EP12: Can I Pursue Creative, Community Projects While Still Paying the Mortgage? (Regenerative Sticking Point With Harrie)
What do you do when work feels unfulfilling, and you have meaningful creative projects calling but still need to pay the mortgage? How do you nurture the seed of an idea and test whether it can grow into a viable regenerative business concept?
In a recent coaching session with Harrie, we explored these career change sticking points, by a stream in my local woodland.
Listen on
Working Through Uncertainties
Harrie came to me at a turning point, with a contract coming to an end and a series of great-on-paper jobs leaving her unfulfilled. She was yearning for more human interaction, greater immersion in nature, and to build connections with small-scale farmers and land-workers.
What Harrie lacked was the confidence and clarity to take those first steps into fulfilling and purposeful work.
Together, we worked through these uncertainties. Mapping out a plan to take Harrie's concept of photography-based storytelling of local land-based projects and turn it into a reality.
In our coaching conversation, we explored:
Following Your Joy
When moving towards work that aligns with your values and passions, choose things to guide you which indicator you're on the right path. To do this I encourage people to follow their joy. What brings you a sense of excitement and fulfilment? What gives you a good feeling? For Harrie, creativity emerged as a key indicator, meaning that any opportunity for pursuing this is a sign she is heading in the right direction.
The Power of Small Steps
When embarking on a new venture, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the big picture. That's why I encourage people to focus on small, manageable steps:
Daily actions – start really small by picking up the phone to someone of buying a helpful book. Small consistent steps overtime lead to the most significant changes.
Map out your ideas – create a visual representation of your thoughts and connections so you can begin to see where you are heading.
Reach out to connections – start with people you know well to build confidence and watch how this snowballs.
Pilot a small project – use this to test your idea and prove to yourself you can do
Removing Financial Pressure
Don't ask your regenerative pursuits to pay the bills from day one. This will come later. You first need to be free to explore and create that new career without the pressure of immediately making money from it. Consider maintaining a part-time job or contract work that allows you the space and security to explore your new path [see EP10: Easy Ways To Make Money While Pursuing Your Regenerative Career]. For Harrie this meant realising: "I really don't work well doing a full-time job. I can condense my hours or do something that's more part-time. ” This means being free to work in a way that suits her while also having space to pursue a creative career.
Overcoming Self Doubt
It’s so important to believe in your idea. Keep reminding yourself of the difference you want to make in the world. Articulate your non-traditional journey with confidence and authenticity. This will help to quieten any internal or external doubt. For Harrie, this meant telling stories of how we can feed ourselves sustainably and restore the land around us.
It can be hard to have faith that your idea or project has value. It's a real leap of faith. But just know that there are people out there, species out there, life out there that is waiting for you to start.
