Page 44 - Talane Miedaner - Coach Yourself to a New Career_ 7 Steps to Reinventing Your Professional Life (2010)

32 COACH YOURSELF TO A NEW CAREER

to haul a lot of dogs around. One of the most liberating things I did
was give all my suits to the charity Dress for Success (another one of
your suggestions)—getting rid of all the trappings of my old career.
Once I got rid of everything that didn’t apply to my new life, I felt
so free.

What do your friends and family say now?
Now that I’ve made it, my dad is really proud of me and of the
business. He brought his friend over, whose son is a lawyer, to see
my facility. But still to this day, I told him about my plans to take
a one-month skiing sabbatical and he said, “I just don’t understand
how you can leave your business for a month.” He just doesn’t get it,
but he is proud of me. I knew that when he brought his friend over
to see the operation. My friends now tell me I was so grumpy when
I worked at the law firm. Now they say I’m the way I’m supposed to
be: happy, relaxed, fun-loving. When people see me with the dogs,
they say, “Oh my God, that is what you were meant to do; you just
glow when you are out there with them.”

What advice do you have for others?
Do it sooner rather than later. I would repeat what you told me:
time is the only thing you can’t get back; you can always make more
money. If you have a need for financial security, start your business
on the side to give yourself the comfort level you need.
I wish, when you started talking to me about saving money and
making a bigger nest egg, that I had started doing it sooner. I was in
a place where I was still buying things to fill a void. Why do some-
thing that makes you miserable every day? My fear was financial
even though it wasn’t a real fear, because I had a lot of money in
savings and I could have found another job. The needs and values
are so important. Now I know clearly what I need (my personal
requirements)—what my mind and body must have—and don’t
confuse that with wants.

For more information about Hip Hounds, please see Melissa’s website at
hiphounds.com.