Making a Life vs. Making a Living
When we first consider our careers in our late teens and early twenties we typically think of making a living. We know what we want and set out to create it. Career moves are based upon greater prestige, higher positions on the ladder, financial reward, broader potential or perhaps a desirable location.
But over time, things become a bit more complex. Decisions about taking a new job, switching industries, or even considering a change can be agonizing. For many, discontent seeps under the office door as we realize that making a living is suffocating our ability to make a life.
Today, a little older and a little wiser, we are more aware of the tradeoffs that come with jobs that once would have symbolized success. While a bigger paycheck or greater prestige may contribute to our vision of success – today fulfillment, autonomy and purpose are equally important factors in our decision-making.
We’ve heard the stories of people walking away from it all to start their own businesses, shifting off prominent career tracks or even taking time off to travel for a year! Such stories inspire daydreams, confusion, and sometimes, a bit envy.
When we think about taking the leap ourselves, fear can keep us rooted firmly in our comfort zone. Our education, social conditioning and beliefs tell us we have too much to lose to take a risk and step off track.
The reality is that there are many ways to stage our own Revolution. It doesn’t have to be as drastic as walking away from it all. It can start with simply stepping back to look at the success we’ve created with clean eyes and answering the question -
Am I making a life or making a living?
Ladies Who Launch
Today, I’d like to recognize some special members of the Revolution Me! community.
For the past few months, I have been privileged to lead Ladies Who Launch Incubator Intensive workshops in the Metro DC area.
If you haven’t heard of Ladies Who Launch, it is a dynamic community of entrepreneurial women starting and expanding their businesses and creative ventures. It is a great venue for motivated women to propel their entrepreneurial visions forward in ways they may never have dreamed possible.
Each week during the four-week workshop women in the group share ideas and visions for their own businesses and each other’s ventures as well. I am always amazed at how the perfect mix of individuals end up in the room together!
Leading the Incubator Intensive has introduced me to some incredible savvy and determined women. I have enjoyed working with them and reveled in their visions. Their energy and enthusiasm have been contagious! Each night of the workshop I am reinvigorated and inspired. And every four weeks, with a new group of ladies, my energy is renewed and I am again reminded how important community can be to our success.
This evening I participated in the New York Ladies Who Launch ongoing networking meeting and found even more amazing women boldly stepping into their visions!
If you want to check out the vibe for yourself, keep eye out for the Ladies Who Launch founders on The Today Show on June 5th and in an upcoming New York Times article on June 27th – or find a Incubator in your area on the Ladies Who Launch website!
