Since announcing the closing of my business and the start of a new job, I’ve been asked a lot of questions. As my friend and digital marketing strategist Susan Finn says, FAQs make some of the best content.

So, today I’m answering a few of the most frequent questions I’ve heard since making these career changes.

Where are you working & what’s your role?

It’s been two months since I started my role as the Director of Sponsor & Member Relations at the Northeast Human Resource Association (NEHRA). It’s a membership organization for HR professionals including employees (HR Business partners, managers/directors, C-suite, and admins) and coaches/consultants. 

My job is to make sure members and sponsors have a positive and valuable experience. It’s a perfect fit for my skills.

Do you have to go to an office?

No, it’s primarily work from home. We meet as a team in person twice a month (there are only 4 of us on staff!). In addition, we host several in person events throughout the year which I attend.

Do you love it?

YES! I can honestly say I love it! Delight is a word I’ve used to describe how I feel. And I NEVER, even when I had my own business, used that word to describe how I feel about work. Both my personality & ideas are appreciated (even if they overwhelm others sometimes lol) and it’s a perfect fit for my skills and values (i.e., flexibility!).

Do you miss your business?

NOT ONE BIT. Below, in no particular order, are a few reasons why:

• I have a team of people to talk to regularly who are working towards a common goal.
• I no longer have to worry about where the next paycheck comes from.
• Tech support issue? A quick phone call and I get a tech expert to help me.
• Event promotion – no longer stressful because they have a ready made and committed audience.
• Flexibility & autonomy. Entrepreneurship was never a dream, flexibility was the dream. And even though I work for someone else now, I have flexibility.
• I get to do everything I loved about my business (i.e., networking, ideating, messaging, facilitating, etc) and get paid for it. Plus, I can hand off the tasks I dreaded like invoicing, agreements, fixing technical issues, etc.

How did you know it was time to shut down your business?

In a word: burnout. Which I now define as:

Working hard for something you don’t want or care about.

Hosting events, podcasting and other activities that used to bring me joy, no longer did. That was a big data point.

After making and verbalizing the decision, a weight lifted off my back and a lightness washed over me immediately.

Plus, friends who have known me for a while have said, “I’ve never seen you so happy about work.”

That’s how I knew.

Why do you think this job is different?

It’s the first time I went into an interview or “sales conversation” thinking, “I have nothing to lose by being totally me”. 

During the interview I let my personality come through (told jokes, made them laugh), shared some of my (wild) ideas, talked about my “formality-free approach”, and didn’t hold back when it came to promoting my value and accomplishments. 

I spent the last 16 years figuring out who I am and what I want. That meant letting go of the expectations of others and developing more of what lights me up and makes me who I am.

I felt light, in control and confident.

Will You Still Publish Your Newsletter?

Yes, I’m planning on it. I love the conversations, sharing ideas, hearing your stories when you comment or send an email.

Plus I still believe the more we share our stories and experiences the more hopeful and connected we become. And the world still needs more of that!

Til next time. Keep shining!