281. Her Network Saves Her: Career Happiness, Nothing Less!

For years, Christie was gaining skills, experiences and knowledge, but never quite feeling she had found her sweet spot. She studied history, taught at a “private, ritzy school” in England, where she also coached lacrosse. She learned about peacemaking and mediation in Brussels (where the chocolate was wonderful – “It was a big factor in my decision”). Then she worked at NATO, picking up graduate degrees and certifications along the way. Among the many things she learned was what she did not want to do. Years later, when she discovered coaching (“I didn’t even know it was a career for a long time!”), she couldn’t get enough of it. “I couldn’t stop myself from reading about coaching, playing with my materials, talking with people about it, even practicing it. I was so interested in it. And that was amazing to me because I hadn’t thought I’d be that interested, but I was.”

“There were a couple of memorable events for me on my journey from miserable consultant to entrepreneur and someone who really believes in the power of work. I ran a multi-million-dollar portfolio, and managed a team of 30. I worked with amazing clients. And I felt so guilty that I wasn’t happier! I remember being on my way to the office one day on the Metro in Washington, DC. I was looking at the people around me. Everyone looked like they had died a few years ago and their bodies were still going to work. I thought, ‘Am I gonna wake up years from now on the Metro, wondering what happened to my life? This can NOT be my life. I can’t keep doing this anymore!”

“My network saved me. Today, my mission is about connection and networking. I have the firm belief that everything good in your career comes from your network, and that it’s a life skill—we should learn it in college but we don’t. If you can increase your networking skill and your connection to people, you never have to be unemployed unless you want to be. So much opportunity will come your way.”

1. Accept that it’s really OK to want to do the work you love.

2. Believe that it’s OK to not always stay on the prescribed path.

3. Build your network. The economy and the world are changing and the only safety net you have is your network.

4. Get out there, take risks, and do things that are a little bit different. You deserve it.