Are you expecting a big change in your career/life overnight?
Well, this is what my client Adam expected when he started working with me…
This is not how things played out for him… and for the better!
Following my guidance, using patience and listening to his own true voice, he ended up over time in the perfect work-life balance situation that matched everything he wanted, including releasing an album with his band!
Listen to his story in the video below.
Or jump right below the video to read his email and find his band on Spotify,
BEFORE
When Adam started working with me:
He was bored, unchallenged, and depressed in his work.
The long daily commute was killing him, as well as working at a desk from 9 to 5, and lacking the flexibility and freedom he was craving.
As a result, he could not spend as much quality time with his partner and kids, and could not develop his passion to play drums as much as he desired. He wanted to be part of a band, but could not carve out enough time because of his commute and work situation.
AFTER
Following my guidance through the Roadmap to the Career You Love program and listening to his own true voice, the perfect work/life situation progressively unfolded for him. Read his email below.
Hi Isabelle-
I thought I would take a minute to update you on my career since I went through your program last year. In short, I have made some subtle and not so subtle adjustments of my work role which has enabled a much better actualization of my true self!
My career “success story” is more subtle than other case studies but has worked wonderfully. I thought it would be good for you to have as a reference in the event others have a similar experience as mine. I think I was expecting a big change over night which is not how things played out but I ended up in a great work-life balance situation over time. Patience and listening to one’s true voice is the key!
I am still at the same company and working in the solar industry. I was able to transition my role to “Product Management” which actually plays wonderfully into my “Improviser” tendencies. It also does not involve managing people directly which I actually quite like because it facilitates my need to feel “free”. This is typical of product management roles where it involves collaborating (something I do well) with all parts of the organization but does not involve managing others peoples time. Better yet, I requested flexible hours (up to 50%) and work from home a majority of the time. The net result is having the security of a formal “job” but the flexibility of working for myself and dictating my own schedule.
My ability to negotiate this outcome was a direct result of the authentic-self work we did. I was very comfortable negotiation for this situation because I knew it would work better for me and so was able to convince my boss (the CEO) as well. But that’s not the best part….With my more flexible schedule I was invited to join a band. The universe delivered that one up right on cue!. My band has already recorded an album which is streaming on applemusic and spotify. We even did a little tour to Southern California a few weeks ago.
So, although I did not quit my corporate job and join the circus I was able to sculpt my career to what works best for me in a very non-traditional way.Simply knowing what I wanted and listening to my authentic self changed everything.
Thank you so much for your help. I hope this story will help someone else who may be struggling with what “success” looks like.
Best Wishes!
Adam Detrick
Here is his band: The Reverbivores. Adam is the guy on the right. You can find him on Spotify and Apple Music or use the link. Enjoy!
Are you ready to find your perfect work-life situation?
Or share this email with people you know (relatives, friends, co-workers) who could benefit from it.
To your brilliance,
Isabelle
P.S. What will it take for you to be a success story? — and if you are already a success story or on your way to one, please share with me. I want to hear and cheer you on!
On Thursday morning, at 7 am PT, I defied time, space, and visa and I traveled to France to honor my grandma’s memory at her funeral. (My dear grandma passed away last Sunday.)
I was there with her, with everyone. I saw her and I saw everyone. It was a very cold afternoon in France. Everyone was bundled up. A few snowflakes had fallen earlier in the day.
I spoke. I read a letter to her, to honor her memory so that everybody could hear how an amazing grandma and woman she was.
People heard me loud and clear. They were touched. I was there. Oh, how wonderful to be able to be there from so far away.And talk to my grandma that way.
Thank you technology. I’m freakin’ grateful for you and for Emilie, the angel who made this possible for me.
Thank you FaceTime, thank you Bluetooth speaker.
You all made grieving from so far away more bearable.
Because of some Visa renewal in process, I cannot physically go to France right now. But I found a way to be there and it made such a difference!
Do you defy things to do what matters most to you? or to honor the people you love?
How creative are you when you are faced with things outside of your control?
or when you cannot do things the way you want?
“This is the first time in my life I’m allowing myself to dream. It’s good to take care of myself that way.”
This is what a client of mine said in our 1:1 session this week after two months of working together.
Read her story below or go directly to the video at the end of this article.
———————
She is in her mid-thirties and has been successful in her career, but has had a pattern of putting others first and trying to please everybody except herself.
As a result, she has lost the sense of who she is, what makes her happy, and what she truly desires.
When we started working together two months ago, she was unhappy in her work but had no clue what kind of career would make her happy.
After two months of diving into her authentic self through guided exercises, visualizations, powerful self-discovery activities:
her true desires and dreams are starting to resurface.
And she is starting to have visions of potential dream careers she would like to do, something she NEVER HAD BEFORE in her entire life.
This is beautiful to witness.
And the beauty of it is that this is coming all from inside of her, from her own intuition, and inner guidance she is learning to listen to.
It is HER OWN TRUTH, not someone’s else truth for her, not even my truth.
If you want to live the work and life of your dreams,you have to access YOUR OWN TRUTH.
That’s it.
… and STOP asking someone else’s truth for you.
Yes, STOP IT.
… whether it’s your friend, your spouse, your parents, your manager, or even your coach!
Yes, even your coach! That’s right!
Oh, shocker, your coach cannot tell you what you should do with your work and life??!!
NO, and they should not.
Unless you want to stay disempowered and lost by expecting others to tell you what to do.
A good coach:
guides you to re-access your own inner knowing and trust your own answers.
gives you powerful tools and guidance to do that.
shows you when you are listening or not listening to your own inner guidance. So that long term, you are empowered to do that by yourself.
This is what I do with my clients.
So, let me ask you this:
Do you know how to access your own inner guidance?
Are you allowing yourself to dream?
Take the time to ponder that right now.
It is SO important in all areas of your life.
This is the PREREQUISITE to doing the Work you absolutely love and having the life of your dreams.
Until you can access your inner guidance and allow yourself to dream, you won’t be able to find work you truly truly love.
It starts from INSIDE, not outside.
Watch one of my most popular 4-min video below to hear more about how to allow yourself to dream.
To you finding your OWN TRUTH and allowing yourself to dream!
This is my deepest desire for you.
Isabelle
P.S. Comment below and let me know what you are discovering. I want to hear and cheer you on!
I have a question for you to help you start 2019. Probably one of the most important questions you need to ask yourself.
As I was playing one of these Facebook games (yes, I could not resist!), I received a powerful quote and I thought about you.
I thought you might need to hear this.
Here it goes.
Are you waiting for someone (your spouse, your parents, your co-workers, society, your boss, etc.) to give you permission to…
…BE who you are?
…DO the work you love?
…FOLLOW your dreams?
…LOVE what you love?
…LIVE the life you want to live?
Listen carefully. Sometimes, we do that in subtle ways.
If so, this is time to STOP.
Yes, STOP.
Stop waiting for others’ and the outside world’s permission to be who you are and do what you love.
If not now, when?
next year?
in 10 years?
on your death bed, when it’s too late?
A palliative nurse recorded the most common regrets of the dying and put her findings into a book called “The Top Five Regrets of The Dying.”
Guess what is the #1 regret of people at the end of their lives?
Well, this one:
“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
“This was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realize until they no longer have it.”
Is that you? Be truly honest with yourself. Stop and look within.
If so, don’t wait!
in which area of your life are you giving others or society the power to decide who you are and what you should do with your life or career?
In which aspect of your work or life can you be more true to yourself?
Slow down and take the time to reflect now.
If not, fabulous! Congrats on being true to you!
Are there areas in your life where you could be even more true to you and let go of others’ or society’s ideas and opinions?
Forward this email to someone you know (spouse, coworker, friend, relative) who may need to hear this message.
Whatever your situation is, say this out loud a few times with me.
Yes, out loud. Now.
There is a power in declaring out loud the reality we want. It helps enters into our consciousness more.
“I don’t need your permission to be exactly who I am.”
Say it again.
“I don’t need your permission to be exactly who I am.”
“I thought you would like to know that I have landed finally, and the outcome is fantastic.”
Woohooo!! What a joy to receive this email! (see the full email below)
Every month, I teach my highly acclaimed workshop Career Shift: Find Work You Love at General Assembly in downtown San Francisco.
I’ve taught it now 40+ times for 4 years to 600+ students.
WOW!
Realizing that I’ve impacted hundreds of people through this class means a lot!
I often receive emails, notes, and words from my students about the transformational impact the exercises we do in the class have had on their career trajectory.
Last week, I received an email that made me really happy.
I want to share it with you to inspire you and to help you see what is possible for you or for the people in your life.
One of the attendees of my August class landed EXACTLY the work that he visualized during one of the exercises we did during the evening.
See his email below (posted and anonymized with his permission)
He even invited me to attend his celebration party! How fun!
—–
“Hi Isabelle,
I thought you would like to know that I have landed finally, and the outcome is fantastic. And you will be excited to hear that I basically landed in exactly the kind of place where my “flow” exercise guided me, despite all my doubts that it would materialize as such.
I will be working on microsatellites at […] starting this week! I’m looking forward to getting back into space systems engineering, biking to the office, and experiencing the thrill of startup life. It seems like a really great fit for me with lots of potential. No dogs are allowed in the office, but everything else sounds amazing. 😀
Thanks again for being on my team, and reminding me that good career outcomes are possible too.
Hope things are well with you!
Cheers,
B.”
—
Know that this is possible for you too or for people in your life (relatives, friends, coworkers).
YES, IT IS.
What is one step you are going to take before the end of the year towards the career of your dreams?
2019 is around the corner.
How would that feel to start 2019 knowing that you are actively taking steps toward the work you love?
Isabelle
P.S. If you are already doing the work you love, please do me a favor and share this email with people you know who need this inspiration and reminder. I bet you know people who would benefit from some inspiration.
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