A Psychic Job Change

In early October, I’m facilitating a talk on career development for a group of badass women leaders in the creativity industry. Many things are coming up as I plan - the importance of differentiating skills you enjoy versus happen to be good at, getting clear on what you want AND asking for it, owning your career narrative, and so much more.

It’s also reminding me of a time when my career changed in a very unexpected and mystical way.  

In early 2007, I was producing a live talk show for XM Satellite Radio (before the SiriusXM merger) in DC. One day we had renowned psychic medium James Van Praagh calling from LA to chat with our three hosts and take calls from listeners.

Part of my role directing in the booth was to get us in and out of advertising breaks. This is usually when I check-in briefly before guests run off for two minutes. This interaction was much different:

Me: Hi James, this is going great - thank you! You have a couple minutes if you need to step away.

James: I’m OK.

Me (half jokingly since the truth is I LOVE psychics and anything related): OK, well if you’re picking up any interesting messages for me then feel free to share that in this break too…

James (OVER THE SPEAKER WHERE OUR CREW AND HOSTS COULD HEAR): Well, I can tell you you’re not going to be at that job much longer. You’re moving into a job in television. It's in California, but not LA. I see you on a hill. 

Me (awkwardly looking around as if I just quit my job on the spot): Hahaha wow well uhhh OK the break is over, back to the show…

Some background: I wasn’t super happy at my job and I had been thinking about wanting to expand into TV/video work since radio felt limiting. At the time, radio was terrestrial and satellite (no podcast yet) and rumor of the XM Satellite Radio and Sirius merger was freaking everyone out. I assumed I'd be moving to LA or back to NYC.

I hadn’t started talking about that out loud yet though.

The next day, I’m relaying the story to my mom in Ohio since she loves psychics too - not at all thinking this would be a career defining moment. She surprisingly replied, “This is so weird - I recently heard that [someone I know] moved to San Francisco to work at a new TV network owned by Al Gore. Maybe you should reach out to him?”

The TV network owned by Al Gore was Current TV (RIP). I hadn’t heard of it and hadn’t heard this news from my friend. I reached out to him. There was a potential job. It was technically “below” my current title/level/salary, but I thought it was probably worth it for an industry pivot. I applied, flew out for rounds of interviews, and a month or so later moved to San Francisco for one of the most impactful jobs I’ve had. My first apartment was on Larkin and Washington which, yes, is on a hill (though not hard to get that part right in SF). 

Why do I share this and how is it related to career development - and really any type of positive change and growth?

1. Any story about a psychic is cool 

2. Say what’s on your mind even if it’s not fully baked yet. With discretion of course - probably not on LinkedIn or to your boss right away, but to trusted people.

3. Talk to as many people as you can - including people who don’t seem directly related to your industry (call my mom)

4. People who know you and trust you want to help you. Talk to them. And help others in return. We all know how much relationships matter and how powerful sincere, personal referrals are.

5. There was a time when we connected with people without having to spend 12 hours a day online. It’s nice to remember that's possible.

6. Sometimes you take a “step down” to take several steps “up” (is “one step back, two steps forward” a thing?). 

7. Be open to things happening in weird, unexpected ways.

I may not be fully psychic, but I can help you see your creative career and opportunities for positive change in clearer ways. Reply to this email or book a free consultation here!

Embracing Deadlines for Your Passion Projects

One of the best parts about passion projects is that you typically don’t have deadlines imposed. One of the hardest parts about passion projects is that it’s typically on YOU to create and honor your own deadlines. That’s really tough for most people and a common theme in Creativity Workshops.

Some tips:

• Look at your schedule WEEKLY. Let’s say Sunday, look ahead and set some time. Be realistic about it. If you need to move it, OK (that flexibility is a perk), but try your hardest not to skip it all together. 

• Don’t be intimidated by all the people who say you have to do it DAILY OR ELSE. Of course you get out what you put in, but the daily pressure is unrealistic for most and causes the worst outcome: feeling bad and doing nothing at all.

• Make a gift. It has a deadline. Last year my partner, David, wrote me a short story for our anniversary and it was the best. 

• Remember how good it feels to complete (and share) something. 

• Do it even when you don’t feel like it (like a job).

• Be open to spontaneous, unscheduled moments to work.

• Announce something, then do it (I am about to do that below).

• Annnnnnnd let’s work together! Every individual session and/or workshop is a deadline. Clients get so much done.

Coming Soon: Passion Project Profiles!

Taking a bit of my own advice above, I’m announcing an idea I’ve been toying with for years. It’s honestly part of how this whole new venture began.

Get ready for: Passion Project Profiles. Might be called Other People’s Passion Projects.

Or OPPP.

Or OP3 (thanks Evan).

Open to feedback. 

Like the WIP names suggest, I’m going to be shining a spotlight on passion projects. These are the creative things you make/do because you want to - they fuel you. They are usually not for a job-job, though could be a job-job if you’re that rare person. This is about how you do them, why you do them, and getting more people to see them.

Why? I want to:

• Inspire more passion projects in the world.

• Remind everyone that passion projects make your whole lives better - work, family, personal, social, all of it.

• Provide uplifting content for you. Seriously, ask someone about their passion project - chances are you both light up.

Let me know if you have a passion project you’d like featured and I’ll be sure to reach back out.

Yes, Select Five will be one. Plus Brian's latest passion project, Creative Commonwealth, “a vibrant community dedicated to unlocking and harnessing the innate human capacity for creativity to instigate impactful change.” You need to to check it out!

Stay tuned for more!

And that concludes newsletter Vol 4, August 2024. Please share with others who may enjoy it! Anyone can sign up - and read past newsletters - here.

Thanks for reading!

Kate