Have your cake and eat it too?

It's been a while since I've sat to write here. I guess I can say that I was busy, and that's true. But doing things I WANT to do means I have to set time aside for it.

It's like trying to find time to workout. I used to be so diligent at working out every morning before work. So I would usually get in 5 days of exercise. Pretty good! Now I go to work earlier than before and can't manage to get up at 5:30am to workout.

I'm also notoriously bad at working out after work. Too tired. Of course, this has nothing to with age, right? I just have action packed days and need a little time to eat, rest, read, socialize, etc.

So can you really have it all?

I spent last year working on finding a new direction for myself, upped my education, explored working for myself, built up my coaching skills, and so on.

At the end of last year, during all my career searching, I ended up with two great offers for full-time opportunities. Both companies were good, the roles similar by different in responsibilities. I wanted one more than the other. And of course the first offer came from the one I didn't want as much.

It all worked out! I took a full-time job and started in January. The people are nice and the role challenging.

But I missed my free-spirited year as a coach. I knew last year might only be a temporary thing and I wish that it had been able to provide me the income level I was hoping to reach. The flexible hours, and yet more great people to work with and learn from was incredible.

So I now look for ways to use this great knowledge and sharpened skill set in my new role. Not hard to do. Most of us deal with people every day in our jobs. So I deal with people all the time, good.

The challenge I have in adjusting, is that I'm back in a Technology role. Within the IT group of a big company. I don't pretend to be an IT expert anymore. In non-IT groups, I tend to lean towards the techie side and assume more IT type side-line roles.

Technology is my friend and trusted toolkit. It goes with me and will always serve me. But now I have to kick it up a notch and I deal with IT people every day, so I have to sharpen my tech knowledge again. I knew one day I might be here again. It is fun and you get to see some cool results.

Now that I've gotten comfortable back in IT, I now have found an opportunity to balance my career goals. I can now spend some time back in the career coaching field on a part-time basis and stay employed pretty much full-time (okay, I'm doing a four day week at the full-time job).

Great balance. Focus on my career goals, near term and long term. Still people focused. Still having fun.

Now if I could just get back into the workout routine a little more.

Where is that cake - I'm hungry.
SHH