Top Ten Things I Learned After I Resigned

Top Ten Things I Learned After I Resigned

A little more than a year ago, I left my “cushy” job in corporate to strike out on my own. I’ve learned a lot during that time and now I’m ready to share. Here it is…the long awaited, much anticipated TOP TEN LIST of things I learned after resigning from my J-O-B.

If not comprehensive in coverage, it is at least true in every aspect. This journey to one year post-resignation has been one of the most interesting, surprising, and rewarding of my career. There have been technical AND personal lessons all along the way. Some have been edifying and others have been just downright frustrating and debilitating. Thankfully, I have a wonderful support system which has carried me through the lows and celebrated the highs. May it always be so and may it keep me mindful of how to do it for others as they strike out on their own.

Enjoy!

#10.

DO, finally, go on a field trip with your kindergartener’s class. Do NOT ride the bus with said class.

#9.

Setting up a website and a blog will involve forming a really close relationship with Doug the support guy at GoDaddy, the email support at Weebly, and the WordPress consultant (Booyah!), and basically anyone who is willing to answer your dumb I’m-not-a-millennial-what-does-this-button-do questions.

#8.

Spending three hours trying to export and reformat your contacts from a Mac OS to excel is stupid. There’s an app for that. It took five minutes. SMH.

#7.

SMH means “shaking my head.” This and many other acronyms give you lots of street cred with the cool kids hanging out on social media.

#6

So, Mailchimp is not a great ape that works for the post office? Got it.

#5.

Coordinating calendars is difficult when you are on the same network, but nearly impossible when you aren’t and you are reduced to trading availability through email. Thankfully, there’s an app (or 10) for this, too.

#4.

Writing your own website content is kind of fun, but it turns out the “About Me” page is actually the hardest part to write (cue René Descartes). Have you ever really tried to answer the question: “Who am I?” It’s HARD!

#3.

QuickBooks: It is neither quick nor a book. Discuss. (#ihateaccounting)

#2.

It only takes two years, the loss of all daily access to PCs, the installation of Microsoft Office for Mac, two OS upgrades, and a few Apple classes to turn a Mac from a glorified TV into an actually useful piece of technology. (Where’s that Staples button…) #imamac #thatwaseasy
And the number one thing I have learned…

#1.

People want to help. They really do. Receiving support and encouragement, and accepting help from friends, colleagues, and surprisingly friendly strangers on twitter (@ericlmitchell) during this time of major change has been a bigger blessing than I could have ever imagined. Everyone should be as lucky as me.

 

Got anything to add to my list? What have you learned that you carried forward after making a BIG decision? Let me know in your comment below!

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Website: www.taralynnfoster.com

 
Profile photo of Tara Lynn Foster
Tara is a speaker, coach and writer who works with others to define what success means to them and helps them map a practical path to achieving it. You can follow her at taralynnfoster.comlinkedintwitter or Facebook.

18 Comments

  1. Transition is hard but it gives you the opportunity to explore new areas and things. You only need to feel like doing it! I am glad it worked for you. Whatever we do the most important thing is to feel good with ourselves!

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  2. Excellent! I’m learning all those things you mentioned (except had no idea what SMH meant!), but have kept my position in the workforce. After years of following my husband’s career it feels good to earn my own pension, but I do see myself cutting the strings and focussing full-time on my blog on day!

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    • Way to go! There’s a season for everything and it sounds like you are finding what you need for now. When you’re ready, the strings will almost cut themselves!

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    • Profile photo of Tara Lynn Foster

      When I was in the financial services industry, there were all kinds of acronyms and I have had to swap those out for new ones. Did you know that ICYMI on tweets is “In case you missed it?” What a wonderful new world is opening up! Congrats on your pension and your vision. May it continue to drive you on.

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  3. Your list made me giggle. I can’t tell you how many TLAs (three letter acronyms in the military world) I have had to google since texting became big – SMH was one of them. ;-) Life is definitely a journey. :-)

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    • I’m so glad it made you giggle! When I have hard days, there’s nothing like it. I’m grateful you shred one more acronym for me to use: TLA!

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  4. My journey is constant and ever changing.The learning curve with said journey is moving much more slowly than I would like in this fast paced life. And yes, my about me page needs revamping. Again!
    I relate to many of your top ten. Especially the helpful people. Without them I couldn’t move forward at all! I’m so blessed and so grateful!

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    • Profile photo of Tara Lynn Foster

      Love those helpful people, Diane. They are key to making me want to be helpful to others, myself. Sometimes it feels like I’m a turtle marching through peanut butter and then, SLAM, I get a bunch of stuff happening that I had been praying for. Peaks and valleys and trying to be grateful all the way. I wish you continued success!

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  5. Great post, sounds like you are doing and great with your transition!

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    • Profile photo of Tara Lynn Foster

      Thanks, Joy. This is a journey, for sure. Keeping a positive attitude is the most important ingredient to keeping me motivated. All the best and thanks for your comment!

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  6. I smiled through all ten! It’s a constant journey and thank you for teaching me what SMH is. My mind was going in a WHOLE other direction!

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  7. Still struggling myself to rewrite the “about me” content. I am also so grateful to those who are willing to help! Good article!!!!

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    • @marjie: thanks for reading and thanks for the comment. Good luck with the about me section!

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    • Profile photo of Tara Lynn Foster

      Thanks for reading, Marjie! About me is hard to write the first time and hard to keep updated because we are never finished becoming who we are meant to be…keep truckin!

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  8. My list would be similar to your and at the same time very different. Since resigning I feel I’ve been on a voyage of discovery.

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    • @lydia: The important thing about the journey is to keep moving forward, always forward. May your discoveries be helpful and encouraging!

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