Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Today's post is written by a guest blogger, Ree Ree Rockette of Rockalily Cuts. It continues the theme of creating your own happiness. Enjoy!

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone and Leaving

What You Know for What You Love

Teaching was definitely deep within my comfort zone; being in control, a cause I felt passionate about, a respectable career path, a clear path to promotion. But yet, it wasn't quite enough for me. I liked it, but the idea of doing it for the next ten years caused a wave of panic through my veins!

I was good at teaching, and really wasn't sure what else I could ever be good at. I'd never been creative, never been particularly practical with my hands, or had any talents with an obvious value.

Ree Ree is now a blogger and business woman

I think I started with a brainstorming session. My blog had been gaining its own legs, so I started by thinking about whether my blog could become anything else. Could any of my new experiences in my part time job (stage managing burlesque shows) or my blogging lead me to any new career paths?

It was pretty obvious that I didn't really want to work for someone else, although of course I knew I'd need a part time job while I started something of my own. What would I love doing, if it wasn't teaching?!

Rather than the scary task of flicking through career books, I started by dreaming of my dream day. Did I want to start early or late? Did I want to work solo or with a team? Did I like deadlines? Did I want an office or a job I could do at home? I then moved on to considering what my actual talents and skills were. What transferrable skills had I developed?

Another perk of running your own business: the salon dog, Ellington makes himself at home

I also asked people who knew me, what they thought I'd be good at. The answers sometimes surprised me, but they always made me reflect on what I wanted my life to become.

Eventually the path led to creating my own lipstick brand, and recently to opening my own hair salon in London. Part of my soul will always be a teacher, but this is definitely what I love. I get to challenge my brain, stretch my personal abilities, and measure my success by concrete achievements. I have loved learning about business, branding and marketing, and I also get to pass on some of my experiences with the business group I set up, called Wonderful Women: Minding Our Own Business.

It wasn't obvious at the start what I loved, and I definitely liked teaching a lot, but in the end (and I'm only at the beginning really!) I found the right path for me. And I love it.

Ree Ree Rockette’s website is Rockalily.com. You can find her salon Rockalily Cuts at 205a, Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AN.

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