When comfort no longer serves you

It suddenly occurred to me that 2 years have passed since I left KPMG to embark on an uncertain, scary, risky, yet PURPOSEFUL adventure. The non-linear career path has taken me places I would have never imagined. This week I returned to Vancouver from a summer trip biking across Europe. We crossed 12 countries on our route from Amsterdam to Istanbul.

In this article I will share how stepping out of my comfort zone has led to extraordinary life experiences. It all started by identifying that the life I was living started to feel too comfortable and repetitive.

I hope this story inspires you to find clarity on your drive and purpose :)

Leaving my 9-5

I thought about leaving my corporate 9-5 job for years before actually mustering up the courage and clarity to do so.

The jump I made came with hesitations, doubts, and uncertainty.

I loved the role that I had at the firm as a Development Manager and mental health leader. I had the resources and support to fulfill me mission to help others expand their potential and create safe environments to be open about mental health in the workplace.

However, after a year of being in the management and leadership role, I began to ask myself if this was it?

The first year as a manager was challenging and rewarding. Everything seemed new. I definitely stretched out of my comfort zone to perform the job well and was highly motivated.

Yet, the second year didn't seem as exciting. Without a promotion or new responsibilities, it seemed like I'd be doing the same job, with similar pay, but with less challenge and learning.

I think many of us may be familiar with this feeling.

Though grateful for my work, it began to feel too COMFORTABLE.

Millennials crave new experiences, challenge, impact, meaning, and purpose. And when progression starts to halt or slow down, we tend to start to think about the next move.

Naturally, I did so too.

Is this it? I feel like I am capable of more.

Two minds are better than one

I felt like I was spinning my wheels trying to devise an exit plan on my own.

With my personal coach, I developed a vision of my ideal future and unsurprisingly, it did not include working in corporate. Since I started my career in business and accounting, I had the idea to eventually start a business or work in an entrepreneurial environment. This seemed to match my personality and work style more.

And working in professional services felt far from that.

It was extremely uncomfortable to share my ideas and ambitions with my coach at first because they didn't seem possible in my mind. I held them as secrets in fear of rejection or judgement. I didn't want to sound foolish.

This was different. My coach gave me the space to share openly and without judgement.

And from there, the plan began to fall in place.

"I have a dream to have my own business one day. A business where I am prioritizing helping people. Profit will not be the main motive. People will come first. I envision that I would be helping people lead their lives. To help motivate them to be the best that they can be. I want to help people who are interested in personal and professional development. People who are open, curious, lifelong learners, and change makers.

I do not see myself working behind a desk for the rest of my career. Instead, I want to be out and about. I want to work directly with people to help them solve their problems and achieve their goals. Coaching will be my craft and I will spend time on the side learning and developing my own skills and knowledge to teach to my clients.

I will work flexibly and have the ability to travel and work at the same time. With this flexibility, I will also have time to follow my other passions and interests, like playing music, playing sports, reading, writing, painting, and spending time with loved ones.

I won't have to feel guilty about spending time with my family because of work deadlines. Instead I can be fully present and enjoy the time we have together.

I will be less distracted. I will be more disciplined. I'll wake up early. I won't be glued to my phone. I will stop excessive drinking. I will exercise regularly and build a mindfulness practice.

And most importantly, who this impacts most is my family. Not my current family, but my future family. Because I want to get married, and have kids eventually. And I want to be the father who is around for my kids. Where I can show up at their soccer game in the rain and give them support like a father should. I will be the best that I can be for the next generation, like my parents did for me, and my grandparents did before.

I know I have so much potential to do more and be more..... but I am scared that this isn't possible. But I want to give it a shot."

And then I pause. I'm filled with enthusiasm, warmth, and slight embarrassment.

I just poured out my heart and soul for the very first time and it felt GREAT!

I was expecting my ideas to get rejected. To be told, "Casey, don't get ahead of yourself. Get your head out of the clouds." Those were the thoughts I had internally.

Instead, I was supported and received love, enthusiasm, and interest.

My doubts and concerns I initially had were squashed by clarity, conviction, and a deeper sense of purpose. I felt connected to this future. I wanted to see it through. I would stop at nothing.

From this conversation, I learned that I had a comfortable path ahead (Option A - staying in corporate) or an empowering path ahead (Option B - venturing into entrepreneurship). It became very clear that I wanted to follow the empowering path because when I compare them side my side, Option B felt so much more exciting and rewarding.

Breaking out of comfort

For me, my break from comfort was fuelled by commitment to the next generation and a wider purpose. I accepted the responsibility and ownership of my decision making and actions.

Comfort was no longer serving me. I felt stagnant and was eager for more.

The week leading up to my departure from the Big 4, I recall my employer asking if there was anything they could do to keep me.

I respectfully said no.

My personal journey was mine to pave. The firm played its role in building my skill set and clarity and I was extremely grateful for that.

A reflection

Reflecting on the last 2 years since leaving my 9-5 seems to be a massive undertaking. I describe running a business as one of the richest forms of self-development. No one day is the same. Business is not predictable and safe. It has its ups and downs, peaks and depressions, balanced with infrequent bouts of normalcy and stability.

But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I am proud to have built a coaching practice that serves motivated clients across Canada, the US, and the UK. I am grateful for my partners and collaborators who share the mission to empower personal development and promote mental health awareness in the workplace.

And the construction and development of the operation started with my vision I shared with my coach. The values and curiosities materialized and took its own form.

This journey would not have unfolded had I stayed in my comfort zone. I had to become the person I wanted to be.

I know where I would be if I stayed with Option A. I'd be working in the same office, the same job, with the same people, with the same curiosity....

Is this it? I feel like I am capable of more.