Hello everyone and Hello 2021 (I know it's Feb but hey). In lockdown again......
Life has no doubt changed for all of us since March 2020, and mine’s no different. From stability and security, to no work, the lows, the picking yourself up again, to wondering WTF is going on….to a new, rather exciting, rather scary opportunity. Let me explain……
Before the 'C' word.....
I was working as an events manager. A career I absolutely loved and had worked hard to carve out for myself. You see I’m a career switcher… making the switch (with a lot of hard work) from IT project management to delivering live events. At the start of 2020 I was working on some great projects, working with some fab venues, as well as putting together options and venues for events in New York and Dubai (I know fab or what?). God I was loving it and 2020 was set to be an exciting year. Then lockdown happened and bam, all of a sudden I had no work. At first I was quite shell shocked, and I must admit I did shed a few tears. I felt unsettled, at times angry. But after those initial feelings wore off and I started to accept the situation (let’s face it, I couldn’t change it), I started to enjoy the downtime a bit more. I keep myself busy in all the usual ways… yoga, walking, reading, decorating, baking - yes even banana bread which I think we’re all sick of now - to clearing cupboards and listening to podcasts. But I still struggled some days. Having worked pretty much full time since I was 16 to then having nothing, with all this time on my hands, it was strange. I started to reflect more on life, what did I want out of it? If nothing stood in my way, what would I do? I knew I wanted to stay in hospitality.....and so I dreamed.
Of course I applied for jobs. Not just in the events industry, back in IT, as a receptionist, ohhhh and lots of stuff in between, but nothing. So many times, too many to remember I’d just get radio silence, no feedback at all, to I’m over qualified, to won’t you just leave this job if/when the events industry picks up? I felt like I couldn’t win and no matter how positive you are, your confidence starts to take a knock.
And if that wasn’t enough, in the middle of it all we sold our house. Fab news, only we didn’t have anywhere to go, so the pressure was on. And then something magical happened.
We went to see a house which we had absolutely no intention of buying.
You see my husband had booked the viewing ‘just coz he wanted to see it’, but it was over budget, in an area we didn’t know or even want to live in. We were actually going to cancel the appointment, but life got in the way and we forgot. So off we went and the place absolutely blew our minds. You know when something so unexpected happens it almost takes your breath away, it was like that. The house needs works, so much work but the views, the garden and the field. Yes a field….a 4 acre one at that. It still feels bit strange saying that! Mr R and I just looked at one another, no words were necessary. This was it… a house with so much potential and a field that could be a business opportunity. Could it? Were we being unrealistic? What would we do with it? Our conversations were suddenly full of excitement and the ideas started to flow.
We’ve now been in almost 3 months. I’ve got a mind map going which is full of different ideas, currently with two top contenders….glamping and growing our own produce (we’ve 6 veg patches & about 10 fruit trees, yikes!). And so once again, I find my career taking a completely different path to what I’d expected. Could this be career number 3?
It’s exciting, it’s scary, it's nerve racking and at times I feel totally out of my depth with it….actually I feel like that most of the time. But one thing is certain, I’m determined to give it go. As they say......‘It’s better to have tried and failed, than to live life wondering what would’ve happened if you’d tried’.
I feel this was meant for us, that it’s meant to be. That the universe was saying…. ‘here you go, here’s an opportunity for you, make of it what you will’. After having no event work for months, it felt like I’d been handed a golden ticket. Don’t get me wrong, I know for sure this isn’t going to be easy, it’s gonna be bumpy but it’s a ride we’re taking no matter what the outcome.
So here I came career number 3. Strap in, hold tight, we’re gonna be thrown around…. but it’s also going to be, hopefully, one gloriously joyful journey…..fancy joining me for the ride?
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