As I hinted at the end of my last blog, I have some big news to share about myself and Brand Career Management (BCM).
After running my business since 2011 as a solopreneur, I have decided it would be wise to take a break and recharge. The past few years have had their challenges, and recently, the opportunity presented itself to consider taking a step back from my work persona. I decided to take it!
Wikipedia defines a sabbatical as “a rest or break from work; an extended period of time intentionally spent on something that’s not your routine job.” And that is what I intend to do. On April 1st, I’m going on a sabbatical, and Brand Career Management will stop taking clients until Jan 2026. To be clear, I am not retiring, but you could say I’m taking time to “rewire.” I love helping others with career management and plan to continue doing so after the break.
WHY A SABBATICAL?
A common reaction to my stated goal for 2025 is “Why?” so please let me explain a bit of my rationale.
In American society, work is a primary focus for most, and it takes up an enormous amount of our lives. Everyone is always asking, “What do you do?” and for a career coach, there can be extra emphasis on work because my vocation is tied to how others make a living. In my case, being raised by two very hard-working and entrepreneurial parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, which only strengthened the role of work in my life.
My first job was babysitting neighborhood children, and I went to an after-school job most weekdays starting in tenth grade. High school summers were in a beautiful place, but I still worked to save up money for college. After college, I became a VISTA Volunteer (similar to the AmeriCorps program), earning a small stipend, but it was like a job in that I reported to work each weekday for 1 ½ years. Since then, I’ve continued to work throughout my life, minus a few deep-dive travel experiences.
You could say that much of my existence to date has been about work. In fact, I have used the word workaholic to describe myself in the past. I’ve had to be very intentional not to let work take over my entire reason for being. Believe it or not, this seemingly “no-brainer” decision wasn’t an easy one to make. Among other things, it felt scary to give up my work identity, and I could convince myself that I’m letting others down.
Even though I LOVE what I do, I know there is so much more to life than work. I would like to be known for more than just being a great career advisor. I’d like to also be known as someone who is wise, kind, loving, and fun to be around. Work takes a toll, no matter how much you enjoy it, which is why I always suggest stretching a break between jobs if you are able. You could say I’m taking a page from my own book.
Having been happily married for 30+ years, with travel as a constant in my life, I am looking forward to enjoying the ride alongside my husband while we are healthy and strong. In 2025, I will fully lean into my spousal and traveler roles while strengthening relationships. I will take time to enjoy the journey and the RV travels while I find ways to live out my three words for 2025 (Love, Play, and Peace).
Thanks to those who have done this before me! Seeing major athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles being willing to take a step back from their careers has given me inspiration and courage. Also, some of my clients were willing to take one step back to move forward in their careers. Even my own life has taught me this lesson. Twice, I have taken travel breaks in my career, and both times, I made a smooth enough return to work with a clearer path ahead.
HOW WILL MY SABBATTICAL AFFECT YOU?
During my sabbatical, I will not be taking on individual or organizational clients, including career coaching, speaking engagements, or training facilitation, though I’m open to scheduling an engagement in 2026. You can still send me an email, but my response time will be delayed.
For now, I will be discontinuing the monthly blog I have been sending out since 2022. Each month, I alternated topics between my travel adventures and the chapters in my book. My March blog will be the final one of the series covering Chapter Thirteen, the last chapter of The Purple Parachute. I will leave my email list intact for when I return but I will stop sending out regular posts from Brand Career Management. I am excited not to have a monthly deadline for writing, and I hope your inbox appreciates the space.
If you need career services between now and December 31, 2025, please see my list of trusted colleagues to find someone who can help you in my absence. You can find this list by clicking on the “Contact Me” button at the top right-hand corner of each page of my website.
As far as my website, I will be making changes to reflect my status, but it will remain live with its current content so that you can continue to access the useful resources on it. Visit the Resources tab to access these valuable career materials at any time. Did you know that you can search through my past LinkedIn posts, past blog posts, and videos of past events? You can also access my list of certifications for those in the field of careers.
I wish you the best career success in 2025, and I look forward to the possibility of working with you in 2026.
P.S. While I’ll be stepping back for a bit, I hope the resources on my website and past blogs continue to support you. This pause is an opportunity for me to recharge, and I look forward to returning with even more insights to share. Don’t forget, you can also access The Purple Parachute on audio here. Until then, wishing you every success in your career journey!
