Resources:
Book a call: https://calendly.com/gregfsmyth/new-connections-2
Courage to Quit Blueprint: https://blueprint.gregfsmyth.com/free

Profiles:
Susan's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-susan-e-murray-72858312/
Greg's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/in/gregoryfsmyth


Episode Summary

In this episode, I chat with Susan Murray who has made a big career transition from working in the educational system to building an independent consulting firm. She went from being a teacher to a principal, district personnel, and senior education leader over her 25 years in Education. The big pivot happened to her in 2012 when she did not get a job but used that as a learning point to set herself on a different path - moving to business and leadership.

Topics covered:

01:27 Susan’s career transition story
04:05 Susan's catalyzing moment - moving away from the education system
09:11 How Susan managed the vulnerable stages alone
15:58 Being a professor, consultant, coach, and strategic advisor
18:27 Making a difference in people’s lives through leadership
21:50 Consulting is more than just giving advice
26:45 How to find your WHY - your reason/s behind wanting a career-change
28:30 How to build trust with new colleagues
39:01 Susan’s career-switching advice: Start with a good strategic plan.
44:38 Be ready to put up with microaggressions

Embrace uncertainty and take bold steps when making big changes

The vulnerabilities and the willingness to step away from comfort, how often have we seen that? Step out of your comfort zone. [Take] bold steps. Leaning in. Until you jump off that ledge and realize that you are not alone - but you are - there will be a lot of fear, uncertainty, empty hotel rooms, and alone time that you have to learn to figure out and use wisely. So in that depth of alone-ness, of solo time, is when you figure yourself out.

Understand WHY you want a career change

Until you can truly own it and address the whys of the change or the pivots that you are looking at, get beyond “not getting the job”. Get beyond more money or less money, or step away from the need to travel, to be, or do different things. There is a deeper why. There is a sense of freedom and ownership of something for you or for whoever it is, that is deeper than just the fact that you did not get a job.

Start with a good strategic plan when changing careers

Do it. Go for it. [Take] bold steps. Plan for them. Nothing happens without a plan. We have lots of dreams. We have lots of things that we see ourselves doing. But unless we have a good strategic plan behind us, that vision will never become a reality.

Learning is key, but trying is key too. Have your ducks in a row. If you are leaving Education after 20 years, there are some considerations you need to make…

What does your pension look like?
What does financial stability look like?
What risks are you willing to take professionally, financially, and even personally, within your own family?
Can they handle you being away for months at a time?

…those sorts of things that require a notebook, that require you to sit down and write them down right so that you are able to make wise moves.