Sticking To The Knitting: A Midlife Career Non-Change
by Kim Barty on 14/08/12 at 9:59 am
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I’ve been in the communications industry for over a quarter of a century – when I say it like that I feel old and it feels like a long time, which is perhaps why I thought a change of career a few years ago was a good idea.
My husband works in the corporate change consulting world and I decided that my passion to see people change and grow was a good motivation to change lanes and I moved to his side of the office and I took on the roles of sales, marketing, client service, tea maker – really anything to make myself useful.
We worked on a large change project, flew many miles, slept in many hotel rooms, our housekeeper got to see a lot of the country too as she’d come with us on many of the trips as we have a young daughter who was also part of our ‘change’ team.
Three years on, that career hasn’t materialized and I can’t write ‘Change Consultant’ on my business card and I find myself returning to the ‘knitting’ of communications. In the last few months, I’ve sat in my office with its beautiful view over Kalk Bay harbour and wondered why?
I wanted to do something different, more significant, make more of an impact, make a difference in this crazy world of ours. But I find myself back at the door of my gifting, my first love, something I do so naturally.
What has this diversion really taught me?
- I’m glad I went out seeking and followed this beckoning finger into a totally different world – although the excursion was short-lived. I gave myself a chance to try something new.
- In my self-appointed role of ‘I’ll do anything at MyCube4Change” I entered into the world of social media – I blogged and exposed my guts, twittered, changed status daily, wrote newsletters, joined Linked-in discussion groups around the world and did all the things that the ‘how to get your business out there via the social media’ suggested. So now I know a bit about social media.
- That changing career after 25 years might not be the best thing to do, but that’s not a recipe. Maybe just for me, I can still find significance and meaning in the world of communications and social media. Now I’m looking for communications campaigns that make a difference.
- That being back in the job market can be a humiliating occupation – floating around in this world of cyber-job hunting. The contacts and clients over the years, who are actually now my friends, are the source of business, encouragement and opportunities. Sustainable retainer clients vs event-based communications is a more robust business model, despite my desire for variety and excitement. I will work with clients in the long-term.
Maybe the invitation to stick to the knitting at a deep level has been the motivation for my latest project – crocheting art pieces that incorporate stuff I find on the beach on my daily walks. It’s therapeutic, creative and is a physical reminder of sticking to the knitting, including junk from the past that now becomes beauty. I’m sure there’s a brand there somewhere and maybe I’ll launch Ocean Finds.
I’m still passionate about seeing people, particularly women, recognize who they really are and then seeing them grow and nurture that . I think that change and transformation is part of my future, just not in the package that I was trying to create. I’m seeking to bring about change and transformation in other ways.
Kim's the founding partner of Trojan Horse, a company that creatively accesses people, places and spaces and is the holding company for MyCube4Change, a change and transformation tool. She treasures the lifestyle that working for herself offers, even if the bank balance doesn’t always equal ‘success’, there are many other ‘success’ and value boxes ticked. View more articles by Kim Barty.
Tags: entrepreneurship, Ideate
