
FAQs: From Entrepreneur to Employee
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!
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About the blog
Humor, stories, and insights, delivered 2x per month, to perform without the pressure.
Topics include mental health, work, human connection, creativity and more.
This is inspiring and exciting to read. Good for you! Your personality, skills, and realness is much needed in the world and exactly why I’ve followed you since I first did a workshop with you at Elevate conference years ago. Thank you for sharing this update, it brought me joy and is a good reminder to always be yourself, the world will adjust.
Didi! Your comment means SO MUCH. I’m so glad you’ve stayed in touch and hope you are doing well, too!! So much appreciation for you today.