Birthday boy

I took the day off yesterday – it was my birthday!  It’s one before the half century.  Maybe it was nearing 50 that made me reflect on whether I’ve become the person I expected to become.

When I was in my corporate job, I nearly always took the day off for my birthday.  I carefully saved a day from my annual leave, without sacrificing too many from my Christmas allotment – and tried to do something special with my wife (without the kids).

So, yesterday I had a fantastic breakfast here, helped my wife lug a chair she’d upholstered to a customer, planted a few hundred tulip and allium bulbs, took my son for a music scholarship exam and ran a two hour masterclass thing with a bunch of startups 7-9pm.  I ended the day with cheese and champagne, so don’t feel too sorry for me.

When I was working I might have regarded that day as a bit of a waste of my precious holiday.  Especially running a zoom call with strangers.

I’d probably have resented it.

Holiday days are precious when you’re in a corporate.  You’re entitled to them.  In some companies you can even buy more of them.

In the early part of my career I loved work so much I’m not sure I took all of my holiday days.  But as I grew older they became sacrosanct.

These days, I can pretty much take one when I want.  This summer I took most of August off.  And I don’t expect to work much from mid-December to mid-January.

One of the questions I ask my guests on the Corporate Escapology podcast is whether they feel more independent now they’ve exited.  Most say “yes, kind of”.  We’re probably, all of us, too realistic to claim independence, when we have kids and mortgages and live in the modern world.   At least if you’re in your late forties (note the clinging on).

But I really do feel more independent.  More self-reliant.  And a lot more confident.

The word that kept coming into my head yesterday as I planted the bulbs was ‘alive’: a bit like I imagine skateboarding feels along an empty promenade or kitesurfing.

Not without risk.  Tuned-in to the bumps in the road that could increase my discomfort.  But experienced enough that it’s not stopping me from enjoying the ride.

Of course, there are times in life when we need to play it safe.  When I look at my financial outgoings over the next ten years, I wonder why I’m not playing it a bit safer now.

I think it’s because this feeling of being alive, of having choice, of not having to submit a request to get my holiday approved, and of not having an annual holiday allocation in the first place, is good for me.

Just like the holiday, I’ve earned it.

Over the last couple of decades working for corporates, I built the skills, experience and knowledge that will, hopefully, create enough value to last me a couple more.

You too, I suspect.

This week the latest Corporate Escapology podcast drops – it’s with Ileana Ferber, a local content specialist who spent 24 years at Exxon Mobil.  Talking with her a couple of years back, when she was thinking of leaving, made me first realise I could help people, I could inspire them.  Now Ileana has left – she will inspire you.

Take a watch on YouTube and a listen on Spotify.

I’d love you to follow me on Instagram where I’m trying to share some tips and advice to help people build their confidence to exit. 

I’m always happy to chat to people thinking of leaving, who need a bit of coaching or advice – drop me a line.  Or if you’re not yet ready, you can try the Escape Method course here.

Either way, please like this post or share it with someone who might need it!