Need a Career-Change? Try Going Back to Past Jobs
Why building a career laterally isn’t always the right thing to do
The best piece of advice I got during this recent career change was also the most unexpected. A friend of mine who had successfully run a freelance business for as long as I’ve known her told me this:
Find a part-time job for the steady income, even if it’s below your skill level, while you build your business.
At the time I was worrying about money and how to make my severance package stretch as long as possible while I launched a media consulting business. I was stressed and overwhelmed at the great unknowns: what if I can’t find clients? What if I don’t charge enough? How can I pay my mortgage when future pay looks so inconsistent?
In my mind this next step up in my career was a failure before it even started. I hadn’t even finalized a logo or website yet. I hadn’t even pitched a first client, but I was already drowning in imposter syndrome and self-doubt.
But the words “even if it’s below your skill level”, coming from a friend I respect and admire, instantly freed me of this thought loop.
THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH LEANING ON WHAT YOU KNOW
Soon after getting this advice I heard of an opportunity for a freelance writing position at a 24-hour news channel — basically the exact same job I had when I first started working in TV, just at a different network. I sent my CV off to the Executive Producer to see what would happen and he leapt at the chance to talk to me.
“What about control room producing and assigning writers?” he asked.
Sure, I could do those jobs. I know they come with more responsibility and more pay. But it’s been a decade since I worked in news, so I thought it best to come in as a writer.
So I did.
The workflow is a little different from what I’m used to, but it’s pretty much the same job I did 15 years ago. The only difference is, I’m not interested in being their best writer, the way I was 15 years ago. Sure, I want to do a good job and get regular work from them. But move up from this position? Not right now.
HERE’S THE THING ABOUT BRIDGE WORK
See, the best part of this job is I can leave it when the shift is over. Mentally speaking, that is. The job gets my full attention for the 8 hours and 15 minutes I’m scheduled (and thereby paid) to contribute. Once it’s over, my mind is on to other things.
I have the brain space to work on the things I enjoy and have the promise of paying off at some point (my business and writing. As of today I’ve earned 6 cents writing on Medium. Not bad for someone who doesn’t know a thing about self-promotion or digital marketing. Yet).
The best part? The pressure is off. Even though I’m doing the same job as 15 years ago, the pay now reflects the 15 years experience I come with. So the steady income from this bridge work covers my bills. I might need some much-needed belt-tightening (doggy daycare is the first to cut back. Pearl’s on part-time play too) but the big responsibilities are covered.
I’m now mentally free to build my business and teach myself digital marketing because the financial pressure is off. There’s no deadline to build a client roster I can live off of. It can happen organically as I learn more, experiment more and discover new applications for my skill set.
IT’S NOT MAGIC, IT’S TIME MANAGEMENT
I used to refer to my producer duties as “plate spinning”. For a long time I would be hyper-vigilant about all of the different aspects I was in charge of: booking guests, vetting scripts, approving graphics, props, etc.
But if you watch actual plate spinning, it’s not about focusing on all the plates all the time. Skilled spinners will know how much force to put on a spinning plate to keep it in motion for a set period of time. They’ll pace this spinning accordingly and in a set pattern so they know where and when they can focus and what they can leave behind.
That is my approach right now to this freelance life I’ve started. When I’m paid to be in news-mode, that’s when I’m in news mode. If an idea for a blog post or IG post comes up in that time, the temptation is to switch gears and focus on the new thing. Instead I’ll write it on a sticky, or my whiteboard and come back to it when time allows.
Like a plate spinner, the brain can only focus on so many things at once. You have to know where to ramp up the pressure and when. Otherwise the dread and the to-do list can overwhelm and bring everything crashing down.
