Janine Hearn - Odell’s Post

This week I hit the 4 month mark of my 1 year sabbatical 🤯 I’ve been quieter on LinkedIn recently as I’ve immersed myself into sabbatical life.  This time has been a needed career pause and reallocation of my energy and mental resources into passion projects and time with family.  And… In accordance with my type A personality, my approach to taking time away from traditional work has included clear goals for myself. 1️⃣ Reignite my innovation and creativity 2️⃣ Pour into my family and friends 3️⃣ Invest in my physical health  4️⃣ Reflect on future career evolutions for myself  5️⃣ Learn as much as I can #3 (Physical Health) recently had a big win.  Last weekend I ran my first ever Half Marathon!   More coming on that experience... Right now I’ll share this lesson.  ✨ If you have team members who are training for something outside of work like a half marathon, marathon, iron man, bike race, or any type of big physical goal - please enthusiastically cheer them on.  ✨ Ask them about what they are training for, be interested in it when they talk about it.  I did this while on sabbatical and it took up an incredible amount of time and brain space.  I am in awe of people who show up to work and kick a$$ when they are waking up at 4:45am for runs or training sessions in the dark.  It takes remarkable strength, organization, focus, and motivation to accomplish this.  The effort is ramped up 10x when you add work, family responsibilities, etc.   We spend so much time with our coworkers.  Don’t be afraid to be the hype person for the people you value.  It matters, more than you might realize. 

Relaxed and in perfect harmony for the vacation period? Not quite. Entering into a new career path isn't always as smooth as anticipated 🙃. I envisioned a clear path: pause, reflect, and then get going 🏃♀️. Now that did not happen 🙄 . Rather, I rushed into something new 2023, then later attempted to pause but quickly made myself busy with distractions.. It has also been a bit stressful to approach crossroads where different paths each offers appealing journeys but in very different ways..  Taking decisions and feeling a “refreshing” mix of excitement, fear, happiness & uncertainty 🌪 . I remind myself often that it's okay to change route when on the road. It’s said that sometimes inaction is the best action. I am going to try not to think too much during vacation but instead just savor the micro-moments of joy as they arrive (& they often do in the mountains). How do you choose your paths? Gut-feeling or more structured approach? #careerpaths #change #independence  

Part 3: Life is Too Important to be Taken Seriously: Amidst the rigors of professional life, it's crucial to remember that life is too important to be taken too seriously (a shout out to Mr Wilde). My sabbatical has served as a poignant reminder to embrace spontaneity, laughter, and playfulness. Whether it was embarking on spontaneous adventures, indulging in hobbies, or simply revelling in the beauty of everyday moments, infusing levity into life brought a newfound sense of joy and perspective. In the workplace, too often I see people who take themselves way too seriously. I am very much one for the motto of taking your work seriously but not yourself…! Fostering a culture that values humour, creativity, and light-heartedness can alleviate stress, enhance team cohesion, foster innovation and build stronger connections quickly. Of course there will always be times when the “work rubber hits the road”, but also ensure that you encourage moments of levity, celebrate achievements, and cultivate an environment where employees feel comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work. Remember, while professionalism is important, embracing the lighter side of life can enrich our work experiences and make the work life journey all the more rewarding. Attached is an article that resonated for me (8 min reads): https://lnkd.in/gXUfMeuY

Last month, I planted a seed here that I am planning to take a sabbatical next year (I know you saw it Sara Dean 😊 and I know it's something you support Taylor Anderson, CFP®). Yay me! The last few years have been exceptionally challenging for me personally and, when you throw in a global pandemic on top of that, my resilience and capacity were seriously tested. I needed a break before it broke me. This will be my third (and last) sabbatical in my life and the restoration, growth and reflection from the first two were immeasurable. When I was 30, I backpacked around the world for a year and, in 2016, I took six months off to focus on writing my book, training for my first marathon and doing some career exploration. During both of these sabbaticals I worked at Starbucks and was able to take advantage of the wonderful company benefit called a "Coffee Break". This time, though, I'm on my own, which adds a whole different layer of pressure but I have faith that everything will work out. All I have is today. I'll be sharing more about my plans, intentions and how I'll manage my business in the coming months but I'm curious as to your sabbatical stories. Have you taken one before? Why or why not? What questions do you have about taking a sabbatical? What are your concerns? I'd love to engage in some dialogue about the topic with all of you before I go! #sabbatical #womanownedbusiness #solopreneur #entrepreneur #managementconsultant #leadershipcoach

🏋♀️The Power of Pause:🧘♂️ Why Taking Time Off is Essential for Professional Growth 🌴🕰️ In the hustle and bustle of building our careers, it's easy to overlook the importance of taking breaks and spending quality time with family. 🚀💼 However, I'm here to remind you that pausing to explore new destinations and create lasting memories with loved ones is not only enjoyable but also essential for your professional growth and personal relationships. Here's why: 1. Recharge and Rejuvenate:🤠 Taking a vacation allows you to recharge your batteries and return to work with renewed energy and enthusiasm. 🌟✨ 2. Gain Perspective: 🥸Stepping away from your daily routine provides an opportunity to gain fresh perspective and clarity on your goals and priorities. 🌅🤔 3. Strengthen Relationships:👨👩👦👦 Spending time with family strengthens bonds and fosters a supportive network that can sustain you through challenges in your career journey. 👨👩👧👦❤️ 4. Unlock Creativity:🧚♂️ Exploring new places and experiences stimulates creativity and inspires fresh ideas that can benefit your work. 🎨💡 So, whether it's a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, prioritize taking time off to unwind and connect with your loved ones. Your career will thank you for it. 🌴⏳ #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalGrowth #VacationTime #FamilyFirst #CareerAdvice #FreshGraduates #JobSeekers #SkillDevelopment 🚀👨👩👧👦

How can I live my best life? That was my anchor question while on sabbatical earlier this year. Now that I’m back, ready for my proverbial ‘next career challenge’ (cue the eye roll) I’m confronting it again. When I left a great job designing leadership programs, I was determined to take intentional time out, fully embrace the midlife crisis, re-evaluate my career and life skills path, and, yeah, maybe even choose a red sports car (aventurine red, to be precise). This week, as I started my regular browsing of job postings, the more I scrolled and saved, the more I sensed my standards dropping. And when I reviewed my saved jobs, I realised I'm defaulting to familiar, safe roles—jobs I've always done. While it's easier to get hired for a job that matches my CV (thanks AI), I’m left questioning: do I really want a next challenge? The answer, I’ve found, is probably ‘NO’. So, if not a challenge, then what? What are we after? I’ve concluded that something within me yearns for more. Call it desire, ambition, or dreams. These feelings are often sparked by moments of inspiration, when I’ve seen greatness in others or even experienced it in myself. These electrifying moments when I’ve stumbled upon a task or mission that makes me feel fully alive. Here’s the important point: The existence of these desires is significant; they hint at who we really are and suggest a path to something meaningful and rewarding. For example, I’ve traveled to almost 40 countries, and moments in a remote cabin in Alaska, a valley in Patagonia, a redwood forest in California, and an ancient monastery in Spain have sparked dreams of taking executives to beautiful places filled with leadership metaphors. Then there are the things I want to change, things that make me angry, things driven by undeniable passion to make things better. For me, it’s helping people become their best ‘super-hero’ selves, enabling them to do amazing things the world really needs. That sounds like purpose to me. So I find two forces at work within me: Desire and purpose, or put another way, my longings and my callings. Research (well.....ChatGPT) suggests these are game changers, boosting creativity, innovation, intrinsic motivation, resilience, stress management, retention, customer loyalty, and brand strength. Companies like Google and Unilever are great case studies on the success of purpose-driven strategies. So, I’m sticking with it—mining for my desire and purpose, and taking my longings and callings seriously. I’d like to invite you to do the same. Take some time to reflect on moments that have moved you: - when you’ve been inspired by someone or something - when you’ve done something really amazing that seemed effortless - when you’ve stumbled upon a cause or dream that you have boundless passion and energy for If you’d like to share your stories, journey together, take some of your leaders to Alaska, or just ride in an aventurine red sports car, do get in touch. Much love!

🌟 Taking a Break: The Power of a Sabbatical Year 🌟 After 15 years of navigating the fast-paced world of customer operations, I decided it was time for a pit stop. 🚀💼 Taking a sabbatical year has been a game-changer! Here’s why: 1. Recharge & Refresh: Burnout is real, folks. A year off has recharged my batteries and given me a fresh perspective. 🧘♂️🔋 2. New Skills & Hobbies: From learning to cook (without burning the kitchen) to picking up a new psychology certification, I’ve discovered passions I never knew I had. 🍳🗣️ 3. Quality Time: More time with family and friends has been priceless. Plus, my dogs (my sweet Yorkies) are thrilled to have me around more! 🐶❤️ 4. Professional Growth: Reflecting on my career and setting new goals has been incredibly empowering. 📈✨ 5. Travel & Adventure: Exploring new places and cultures has broadened my horizons and inspired new ideas. Peak Everest, here I come! 🌍✈️ If you’re feeling the grind, consider a sabbatical. It might just be the best decision you ever made! 💡 #Sabbatical #CareerBreak #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalGrowth #Recharge #familytime #motherdaughter #time #mindfulness #mediations #learning #passions #newskills #inspire #team #developement #better #efficient #peak

How do you tell when it's time to leave a job that's "perfectly fine" on paper - pays well, with good people, growth prospects, and all the logical reasons for NOT leaving it? ⬇ This was a question I battled for years. I was so confused: why did all of these great things that came with my dream job NOT feel like enough? Even after positive moments like: the completion of a big project, praise from my supervisors, a “thanks” from my team, or another affirmation of my career progress and impact, I still felt dissatisfied. I watched my coworkers celebrate the company’s accomplishments and wondered, “what's WRONG with me?" What I came to realize, years after I've left my former job, is that quitting WAS the right move. It was the correct decision, no matter how illogical it may have seemed to others at the time. How do I know? ➡ Simply because now, doing my current work and living my current lifestyle, fills every need that I used to have: the need to feel purposeful, impactful, inspired, helpful, ever-evolving, as well as fulfilling the needs of my physical and mental wellbeing. Here are the subtle but important signs that it's time to reevaluate your current career path: 🔸 There's a persistent feeling of emptiness, or dread, or a yearning for a greater sense of meaning in your life. You “have it all” on the outside, but aren’t happy on the inside. 🔸 You’re frequently overwhelmed, exhausted, and overworked, but feeling stuck and/or “going nowhere fast” (even if you're ascending in leadership!) 🔸 You’ve achieved success, but are feeling lost and empty despite the accolades & money. You want to wake up excited, and not just for the morning latte or workout class. 🔸 You dream of “running away” from your reality (quit everything and go to Bali, or be a “broke backpacker,” or van life - anything that’s NOT your daily life). But if you're feeling this way - what do you do? After redirecting my own life path, as well as helping many clients shift theirs, I've found 7 key ingredients needed to go from lost, unsure, and unfulfilled - to living with purpose, inner fire, and deep satisfaction. ➡ I'm sharing these 7 ingredients in my blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eD_HuFmh In my journey, I did these steps out of order with a lot of trial and error. But, looking backwards and connecting the dots, I've made this system based on years of self-development, leadership training, coach training, coaching experience, and personal healing. I want to share this framework with you. I believe it's really helpful when you're assessing your current "point A" and deciding whether or not to make a big change. Now that I have this framework, I use it for any major life decision - from work, to where to live, to planning my year, to planning my life 5 years out. And I want to share it with as many people as possible, because it has the potential to help you create the life you've always wanted.

What starting a new career path in my mid 30’s has taught me: Renewed Purpose: Pursuing a new career has allowed me to align my work with my passions and interests, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and purpose Personal Growth: Learning new skills, adapting to new environments, and overcoming challenges has actually strengthened my faith in myself and my capabilities which benefits not only my professional life but my personal life too Increased Satisfaction: Finding a career that resonates with me on a deeper level has led to greater job satisfaction and overall happiness Expanded Network: Connecting with new colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals has enabled me to expand my professional network which in turn open doors to new opportunities Diverse Skill Set: Switching to a new career path allowed me to diversify my skill set and broaden my expertise, though many of my existing skills were transferable I have been surprised by how many new skills I have developed Improved Work-Life Balance: Overall my well-being has vastly increased, I love spending mornings with my daughter now instead of shipping her off to breakfast club, I just feel more content and motivated starting my day off in this slower pace, I never realised before how the mad morning rush made me feel like I was already starting out on the back foot. I was conscious that a less flexible schedule would decrease my work-life balance but I’ve found the complete opposite has happened, the incentives help with this too as it feels like there is always something to look forward to  It is NEVER too late to try something new: I know that mid 30’s isn’t old old old but I did reach a point where I felt as though my life and career had already been mapped out but taking the leap into the unknown has allowed me to feel as though there are so many possibilities in front of me rather than seeing my life as something set in stone

Like many of us, Andy got caught up in always chasing life's next big pursuit but became increasingly distant from the mission and the work. But a bold choice to embark on a sabbatical turned his world around. Trading conference rooms for open roads and coding marathons for stargazing sessions, Andy discovered passions he didn't know existed and laid the foundation for a career where he could give back to others. If you’re a professional who is feeling overwhelmed, here are some takeaways from Andy: 1. Even in the depths of burnout, there's a spark waiting to be reignited. All you might need is a change of scenery. 2. Sabbaticals aren't just about 'time off'. They're about coming back to yourself and finding clarity amidst the chaos. 3. Your career isn't a straight line. Sometimes, the detours take you to places and purposes you'd never have imagined. Read Andy’s full story here: https://lnkd.in/eZrZ58sw #sabbatical #career #worklifebalance