Yesterday marked one year since I started a new journey after a transformational twelve-year stint in management consulting. The milestone was a chance to not only reflect on the past year but also gain welcome perspective as I entered the 2020s amidst a new forced reality. Here, for what they’re worth, are my takeaways. 

Don’t rush things if you can help it

When I quit my job, I knew I wanted to do something connected to the food value chain, but that’s about all I knew. I had no real sense of the landscape, what part of the value chain I was most interested in, or what kind of role I wanted.

So, for the first few months, I simply focused on fixing that. I signed up for newsletters I found interesting. I went to meet-ups and conferences. I reached within and beyond my network for informational interviews. (Cold emailing is not something I enjoy but forced myself to do anyway.)

I connected with headhunters and described the kinds of roles I was interested in (and sharpened my focus over time). I interviewed for several roles, although I am now grateful that none of them worked out. I even worked harvest for two weeks with a friend in eastern Washington simply because I finally had the time to do so.

Disjointed as all this sounds, the experiences not only validated my interest in the food value chain but also helped me, almost subconsciously, figure out what parts of that landscape I found most interesting. 

Take a chance and back yourself

While I was doing all of this, I was being contacted by several former colleagues with potential opportunities for independent consulting work. This was the furthest thing from my mind at the time. I had, after all, just made the considered choice to step away from that world. I’d also never thought of myself as a business owner.

But, I thought to myself, why not? It would be a good learning experience, if nothing else. Plus, I had the time. And so, A.M. Worldwide Advisory LLC was born. (If the name sounds grandiose, it’s partly because my preferred less-grandiose names and domains were already taken.) Thanks to services like LegalZoom, Squarespace, Google, LinkedIn, and Twitter, I was able to set up the business and hang out my virtual shingle in a matter of weeks.

Through sheer dumb luck I landed my first client last November and spent nearly six months working with the leadership team on a variety of topics, from product portfolio strategy to sales and distribution route optimization, to operating model design. While COVID-19 has paused things temporarily, the experience has already taught me a lot.

I found that I thoroughly enjoyed being my own boss. I loved the freedom and control, the work I was doing, the people I was working with, and the immediate impact I was having. I especially loved being able to go to work in jeans and a hoodie, and the income didn’t hurt!

Take advantage of free time

Last year, I was fortunate to have been able to choose how and when I walked away from a paycheck. This year, COVID-19 has imposed a forced hiatus. In both cases, however, I found myself enjoying activities and experiences that I hadn’t had the time or the energy to pursue while working full-time.

I took an online Python course and completed a Scrum Master certification. I rediscovered reading and even picked up my guitar after many years, although that lasted about forty-eight hours! I’ve always found cooking to be relaxing, but I’m now enjoying trying new recipes and new ingredients. I’m exercising more regularly and sleeping better. I’ve already logged more miles on my bike this year than I have in the past several. I’ve reconnected with friends I hadn’t spoken to in years and (as this post attests) started writing more regularly.

The experience reinforced for me the importance of making time to pursue interests and passions outside work, whether it’s while I’m working or by taking periodic breaks that allow me to fully step away from the daily grind.

The road ahead

The past year has been energizing and educational and I am grateful for the encouragement of many friends and co-workers, and especially my parents (who were surprisingly supportive of my decision!) along the way. All of it has led me to this point, excited to embark on a new journey. While the destination is still unknown, my path is undeniably clearer.