Tell us a little bit about yourself
Well, I was recently referred to as “Spock, but with a sense of humor. And better hair.” Ha! That’s pretty accurate, I suppose. I’m a writer + editor + organization freak, and my focus is on promotional webcopy, creative resumes and personal branding. I have a blog called Unicorns for Socialism, where I chatter about LGBT civil rights, style, travel, freelance adventures … and RuPaul.
Did you go through a quarter life crisis? How was your transition into the “real world?”
Man, I think I have an Annual Existential Crisis! My most recent crisis was firmly lodged in the career realm … I had a terrific job at a public radio network, but I was so unfulfilled. After months of soul-cracking, I realized that I’m just not a cubicle person. End of story. So, I made the shift into self-employment. So far, it’s rocking along nicely!
How did you overcome your 20-something crisis?
I made an investment in my happiness. I got a career coach. I bought a couple of life-shifting books + tools, like The Renaissance Soul by Margaret Lobenstine and The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte. I made a concerted effort to connect (and re-connect) with people who inspired me. Basically, I decided that muddling through life and feeling underutilized was unacceptable.
You recently quit your job to pursue your own venture – can you tell us more about that transition? How long did it take? What did you do to prepare, etc.
I handed in my resignation notice in January, and worked out an arrangement with my boss that allowed me to continue working full-time ’till April. That gave me a healthy window to broaden my professional network, save money, and get emotionally prepared for freelancedom. It was a beautiful transition, actually. I felt light and productive. I had a chance to train my replacement and tie up loose ends. I left my department in better condition that I found it, which was really important to me. I like to keep my bridges un-burnt, whenever possible.
How are you now living life on your own terms?
The most thrilling thing is that I’m geographically mobile — I’ll be in NYC in August, LA in September, and back in the Twin Cities for the fall. As long as I have my laptop and some Wifi juice, I’m golden! Not being tied to a specific office is epically awesome.
What’s the hardest part about following your dream? What was the easiest?
Instability is hard for me. So far (knock on wood) I’ve had puh-lenty of writing / editing / design assignments. But there’s always that wiggly voice in the back of my head that says, “yeah, but what about NEXT month?” Learning to roll with the ebbs and flows of freelancery is a tricky transition. The easiest part about following my dream is … the unexpected sparkly perks! Getting interviewed by bloggers I respect (like Ms. Nailah Blades!), getting invited to speak at cool venues, getting fan mail (whuuuh?), and getting noticed and high-fived by people I admire. Swoon.
Do you have any advice for anyone trying to conquer a quarter life crisis?
Everyone is different, but I think the key is giving yourself “space” to answer the tough questions. Maybe that means taking a leave-of-absence or a spontaneous vacation. Maybe it means going on a weeklong Internet fast. Or maybe it means setting aside twenty minutes every night to read and journal. Sometimes we jam our days so full of busyness, we don’t leave any energy for progress and purpose-setting.
Anything else?
I’m currently putting together a book proposal based on a recent blog post: What’s Your Plan Z? The central question is: professional speaking, what’s your worst-case-scenario? Not Plan A, or Plan B … but Plan Z? I’m collecting responses (hilarious, tragic and somewhere in between) and working with an illustrator to create a graphic novel. I’d love to collect a couple dozen more Plan Zs … so send ‘em my way, pretty please!
I recently updated my portfolio website, so check that out … and my Twitter page is a ceaseless stream of amusement (for me, anyway!).
