the confidence to start his own pizza business.

What you'll learn

• [1:40] What ‘Lost Nomads Pizza’ is and their business model during the pandemic.
• [3:36] Chris’s background in finance and banking, and what it was like working in that field.
• [7:08] The career progression that was available to Chris at his old job.
• [9:48] Why it’s so difficult to leave a high-paying job.
• [12:06] What made Chris reassess his priorities and change his lifestyle.
• [14:36] How counseling helped Chris realise what was causing the problems in his life.
• [19:20] How Chris ended up quitting his job and started studying online.
• [21:32] What helped Chris overcome the fear of being unemployed.
• [24:30] What the first steps of retraining in a new field looked like for Chris.
• [25:50] The deadline Chris set himself for when he needed to be back making an income.
• [27:52] How Chris had the idea to start a pizza business.
• [31:43] How Chris avoided feeling too much pressure starting a hospitality business during the pandemic.
• [35:39] Chris’s plans for the future of his business.
• [38:02] The quotes that have most inspired Chris.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Reed Courses
• Udemy

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/covid-stories-reassessing-your-lifestyle-and-career/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#094 - Katherine Byam suggests how you can enjoy your job whilst having a positive impact on the world by building sustainability into your working life.

What you'll learn

• [01:40] Katherine introduces what she does and what the common theme in her work is.
• [03:22] Katherine explains her background and why she was drawn to sustainability.
• [08:09] Defining sustainability and understanding its importance.
• [11:20] How to start questioning your contribution to sustainability.
• [14:56] How you can start to make an impact in your organisation.
• [18:27] Looking at the potential effects of automation on job roles.
• [21:32] Using case studies to present innovative ideas to your organisation.
• [25:11] Using employee collaboration to create ideas for diverse social changes.
• [27:30] Sourcing ideas for what you can do to start making changes.
• [29:32] How to start looking at new opportunities that align with what’s important to you.
• [32:16] Building your knowledge to find out where you can make a change.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• Frugal Innovation, Navi Radjou
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
• Vestiaire Collective
• The Circulars Accelerator
• Bumboo Tree-Free Toilet Paper
• The Ink Bin
• Sustainable Living Facebook group
• Seaspiracy
• Living The Change: Inspiring Stories for a Sustainable Future
• WWF Footprint Calculator
• B Impact Assessment
• The Circular Economy Handbook, Peter Lacy, Jessica Long and Wesley Spinder

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/a-positive-impact-and-building-sustainability-into-your-career/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#093 - Julia Menheere explains how, by using her background in data analysis and economics, she took her interest in personal finance to launch a side-hustle educating people on finance and why she’s now decided to make it her full-time job.

What you'll learn

• [01:07] Julia explains her business and who she primarily works with.
• [01:59] Julia talks about leaving Uber and how she came to start her own business.
• [03:25] Julia talks through her education and the work experience that led her to work as a data analyst at Uber.
• [05:55] Defining what a data analyst does.
• [07:18] Looking at the typical education and career path of someone who wants to become a data analyst.
• [08.02] Julia explains how and when she became interested in personal finance.
• [11:29] Using the example of spending at Christmas to help start budgeting.
• [13:03] How to become educated on personal finance.
• [13:58] Julia talks about when she realised she would like to help others with their finances.
• [16:05] Why freedom was the primary driver for Julia to share her knowledge of personal finance and to start her side-hustle.
• [17:45] Julia discusses the tactics she employed when she started her own business.
• [20:08] The importance of knowing your audience when driving traffic to a new blog.
• [22:07] How Julia approached her employee about going part-time.
• [24:45] Julia discusses what led her to move into working in her own business full-time.
• [26:05] Where Julia sees the business going over the next few years.
• [26:57] What Julia enjoys about her work and how she makes it suit her lifestyle.
• [28:53] The challenges you can face when starting your own business.
• [30:36] How to deal with doubts around the success of a business when you are starting out.
• [31:46] Julia reflects on how useful her analytics background is within her own business.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Julia’s investment calculator
• Uber
• Money Master The Game, Tony Robbins
• Amy Porterfield
• The Experience Product Masterclass
• The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/turning-your-side-hustle-into-your-full-time-job-with-julia-menheere/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#092 - Kirsten Ramos of Elevate Performance talks about the importance of asking yourself if you are working in the right environment for you and how this led her from being an employee to being a business owner.

What you'll learn

• [01:17] Kirsten introduces what she does and her typical clientele.
• [02:17] Kirsten discusses what she helps individuals and organisations with.
• [04:18] Kirsten explains how she got involved in learning and development.
• [08:44] Kirsten discusses how she seized the opportunity to work in internal training.
• [09:37] Kirsten explains the events that lead her to want her to work for herself.
• [12:25] Understanding when a workplace isn’t a great fit for you.
• [14:28] Kirsten analyses how she has dealt with difficult conversations. 
• [17:35] Exploring your career options when you’re not in the right workplace.
• [20:09] Kirsten talks about how she built up her business client base.
• [22:01] Organically building relationships and your network.
• [25:45] Looking at the gaps in your own skillset to help start your own business more effectively.
• [27:38] Reinvesting in your business to protect it and to assist in its growth.
• [29:45] Considering how your business evolves and learning to adapt to it.
• [31:49] Kirsten looks at what’s next for herself and her business.

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/are-you-working-in-the-right-environment/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#091 - Kyle Maurer talks through his journey from being the owner of a marketing agency to working as an employee and the difference between doing what you know and doing what you love.

What you'll learn

• [02:57] Kyle explains how he came to start his own business.
• [04:57] Kyle reflects on his attitude when he started his marketing agency.
• [07:13] Kyle discusses how he felt before making the decision to leave the agency.
• [13:00] Kyle talks about how he figured out the next step in his career.
• [14:00] The importance of investing in relationships.
• [19:31] Kyle explains his emotions during the transition period between leaving the agency and his new role.
• [21:01] Adjusting and dealing with feelings of being unemployable after working for yourself.
• [24:10] How Kyle and his employer worked through the challenge of him not being in the right role.
• [27:07] Utilising your natural talents over acquired talents.
• [30:02] Kyle explains what he finds the most difficult part of his current role.
• [32:23] Kyle thinks about where he might be in five years’ time.
• [35:09] How owning your own company doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll feel fulfilled.
• [36:20] Exploring your priorities to understand where your best fit could be.

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/moving-from-business-owner-to-employee/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#090 - Fitness and wellbeing coach Kourtney Thomas explains the importance behind identifying your values and choosing a career that aligns with them.

What you'll learn

• [0:48] Why Kourtney is such a big fan of Dolly Parton.
• [3:27] Who Kourtney’s clients are and why she only works with women.
• [5:28] How Kourtney’s clients first find her services.
• [7:25] Why Kourtney decided to work in real estate after studying hospitality.
• [11:39] How Kourtney got hired in new roles that she had no experience in.
• [15:46] The difficulties Kourtney found in working in an industry where people are seen as a commodity.
• [19:30] How to find out what your values are.
• [21:50] How Kourtney found her love and passion for fitness.
• [26:21] How Kourtney first started working in the fitness world.
• [29:59] Why Kourtney started her own business rather than continuing to work for a gym.
• [31:26] How Kourtney’s past experience helped her when starting her own business.
• [33:10] The fears and doubts Kourtney had when starting out.
• [35:36] Why Kourtney expanded her fitness coaching to life coaching and mindset awareness.
• [39:07] How Kourtney’s life coaching works and what her sessions look like.
• [42:58] Where Kourtney hopes her business will be in 5-10 years.

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/aligning-your-work-with-your-values/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#089 - Transformational leadership coach, advisor and author Jacqueline Wales explains how to prevent fear from stopping you taking the next step.

What you'll learn

• [1:36] Why Jacqueline wrote her newest book ‘The Fearless Factor at Work’.
• [3:08] How Jacqueline learned about fear and how to move past it.
• [6:28] What fear does to us and how people usually respond to it.
• [9:04] How to tell the difference between excuses and valid reasons.
• [10:47] How to be more self-aware of how fear is affecting you.
• [13:59] What ‘being fearless’ really means.
• [15:18] How to conquer fear and stop worrying about what others are thinking.
• [17:19] The importance of setting boundaries and having pragmatic conversations.
• [20:21] How practicing prior to an event can alleviate the fear in the moment.
• [23:59] The risks of perfectionism and how it can prevent you from making actual progress.
• [27:02] How to know when you have prepared thoroughly enough.
• [29:25] How to reduce anxieties around decision making.

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/how-to-overcome-fear-and-take-the-next-step/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Questions? Comments? Episode suggestions? Send us a text message!

#088 - “Build Your Dream Network” author Kelly Hoey helps us network better and explains how you can use networking to change your career.

What you'll learn

• [03:12] Kelly discusses how she made the shift from law to become a networking expert.
• [04:40] Kelly explains her definition of the term ‘networking’.
• [06:14] How observing and working within your existing network can lead to opportunities.
• [07:50] Utilising your existing connections to unearth opportunities.
• [10:45] Tips for controlling the anxiety that comes with networking.
• [12:03] How to start networking when changing your career.
• [15:12] Looking to your network before reaching out to people outside it.
• [17:41] Working through hesitation in building relationships.
• [19:19] Showing appreciation for advice given to you and why following up is important.
• [21:34] How to schedule your time to encourage yourself to network.
• [23:28] Conducting informational interviews to research a potential change in career.
• [25:52] Thinking about the landscape of your ideal job to judge if it’s the right fit for you.
• [29:19] Engaging with people regularly to build your relationships.
• [31:01] Actively helping industry peers to help you understand other perspectives.
• [34:01] How by getting together with others in the middle of a career change you can help each other.

For the show notes for this episode, including a full transcript and links to all the resources mentioned, visit:

https://changeworklife.com/how-networking-can-help-you-change-career/

Re-assessing your career?  Know you need a change but don't really know where to start?  Check out these two exercises to start the journey of working out what career is right for you!

Take me to the exercises!

Also, make sure to join the Change Work Life Facebook group and check out all the resources mentioned by our guests on the Change Work Life Resources page.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.