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Getting Back in the Game

 

I run a small freelance business called BackBeat365 Productions. During my time in school for audio, I built a list of clientele that I recorded and continued working with throughout my time there, as well as after I had graduated. Recently, I have taken a time-out from working with clients, as well as interning, because I was feeling very burnt out. To be clear, I was still recording, but only recording MY band’s music.

I feel most creatives are extremely hard on themselves, so taking this time out was a big decision for me, but I’m glad I did it. Why you ask? Because now I’m enjoying engineering again. It’s fulfilling that creative, yet technical side of my brain that was fried from doing it every day for four years. Since I let myself take a break, now I can come back at it- full force, but remember to take a step back (probably not as long as a few months ever again), but for a week or so. This way, I let myself, my ears recover, and remember why I love this craft.

Today, I’ll be talking about how to dive back in, stay relevant to your clientele, and meet new clients. The key to getting back into running a creative business is staying practiced in your craft. I may not have been working with clients or actively seeking new clients, but what I was doing (and still am doing), is recording my bands’ music, staying up to date (because in this industry, things are always changing), and continue learning.

So, that was a very general how-to for diving back into your creative business. Now, let’s talk about staying relevant to your clientele. For all of the bands and artists, I record and have recorded I like to create a comfortable, safe, and friendly space for them to be creative. I want to create that space because it gives the artist the opportunity to trust you. They are giving their art over to you in a sense, so it would make sense to provide them with a comfortable place to express themselves.

This has created a bond between many of my clients and me. I stay in touch through social media, and texting/calling to see how they are and vice versa. Also, a way to remain relevant in the engineering community even if you are taking a slight break is posting on your social media accounts what you are doing to stay practiced in your craft. It lets your clients, and future clients know that you are still in the game!

Last but not least is how to meet new clients. The way I’ll explain how to do that is short and sweet. You just have to practice approaching people, holding a conversation, and then following up with them after you’ve spoken to them through email or social media. Keep yourself on their radar. If it’s a band that you are seeking out, and you REALLY want to work with- maybe offer to one free song for them with one mix and one master revision (that way you are not drowning yourself in too much free work- trust me I know from experience). And do such a good job that they HAVE to come back and work with you for their next single, EP, album, or whatever it may be. They will tell their friends in bands, and then you’ll start building your client list once again! If your in a band this may be even easier for you!  You’re already playing with bands, and you’re on the same level- all you have to do is let them know you’re an engineer, give them your card, and follow up with them. Even send them your most recent work that’s been released.

I hope this helped you remember that it’s okay to take a break if you’re feeling mentally fried, or more stressed out than normal. Just know there are certain things you have to keep up while you’re taking a slight step back if you want diving back into your business with ease. Thank you for reading. You can always email me any questions you have at virginia@backbeat365.com, or follow me on my socials and talk to me/see what I’m up to musically there.

Instagram: virginial97

Instagram: happyhollowband

 

Money, Money, Money…

 

Money & budgeting are two things people tend to avoid thinking about too much. Sure we all like to get paid, but actually sitting down and working with the numbers, that’s the least fun part of money. It is crucial to stay on top of your finances, whether it’s your personal finances or the company you work for.

So let’s break it down together, let’s get us off on to a good start. Let’s start with our personal/freelance finances.

Income vs. Outgoing 

The two most crucial bits to financing is Income vs. Outgoing, so the money that you earn and the money that you spend.

Outgoing

So let’s look at our expenses which are crucial and that we all will have in common: To give you an example of what life in London can cost, here are some numbers.

So that is over £1k on the basics every month, not including things like going for dinner with your friends, birthday presents, etc.

So we need to earn at the very least £1,350 per month to cover our basic day-to-day living.

Income

So income is the most fun part of working and earning money, right? But it is also important that we spend our income wisely and go through our budget monthly to keep on top of things. So we know our expenses each month, so let’s look at what we can do with our profit if we haven’t been breaking even this month.

Say that we earned ourselves £2,000 this month. After having paid all of our expenses, we’re left with £650.

It would be lovely to think that we can spend that £650 on gear ( My guilty pleasure is synthesizers), but sadly we should probably not do that.

Taxes

If you are a freelancer and have your own company we need to think about taxes and putting money aside for that time of the year where you need to declare your earnings. In the UK at a basic rate, you pay 20% in taxes.

So if we earn £2k a month, that’s £24,000 a year. 20% of 24,000 is 4,800 (24,000 x 0.20). However, in the UK, the first £12,500 are tax-free, so we only need to pay tax on £11,500 (24,000 – 12,500).  So 20% of £11,500 is £2,300 a year or £192 a month.

So out of those £650 in profit (after our expenses), we need to set aside £192 for tax which leaves us with £458.

I’d probably put £100 of that into a savings account, and the rest will likely cover some miscellaneous expenses.

If you feel like you cannot handle your finances on your own, it might be worth getting an accountant.

Forecasting

Budget – SUMMARY

It is important to estimate what you will spend, that is why you forecast. It’s always good to be a bit generous when you forecast to make sure you have some wiggle room. The example above is all a forecast; expenses vary from month to month.

Actual Spend

At the end of the month, you compare your forecasting to your actual spending. Did the numbers add up? Where you spot on or way off? What can you do differently next month? Here we can analyse our forecasting, spendings, and savings.

Yearly Summary

Whether you are a freelancer or working for a company/client, it is always good to do an annual summary. Compare the months, recognize patterns, spot the quiet months, and the busy ones. There is a lot to learn from a year, and planning for the next one gives you a head start.

Miscellaneous

Always account for the miscellaneous bits, there is still something we spend money on that we do not account for. A cab ride here, servicing there, something broke, and you needed to replace it. There are always unforeseen costs that are impossible to avoid, so it is better to give yourself some slack and account for a little bit extra for those times you need it.

Invoices

Stay on top of your invoicing game. Make sure you chase your invoices and keep track of which ones have been paid and which ones are overdue. There is plenty of accounting software on the market that makes invoicing easier, keeps track of which invoices have been paid, and also makes declaring your tax easier.

Editors note: Wave Accounting is similar to Quick Books and free.

The Budget Given by a Client or Company

If you have been given a budget to work with by a company or client, it is crucial that you stick to the budget. No one likes an over-spender, and it can get you into real trouble if you do overspend.

The same way you budget for your personal or freelance finances, you can apply the same method when working with a budget that was given to you.

It is important to meet client expectations, but also to be honest and realistic with what you’ve got. If a client is asking for more than they are willing to pay for you, have to be open and honest about it. Look at different options or see if they are willing to increase their budget. Communication is key.

Money and budgeting can cause a lot of anxiety; it affects us all. But if you set yourself up and tackle it heads on, I can assure you it will be a lot easier to deal with. Set aside a day at the beginning of the month and at the end of the month where you sit down with a cup of coffee or a tea to go over your budget and finances.

If you find yourself in some financial difficulties, please seek advice from accountants and contact your bank. The sooner the better.

 

Career Development

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The Art of Networking

One of the most hated buzzwords of the moment is “networking.” Fortunately, I never had a fear of the word or the practice itself, but I can understand why people feel it is awkward or too forced to be in a room of strangers and be expected to make business contacts. I was first thrown into the world of solo networking at the University of Exeter, where in my first year, I found myself turning up to events alone. I would have described my 18-year-old self as shy and reserved (although very few people I know now would believe that!). I attended employability events at the Career Zone within the first few weeks of university, to be met with questions such as: “But you’re a first year? Why are you here?” from both members of staff and fellow older students. I, for some reason, had not thought it was strange to attend these events, it felt natural, although I had never been in a situation like that before. My school was good, but there were never formal or official career opportunity evenings. It felt like too good an opportunity to miss out on, this university networking malarkey.

I soon realised I slightly loved attending fresher’s week events alone. It was like a fresh start at each meeting/event. Freshers are the first week at UK universities where students are encouraged to try new sports, activities, and clubs. I participated in a wide range of things on offer; it seemed like such an incredible opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, and increase my confidence. The word networking never entered my head, but ultimately, that’s what it was. So, within the first week at Exeter I had been to a French conversation class, clay pigeon shooting (don’t ask why lol), many drama groups and too many sports to mention (lacrosse, trampolining, yoga, pilates, beach ball, netball, hockey, etc.) One of the best pieces of advice I received at uni was: try something new. I took this to heart and tried to enjoy the drama groups, but there was either too much dancing involved, or the people were TOO much. Then there were sports which I still try to convince myself I like, but low and behold in my heart of hearts I do not. The French and Spanish conversation classes were good to pop into later in the year, as at the beginning of the year they were far too busy and half the time was spent just introducing your name, age, where you came from. My favourite experience was at student radio.

Since joining the student radio station, my confidence grew immensely, leading me to continue to attend talks, events, and networking events with any speakers from media industries. I tried to speak to as many people as possible at the drinks and networking session that followed, then made sure to follow up with those who were kind enough to give me their email or offer to read my CV. I found these events so inspiring and refreshing and not a waste of time at all. I even used to attend talks in industries I had less of an interest in, for example, banking and finance, just in case, there was something to learn from them or someone interesting to meet. To be efficient and use my time wisely at university, I had no fear of discreetly leaving early or politely explaining that it’s not for me but thank you for a great event.

This love of networking events continued throughout the summers when I was home in Newcastle. I attended events with Northern Film and Media, BFI Network and the Tyneside Cinema, where I met like-minded students from Durham and Newcastle University as well as working professionals in the audio industry. I am soon looking to be moving to London to start a new job in the media industry and wish to continue attending networking events as much as possible. For those that find it hard to attend social events alone, I have listed some ideas/tips below that may be of help:

 

I have been lucky enough to have some great opportunities through networking events. After attending a Women in Business (XWIB) event and speaking to a local CEO and alumni, I was offered a two-day work experience opportunity in PR/marketing/blog writing, which then lead to a one-month summer internship. Also, whilst working at the Edinburgh Festival, I spoke to a leading talent manager in London, who then interviewed me for a job one year later and I got it! Of course, there is luck and being in the right place at the right time in play, and some events may be a complete waste of time, but I would say if you have been put off networking, keep at it as you never know what it could lead to. Perseverance is key. As well as quantity. I have found that the more events I attend, the more people I meet, and the more professional opportunities I am offered. Makes sense! Both Emma Gannon and Steven Bartlett have spoken openly about how most of their work comes to them after speaking at events and being approached afterward. I have seen them both host entrepreneur events/panels, and they are both entrepreneurs and public speakers working at the top of this mad industry.

To conclude, don’t be scared of the word networking. You’re most likely already doing it without realising. If you wish to start, take the baby steps, a small event here and there, even joining a relevant Facebook group is a great way to learn more about a certain industry and meet new people. Follow tags on social media to find out what’s on in your area. Enter competitions, you’ve got to be in it to win it.

The pictures below are me at various networking events and opportunities. I didn’t think I’d have any appropriate pictures to demonstrate my point of this blog post, but luckily I do!

 

Happy networking!

WHERE ELSE TO FIND ME:

Tri-lingual radio show (Sobremesa): https://www.mixcloud.com/Alexandra_McLeod/

Sobremesa Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AlexandraSobremesa/

YouTube and Geography blog: https://alexandrasobremesa.wordpress.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-mcleod-79b7a8107?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

Imagine you’re catching up with a dear friend. They tell you how their partner calls them names, makes mean comments about their appearance, gets angry at them if they don’t do the chores right. You’re shocked; you ask why they don’t break up with such a nasty person, and they stare at their shoes and mumble something about their partner being right: they are terrible at washing dishes and could do with losing a few pounds. You almost laugh at how ridiculous that is, because you know they’re wonderful and deserve so much better. You want to get them to wake up and walk out like you’re sure you would in the same situation.

So why do we allow ourselves to be treated like this in the workplace? Not every day is going to be a walk in the park, but far too often, we find ourselves in toxic work environments that make us miserable. We know that we need to be tenacious to succeed. When we’re the new person, we need to get our head down and work hard, do the crappier jobs, and don’t take the teasing (that seems essential to the running of our industry for some reason) too personally. But there comes a point where the initiation period ends, and if you’re still the butt of every joke and being told you’re useless by most of your colleagues, you might begin to believe it. Perhaps it’s more insidious than that: your boss has reasons for why other people keep getting the jobs and promotions, even if they’re less experienced. Your coworkers might not yell at you, but they’ll roll their eyes and have hushed conversations that stop suddenly when you’re around. You might even work in several places with similar atmospheres, so you think this is normal. Dreading going to work and feeling worthless is not normal. Or at least not inevitable.

If you find yourself in this situation, the first step is to take stock of what is actually wrong, and how you feel about it. If you love the work, but there are a couple of things that make it difficult, talk to a friend or trusted colleague for a less emotionally invested perspective. Your coworkers might genuinely think you like the nickname they gave you or didn’t realise how much the joking was getting to you. If that doesn’t improve things, or the problems are systemic, try raising it with HR if you have an HR department or your boss/head of department/tour manager. Try to discuss it calmly, relying on facts more than feelings as much as possible, and approach it with the goal of making the work environment better for everyone both now and in the future. A reconciliatory approach will be better received than an accusatory one, no matter how justified it might feel. It’s always worth working at relationships, whether personal or professional, before declaring them dead.

There will still be times when this doesn’t fix the problem. It might even be that no one is at fault, you just don’t fit well together, or you feel like it’s just time to move on. Ideally, you’ll have saved up some emergency cash to tide you over until you find another job. Paulette Perhach illustrated the importance of a “F**k off fund” in this great but NSFW article. It can also be an incredibly powerful negotiating tool. You can be more confident and assured, and make much better decisions when you know you don’t need the money.

If you’ve given it a good shot, there is no shame in walking away. Even though it might be tempting, try not to burn your bridges as you leave. This industry is close-knit, and your reputation will precede you. The best revenge is simply living well. There are so many different work environments out there if you keep looking, you will find one that clicks sooner or later. It might not be easy: you might need to move city or discipline, or you might need to leave sound altogether. It can be tough, but once you are in a better place, you’ll wonder why you wasted so much time in a situation that didn’t work. Deciding to find better opportunities is a positive thing, even if it feels like quitting at the time. Letting people who don’t appreciate you take your time and your joy for years on end would be the real failure

Freelancing – Scheduling Your Gigs

 

As a freelancer, have you ever worried about your schedule or saying no to a gig for fear they may never call you again? When you are new to the business, it can be hard or scary to say no to any gig. Your budget and career depend on these calls. Learning to say no can be hard, but learning to say no well will help you in the long run.

It is essential to balance your gigs and obligations. If you are on a 14-hour show until 2 am and someone calls to hire you for a show that same day at 6 am that’s just as long, it is likely in everyone’s best interest for you to decline the second show. You are probably already tired and already have been working many hours. You likely won’t be able to put your best into the second call, and the company would be relying on you to be fully present to complete the tasks at hand. Here is an example of where you should say no.

There is nothing wrong with saying no and you don’t need to justify to anyone why you are not available, but there are a couple of things you can do to make sure you stay in good standing with companies and stay on their call list for the future.

When scheduling yourself, the most important thing is to stay organized. Make sure you are promptly tracking when you are scheduled and where (especially if you travel for work regularly.)  The quickest way to burn bridges with companies is by overbooking yourself and not catching it until the last minute leaving someone without the staffing they need. The second way to quickly burn the bridge is to arrive at gigs tired and unfocused because you’ve overworked yourself.  Make sure you are balancing your schedule so you can be at your best for every show.

Once you are called for your availability, make sure to respond promptly. Don’t wait 3-4 days before getting back to the call. The company or client won’t wait for you to call back. They will move on to the next person on the list, and once the spot is filled it likely won’t be open again. If you get the reputation of never calling back, they will stop calling.  I recommend that you respond within 24 hours of a request, faster if you can. If you need a little more time, let them know. They will likely be more than willing to give you more time as long as they hear from you.

Call, text, or email them back letting them know you’re on a show or away from your schedule, and will try to let them know as soon as you can. Ask follow-up questions if the information hasn’t already been provided. Collect as much information as you can regarding the gig, such as what position you will be filling and an estimated timeline. This will provide all the information before you accept the gig.

After you’ve been able to determine if you’re available to work or not, it is imperative to respond to the hiring party.  Here again, if you do not reply, they will stop calling. Hearing sorry, no I am not available is better for your reputation than not responding at all.

As you learn, mistakes will happen, and the best thing to do is to address them quickly. If you happen to overbook yourself, pick which show you will work and let the other group know immediately.  Apologize for your mistake and if you’re willing or know of anyone, offer suggestions for your replacement. These situations can be difficult, but we’ve all done it at some point in our careers, and as long as you address it immediately, you should be ok for future calls.  Over time you will get better at scheduling as well as understanding how much you can take on at a time as well as when it’s the right time to say no.

 

Networking on Social Networks

In my last blog, I wrote about how thinking of artists and project managers as clients rather than bosses can really change your perspective for the better. An essential part of being your own boss is selling yourself to other potential clients, and social media is becoming an even more significant part of that. The way you present yourself online can have a substantial effect on how people perceive you and your approach to work, whether you’re consciously image crafting or not. Everyone’s situation and goals are different, but there are a few guidelines it is wise to follow when starting to navigate online self-promotion.

Social media can be a low-cost and effective way of getting your name out there and quickly showing people what you’re about. However, it can be a double-edged sword. Whether you agree with it or not, it is common practice to perform internet searches on people before inviting them for an interview. Plus, in an industry as tight-knit as ours, it’s inevitable that you’ll see the same names popping up on discussion threads and groups, so we often form impressions of each other before we ever meet or think to be on our best behaviour to land a job. It’s worth reviewing your privacy settings regularly, and perhaps making a separate list or entire account for work-related posts (this also saves your poor family and friends from being bored by tech talk!). Even if none of your posts are public, discussion groups can have many more people watching than you might realise, and anything you put in writing can be screenshotted and forwarded, so think carefully before posting. Make sure you’re happy to stand by what you say if challenged and avoid posting when angry or under the influence. Getting drawn into an argument online rarely achieves anything but time-wasting, and tends to show all parties in a bad light.

If you want to post about a gig, especially sharing photos, ask whoever is in charge first. Bear in mind that a non-disclosure agreement might have been buried in the small print of your contract if you have one, or someone might have signed an NDA on behalf of everyone in the department without your knowledge (these may not be legally binding, but it will not help your professional relationships if you break them). The rule of thumb is it’s okay to post photos of things the audience can see after the gig has finished, but always check before taking the photo. Don’t take photos of celebrities backstage! Ever! It is rude and unprofessional, and you may end up answering some very angry security guards. Never post pictures of your pass until after the gig or tour, and alter the image and make it clear it’s an out-of-date one if you must post it at all. Even if you don’t think it matters for your little gig, posting photos of passes encourages others to do it. Not everyone forging a pass is simply trying to see a show for free. Contributing to a culture of pass posting compromises everyone’s safety throughout the industry. Just don’t do it.

So what do you post then? This blog post from Wait but Why breaks down what makes a good or bad post. In short, if you’re trying to build your brand for work, your posts should be informative, entertaining and/or engaging. Everyone is human, and we all have bad days, but constant moaning about work does not show your best side. It is better to get stuff off your chest with close friends, ideally in person, when you can instead. Simply posting that you are in X venue doing Y gig is frankly boring. Add a bit of feeling or humour, like you’re so excited to finally work for a band you’ve admired for years, or how you totally deserve your afternoon cupcake after checking the coverage in a venue with so many stairs. It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but personalising your posts will help people warm to you and remember you instead of just scanning past, along with all the other utilitarian “look at me, I’m at work” stuff.

How often should you post? Most people I know would only post once roughly every 5-10 gigs on average. Of course, that varies. Some people never share anything, and others can’t do a day’s work without telling the world about it. There is also a time and a place for social media. If you have a phone in your hand, you can’t lift a flight case or coil a cable. Potential clients might be impressed by your stage selfies, but your current colleagues and clients will notice your lack of focus on the job at hand.

The other side of all this is how you perceive what other people share. It’s often said that social media makes us compare our every day with everyone else’s highlights. If you have a lot of friends in the industry, it can seem like everyone’s having the best time touring the world but you. Remember that most people can’t resist posting a photo of themselves drinking cocktails on their day off, but they’re much less likely to publicly admit that they had a terrible soundcheck, or that they’ve been suffering from crippling diarrhea ever since the second show. Take everything with a pinch of salt and know that you’re only seeing people at their best, or even better than that, if they see telling the whole truth as optional.

The thing is those people who post all the time appear 5-10 times as busy as their peers by comparison. It is also common for prolific posters to embellish the truth or present things in an ambiguous way. Saying you’re working at a festival, accompanied by a photo of the main stage taken from front of house when you’re actually a stagehand on the fourth stage isn’t a lie, but it isn’t honest. There’s a trend of posting photos of nice desks and outboard gear when the person posting is not the one using it. They never say they are the engineer, but it’s heavily implied, and it’s dishonest. It can feel like these people are putting themselves at an unfair advantage and it can be tempting to sink to their level and play that game too. There’s nothing stopping you, but when everyone knows everyone else, it’s very likely you’ll get caught out sooner or later. Even if you delete those posts, screengrabs can come back to haunt you years down the line.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to judge what is appropriate to share, and with whom. However, no amount of bragging online will make you good at your job in real life. I’m far from perfect, but I try to remain positive and professional online and take the high road as much as possible so I can sleep at night. I find I do my best work when I’m well rested.

Editors Note More on Social Media Tips and Career Development.

Knowing your Limitations

As we are still at the beginning of the new year, it is now we should look at those new year’s resolutions that we made, our dreams that we want to become real and the goals we would like to achieve.

It is the time to evaluate what we need to get on with, to achieve our dreams and our goals. It is time to take a good hard look at yourself and your knowledge, time management, and work-life to see what can be improved.

Knowing your limitations is a good start for example; what is limiting your chances to achieve your goals? What does it take to get from point A to point B?

What do you lack to get to where you want to be?

Say you want to become the most celebrated pianist in the world, what does it take to get there? Take a look at your practising routine, are you putting in enough hours to become the greatest pianist in the world? Are you utilising your own time in the best way possible to be the most effective when practising? Are you already the greatest pianist in the world but no one knows it? Well perhaps then less time needs to be spent in front of the piano and more time in front of people networking.

This applies to any industry; if we want to improve we need to face the hard fact that we have limitations and flaws. We will always have weaknesses but that does not mean that we can not work on them and improve.

Give yourself some honest and constructive feedback, but do not talk down to yourself. Do not be upset with yourself because you are not getting something straight away. It is hard to admit your weaknesses to yourself, but we have to do it if we want to improve.

Do you know where point B is?

It is easier to follow a route if you know your destination. It is easy to get sidetracked if you do not have a north star to guide you and to keep you motivated. Want to work on a big festival stage? Absolutely, but maybe that big festival is point C.

So you start working at your local one-day festival. You can not get to point C if you have not been going through point A and B first.

The ability to achieve something is only limited by a lack of knowledge. You need to study to improve your understanding, but then you need to put that study into practice.

There is only so much you can learn in a safe and comfortable environment. You have to put yourself outside your comfort zone to improve and to learn from real life experiences. It is so important to be able to work under pressure and to find opportunities to fine-tune your skills.

As well as knowing your limitations, you will need to learn and respect your strengths. For some, not acknowledging your strengths is a weakness. You have got to be confident in your knowledge, you have to tell yourself ‘You know what, this is what I am good at’ and use that to your advantage and balance it out with your weaknesses.

If you struggle to see your weaknesses and strengths then ask a good friend; what are my strengths? In what areas do I need to improve? Be open to feedback from others as they see you in a different light than you do. Being open to critique can be incredibly difficult for some, but it will help you to be able to improve your skills.

Now is the perfect time to sit down and write it all down. Aim high but be realistic, some goals might not happen this year, but that does not mean it will not happen in the future. However, getting to know your limitations will put you on the right path towards your dreams and goals.

 

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

I think we all reach a point in our lives where we might feel a little lost on our path. All of us who are in the entertainment industry, know how lucky we are to have the opportunity to work in a creative field. The few of us who actually followed our dreams or perhaps just happened to stumble upon them.

However, like anyone else we can also feel a bit lost and unmotivated, feeling like there is no purpose in what we do. I recently felt like this, craving something new and learning new things.  I felt like I wanted to move on from where I am currently at.

Writing this I felt a struggle, as I felt like I’ve been on autopilot the last two months, and therefore have nothing to say or write about, feeling generally unmotivated. Not because I had little to do, but because the festive season is approaching and having learned from last year, I wanted to get a head start on all the craziness that is waiting around the corner.

Looking back at these past two months, contrary to my feeling of lack of motivation, I have been very productive and done plenty! Is that perhaps why I felt like I wanted to move on as I know what to expect and the excitement (and stress) is not what it used to be? The adrenaline you get from the excitement of not knowing what is ahead of you? Maybe.

I guess that though we might feel stuck, unmotivated or lost, it does not mean that we actually are. Perhaps there are small changes we can do to change our circumstances, make things more exciting or possibly it is time to go, to move on in life and seek a new adventure?

Step back and evaluate

Look at where you are, what is going on around you? Are there things that could run better, smoother & more efficient? Is your workplace in order, do you have everything you need to do your job properly?

Sometimes you need to take a step back to take two steps forward. Identify what is causing you to feel unmotivated. Will moving on solve your problems or will it actually just make you feel more lost? Are you prepared to move on?

Can you change your situation?   

Are you able to change things at work to make things more/less challenging? It is important to feel challenged and to learn new things, but if it is too challenging it can result in stress.

Challenge yourself, set goals in your work- and personal life. There is always room for improvement even if you are already doing a great job.

If things are too challenging and stressful, ask for help and maybe take a step back. Troubleshoot and take one thing at the time.

What is your purpose?

We all need a purpose to feel fulfilled in life. What are you working towards, do you have a plan?

Sometimes you need to walk away from situations that are not fulfilling. Sometimes it is about saying no and establishing boundaries. Sometimes it is not your job that is unfulfilling, but your personal life and that affects your work life. Sometimes you need to stay to grow.

What do you need to reach your goal? Are you in the right place, right scene, right city or even in the right country?

Deal with it

It took me a good couple of months to shake away the lack of motivation and decided to make a few changes in my personal life rather than in my work life.  I felt like I wanted to leave and to move on just because I did not want to deal with things in my personal life. I took a step back, evaluated and changed my situation, and this is something we need to do regularly in life.

So the not so simple question is; will you stay or will you go?

 

 

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