Part-Time Internet Celebrity, Michelle and I are launching Turn Your Layoff to a Sabbatical next month — a live, cohort-based course to help people reframe that negative experience into a wonderful one.
Love this: "Death has a way of reminding us what we truly care about. There are no status games in the graveyard."
I left my job last summer to take a sabbatical (although I've just rebranded it as so, I was really just quitting). Deathbed decision making, or making decisions from the perspective of your deathbed, was what helped me cut ties and walk away. Have been travelling since then and just returned home to write full-time for the next two months.
thanks Jack, yeah it was really clarifying for me too. Haha I think the post-quit rebrand is totally fine, it's quite common actually. Just subscribed to your newsletter. Where did you travel? Good luck with the writing! Is that mostly the newsletter or other projects?
Looking at time away from a job as a sabbatical has actually been really helpful framing for me. So it's a good rebrand I think. Thanks for subscribing, I did the same, and I hope you find something useful or enjoyable in there!
I've been travelling a lot the last 2.5 years: Southern France, Prague, London, Colombia, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Peru, Egypt, Istanbul, Italy, Lisbon, Western Canada, Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, Vietnam, Thailand.
Focusing on just the newsletter for now... delivering increasingly high quality writing and doing a better job at the business/branding stuff surrounding the writing.
Is this course your main focus right now? And do you have any plans around returning to a conventional job? It's great to connect with others walking similarly unconventional paths so please do stay in touch :)
ooops sorry Jack, your comment got lost somewhere in the ether. Wow you've travelled to a lot of players, i'm jealous haha. How was Rio? A couple years ago I nearly went for Carnival with a few friends but we didn't make it 🥲.
The course went pretty well. Honestly we were blown away by the response. We got 11 students across different industries and experience levels. It was very affirming and felt incredible to see that come to life. Especially seeing the impact in people's lives (someone cried happy tears after the first class haha) But it's not my main focus, I've been doing some technical writing consulting on the side to pay the bills. Mmm thoughts on conventional job? I'd never say never because I can't see the future but not at the moment, i enjoy the flexibility right now, although i haven't yet found the perfect balance of money, interest and creativity
This is a genius idea and I hope you get to inspire and support many people in changing - or at least breaking - the socially normalised and appreciated straight ways of life. I do have a similar background like you - I left a very successful and stable job as a Senior Software Consultant and even had to refuse attempts on trying to retain me.
I was not laid off, it was my very own decision and I acknowledge that there are different challenges to deal with in both situations.
Long story short: I did not exactly go for a sabbatical. I went back to university but not to advance my career - but to study something I really wanted to without knowing where it would lead me to. I went to get a master's degree in Marine Science. This was three years ago, I graduated last fall. :)
pumped to hear how this goes
thanks for your support Paul!
"Sometimes, an unwanted jolt to the system plants the seeds for a necessary transformation.": This is so true that it borders on the magical.
thanks Rick! i agree 😬
Congrats Tobi and Michelle! Such an exciting offering. I can't wait to see the amazing community that y'all will build :)
thanks for your support and early feedback Vinamrata!
This was a great read as I kick off my own sabbatical fulltime in a couple of weeks.
I’m glad you brought up the AI advancements as that’s definitely to consider playing with.
thank you! and congrats on making the decision to go on sabbatical. i know it's not an easy one and you probably agonised over it for months😅
Love this: "Death has a way of reminding us what we truly care about. There are no status games in the graveyard."
I left my job last summer to take a sabbatical (although I've just rebranded it as so, I was really just quitting). Deathbed decision making, or making decisions from the perspective of your deathbed, was what helped me cut ties and walk away. Have been travelling since then and just returned home to write full-time for the next two months.
This course sounds great and I'm rooting for you!
thanks Jack, yeah it was really clarifying for me too. Haha I think the post-quit rebrand is totally fine, it's quite common actually. Just subscribed to your newsletter. Where did you travel? Good luck with the writing! Is that mostly the newsletter or other projects?
Looking at time away from a job as a sabbatical has actually been really helpful framing for me. So it's a good rebrand I think. Thanks for subscribing, I did the same, and I hope you find something useful or enjoyable in there!
I've been travelling a lot the last 2.5 years: Southern France, Prague, London, Colombia, Costa Rica, Galapagos, Peru, Egypt, Istanbul, Italy, Lisbon, Western Canada, Rio de Janeiro, Argentina, Vietnam, Thailand.
Focusing on just the newsletter for now... delivering increasingly high quality writing and doing a better job at the business/branding stuff surrounding the writing.
Is this course your main focus right now? And do you have any plans around returning to a conventional job? It's great to connect with others walking similarly unconventional paths so please do stay in touch :)
ooops sorry Jack, your comment got lost somewhere in the ether. Wow you've travelled to a lot of players, i'm jealous haha. How was Rio? A couple years ago I nearly went for Carnival with a few friends but we didn't make it 🥲.
The course went pretty well. Honestly we were blown away by the response. We got 11 students across different industries and experience levels. It was very affirming and felt incredible to see that come to life. Especially seeing the impact in people's lives (someone cried happy tears after the first class haha) But it's not my main focus, I've been doing some technical writing consulting on the side to pay the bills. Mmm thoughts on conventional job? I'd never say never because I can't see the future but not at the moment, i enjoy the flexibility right now, although i haven't yet found the perfect balance of money, interest and creativity
LOVE that you & Michelle are launching this cohort – excited to hear how it goes :)
thanks Cissy, happy to share what we learn :p
Awesome!! Can’t wait to hear updates on the lives you impact with your course 🙌🏼💖
thanks Alexandra! yeah we'll definitely share what learn from this experiment
Congrats man, this sounds awesome!
appreciate you man! it should be fun :)
Ooo congrats on this next venture!! It’s amazing how much you’ve accomplished in just a couple years and that includes a freaking sabbatical! 🔥
🥹🥹 thanks Kate! i have another creative project coming here soon, can't wait to share it soon :p
🤠🤠🤠
🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
This is a genius idea and I hope you get to inspire and support many people in changing - or at least breaking - the socially normalised and appreciated straight ways of life. I do have a similar background like you - I left a very successful and stable job as a Senior Software Consultant and even had to refuse attempts on trying to retain me.
I was not laid off, it was my very own decision and I acknowledge that there are different challenges to deal with in both situations.
Long story short: I did not exactly go for a sabbatical. I went back to university but not to advance my career - but to study something I really wanted to without knowing where it would lead me to. I went to get a master's degree in Marine Science. This was three years ago, I graduated last fall. :)