Continue with the same job even if you don’t like it or jump into a new adventure?
Staying in our comfort zone or trying to bring our dreams to life?
If you also are in a phase of your life where you would like a change but you’re afraid and don’t know where to start, I’ll tell you the story of Mónica, a courageous woman who left her secure job to give life to her dream.
Hi Mónica, what is your current profession?
Weight loss coach for women who have recently become mothers and want to get back to their healthiest form (without diets to lose weight and without yo-yoing); women who need to get back to taking care of themselves and want to get back in touch with their identity.
What was your previous job?
I worked for 10 years in an International Food Company, where I was in charge of the Dietetic sector and I was Technical Director for Portugal.
Why did you start thinking about leaving a secure job for a new adventure?
I really enjoyed what I was doing, but in recent years I started to feel that I could go further and help clients more than I was doing. More than just helping them lose weight, I wanted to help them change their mindset to take back their bodies, and in the company this was not possible.
What helped you make the final decision?
To realise that I wanted to do more and support my clients more in their evolution; and to have the support of my family in embarking on a new path.
What has this change brought to your life?
It has brought more tranquillity, more passion, more desire to do new things and create my own method without being limited by the directives of a company; it has brought more focus on managing my time, more responsibility and the will to go forward fighting for what I want to achieve.
What did you learn from this experience?
I learned that there is always time to change. That all decisions have to be pondered and studied, but that we must never stop believing in our abilities and in our dreams: if we want it, we have to make it happen. If we realise that a path is no longer right for us, we can adjust it and create a new one. I think adapting to change has been one of the biggest learnings for me.
What were the difficult moments?
When we get through them we end up believing that they were not such difficult moments, but I know perfectly that the beginning of this new career and passion was one of the most complicated phases for me. I wanted to get everywhere, I wasn’t focused, I didn’t know where to go and I felt lost.
How did you overcome them?
I did a lot of research, studied and took time to organise my ideas and focus on the goal. Then I realised I needed someone to help me. Someone who had been through a similar situation and that’s how I met my coach, thanks to whom I was able to put my ideas in order and gain enormous clarity.
How has coaching helped you?
It helped me to be more focused, to have clarity about what I wanted to achieve and to have more determination. Having someone to guide us through a situation of change and transformation, personal and/or professional, makes a big difference and is something that allows us to get to the next level.
What message would you send to someone in the same situation?
Before any decision, stop, think and decide: then, make it happen. Always have a structure, an organisation, a working basis. Stay focused on what you want to achieve and always keep in mind that most of the time you need to adjust something and adapt to new situations that arise, creating new strategies. In addition to all this, contact a coach specialised in the area you want to work in: this will make all the difference in the path you wish to follow.
Thank you Mónica, I am sure that your experience will be an inspiration to many people.
Thank you Giulia for giving me the opportunity to talk about it.
If you are interested in learning more about programmes to regain your form through coaching (and you speak English or Portuguese) please contact Mónica (https://www.facebook.com/coachmonicapetrides/).
If you would like to change job and start new projects, you can contact me for a discovery session.