Lessons from a Quitter

I'm so excited to jump into March's book club pick, Elizabeth Gilbert's Big Magic. If you haven't taken the time to read it, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

I think this book is all the more important during this uncertain time of a global pandemic. Many people are rightfully re-evaluating their life and work.

The entire premise of the book is that we need creativity in order to live the rich, fulfilled lives we so desperately crave. And Liz Gilbert gives us the perfect blueprint to get started.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• Why every human is a creative being
• Why we all need creativity for a fulfilled life
• How to ditch the tortured artist stereotype
• How to pursue creativity even if you're afraid
• How to fold it into your life
• And so much more.

I’m so excited to jump into March’s book club pick, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. If you haven’t taken the time to read it, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

I think this book is all the more important during this uncertain time of a global pandemic. Many people are rightfully re-evaluating their life and work. 

The entire premise of the book is that we need creativity in order to live the rich, fulfilled lives we so desperately crave.  And Liz Gilbert gives us the perfect blueprint to get started. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Why every human is a creative being
• Why we all need creativity for a fulfilled life
• How to ditch the tortured artist stereotype
• How to pursue creativity even if you’re afraid
• How to fold it into your life
• And so much more. 

As we head into uncertain economic times, it's important to look to examples of people who have, not only survived but thrived through similar situations.

We need reminders that, while there are so many things we don't control, we always control how we show up.

There is no better example of this than my friend, Janelle Copeland.

Janelle had a successful career in leadership and management at large retailers such as Circuit City, AT&T, and Best Buy. But during the 2008 recession, both Janelle and her husband were both laid off from their lucrative 6-figure jobs.

After having to file bankruptcy, Janelle had to find another way.

What she did next is incredible:

• She started the Cake Mamas with her husband's EX (What?!? I know.)
• They quickly grew their in-home bakery to over $10k a month
• She then decided to open up her first brick-and-mortar bakery
• She's run that successful bakery for over 10 years with 15 employees
• She has been featured a number of times on Food Network, even winning the popular Cupcake Wars.
• She has built an incredibly strong brand and business
• She also started a second business coaching and consulting with female entrepreneurs

Janelle's story is such a powerful reminder that sometimes our hardships are true blessings in disguise. That's not to say they're not difficult. But we didn't sign up for "easy" with this life.

It can be incredibly powerful to see how others were able to, not only get through but thrive ​​​in tough times.

Janelle's perspective is one we could all use right now.

As we head into uncertain economic times, it’s important to look to examples of people who have, not only survived but thrived through similar situations.

We need reminders that, while there are so many things we don’t control, we always control how we show up.

There is no better example of this than my friend, Janelle Copeland. 

Janelle had a successful career in leadership and management at large retailers such as Circuit City, AT&T, and Best Buy. But during the 2008 recession, both Janelle and her husband were both laid off from their lucrative 6-figure jobs.

After having to file bankruptcy, Janelle had to find another way. 

What she did next is incredible:

• She started the Cake Mamas with her husband's EX (What?!? I know.)
• They quickly grew their in-home bakery to over $10k a month
• She then decided to open up her first brick-and-mortar bakery
• She's run that successful bakery for over 10 years with 15 employees
• She has been featured a number of times on Food Network, even winning the popular Cupcake Wars. 
• She has built an incredibly strong brand and business 
• She also started a second business coaching and consulting with female entrepreneurs

Janelle's story is such a powerful reminder that sometimes our hardships are true blessings in disguise. That's not to say they're not difficult. But we didn't sign up for “easy” with this life.

It can be incredibly powerful to see how others were able to, not only get through but thrive ​​​in tough times. 

Janelle's perspective is one we could all use right now. 

We're all feeling scared and uncertain about the future.

I don't have the answers. But I'm hoping my perspective might quiet those fears a bit.

My advice basically falls into a couple DOs and DONTs.

DON'T:

DON'T take anyone's advice about all of the things you should be getting done right now while in quarantine.

This isn't a vacation. A lot of us are panicked and we don't need to add a layer of shame on top of it because we're not re-organizing our closets or creating the perfect homeschooling plan for our children.

If you have the bandwidth to use this time to tackle the things you usually don't have time for, great! Have at it!

But if you don't, give yourself grace. It's ok to just be. In our society of hustle, we don't need to turn a pandemic into a time of productivity.

Let yourself do whatever you need right now and take off the guilt.

DON'T spend all day watching the news.

While I just said you can do whatever you want, that comes with one caveat: you can't just take in hours and hours of news.

Our brains are evolutionarily wired to seek out all information about possible dangers. But it wasn't evolved to take in a 24-hour news cycle that gets more ratings the scarier it is.

While you need to stay abreast of what is going on, you don't need a minute-by-minute update of every person who has died from the virus.

Walk away. Do anything else.

DON'T try to predict the future.

"We suffer more in imagination than in reality."- Seneca

When our thoughts run unchecked we try to come up with every possible scenario of what can happen. The reality is that we have no idea what is going to happen. Stop trying to control or plan for every possible scenario.

There are tons of factors that we have no control over--the government, how many people self-quarantine, etc. All we are doing in our attempt to control is increasing the amount of time we suffer. Know that you'll deal with whatever issue comes up.

DO:

DO look at the silver linings-

While this can be hard, mindset work is the most needed in tough times.

I like to think about the Law of Polarity- everything has an equal, opposite side.

We'd never know what happiness was if we didn't experience sadness. Think about it. How would food ever taste good if you were always full?

So while these events are hard and can be painful, there is another side. Maybe that's getting time to be with your family. Maybe that's giving mother nature a break from our constant onslaught. Maybe it's just changing your perspective to stop worrying about all of the minor things.

Whatever it is, spend time each day focusing on that. No better time than now to start a gratitude practice.

DO look at how other people have thrived in uncertain times.

"You can't be what you can't see." Marian Wright Edelman

It helps us to see others who have come out of tough times. It lets us know that it is possible.

Luckily, we've had tons of guests on the podcast who lost their jobs during the last economic recession in 2008 and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to them. Take some time to remind yourself that it's not always as bad as we think it is.

Episode 2 with Steve Trang

Episode 3 with Erin Wade

Episode 28 with Paula Pant

Episode 61 with Lindsey Schwartz

Everything is cyclical. Humans have gone through these uncertain times over and over again. And we'll make it out...sometimes much stronger.

DO take care of yourself.

The most important thing is to figure out what you need the most and give that to yourself right now, without shame or blame. Do whatever you need to take care of yourself mentally and physically.

Xoxo

Goli

We’re all feeling scared and uncertain about the future.

I don’t have the answers. But I’m hoping my perspective might quiet those fears a bit.

My advice basically falls into a couple DOs and DONTs.

DON’T:

DON’T take anyone’s advice about all of the things you should be getting done right now while in quarantine. 

This isn’t a vacation. A lot of us are panicked and we don’t need to add a layer of shame on top of it because we’re not re-organizing our closets or creating the perfect homeschooling plan for our children.

If you have the bandwidth to use this time to tackle the things you usually don’t have time for, great! Have at it! 

But if you don’t, give yourself grace. It’s ok to just be. In our society of hustle, we don’t need to turn a pandemic into a time of productivity. 

Let yourself do whatever you need right now and take off the guilt. 

DON’T spend all day watching the news. 

While I just said you can do whatever you want, that comes with one caveat: you can’t just take in hours and hours of news.

Our brains are evolutionarily wired to seek out all information about possible dangers. But it wasn’t evolved to take in a 24-hour news cycle that gets more ratings the scarier it is.

While you need to stay abreast of what is going on, you don’t need a minute-by-minute update of every person who has died from the virus.

Walk away. Do anything else. 

DON’T try to predict the future.

“We suffer more in imagination than in reality.”- Seneca 

When our thoughts run unchecked we try to come up with every possible scenario of what can happen. The reality is that we have no idea what is going to happen. Stop trying to control or plan for every possible scenario. 

There are tons of factors that we have no control over--the government, how many people self-quarantine, etc. All we are doing in our attempt to control is increasing the amount of time we suffer. Know that you’ll deal with whatever issue comes up. 

DO:

DO look at the silver linings-

While this can be hard, mindset work is the most needed in tough times. 

I like to think about the Law of Polarity- everything has an equal, opposite side. 

We’d never know what happiness was if we didn’t experience sadness. Think about it. How would food ever taste good if you were always full? 

So while these events are hard and can be painful, there is another side. Maybe that’s getting time to be with your family. Maybe that’s giving mother nature a break from our constant onslaught. Maybe it’s just changing your perspective to stop worrying about all of the minor things. 

Whatever it is, spend time each day focusing on that. No better time than now to start a gratitude practice. 

DO look at how other people have thrived in uncertain times.

“You can’t be what you can’t see.” Marian Wright Edelman 

It helps us to see others who have come out of tough times. It lets us know that it is possible. 

Luckily, we’ve had tons of guests on the podcast who lost their jobs during the last economic recession in 2008 and it turned out to be the best thing that happened to them. Take some time to remind yourself that it’s not always as bad as we think it is. 

Episode 2 with Steve Trang

Episode 3 with Erin Wade

Episode 28 with Paula Pant

Episode 61 with Lindsey Schwartz

Everything is cyclical. Humans have gone through these uncertain times over and over again. And we’ll make it out...sometimes much stronger. 

DO take care of yourself. 

The most important thing is to figure out what you need the most and give that to yourself right now, without shame or blame. Do whatever you need to take care of yourself mentally and physically. 

Xoxo

Goli

What if you quit your career and start over only to find out that the new career also isn't something you love?!

I think that is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. We have this idea that if we jump, then the next thing has to be our purpose. So we become frenetic about finding it. We become so obsessed that we can't slow down long enough to figure out what we actually like (see the problem here?)

Having come out on the other side of this process, I now see that there is no 1 thing. Life is a series of experiments and, with each one, you learn a little bit more about yourself.

And if you have the courage to keep trying, you get closer and closer to your calling.

That's why I love having people on the podcast who have quit multiple times and had the courage to keep trying.

Today, on the show, I got to talk to Mary Eberle about her super interesting career path.

Mary is a former lawyer who reinvented herself as a genetic genealogist. She quit two previous careers and now has a fascinating and rewarding career solving family mysteries. (how cool is that?!)

Mary founded DNA Hunters, where she solves family mysteries by analyzing DNA test results and genealogical records. Many of her clients have been trying to solve their family mysteries for decades—and sometimes even over multiple generations. Family mysteries include "Who are my birth parents?" and "Is my surname the correct surname?"

To solve family mysteries, she applies many skills from her 10 years as a DNA lab technician (Career #1) and her 13+ years as a biotech patent attorney (Career #2). She finds great satisfaction in repurposing these skills to provide long-sought-after answers to her clients.

Check out her story!

Mary's Links:

Website: https://dnahunters.com

Free download: https://dnahunters.com/dna-roadmap-2/

What if you quit your career and start over only to find out that the new career also isn’t something you love?!

I think that is one of the biggest reasons people stay stuck. We have this idea that if we jump, then the next thing has to be our purpose. So we become frenetic about finding it. We become so obsessed that we can’t slow down long enough to figure out what we actually like (see the problem here?)

Having come out on the other side of this process, I now see that there is no 1 thing. Life is a series of experiments and, with each one, you learn a little bit more about yourself.

And if you have the courage to keep trying, you get closer and closer to your calling.

That's why I love having people on the podcast who have quit multiple times and had the courage to keep trying. 

Today, on the show, I got to talk to Mary Eberle about her super interesting career path.

Mary is a former lawyer who reinvented herself as a genetic genealogist. She quit two previous careers and now has a fascinating and rewarding career solving family mysteries. (how cool is that?!)

Mary founded DNA Hunters, where she solves family mysteries by analyzing DNA test results and genealogical records. Many of her clients have been trying to solve their family mysteries for decades—and sometimes even over multiple generations. Family mysteries include “Who are my birth parents?” and “Is my surname the correct surname?”

To solve family mysteries, she applies many skills from her 10 years as a DNA lab technician (Career #1) and her 13+ years as a biotech patent attorney (Career #2). She finds great satisfaction in repurposing these skills to provide long-sought-after answers to her clients.

Check out her story!

Mary's Links:

Website: https://dnahunters.com

Free download:  https://dnahunters.com/dna-roadmap-2/  

Clearly, we're on the same page as our guest this week, Sara Bliss. Sara is the author of Take the Leap where she provides both inspiration and advice for transforming your life. Sara features the stories of over 65 people who have taken the jump to completely new careers. She proves that it's not too late to chase your dreams, change up your life, hit it big, and go for it.

Sara has made countless leaps of her own going from short order cook to auction house assistant to magazine scribe to to branding/content advisor to ghostwriter to book author. She has covered a wide range of topics including design, travel, profiles, celebrities, hotels, beauty, health and business.

She is now the author/co-author/or ghostwriter of 11 books including Hotel Chic at Home. She is also a Forbes Contributor covering career pivots.

Clearly, we’re on the same page as our guest this week, Sara Bliss. Sara is the author of Take the Leap where she provides both inspiration and advice for transforming your life. Sara features the stories of over 65 people who have taken the jump to completely new careers. She proves that it's not too late to chase your dreams, change up your life, hit it big, and go for it.

Sara has made countless leaps of her own going from short order cook to auction house assistant to magazine scribe to to branding/content advisor to ghostwriter to book author. She has covered a wide range of topics including design, travel, profiles, celebrities, hotels, beauty, health and business.

She is now the author/co-author/or ghostwriter of 11 books including Hotel Chic at Home. She is also a Forbes Contributor covering career pivots.