How I Created An Opportunity For Career Growth While Stepping Away From Work

Two years ago, I never would have done this. 

Scratch that. 

Never in my life before now, would I have done this. 

I’ll never forget the summer after university when I was struggling between taking a break from burnout (one business and two degrees later), and finding a job. My dad told me that I had the rest of my life to work and once I started, I wouldn’t stop. After 12 years in the workforce, I had to agree with him.

Until something told me otherwise. 

What if there was a way to take a break? To hit pause on corporate and step into something else. A change of place. A change of pace. What if, after 12 years of working with nothing but two weeks between employers, I could take a break? What if I could live my dream of having a summer off at the cottage to create and connect?

I spent the first part of the year reflecting on my career, trying to unearth and uncover an answer to the question: “What’s next?” When I went deeper to understand how to move forward, the answer wasn’t what I expected. To my surprise it wasn’t about pushing for a new role, working on a promotion, or applying to a new company. What came back was loud and clear: instead of speeding up, it was time to slow down. 

This year brings a different kind of summer break for me; one which includes a break from work. Well, work in the full-time corporate job sense. Call it a sabbatical, a personal leave of absence, an extended vacation - for me, it is an opportunity to be fully immersed in personal growth and professional development. To take the time to restore myself, and come back revitalized and energized in order to do my best work. 

But how, ultimately, did I get here? 

I responded to my evolution and rhythm of my work. 

Work has been going well this year, great even! I hit a milestone in my tenure and we are back to meeting face to face. It took a commitment to myself to not only listen to what was going on inside, but to take intuitive action. With my mind and soul in alignment, I was connected to the intention of taking the summer off and was ready to create the opportunity for myself. 

I had a strong desire to have the time off. 

My heart’s desire was loud and clear. When creating or manifesting anything in your life, it all starts with your desire. On the inside, I had clarity and connection to what I wanted, and that’s all I needed to put the wheels in motion. 

I had clarity on why I wanted the break. 

Without curiosity and learning, there is no growth. And what is life if we aren’t embracing the opportunity to evolve? To discover more? More about the world, more about ourselves. In service of my higher self, my health, and my happiness, it was clear why I wanted to take this time. 

I had a focus on what I would do during the break. 

Taking a step away was aligned to my career goals as well as my personal goals: it created space for me to explore what’s next by writing, reflecting, and reading (follow me on IG for the stack of books I’m reading this summer). This post is only the beginning of what’s to come… 

I was willing to ask the question - and open to the answer. 

I came to the conversation with clarity; with a clean and direct message. With a willingness to ask for what I wanted and an openness to the answer: Yes, No, Maybe, but… 

I was met with a readiness to have the discussion, and a partner in my personal and professional growth. 

But what happens after you hear ‘Yes’?... Well, that’s a post for another day.  

Kirsten Schmidtke is a professional coach, creator, and lover of lake life. She works with leaders, creators, and entrepreneurs to help them up-level their careers, businesses, and lives. Are you ready to explore what’s possible for you? Contact Kirsten to start the conversation!