Recently, after nearly a year in temporary office quarters, I moved into my NEW CareerTrend Studio. Converting a bare structure into a fully functioning office was no small task. My husband not only envisioned the transformation process, but he also completed it in fewer than 6 weeks. He did this with a one-day-at-a-time mindset.
What really struck me was the step-by-step painstaking initiative he took, from space planning to selecting and installing flooring, ceiling and walls, as well as painting and many other finishing touches. This is a 60-sec. video of the before and after.
This metamorphosis from an unfinished shed into a functional, light-filled writing studio in the woods is just one of several chapters in the story of our (to-date) year-long transition that began in Oct. 2024, when we sold our home in Corpus Christi, TX, to embark on our move to the Missouri Ozarks.
Akin to any transformation journey, our move onto 8.5 acres of raw land involved (much) more than a few phone calls and light administrative work to achieve our goals. It required leveraging all the intestinal fortitude we could muster to navigate through the choppy seas of life and work change.
When you determine to live on previously uninhabited land, you must be open-minded and flexible. This will equip you for the ups and downs that you naturally encounter – from building the required gate at the entrance of our property, to engaging with local power and water companies before critical infrastructure could be installed, and much more. A plethora of dirty-job activities were handled by my husband and his team of contractors to cultivate a section of this densely overgrown and wooded property into habitable space.
But score! We have a touchdown! We are living comfortably on our land, and with the newly built out office space, I feel ready to nestle into the woods for our first Ozarks winter of productivity, memory-making and hope.
THE EXHILARATION AND FRUSTRATION OF CHANGE
Throughout this process, I found myself reflecting on the similarities between my personal work-life transition and my clients’ career and life changes. Embarking on a journey that separates us from the old job or home (or both) into a new career and life landscape, the exhilaration of change is palpable in the outset.
We begin by breaking down the change strategy into actionable steps, many of which may seem far off into the future and others that require immediate attention. At moments, we feel excited, hopeful and with forward momentum that energizes us for the journey ahead. Other times, we are mired in the web of people or processes that seem determined to stall advancement; the world (we think in that moment) is against us; we are out of our control, and frustration sets in.
The initial plan for many execs and entrepreneurs is to build out a new story, align with their contacts and opportunities (both warm and cold connections), begin interviewing and then field several job offers. But the expectations of spurring quick interviews with their value-laden story and networking action plan and the reality of the sludge-like movement of interacting, interviewing and hiring often collide; discouragement sets in.
Pummeled by a robust mix of emotions, it is imperative to find a way back into the one-day-at-a-time mindset that enables calm amid the storms.
Amid my transition journey (which I’m still in the throes of), I often am still so stirred up at the end of the week that I awaken on Saturday tempted to hit the ground running with to-dos, potentially eroding my weekend.
It is often when the sound of obligatory noise crescendoes that I simply need to turn down the volume, stop myself in my to-do tracks, grab my husband and take a mental (and physical) break from it all. A simple one-hour drive into surrounding scenic areas (the Ozarks is full of natural beauty) can be mentally transformative, bringing me back into ‘today’ and ‘what is,’ to enjoy the moment.
RECLAIMING YOUR ONE-DAY-AT-A-TIME
When you are feeling overwhelmed with the career and life transition to-dos of the week (or month) and feeling like you are not doing enough to get to your destination journey, consider this: Is there something you could do unrelated to your goals – time you can allot just to YOURSELF (and/or alongside a loved one) that will transport you into the quiet calm of what is, right now, in front of your view?
In sum: how can you reclaim your ‘one day at a time?’
I’ve found that after taking a break (even just for an hour or two), I’m much more refreshed and clearer on the next, practical solution steps toward that inevitable opportunity. And, believe me, a solution is out there – in its own time.
One morning you awaken to an email or your phone rings, and it’s the recruiter exclaiming the hiring manager is ready to make an offer. Or, perhaps it’s that perfect opportunity that you never even knew existed pursuing you after reading your career story; and they are requesting a face-to-face interview. Maybe even, it is an unforeseen entrepreneurial venture that sets you off in an entirely new work-life direction.
It is these epiphanic moments when you realize all your focused planning, hard work and implementation have led you to this destination of overwhelming hope and joy! … and, brought you into your NEW future, with aplomb and possibility.
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This post originally was published in the CareerTrend newsletter, published several times a year. Subscribe HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: I am Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Owner of CareerTrend.net, a Certified Executive Resume Master (CERM) and C-Suite Career Storyteller. I’ve written more than 2,000 C-Suite, Entrepreneur + Board Resumes, Bios and Web content strategies.
Humanizing your story through meticulously focused collaboration, I breathe new life into your career narrative, connecting the dots between your value proposition and the audience’s needs.
Doing so helps you gain momentum on landing your next opportunity, whether it’s a Senior / C-Suite position, a Board role or something altogether new and different. Read testimonial stories of how I helped other like-minded execs + entrepreneurs achieve their goals by clicking HERE and HERE.
Jacqui,
What a beautifully woven parallel between physical transformation and professional reinvention.
Your “one-day-at-a-time mindset” is such an antidote to the urgency culture so many high-achievers battle, whether building a business, a resume story or a new life chapter.
I especially appreciate how you normalize the sludge-like movement that can accompany meaningful change. It’s a refreshing reminder that progress often looks quiet before it looks visible.
Your reflection reads like both a career strategy and mindfulness practice. Thank you for modeling the power of slowing down to create something enduring.
“Antidote to the urgency culture” <- LOVE that phrasing. And, "Progress often looks quiet before it looks visible." <- You have such a way with words, Dorlee! Your whole comment is one that I will read, and then re-read (and am likely to 'quote you', soon). Thank you for entering the conversation, with such enthusiasm! Jacqui