Escape the nine to five: how to design your career

Chances are, like many others, you followed the standard path to success. You got decent grades in high school, went to college, graduated with a good degree, and then landed a solid job. But this so-called “path to success” isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

Perhaps you're looking to make a change, but you're not sure how you can leverage your interests to actually pay the bills. Maybe you've already changed jobs once or twice, but you still don’t feel fulfilled. If you know that you need to pivot, but you're not sure where to start, this is the episode for you!

If you've been following this podcast, you've likely heard snippets of your host, Steve Oehley’s story along the way.

This season, we’re dedicating a few episodes to sharing his career journey, which is full of relatable examples and actionable lessons that you can use to help you escape your nine-to-five and design the career that works for you!

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. Why you shouldn't beat yourself up for the career choices you made when you were just a teenager 
2. Why, while you are likely being called to do something else, even if it's not clear what that thing is, you'll initially hold off from making change because of the uncertainty
3. How having a mentor will open up a world of possibilities that you never knew existed

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod 

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: LISTEN TO YOUR LIFE

Rather than looking for something new, have you ever considered something from your past? If you were given all the money in the world and you could not fail, what would you do?

The answers to these questions will give you some clue about what you should be doing. Here’s an exercise for you: In one column, write down all the things that you really enjoyed about your previous jobs. Be specific! These could also be the things that you were good at in school. In a second column, write down all the things you enjoyed doing in your childhood. Now, draw lines connecting corresponding things in both columns.

Once you’ve found the commonalities, write down three feasible things you could be doing as a job or business. Whichever one of these three things makes you feel the most excited, find a way to include it in your life!

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work-life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

Last week, we spoke to Kathy Caprino about being authentic. This week, we're doing something different.

We're going to do a "pod-drop", sharing an episode of Kathy's podcast - Finding Brave - relevant to you.

Bronnie Ware is best known as the author of the international bestselling memoir The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, read by over a million people in 32 languages and with a movie in the pipeline. Bronnie is also an inspirational speaker. She lives in northern New South Wales, Australia, and is a passionate advocate for simplicity and leaving space to breathe. 

This conversation with Bronnie is about much more than the top regrets that people have at the end of their lives. It’s about realizing that happiness is a choice that each one of us can make, and we all can have it. After listening to this episode, you’ll have a clearer picture of what’s involved in living a life that fills your heart and allows a greater experience of joy every day, regardless of your current situation.

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. What are the 5 most common regrets of the dying and why this is relevant to your career.
2. Why you should always have the choice who you want to be and trust your own systems over other people's systems.
3. How to show the greatest appreciation for your life.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: FIND HAPPINESS

There is something from your past you have always enjoyed doing, that you no longer do. Find something you enjoy doing and add it back to your life.

For More Information: 

https://bronnieware.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/bronnie.ware/

https://www.facebook.com/bronnie.ware

Resources Mentioned: 

Bronnie’s Book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing & Her Other Works

Her Audio Course, Regret-Free and Loving It

Bronnie’s Joyful and Regret-Free Weekend Retreat (California 29 – 31 May, 2020)

Kathy and Bronnie’s Forbes Post, The Top Regrets Of The Dying And What We Need To Learn From Them

For more about Kathy’s upcoming book The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths To Career Bliss, sign up for her weekly newsletter at https://kathycaprino.com for updates, free giveaways, contests, and more, coming in Summer 2020. And to discover if you are experiencing any of the 7 damaging power gaps today, take Kathy’s Power Gap Survey and find out!

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

You're stuck in a fixed job working four or five days a week. It pays alright, the work is okay, but deep down you know there is something more for you.

You've got something you are interested in, but don't quite know how you're going to make a living off it. Maybe it is something someone might call a regular job, but it's not in your current field of work.

How do you make this dream a reality?

We live in the social media age.

Having a social media presence is important in the 21st century, but you can't quite see how it might be useful in your area of interest or even which social media platform might be best.

OUR GUEST THIS WEEK:

Kathy Caprino, Women's Leadership & Career Coach

Kathy has been doing career and leadership development for professionals for over 16 years and is one of the most respected voices in the career space on LinkedIn with almost 1 million followers. She is also a writer for Forbes magazine, has her own podcast and has authored two books. But like a lot of people, she gave up her dreams very early on spending years in a toxic work culture before finding her calling in her forties.

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. How to identify power gaps that might be affecting your success at work.
2. Why you shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water if you haven't figured out what it is you want to be doing
3. How being authentically you is the only way to create a personal brand online.

Her assessment: http://kathycaprino.com/free-assessment/

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE:

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

If you're going to change career, you know you're going to need a mentor.

But how do you find a mentor?

Plus, how do you know that person is the right fit for you?

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. The most common myths about mentorship
2. How to find a mentor
3. What questions to ask a mentor

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: APPROACH A MENTOR

Contact one person you are comfortable reaching out to who could either be your mentor, OR could put you in touch with someone who can.

Don't forget to ask yourself what you want to learn and why? Make sure the message is authentic to you and shows a genuine interest in the person you are contacting.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

Episode show notes:

We all know famous mentors.  

Gandalf the Grey. Albus Dumbledore. Yoda. Mufasa.. 

If you're going to successfully escape the nine to five, you're going to need a mentor, but how do you find a mentor, how do you know this person is the right fit for you?

>> OUR GUEST THIS EPISODE: Kevin Chemidlin. 

He quit a comfortable nine to five job at an insurance company to become an entrepreneur. After a few failed ventures, he launched Philly Who, a podcast for entrepreneurs in Philadelphia. 

He had so much success growing this podcast, he launched Grow The Show, where he teaches other podcasters how to grow and monetize their podcast business.

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. Why the random mix of skills you've learned will come handy in ways you never expect.
2. How finding a mentor will save you time and ensure someone is invested in your success.
3. How I can help you escape the nine to five.

Kevin’s target daily engagement: https://growtheshow.com/targeted-daily-engagement-how-to-use-social-media-to-double-podcast-audience/

>>TO GET MENTORSHIP YOURSELF:

Email me: [email protected] or join our Facebook page below.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: PLAN YOUR TIME & MONEY

Lock yourself in a room for an hour and write down how you're spending your money. How much do you need to spend to live as well, as how much you need to realistically spend a week on your side project?

It might be worth doing this on an Excel sheet to make sure you're not missing anything. And that the math adds up. Secondly, write down how much time you need each week to spend on your side project.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

Imagine getting a call from an elderly person who says:

"I am future you, currently lying on my death bed, and I want to share all the regrets you're going to have in your life, so that you don't make the same mistakes."

What do you think you'll most likely regret at the end of your life?

While we move through our day to day life, we rarely stop and think about what our last days would be like. What might you regret at the end of your life?

We can't talk to our future selves, but in this episode, you can get the next best thing.

In Bronnie Ware’s book, ‘The Top Five Regrets of the Dying’, she shares her experiences with palliative care patients on their deathbed and what they most regretted about their lives.

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. What are the five most common things people regret at the end of their life.
2. How to avoid making the same mistakes in your own life and career.
3. What steps you can take today towards escaping the nine to five.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: SUCCESS JOURNAL

Write down at least a one positive experience or success from today. It doesn't have to be anything amazing, even something as simple as sharing a joke with a colleague or opening a door for a stranger.

If you're anything like me, you might come from an upbringing where only the big successes are celebrated. By acknowledging the small successes, it will literally re-wire your brain to think more positively. Keep it by your bedside table (somewhere you won't forget). It's a daily habit that will literally take you 30 seconds each day.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

"Is having work-life balance achievable?"

"Is it realistic?"

"What does work-life balance even mean to me?"

These might be questions you've asked.

You want a successful career, you want to earn good money, but you're also getting stressed out. You're not spending enough time with family and friends, barely any time for hobbies, let alone some exercise at the end of your workday.

Something's gotta give.

>> OUR GUEST THIS EPISODE:

Who better to discuss work-life balance thank Nigel Marsh; an advertising executive who lost his job with four young kids and decided to remain unemployed for a year to spend time with his family and figure out what work-life balance meant to him.

He's also done a wildly popular TED talk on work-life balance, authored multiple books including his latest book "Smart, Stupid & Sixty". Nigel has his own podcast, The Five of My Life, as well as speaking around the world about his experiences.

His book: https://www.penguin.com.au/books/smart-stupid-and-sixty-9780143794363

Website: https://www.nigelmarsh.com

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. What timeframe you should measure your own work-life balance by.
2. Why the world's problems are not your problem.
3. Don't wait for death, disease, redundancy or divorce to make change; you can start small.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Privately, ask yourself:

• What type of person do I want to be?
• What type of life do I want to lead?
• What type of legacy do I want to leave?

Then ask yourself:

• What type of person am I?
• What type of life am I leading?
• What type of legacy will I leave, if I carry on this way?

Identify if there is a gap between those two things and finally ask yourself:

• Am I going to do anything about the gap?

Decide don't slide.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

So you're looking to leave your nine to five job, right? You want to do something different.

But you're probably a bit lost.

You've changed jobs - likely multiple times - but what you really need is a complete career change.

You might be thinking, where do I even start?

in season one of escape, the nine to five, host Steve Oehley spoke to some people who'd made the leap, including uncovering some of the myths we tell ourselves that hold us back.

in season two, we're doing a deeper dive into how to make a career change and I will be sharing more of the framework I've created to help you escape the nine to five job.

Some of our guests this season include career experts, Kathy Caprino and Joseph Liu. Author and Tedx Speaker, Nigel Marsh, and award-winning National Geographic Photographer, Jason Edwards.

We end each episode with a few tips from our guests and each week I'll give you a take home challenge to help you on your own career change journey.

We'll be releasing episodes weekly, with guest episodes every fortnight and in the alternating weeks we'll be releasing quick bite episodes with specific career advice.

If you'd like help on your OWN career change journey, click the link below:

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

Do you ever look at someone living a dream job and think, "I wish I had the guts to do something like that"?

You notice people in these dream jobs and think they don't seem particularly intelligent or talented. Deep down, you know if you try it's possible to land a dream job.

You're not happy in your current profession and you've always wanted to change, but you've probably made excuses to avoid the scary part change. That's really the crux of what makes us gaping the nine to five hard. It's fear of the unknown fear of change. Fear of failure.

Join host Steve Oehley as he talks to Cam Calkoen about embracing fear.

>> OUR GUEST THIS EPISODE:

Cam Calkoen is an inspirational speaker, born with cerebral palsy. Instead of worrying about the way he walked and the way he talked, Cam turned these perceived weaknesses into his biggest strengths, becoming an athletic gold medalist and an inspirational speaker.

IG: @camcalkoen

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. Why to never let yourself become comfortable in your job.
2. Why you should always do something that scares you, each and every day.
3. How to avoid a life of regret.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: FEAR SETTING

Based off Tim Ferriss' book, the Four Hour Workweek, write down your fears, not your goals.

1. Define your nightmare, the absolute worst thing that would happen if you did what you were considering doing. Envisage this and painstaking detail. Would it be the end of your life? How likely do you think this would actually happen?
2. What steps could you take to repair the damage? If the worst case scenario happened, chances are it's easier than you'd imagine.
3. What are the outcomes or benefits both temporary and permanent of more probable scenarios. Now that you've defined your worst nightmare. What are the more likely outcomes? How likely is it that you could produce even a moderately good outcome?
4. If you were fired from your job today, what would you do to keep your finances under control? Or if you quit your job, how hard would it be to go back to your old job or a similar one, if you really had to?
5. What are you putting off out of fear? Usually what we most fear doing is what we most need to do. As Tim Ferriss' says a person's success in life can usually be measured by the number of uncomfortable conversations he or she is willing to have.
6. What is it costing you financially, emotionally, physically to postpone action. Don't just measure the downside of action, measure the downside of inaction. If you don't do what excites you, where will you be in one, five or ten years. The cost of inaction is the greatest risk of all. You don't want to be one of those people living a life of regret.
7. What are you waiting for? Measure the cost of inaction, realize the downsides of change are unlikely, and fixable, and develop the most important habit of all - ACTION.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5

You're here because you feel trapped in your nine to five job.

If you're like most people, there's probably plenty of hobbies you enjoy doing in your personal life. But none of them feel like something you can turn into a comfortable paying job.

This week, we speak to someone who's going to challenge that assumption.

Join host Steve Oehley as he talks to Hannah Mellsop about how to use social media to grow your brand.

>> OUR GUEST THIS EPISODE:

Hannah Mellsop. She's the founder of Real Rad Food, which is a plant-based dessert company. She started it as a side hustle, making healthy treats as a creative outlet, sharing her treats on social media.

What started as a hobby. She grew from the ground up attending local markets and growing organically. She now employs a team of five people and ships food online throughout New Zealand. She is living proof you can turn your hobbies into a thriving business.

IG: @realradfood

>> WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

1. You learn how you can test the market on social media, to discover if these legs to turning your hobby into a genuine business.
2. Why you should always start it as a side hustle.
3. Why you've got to be prepared to walk through the C.R.A.P. to get to the destination.

>> JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/escapetheninetofivepod

>> TAKE HOME CHALLENGE: SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT.

Before starting a side hustle, I recommend becoming active on social media. This will be different for every person, but I'll give you an example to help you out.

I have a friend who LOVES fishing. If he posts photos of himself fishing on social media, chances are with the number of people who post similar photos he is NOT going to be able to turn this into a side hustle.

However, like any business, if he gets more SPECIFIC, he might find a NICHE that hasn't been tapped yet. Maybe he posts about the handmade fishing flies he enjoys making, that are particularly good at catching a certain type of fish. Or he goes on a Facebook community page and offers advice to more amateur fishermen than him. As he builds credibility, a business opportunity could be formed.

No business, big or small, tries to appeal to everybody. Find a niche on social media you're interested in, and spend time building an audience there.

Podcast genre: career change, career transition, work life balance, great resignation.

Podcast also known as: escape the 9 to 5