Not Career Advice was a monthly podcast and a̶d̶v̶i̶c̶e̶ coaching column that asks and answers questions about "making it" in your career—and what that even means.
The career question
I’m coming up on one year as a full-time freelance writer, author, speaker and yoga teacher (I, too, have a portfolio career! ;) And I can’t help but question whether I should stay the course, or throw in the tile (shoutout to Tyrese) and go back to a six-figure corporate comms job (because we all know there’s no money to be had in media for a journalist living in the Midwest).
That being said, none of those roles light me up the way working on my own business does. As a first-time mom, flexibility and autonomy over my schedule are BIG perks right now. But the math isn’t always mathing when it comes to income.
It feels like every other content creator/influencer/speaker/author has figured out this magic formula and is being invited to every panel, keynote and activation imaginable (hello, EssenceFest!).
How can I keep the faith and keep going despite all of the real-life expenses (daycare, mortgage, etc.) telling me otherwise?
The not career advice
L’Oreal,
Happy belated freelance-iversary! Imagine me clinking a glass of Recess—my preferred celebratory drink—in your honor.
I pulled out a few career values as I read your note. It sounds like flexibility and autonomy, income comparable to a full-time corporate job, and public acknowledgement are all things you want from your work.
What other career values would you add to my shortlist? Career anchors might be a helpful framework here if you haven’t checked them out already.
Once you’ve got your full list, it’s time for the harder part. Access your inner Tyra (minus the fatphobia) and rank your career values. Which value ends up on top as a non-negotiable, and which values have wiggle room or a more flexible timeline?
Let me be crystal clear. I’m not saying that your portfolio career can’t hold all your career values. It can, and it will. Knowing you, it’s inevitable! But, speaking from personal experience, it takes time to build a work life where your career values are fully expressed.
The practice of ranking your career values reminds you that there are countless choices available to you. Play out the possibilities as you adjust your ranked list.
What might your career look like if you decide the six-figure salary is an absolute must that needs to happen ASAP? How does that compare to the path of prioritizing public acknowledgement? Notice how the different scenarios feel in your body.
After your reflection, explicitly state the choices and the tradeoffs you’re making.
Here’s an example from my life: I value pure challenge in my career, so I’m choosing to pursue a PhD, even if it means my schedule and my brain will be stretched for the next several years.
Yours might be something like: I value flexibility and autonomy as a mother, so I’m walking the freelance path, even if it means my family has to be on a tighter budget for the near future.
When I’m cursing Athena, the goddess of academia, under my breath because I’m doing homework in my thirties, I pause to remind myself that I chose this. I’m always free to make another choice, but I keep choosing school because the why is compelling enough for a nerd like me. When you’re wistfully hovering over the add to cart button, you can give yourself a similar reminder.
Exploring and owning your choices is valuable inner work. It’s also a way to curb comparison. As you look at the people who seem to have access to the magic formula, ask yourself about the choices they’re making. Are you willing or even able (financially, logistically, relationally) to make similar choices?
Sometimes I do this thought exercise and tap into a well of desire. I want what they have, and I have the means to move in that direction. That’s why I started writing my personal newsletter again. More often, I realize I don’t want to go all in on social media or move to one of the coasts or pay a publicist who has relationships I don’t.
Like most things in life, there’s no one right answer. There are infinite ways for you to choose yourself. Find peace in owning your choices and the tradeoffs that accompany them. If it stops feeling peaceful, you can always choose differently.
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