Work is only work if you’d rather be doing something else.
Actually worked harder than normal in Memphis.
Thought it was possible to run to Arkansas, but it is not.
__________
On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.
This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.
Cinderella Castle 1971. Photo source unknown, from the Internet perhaps.
Thank goodness for life’s sucker punches.
It was 2008-2009 at Walt Disney World and a new round of layoffs was in progress.
This time, the first time in my 24 years at Disney, it didn’t make sense.
It didn’t make sense for many people, including me. The bottomline was this: i felt vulnerable, and i had never experienced that before.
i hated it.
But then i embraced it.
It was in finding the silver lining that i was able to thrive.
And i decided the best time to create a plan b was when i didn’t need to.
That’s how my business, and early Disney retirement (after 30 incredible years) idea was born.
__________
On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.
This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.
On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.
This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.
Things you never thought would happen in your life…
Worked remotely from Disney University (DU) yesterday morning. Due to rain, i delayed the run to Magic Kingdom until well after sunrise. This caused the timing of a 9am client call to fall 1/3 of the way into a nine-mile run. No big deal.
DU was the perfect place to balance the wonderful flexibility being an entrepreneur provides.
The investment of $1,000 per month for 75 months before the first revenue was generated seemed unreasonable. And that first speaking engagement was never guaranteed. But what has happened in the nine months since literally makes me tear up.
Was coaching a Navy Veteran yesterday who’s goal is to transition into a leadership role at Disney when he retires. He is about to enroll in an MBA program to further his credentials.
i held my tongue, and was reminded of my choice in 2008 to start an LLC.
All around me were ambitious Disney Institute colleagues who were enrolling in MBA programs to bolster their odds for a promotion. Better title equals better pay, right?
i could see the writing on the wall – MBA’s provide a false sense of finally finding the missing link to what is holding you back. Literally everyone who received their MBA is still in the same position.
i always felt the real MBA, and income progression, could be found in actually being a master of your own business administration. Start your own business, make it work, then grow and prosper exponentially.
You know, the essence of my first book, Mid Life Celebration: rethink • reprioritize • recommit is that we have two choices: follow the herd or follow our heart
__________
This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.
Weird how 600 people seems like a small audience to me now. Montreal, November 2015.
So grateful for having to work so hard for so long.
Not only am i closing in on the eighth consecutive year of prolific blogging, i’m also one month away (as this is written) from beginning year eight as an entrepreneur. Six and a half of those years i was also working at Disney Institute.
You know those lists of great reasons – the amazing benefits that are touted – for becoming an entrepreneur?
They are under-rated.
__________
This website is about our career health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my home health website, click here.
