Very uplifting and admire your perseverance and creativity, too. Also, very smart to always have a side hustle. I myself did that for years early on in my career. A small time publisher I was working for right out of college got a big break with a new talent and was changing his strategy. He'd been doing indexes to magazines and offered me to take one over, at no charge. I jumped at the chance and did as he did - a mail order business that brought in a nice amount just as he used to do. I kept at it for years.
Thanks so much for the kind comment Jeanine and taking the time to check out my work.
I appreciate your share and wish I had learned to have a side hustle that early but I did starting in my 20’s so it didn’t take me too long to discover what’s what :)
Oh, you are very welcome. But the side hustle came to me! I was a naive 20 something and it was my first job related to my major out of college. I lived in northern CA at the time and there was a small publisher who published The Super Index to the Mother Earth News. We worked out of his barn -no heat - and norCal gets cold in the winter - rain and snow. I literally had to wear gloves while typing ): Oliver Press was the name. I did all the indexing and graphics and typing (that was our format—doable). When he pitched Robt Altman’s son Michael to publish his Moonshiner’s Manual, my boss said I could have the Super Index. For him, success called. I went on to do one for Bon Appetit and also High Times. All side hustles. II think by then i knew what a side hustle was, haha).
Love the Grinch reference, Melanie. And a very relatable read. Funny, even when my kids were little, I'd always had a little something on the side; some kind of side hustle I could fall back on. Consulting, coaching, grant writing and then yoga teaching. And little did I know that would morph into a career - the most authentic and fulfilling leadership role. Who knew?! Fantastic post!
Thanks so much Karen for taking the time to read and support my work and your kind kudos.
It was funny. I wrote that on a very hot day and have no idea why The Grinch popped into my head. I think it was the way I phrased something and I heard that scene in my head and out it came!
I’m glad that you too were always a side hustler and found your leadership path as well.
Great post about losing your identity through no fault of your own. Then finding it again in ways you didn’t realize you could. That is a good leader. Kudos!
Another great post, Melanie! It's really hard to lose our work identities. Mine really went away much earlier than my 50s, but I tried to find a new professional identity by privately tutoring and then teaching in a classroom as an adjunct. It's not perfect -- not as fulfilling as when I was a journalist--but it comes with its own rewards. It's definitely good to remember those!!
Thanks for your kind kudos and share Diane. You're right. That reinvented professional identity may not be as satisfying but can still have benefits. Like in my case I've had time to write.
Thanks so much for the read and taking the time to comment JP. I'm glad the mourning part stood out for you as it took me awhile to name what I was feeling.
You're right in that I did accidentally let it become too much of my identity but the good news was it still is. I discovered it's always going to be part of who I am.
Melanie, I think a lot of people discover this the hard way. We spend years building a career and accidentally let it become part of our identity. The part about being 'in mourning' caught my attention because I think that's what a lot of people are experiencing after a major career change, whether they realize it or not.
I can relate to this so much. It’s surprising how much of our identity can get wrapped up in a role, and how disorienting it feels when that changes. I love the reminder that leadership is not just a title, it’s how we show up.
Thanks so much for the kind comment Denise and checking out my work. I saw your recent piece on going through your own change of identity and know you’re feeling this too.
That was a great reminder. I, too, have had a professional identity shift, and I can relate to a lot of what you write here. I'm really glad "Morgan" was able to help remind you of your inherent skill set!
Very uplifting and admire your perseverance and creativity, too. Also, very smart to always have a side hustle. I myself did that for years early on in my career. A small time publisher I was working for right out of college got a big break with a new talent and was changing his strategy. He'd been doing indexes to magazines and offered me to take one over, at no charge. I jumped at the chance and did as he did - a mail order business that brought in a nice amount just as he used to do. I kept at it for years.
Thanks so much for the kind comment Jeanine and taking the time to check out my work.
I appreciate your share and wish I had learned to have a side hustle that early but I did starting in my 20’s so it didn’t take me too long to discover what’s what :)
Oh, you are very welcome. But the side hustle came to me! I was a naive 20 something and it was my first job related to my major out of college. I lived in northern CA at the time and there was a small publisher who published The Super Index to the Mother Earth News. We worked out of his barn -no heat - and norCal gets cold in the winter - rain and snow. I literally had to wear gloves while typing ): Oliver Press was the name. I did all the indexing and graphics and typing (that was our format—doable). When he pitched Robt Altman’s son Michael to publish his Moonshiner’s Manual, my boss said I could have the Super Index. For him, success called. I went on to do one for Bon Appetit and also High Times. All side hustles. II think by then i knew what a side hustle was, haha).
The launching pad for your success Jeanine. Very cool! Fun to know more about you.
Thanks for sharing this lesson, and about separating who the person is from the title
I appreciate that Allie. Thanks for checking it out.
Love the Grinch reference, Melanie. And a very relatable read. Funny, even when my kids were little, I'd always had a little something on the side; some kind of side hustle I could fall back on. Consulting, coaching, grant writing and then yoga teaching. And little did I know that would morph into a career - the most authentic and fulfilling leadership role. Who knew?! Fantastic post!
Thanks so much Karen for taking the time to read and support my work and your kind kudos.
It was funny. I wrote that on a very hot day and have no idea why The Grinch popped into my head. I think it was the way I phrased something and I heard that scene in my head and out it came!
I’m glad that you too were always a side hustler and found your leadership path as well.
My view is that leadership does not come from the organization chart. I am glad Morgan made that point in person. Lead from where you are!
Thanks so much for the read John! I too know it’s not necessarily the title, but the companies can make it all about that with how you’re treated.
Yes Morgan is one great guy.
You’re never alone! Heal from this loss, move on, and employ healthy techniques so you can move onto your next job!
Thanks Florence!
Great post about losing your identity through no fault of your own. Then finding it again in ways you didn’t realize you could. That is a good leader. Kudos!
Thanks Missy for the very kind comment and checking out my work. I also am so grateful for the kind resharing of it with others :)
Another great post, Melanie! It's really hard to lose our work identities. Mine really went away much earlier than my 50s, but I tried to find a new professional identity by privately tutoring and then teaching in a classroom as an adjunct. It's not perfect -- not as fulfilling as when I was a journalist--but it comes with its own rewards. It's definitely good to remember those!!
Thanks for your kind kudos and share Diane. You're right. That reinvented professional identity may not be as satisfying but can still have benefits. Like in my case I've had time to write.
Thanks for helping me give this one a little love Bronce :)
Thanks so much for the read and taking the time to comment JP. I'm glad the mourning part stood out for you as it took me awhile to name what I was feeling.
You're right in that I did accidentally let it become too much of my identity but the good news was it still is. I discovered it's always going to be part of who I am.
Melanie, I think a lot of people discover this the hard way. We spend years building a career and accidentally let it become part of our identity. The part about being 'in mourning' caught my attention because I think that's what a lot of people are experiencing after a major career change, whether they realize it or not.
Yes, your piece really resonated! I like what you said here about our true identity never really gets lost.
I can relate to this so much. It’s surprising how much of our identity can get wrapped up in a role, and how disorienting it feels when that changes. I love the reminder that leadership is not just a title, it’s how we show up.
Thanks so much for the kind comment Denise and checking out my work. I saw your recent piece on going through your own change of identity and know you’re feeling this too.
Our true identity never really gets lost.
"...leadership doesn’t just come from a title after all. Perhaps it means just a little bit more"
I wholeheartedly agree - leadership is about how we live, and that's not just when we're at work.
Thanks so much for the read and taking the time to share what resonated with you Sarah.
So glad you agree :)
Thanks so much for checking out my work Debra. Your kind support is always appreciated.
Sorry you had that happen as well but like so many things in life, when we navigate through it, we ultimately come out stronger!
"leadership doesn’t just come from a title"
That was a great reminder. I, too, have had a professional identity shift, and I can relate to a lot of what you write here. I'm really glad "Morgan" was able to help remind you of your inherent skill set!
Bravo Melanie! You can’t keep a good leader down. 🎉
Thanks so much for that very kind comment Pat!