Re-inventing Ourselves

By the time I was 40,  I'd worn many career hats.  I'd been a corporate recruiter for a national employment agency, a job placement coordinator for a private business school and  a high school English teacher.

I racked up over 12 years as an independent contractor in direct sale, network marketing and was brought on board to provide leadership support for a Business Network International (BNI) franchise for almost 3 years.

My tenure with BNI sparked a fascination with small business and solo-preneurs and I started working with indivudal business owners to help them implement marketing strategies to attract new customers while retaining their exisitng ones.

I've sold print advertising and window film.

I became known as a "connector" - a go-to person for introducing business professionals seeking to meet like-minded individuals. 

Somewhere back in time,  I  fit in seven years as the Volunteer Coordinator for an ex-racing greyhound adoption organization.  Although the original members of this organization have long dispersed, the organization morphed several times and continues, today,  to place ex-racers into pet homes.  

I shoe-horned in going back to graduate school to earn a Master's degree during which time I started writing. 

Each time that I changed jobs, I brought something learned to the next one,  becoming slightly different each time. That was me re-inventing myself. 

 

As women, we know what it is to re-invent ourselves.  Those of us who are moms, find that we are forever re-inventing ourselves around what our kids are doing.  Many of us step into and out of the work force around the dictates of our children.

It's not just juggling being a mom that influences what jobs we have.  Has any of this happened to you?

You move because your spouse takes a job on the opposite coast from where you currently live. 

A family illness forces you to become the primary caregiver.

You decide to go back to school or to adopt a child.  Build a second home.  Get divorced. 

Re-marry.

Just when you're thinking that your life is perfect, something unexpected happens and you get thrown off track.

Instead of letting ourselves be taken by surprise, isn't it easier to acknowledge that what's really going on is the process of re-invention?  That, regardless of how old we are, by choice or necessity, there will be times when we have to change?

Re-invention has also been called "hitting walls".  Not a new idea, by any means, but effective.

And, interestingly enough, women seem to hit those walls shortly after turning 50.  Ladies, it's all about the walls.

How we find ways to get over 'em, go around, blast through or rebuild 'em.  In other words, it's about how we first change ourselves internally before we adapt to external circumstances.   Internal changes are all about shifts in how we think.  Once those mental shifts happen, we become unstoppable. 

 

All of that said, welcome to my blog!  I can't guarantee that every post will speak to your deepest wants and desires,  but,  what if I come close ... some of the time? 

 

Comments

[Bonnie Rost]

Hello Kathy. Whew!!! I can relate to everything I just read. Although I have undegone many reinventings, the last ten years have been the most trying. My husband and I have been married 40 years and have one daughter. I must say the trials and tribulations of those forty years could create books (smile).

I found your site on She Writes, and I'm excited about following your insights on mental shifts. Have a great day!!!

[Kathy]

All I can say is: wow! I've heard from quite a few women re this post. Here and on my FB page. I don't think I can even count the different "re-inventions" I've experienced over the years. And, there's a book or two in that statement. 40 years is quite the achievement for being married. Congratulations! Any advice for someone (me) who's been married for 26 years?

[Honey DeLapa]

Re-inventions have been a regular part of my life for decades. Part of it for survival and part because I've never really fit into "the system". Life changing events force one to find creative ways to fit work around caregiving.

My young daughter has begun to invent herself after graduating from MCC. She's already had health issues that caused her to shift goals. She's striking out on her own as an entrepreneur. It must be in the blood. http://treasurextrove.blogspot.com/

I love your idea of being a "connector". We will all thrive by sharing our experiences and skills. Thanks for sharing yours.

~honey
http://delapaphoto.blogspot.com/

[Kathy]

Thanks for stopping by, Honey! Any time you want to do a guest post here, with some of your gorgeous photos included, let me know.

[Honey DeLapa]

It would be an honor, Kathy.

~honey
http://www.delapaphoto.com/