New Beginnings
I’ve got a new job. As of next month I’m going to be a productivity trainer. Just like David Allen. In fact almost exactly like David Allen. That excites me very much.
It’s a huge change of direction in my career. I’m giving up the warmth and security of the civil service for a completely different experience in a very small company.
It’s one of those big life decisions. I’ve grown a lot during my time as a civil servant, and apart from student jobs it’s the only employer I’ve ever had. But at the grand old age of 27 I’ve taken the plunge to follow my dream. It sounds corny but it’s true, you don’t get a shot at career fulfilment very often so I’m grabbing this one by the horns. I will not be a ‘what if?’ guy.
Trying to describe to people what I’m going to be doing is tricky. I’ve yet to come up with with a pithy ten second answer to that question (all suggestions welcome). When I eventually manage to blurt the words productivity and trainer out in some kind of sentence, people’s reactions are really interesting:
- some think it’s lame or pointless. I don’t care. I’ve found something that feels good to me, and that’s all that matters. If I can earn a living from it, then so much the better.
- others appear worried I’m judging their productivity. In fact I only start doing that once they draw my attention to it! And that’s in between wondering whether they’re trying to measure my productivity.
- quite a few want me to give them advice or come back and coach them. And more have said the civil service could use a dose of productivity training. So if anyone wants to offer us a contract…
- there’s usually some kind of look of surprise or confusion, a cliched ‘management guru’ image flashes into their minds, the more surprising as I don’t remotely conform to that stereotype. I hope.
- many question my giving up the security, good pay and generous pension the government offers. This almost stopped me making the leap, but after a lot of deliberation I decided to do what I enjoy and trust the rest will look after itself. I’m generally pretty risk-averse and big on planning for the future so this is a huge thing for me. But the prospect of looking forward to going to work trumps all those and the fear they instil.
It’s going to be big and scary and I’m sure there’ll be ups and downs. So here goes, close the eyes, deep breath, and jump…
photo credit: David Reece
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