I left corporate and moved to Africa during COVID.
These are the lessons I did not expect from leaving the corporate world to coach full time and moving to Africa during the global pandemic
The process of transition is a dance between planning and adapting. Although I had meticulously planned my shift into coaching and accounted for the move, the reality of the adjustments needed hit me like a tidal wave. The truth is, change doesn't always follow our script, and life has a way of surprising us with unexpected twists and turns.
Here are 3 of the hardest parts of going through a life and career transition that I did not expect:
#1 Letting Go
Letting go and detaching from the attachments I’ve built over time – my career, home and even my identity- was extremely difficult. I did not realize how uncomfortable it was to leave everything behind. The ego doesn’t like change and resists them with a vengeance by bringing on a cacophony of emotions – sadness, fear, self doubt and overwhelm. In those moments of emotional turbulence, I had no choice but to address them head on and process those challenging feelings in order to keep moving forward.
#2 Actively choosing a new mindset
Amidst the storm of change, I knew that adopting a new set of empowering beliefs was my guiding compass. Stepping into faith, hope, and courage became not just a mantra, but a way of life. Reminding myself that change is the only constant served as an anchor when the waves of uncertainty threatened to sweep me away. It's a paradox, really – holding onto a steadfast belief in the future while simultaneously letting go of the past.
#3 Breaking out of conditioned behaviours
While it was liberating to escape from the confines of the traditional 9-to-5, crafting structure and systems to facilitate this transition was yet another challenge I did not anticipate. Building this framework demanded a reimagining of how I approached my work – creating schedules that honored my natural productivity peaks and designing strategies that kept procrastination at bay.
Adapting to change isn't merely about adapting to external circumstances. It's about transforming our internal landscape; letting go of the past in order to make space for the new. If you are a coach or entrepreneur planning your own transition, I invite you to seek as much support as you can.
Coach Launch Program
If you want to build the self confidence, emotional resilience and essential skills for business success, I invite you to explore my CoachLaunch program. The Coach Launch program was designed especially for new coaches who have recently graduated or those who are looking to transition into full-time coaching. Whether you have limited business experience or need guidance in getting your coaching practice off the ground, the program will support and empower you every step of the way.
Drop me a message or comment below for a preview of the program.
