The Career Butterfly

Jennifer Loomis was an incredibly successful maternity photographer when she walked away from it all. She spent many years building the career she loved, but in her 40s, she found herself sitting in her OB/GYN’s office and being told she’d never be able to have a child. Devastated, Jennifer could no longer do her work taking pictures of women about to become mothers. First, she and her dog Salvador walked across Seattle, but she needed to go even further so she flew to Spain to walk the El Camino de Santiago.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How a referral from Annie Leibowitz helped launch her career – even though she wouldn’t commit to it for another 6 years.
• How she views maternity photography as fine art.
• Why she turned down Bravo TV five times to be the photographer for Pregnant in Heels.
• How she found her way back to her career.
• How a client opened the door and showed her the path that ended up to Jennifer’s pregnancy at 46.
• What it’s like to try to cram a 50 hour workweek into 30 hours now.
• How her creative awareness has evolved in phases from 1) A desire to challenge society’s definition of beauty to… 2) Making women feel beautiful and empowered to… 3)Realizing how the children come to cherish these photos of themselves inside their mothers. Photography shows children how loved they are to… 4) Capturing moments between families as they grow.

Mentioned in this episode:

Jennifer Loomis Photography Feel Beautiful

The Natural Light Collective

Photo Salvation

Donna Mezey built her career at a small stock photo agency that grew up to eventually become Getty Images. After a successful 10 years career, she left her executive role for the startup world. After a journey through a few different companies, she concluded that the startup work style wasn't compatible with her life, which now included a family.

She set off on a quest to find a job that took advantage of her skills and experience in Customer Happiness, but would offer her the flexibility she needed. Through research she was doing for her own child's educational path, she discovered the field of Independent Education Consultants (IEC). Donna was so drawn to their work that she became certified as an IEC herself. Today, her company works with high school students through. She's all about finding the college that provides each child with the right financial, academic and social fit.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How her career grew up along with that first tiny company as they went from storing photographs in plastic baggies to becoming the world's largest digital content provider.
• Why she eventually decided to take a step down in career level.
• How it feels to be the only parent in your department at work.
• Why paying $285/hour for an Independent Education Consultant ended up saving her money, and put her on a journey to a new career.
• Why, as a college counselor and alum of a prestigious university, she doesn't recommend that route for her clients, or even her own child.
• Why sending a high school student to a college counselor can save money overall and reduce stress.
• About the free weekly content she provides on the college search process. Her College Admissions Demystified Facebook group includes a highlighted college of the week, application tips, and relevant articles.
• Her take on the recent college admissions scandal.

Other links mentioned in this podcast:

Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni

Donna Mezey built her career at a small stock photo agency that grew up to eventually become Getty Images. After a successful 10 years career, she left her executive role for the startup world. After a journey through a few different companies, she concluded that the startup work style wasn’t compatible with her life, which now included a family.

She set off on a quest to find a job that took advantage of her skills and experience in Customer Happiness, but would offer her the flexibility she needed. Through research she was doing for her own child’s educational path, she discovered the field of Independent Education Consultants (IEC). Donna was so drawn to their work that she became certified as an IEC herself.  Today, her company works with high school students through. She’s all about finding the college that provides each child with the right financial, academic and social fit.

In this episode you'll hear:

• How her career grew up along with that first tiny company as they went from storing photographs in plastic baggies to becoming the world's largest digital content provider.
• Why she eventually decided to take a step down in career level.
• How it feels to be the only parent in your department at work.
• Why paying $285/hour for an Independent Education Consultant ended up saving her money, and put her on a journey to a new career.
• Why, as a college counselor and alum of a prestigious university, she doesn’t recommend that route for her clients, or even her own child.
•  Why sending a high school student to a college counselor can save money overall and reduce stress.
• About the free weekly content she provides on the college search process. Her College Admissions Demystified Facebook group includes a highlighted college of the week, application tips, and relevant articles.
• Her take on the recent college admissions scandal.

Other links mentioned in this podcast:

Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni

I had a Magic 8 Ball when I was a kid. Over and over, I'd ask it questions only to get answers like, "Reply Hazy. Try Again Later." I often wonder what life would be like if we each got our own Magic 8 Ball - and the answers were real. As it turns out, that "Reply Hazy" answer may have been accurate.

I shared some of my story when I launched this podcast, but sometimes life is too complicated to fit neatly into an introductory episode of a podcast.

Yes, I spent about a dozen years in high-tech and, yes, I returned to work about a dozen years later. I loved my career and wanted to return to meaningful work.

What I didn't share was what was going on in my family and financial pressures I was also feeling at that time. My husband was sick and I knew it. He was a physician and should have known it, but was in deep denial. Despite repeated ER visits after his heart stopped and monthly chemo treatments for auto-immune hives, he maintained the incredibly rigorous schedule of a cardiologist. Denial is a powerful drug.

But, at some point, reality is even more powerful.

In this episode you'll hear:

• how I prepared and saved for years in anticipation of the end of my husband's career even when he wouldn't acknowledge it
• when my husband finally decided to scale back for his health - and then left his career entirely 4 days later
• why my passion for writing was never going to be my long term career plan
• where I was in my return to work journey when his career ended
• about the realities of the American health care system, including an 11-month gap between COBRA and Medicare
• why I believe medical disability coverage is critical, but also not always what you expect

I absolutely returned to work because I wanted to. But my timing and my choices were also driven by financial realities. As mothers, we are filled with wisdom and resilience that helps us through our parenting journey. But there's also a lot of uncertainty in life.

We don't get a Magic 8 ball that maps out the future, but we can take steps to make sure we're ready for anything life throws our way. And now you know the rest of my story.

I had a Magic 8 Ball when I was a kid. Over and over, I'd ask it questions only to get answers like, "Reply Hazy. Try Again Later." I often wonder what life would be like if we each got our own Magic 8 Ball - and the answers were real. As it turns out, that "Reply Hazy" answer may have been accurate. 

I shared some of my story when I launched this podcast, but sometimes life is too complicated to fit neatly into an introductory episode of a podcast. 

Yes, I spent about a dozen years in high-tech and, yes, I returned to work about a dozen years later. I loved my career and wanted to return to meaningful work.

What I didn't share was what was going on in my family and financial pressures I was also feeling at that time. My husband was sick and I knew it. He was a physician and should have known it, but was in deep denial. Despite repeated ER visits after his heart stopped and monthly chemo treatments for auto-immune hives, he maintained the incredibly rigorous schedule of a cardiologist. Denial is a powerful drug.

But, at some point, reality is even more powerful.

In this episode you'll hear:

• how I prepared and saved for years in anticipation of the end of my husband's career even when he wouldn't acknowledge it
• when my husband finally decided to scale back for his health - and then left his career entirely 4 days later
• why my passion for writing was never going to be my long term career plan
• where I was in my return to work journey when his career ended
• about the realities of the American health care system, including an 11-month gap between COBRA and Medicare
• why I believe medical disability coverage is critical, but also not always what you expect

I absolutely returned to work because I wanted to. But my timing and my choices were also driven by financial realities. As mothers, we are filled with wisdom and resilience that helps us through our parenting journey. But there's also a lot of uncertainty in life.

We don't get a Magic 8 ball that maps out the future, but we can take steps to make sure we're ready for anything life throws our way. And now you know the rest of my story. 

Erin Keam, wardrobe consultant and founder of The Happy Wardrobe, works with women in transition and helps their wardrobes reflect their personal style. She also encourages women to dress not only for the woman they are today, but also the woman they are becoming.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The process that Erin goes through to come up with Unique Style Statements that range from "Intimate Artisan Mermaid" to "The Lady, The Lion, and the Wardrobe"
• Why you should toss your jeans if they don't make your butt look cute!
• What to do with those aspirational clothes that you one day plan to fit again
• What a capsule wardrobe is and how it can simplify getting dressed every day
• How she helped a client reboot her wardrobe with 4 professional outfits purchased on an $80 trip to Goodwill
• Why getting dressed needs to be a mindset and how The Happy Wardrobe Method gets you there
• How to bring the attention up to your beautiful face when you're speaking or taking headshots

Want to get notified of our next episode? Sign up for The Pause! Or connect with us on Instagram or join our private Facebook community.

Erin Keam, wardrobe consultant and founder of The Happy Wardrobe, works with women in transition and helps their wardrobes reflect their personal style. She also encourages women to dress not only for the woman they are today, but also the woman they are becoming.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The process that Erin goes through to come up with Unique Style Statements that range from “Intimate Artisan Mermaid” to “The Lady, The Lion, and the Wardrobe”
• Why you should toss your jeans if they don’t make your butt look cute!
• What to do with those aspirational clothes that you one day plan to fit again
• What a capsule wardrobe is and how it can simplify getting dressed every day
• How she helped a client reboot her wardrobe with 4 professional outfits purchased on an $80 trip to Goodwill
• Why getting dressed needs to be a mindset and how The Happy Wardrobe Method gets you there
• How to bring the attention up to your beautiful face when you’re speaking or taking headshots

Want to get notified of our next episode? Sign up for The Pause! Or connect with us on Instagram or join our private Facebook community. 

Today, Anne Pillsbury works as a coach helping women in transition, but she too is a career pauser. She was a mom of 4 kids with a 16 year gap on her resume when her family needed her to return to work. It took a lot of effort, but she landed at a tech startup that she loved in a reasonably short time. How did she do it?

First, she set her intention. You'll want to hear her powerful story about an index card and manifesting your destiny.

Second, she networked like crazy.

Third, she asked for exactly what she wanted. Even after she'd been told no. She asked for a chance. But she offered to work for free in return. They said yes.

In this episode you'll also hear:

• How a windy, difficult paddleboarding adventure eventually showed her she was on the wrong career path
• Why she wishes she left her job earlier
• How she exceeded her business launch goals with a Friends and Family letter
• Why setting your top priorities is important to avoid feeling exhausted, depleted, and overwhelmed.
• An example of what a coaching relationship might look like including the length and format. And why you need to be motivated to change to make it work.
• Why you shouldn't go back to school when you're still figuring out what you want to do.
• Why Anne, who is a coach, works with her own coach

Mentioned in this episode:

Anne Pillsbury Coaching

Designing your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

Today, Anne Pillsbury works as a coach helping women in transition, but she too is a career pauser. She was a mom of 4 kids with a 16 year gap on her resume when her family needed her to return to work. It took a lot of effort, but she landed at a tech startup that she loved in a reasonably short time. How did she do it?

First, she set her intention. You'll want to hear her powerful story about an index card and manifesting your destiny.

Second, she networked like crazy.

Third, she asked for exactly what she wanted. Even after she'd been told no. She asked for a chance. But she offered to work for free in return. They said yes.

In this episode you'll also hear:

• How a windy, difficult paddleboarding adventure eventually showed her she was on the wrong career path
• Why she wishes she left her job earlier
• How she exceeded her business launch goals with a Friends and Family letter
• Why setting your top priorities is important to avoid feeling exhausted, depleted, and overwhelmed.
• An example of what a coaching relationship might look like including the length and format. And why you need to be motivated to change to make it work.
• Why you shouldn’t go back to school when you’re still figuring out what you want to do.
• Why Anne, who is a coach, works with her own coach

Mentioned in this episode:

Anne Pillsbury Coaching

Designing your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans

Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown

Caitlein Ryan has one of the best educational backgrounds possible to be a mother of four kids. She has a PhD in Theater with an emphasis on Education and Social Justice - and isn't drama, education, and fairness basically a summary of parenting??

Through some intentional choices, Caitlein was able to pursue a meaningful career even as she and her spouse started a family. As the family grew, Caitlein also discovered that her two oldest children had medical conditions that required significant attention. She chose to step away from her career and set a plan to be the best stay-at-home-mom ever.

All was going well until her family experienced a shocking job loss six years into Caitlein's career pause. It led them on an unexpected journey, including a business venture in the cannabis industry just as it was legalized in Washington State.

In this podcast you'll hear:

• Why Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Seattle were 3 great cities for Caitlein's passion for children's theater.
• How Caitlein found the perfect job, outside of her chosen career, that offered free child care, close access to her preschooler, and a chance to meaningfully contribute to her body of work.
• The truth about stay-at-home-moms who do it all: sometimes they need an extra set of hands to make it all work. Caitlein shares how having a nanny, during a time of financial freedom for her family, allowed her to be there for all her kids' most important needs, medical and otherwise.
• How she became a Tier 3 cannabis farmer who now serves on the board of the Cannabis Alliance.
• How she succinctly explains her involvement in the marijuana industry to her kids - and why it's not right for their young brains.
• About Caitlein's struggle to find an authentic 41-year-old voice on social media in an industry that skews much younger.

You can find more out about the Ready Pause Go community on our website, private Facebook community or Instagram.