In 2018 I wrote a blog post called “Ditching Busy…for now” where I discussed my decision to drop my obsession to fill my calendar to instead take a step back to focus on my family. Reading that post today fills me with immense pride and admiration for my past self. At the time, I was the director of a career center at a small liberal arts college. I knew, given time, I would be able to work my way up to bigger, more prestigious roles. Yet, I also had a yearning to turn it all off, or at least down. With the birth of my first child I was eager to be present at home while also trying my hand at entrepreneurship.
Now it’s 2022, four years later. Since writing that post I’ve had two more children (twins!) and have been navigating a global pandemic with the rest of you. I’ve continued to work on my coaching business part-time and spend most of my energy at home with my family. My decision to stay home ended up being very, very, very good. I got pregnant with twins when my son was only nine months old. Having the flexibility during a twin pregnancy to take necessary down time was invaluable. When the twins were eight months old the world got smacked with COVID 19. Navigating closures, fear, and childcare was much easier on our family since I had the ability to be home. In fact, sometimes I think my family navigated the beginning stages of the pandemic more easily than others because we had three babies and were going to be trapped at home most of the time anyway. And these last four years have been incredibly fulfilling. From watching first steps, to hearing first words I’ve been able to be truly present for my babies as they’ve grown into little children.
When I started my business, Collins Career Coaching, I knew a lot about being a career coach and next to nothing about running a business. At first, I mostly met one-on-one with young adults helping them transition to the workforce. In the last four years my experience and skill set in both coaching and entrepreneurship has exploded. As a Certified Gallup CliftonStrengths coach I’ve led strengths-based coaching groups for business owners, given keynotes at conferences, and developed workshops for corporations and universities. I even started a coaching group called Strong as a Mother where I combine my expertise in strengths and my crash course into motherhood to help other moms learn how to best use their talents at home with their children. Strong as a Mother has been so popular that Zillow actually hired me to host it for their employees in a Parenting and Caregiver Community. My business doesn’t just have traction right now, it has momentum.
Today my son is four, my twins are two and half, and the world is (sorta, hopefully) getting back to normal a bit. The diaper days are over at our house and everyone is feeling the need for a shift. My husband and I decided to send the children to preschool/daycare five days a week starting this summer. While this seems like an opportunity to keep growing my coaching business, it’s not what I truly want to do. I have an itch. Yes, my business does have momentum. Yes, each year my business has done better than the year before. I keep learning more about myself and how to serve my clients better. The demand for my services has outpaced my availability and for that I am ever so grateful.
And yet. This itch.
See, while I know I could keep growing my coaching business (and being an entrepreneur is all the rage right now), I don’t think it’s what I’m meant to do. I’m craving to do something more. I’m itching for collaboration, team work, and wider impact. I know, I know, I may live to regret these words! But my life thus far has taught me one thing, TRY IT. Nothing has to be forever. If you have a desire, a curiosity, or an itch–it’s okay to explore that. Learn about it, talk about it, and–maybe– go for it. Accumulating experiences and finding opportunities for growth will never hurt you–it hasn’t hurt me yet.
What I’m trying to tell you is I’m looking to leap back into the workforce. I’m looking to join a team of people dedicated to a cause, a mission, a passion. I am very in tune with the skills and talents I can offer an organization. I am ready to jump in, collaborate and create energy around growth, learning, and development. I am ready to learn. I am ready to coach. I am ready to join a team.
I know I’ll be busier than ever with a full-time gig, a full family, a side-hustle (I will continue to serve some dedicated clients), plus time to give-back and be social, but I’m ready. I am confident the skills I’ve enhanced as a business owner, coach, and stay-at-home mom will make me an asset to any team brave enough to have me.
I guess the only question I have for you is: Would you like to see my resume?