I’ve been asked to share more of my career story and how I got to where I am. This was originally an Instagram post inspired by my friend Annie Miller, but I believe it’s worth sharing in a more in depth format on a different platform (mainly because I know someone will benefit from this).
There have been MANY days in my adult life where I have felt insecure and almost embarrassed of my path thus far. Days where I’ve felt like an utter and complete failure, unbelievably lost, and quite frankly, useless. If you’ve been following me for a while you may remember THIS POST I shared almost exactly 4 years ago. All about “finding your purpose” and how I had no idea what mine was. Re-reading it now I can see how lost and how hurt by those words I was, and I’d love to go back and give 25 year old Maddy a hug.
And here’s the deal. I recently found out from a mutual connection that a previous co-worker of mine made a statement along the lines of “If Maddy doesn’t stop quitting jobs she’ll never have a career.”
Did that sting? 100%
Did it also piss me off? 1000%
But guess what, it’s just fueling my fire at this point. No one else has to understand. It’s your life my friends
But if there’s anything I want you to take from this it’s that:
LIFE IS ANYTHING BUT LINEAR.
growth isn’t linear. progress isn’t linear. healing isn’t linear. none of it is.
So, on that note, here’s my career story:
2014
On December 7, 2014 I graduated college on a Saturday then promptly went to my internship full time that Monday. I was working in the large machinery industry (not for me), stuck in the stuffy non flexible office life, using colorful blazers, skirts and heels as my form of self expression. I loved the team of people I worked with, but the industry and the role were not for me. I distinctly remember telling my co-workers I felt like a caged bird.
By the summer I couldn’t take it any longer, so I returned to the country club I worked at in college for the summer to coach swimming + lifeguard while staying part time in the digital marketing role at the office.
2015
In September of 2015 I accepted a new full time role in the sales department at safety glove manufacturer. I loved the flexible dress code (jeans everyday!), casual office and co-workers in my age range. I learned a lot working here and met some great people, but it still wasn’t for me long term. I started teaching SPIN classes on the side again.
2016
One of my friends shared that he was getting transferred to the Southern California office for his company and that they were looking for a marketing person, so in a span of 3 weeks I applied, interviewed and accepted an offer to make the move from Grand Rapids, MI to Newport Beach, CA.
So, on May 3, 2016 the cross country drive began. Work wise, the job came with flexible hours and little oversight, but sadly not enough work so I was miserable and unfulfilled. (My “cage” gets slightly bigger). To supplement I found a role teaching SPIN and working at a private gym near the apartment (which helped keep me somewhat sane).
Looking back I wish I would’ve given myself 2 years in California, and I think if the job had been less soul sucking I would have, but I am still unbelievably grateful for the growth, experiences, challenges and adventure that was squeezed into one year.
2017
By May 2017 I was back in Grand Rapids with no plan. Yep, you read that right. I actually called my friend Devin (who had taken my old job at the country club) and said, “hire me for the summer please.” Which he did. And we had a blast of a summer. In addition I did some babysitting and nannying.
After a few years of not liking office life, in October 2017 I decided to give retail management a whirl. I figured it was the next logical thing to try since I love fashion and styling so much. I loved the team, styling customers and doing window displays, but quickly realized that this was not going to be a long term solution for me. At the same time I also started teaching SPIN again at the same gym I was at before moving to California.
2018
In April 2018 I took on an AP/AR role with zero experience at a small biz. More flexible hours, more flexible dress code, still caged and miserable doing AP/AR and operations (attempt to be less miserable by taking on multiple side jobs – at one point I had 3 plus my FT…😑)
I distinctly remember telling them in my interview that I would give them at least 2 years. Due to COVID I made in 23 months…promise fulfilled.
2019
My friend Chad opened a gym – (hey @impactfitnesswellness) in January 2019, so I became his first employee, diving headfirst into coaching in a new capacity, as well as studying for and crushing my personal training exam. I coached classes two evenings a week, with rotating Saturdays, and thankfully my FT job was flexible enough to let me leave at 3:45 those days.
Sometime during spring/summer 2019 I also help my friends at @hulstjepsenpt with some marketing on the side. it’s very very very part time (a couple hours/week) but I get to do things I enjoy – like blogging!
In August 2019, I start working part time on the side for Annie Miller as well. What started out as a few hours of help morphed into a consistent part time role – and we will have 3 years of working together later this summer!
2020
Like many people, my life flipped upside down in March 2020. I was literally interviewing for new roles the week everything shut down. With that, no one was hiring and I ended up being laid off due to COVID. I found myself completely unsure.
(Looking back – this was one of the best things that could have happened to me, but in that moment, I had no idea).
I essentially had to press PAUSE on life. Which, turns out I really really needed. I had been moving so fast in so many different directions that I wasn’t even sure what I wanted, or where I was headed.
A slower pace, combined with many conversations with friends and mentors, led me to revisit something I said in 2016…that I’d love to be a life coach. At this point I’m not ready, but the wheels are in motion.
For the rest of 2020 I work for Annie part time (and we tackle some big projects), I take the most random collection of side jobs, and continue to look for roles- with a few interviews in there.
I start going to therapy in late 2020 (a godsend), and also get connected with and begin working with a life coach of my own, Liz.
Julie and Liz were both instrumental for me to get to where I am today.
2021
In April 2021 – I started a new fully remote FT job, my first FT job since being laid off in March 2020. I continue working for Annie on the side. At this point I knew I wanted to be a coach but I wasn’t ready to leap yet, so I took this role.
In December 2021 I walked away from what I felt like was a sinking ship. And I still stand by that decision. Taking December through April away from another FT role gave me the space I needed to figure out the HOW of my business. I was able to get systems set up, take on more clients, decide more of how I wanted to run it, get invoicing, contracts, emails and everything set up, and more.
2022
It’s now May 2, 2022. I started a new FT role on April 18, and already feel like it’s the best fit I’ve ever had. I look forward to what’s to come and plan to continue to grow my coaching and styling business on the side until I’m ready for that major leap.
If you made it all the way here, you’re awesome. and if you scrolled down to see just how damn long this was, here’s your TLDR;
DON’T SETTLE
YOU GET TO CHOOSE YOUR PATH
OTHER PEOPLE’S OPINIONS OF YOUR CAREER PATH ARE NOT YOUR PROBLEM
(and changing them is not your responsibility)
GO KICK SOME ASS
I hope you know I am not telling you to do literally anything. Your life and your choices are for YOU to decide. I am simply here, hoping to remind you that you can create your own path, you can change your path and you can try multiple paths out. You are not stuck unless you choose to be.
I am not telling you it’s easy or fast.
Also, you are in control of your own path, make sure you’re choosing one FOR YOU.
If you’re looking to get unstuck in your career, successfully navigate transitions and build a fulfilling life and are interested in working together, I’d be honored to help you.
xo, Maddy
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