It’s Time for a Sabbatical.
After 7.5 years of running Pivot Journeys, I have made the decision to take a sabbatical.
Taking this step is something I've contemplated for quite some time. Despite there always being more clients to help and new opportunities on the horizon, I realized that there would never be a "perfect" time for a break.
Reflecting on the last 7+ years, I find myself in a place I couldn't have imagined. We’ve supported 325+ individuals through long-term coaching engagements and spent over 3,500 hours coaching awesome professionals from every industry and at every level. I say ‘we’ because I’ve been lucky enough to have an amazing coach, Kate Williams, working alongside me for the last 4 years.
Sabbaticals have become increasingly popular in recent years, and their origins can be traced back to the concept of Sabbath—a day of rest, particularly the seventh day in the Bible. Traditionally, longer periods of rest were taken after 7 years, which informed my decision. I'll be out starting August 1 and returning in early November. For more on where the Sabbatical concept and practice came from, read this.)
Recently, I read Octavia Butler's thought-provoking (and intense!) book, Parable of the Sower, where I was struck by her first-person bio on the last page. She described herself as, "an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty, and drive." This resonated deeply with me as a small business owner, as I've experienced the intertwining of ambition and drive with insecurity and many moments of laziness.
My husband often remarks on my unwavering drive to support more people in their careers and be the best coach I can be. However, he also playfully refers to me as a "sleepy sloth" who simply wants to lounge in a hammock all day, immersed in a good book. I must admit, I'm excited to embrace the laziness part of myself over the next few months.
So, what exactly am I planning during this sabbatical? I will be dedicating quality time to visit family, as well as embarking on 6 weeks of international travel adventures in Florence, Berlin, and London—plus a bucket-list women's trip to Jordan—a country I've always longed to visit. Amidst all these plans, I'm also looking forward to having moments where I can simply stare at the wall and focus solely on myself. When your profession revolves around helping others, it can be challenging (and even strange!) to prioritize self-care, but I'm genuinely excited for this opportunity.
So what does that mean for you - a professional looking for support navigating your career?
We’ve always got our Interview Skills Course for purchase and viewing on demand.
If you’re looking for 1:1 support, Kate is still working with a limited number of folks throughout the summer and early fall. You can drop time on her calendar here.
I return from my sabbatical in early November and will be reaching out to anyone who’s expressed interest in coaching starting in November. If that’s you, drop your name and info into our interest form here and we will reach out to you when we have additional space for 1:1 coaching engagements.
Have a wonderful summer season!
