It’s OK To Press Pause
“The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause”
Eighteen days from when this photo was taken, I was let go from my corporate marketing position that I had been part of for over 20 years. Being laid off is, let’s just say, humbling. Losing half of your household income with two kids in college during a global pandemic is downright frightening.
I’ve always been a fixer, I’ve told my family and friends that for years. The first thing I did when I got the call was think, how can I fix this? I was fortunate to receive a severance package but the household budget needed to be adjusted…quickly. And while I didn’t feel like my career was over, I did feel like I was going to make a change in how I continued to view work.
Then I hit pause, something that I had not done in a really, really long time. I had lunch with my kids, knocked out some DIY projects, and more than a few days I slept in. And in the Fall, I went back to school like everyone else and took a course in digital marketing through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Once I received my certification, I worked part time for a digital agency and got some great on the job training. I also discovered 1099 contract work and while it isn’t a new concept, it became a new opportunity that I hadn’t thought of until recently.
I still don’t have it all figured out, but I’ve learned a few things since this photo was taken. Life throws you curves, education is always a good investment, and sometimes the power of a pause is all you need to start something new.
