Career Transition.
What I have learned going through my career transition: Full-time employee to Coach
For 9 years, I worked for a not-for-profit organization in its Leadership Development department. I gained so much experience from new insights, growth, role transitions, relationship building and much more. This is where it all started for my career transition as a Coach. As I built relationships with the facilitators and coaches in those years and saw their transitions, I knew I wanted a lot more of this in my life. During this time, I was also a Triathlon Coach & Swim Coach on the side. I was doing it all, relationships, training for an Ironman, working in a Leadership Department, and Coaching athletes…
I clearly remember the day I was gently nudged to move towards a career in Life Coaching, to become a certified coach through the CO- Active Training Institute. My coach at the time, and our director in the department I worked in, both encouraged me in this direction. I also had amazing support from my colleagues, friends & family too. I decided to take the brave step in becoming a certified coach and never looked back. I knew in my heart that I was going to move on from the organization I was working at, but making that decision was hard. This decision was then made for me, as I was part of a big layoff within the entire organization. Talk about the universe giving you a GOOD kick in the ass!
To this day, I do not know what I would have done without going through the coaching programming and certification. Once I become a certified CPCC, a couple of months later I went through a divorce that ended a 13 year marriage. Coaching helped me move through many tough times along with family and friends, and I pulled myself through to a side and into the top of the lighthouse. I can now look back on that time and feel that it was a good decision, and I was also able to forgive, which enabled me to move on.
Talk about transitions…. I was no longer working for an organization and I knew I needed to dive into coaching. This is what I was meant to do in the world, or at least one of the things. I started to Triathlon coach more, and swim coaching, along with completing Ironman events and open water swim events. I then transitioned out of being a Triathlon Coach and ran a successful Swim Squad in Canmore, Alberta. Suddenly, we were all hit with the Pandemic and pools closed. I took this time to develop my Life Coaching business, hired a business coach, and took a deep dive into creating this successful business. Being an entrepreneur is HARD, but also gratifying. You need to keep pushing forward and remember why you are doing this. Be brave and do the things that make you feel nervous, connect with people - real humans, action, action, action! Be aware when you know you are going to have shit days, but you will have AMAZING days too. Keep yourself active in some sort of sport or activity, let those butterflies fly in your stomach, and having a coach alongside is super helpful!
If you recently left or lost your job and are looking for a new career transition or looking to enter the world of being an entrepreneur, be gentle with yourself as it takes time to transition properly. Talk to people or write it out if that is your jam. Do what makes you feel alive and have a support network of some kick-ass people. Remember, you don’t have to do it all. I tried this, and at that time, in my life it served me for a purpose. I was blind too, but now I clearly see how it would not serve me moving forward with myself and my family.
Stay true to you, know you got this, and you do not need to do this alone.
Go with a brave heart & bold vibe,
Sarah Freeman Coaching
