Designing a new career, in a new country - at the same time (Pete’s story)
Envy
5 years ago, on his daily commute to and from the office, Pete found himself staring at the workmen on the side of the road - green with envy. He lusted after the honesty of their work. The physicality of it. The outdoorsey-ness of it. The clearness of a good day's work with a tangible beginning and end.
His project management role in a big bank paled by comparison. Blanched with pointlessness. And drained the colour from his soul.
So when his Irish wife suggested they relocate back to her homeland in Donegal, in the north-western tip of Ireland, Pete seized the colour-filled opportunity with both hands.
This was an opportunity to leave the pallor of his corporate life behind - to start afresh.
"Doing" this career thing differently - where to start
In the messiness of moving countries, Pete deliberated about his future work. He knew he needed to "do this career thing" differently.
But how?
And what?
And where could he start?
While researching options, he happened upon Midlife Unstuck and joined the free Never too old, never too late community to learn more from Lucia's emails.
When she announced her pilot on-line course - The Fierce Emporium - he jumped onboard to learn how to design his new decade of work while at the same time acclimatising to his new home country in a rural Ireland.
The Fierce Emporium gave him a structure to think through some of his past work experiences, his reactions to them and feelings about them.
It was deep and sometimes hard work - but cathartic.
It was about half way through the learning phase when things started to fall into place. At the point when Pete discovered his unique Superpowers.
He now knew, without a shadow of a doubt, which unique talents he needed to use to allow him to feel good.
Next step?
Find a problem in his new rural world that would let him use his Superpowers.
And get paid.
Beyond the thinking
Practical experimentation is a key skill that The Fierce Emporium encourages.
In his new country, he could embed this skill on a daily basis - as every single part of his world was new and different.
While settling the family into their new life, Pete also decided to invest time and energy in the short Irish summer learning new things and improving lots of skills: paddle-boarding, running, golfing, cycling 500k, starting a vegetable plot from scratch, all sorts of woodwork skills (making planters from old pallets, making coasters and chopping boards).
And then later selling his wood products at a little Christmas fair and embarking on a garden design course.
This garden design course became the foundation of his dream of a new work future.
But going back to school - on-line school - was hard.
It required discipline and tenacity - even through the dark winter.
It required hours looking at screens - even though that was one of the things he was trying to leave behind.
Yet over time, combined with his physical, real-world experiments, he became convinced him that he might just be able to create a little business in this remote area of Ireland.
Fierce networking
One of the other career design skills that helped him was the Fierce method of networking.
It seemed kinder, more giving, more fun than the cold, me-me-me way of networking he'd experienced back in the corporate world.
Beyond his family connections, Pete was building his community from scratch and found the "droplet" method came naturally and easily to him.
It connected with his values and preferences around treating people like he liked to be treated.
One human at a time, he built his new community.
Money, money, money
After a while, Pete wanted and needed a job.
And cleverly decided to offer his skills to a local landscaper so that he could test whether, at the age of 50, he could stand the physical demands of garden work.
He deeply connected with the business owner - as only Pete can - and they began working together.
You see Pete is a natural friend-maker.
I might be a little biased - as I am with every one of my clients - but you couldn't not love this guy. He is generous, unfailingly honest, kind, open and shares his vulnerability powerfully everywhere.
Body and mind
Ouch…
At the end of his first year - Pete's body was hurting.
The physical demands of the role were punishing on his midlife body.
But he adored the people he get to met when working on their gardens. He took the time to listen. And talk. As only Pete would.
He also loved the integrity of the physical work.
It turned out his envy for the physicality of those road-side workers he used to see on his old commute was a real indication of his inner desires.
But he needed to find a way to also use his brain to charge for the higher-end design work - as well as the physical labour.
This would be key to building his business sustainably - body and mind.
First Step Bravery
After a time, he decided it was time to go it alone.
He set up his business designing it around his Superpowers (which have nothing to do with his physical strength).
Superpowered garden design.
Pete spent time figuring out what he did differently from others.
He invested his brain power to connect the dots from the activities he adored using (his Superpowers) and the difference he wanted to make in the world.
This helped him figure out his uniqueness.
Uniqueness
What is Pete’s unique offering?
Wait for it….
"I help people fall in love with their gardens."
BOOM.
Read it again.
When Pete told me this, I just repeated it a few times out loud. It magnificently says everything, simply.
It's the garden design business that only Pete could own.
It connects the dots beyond the physicality of the work to Pete’s ability, through his deeper-than-normal connection to humans - to eek out his clients’ wants and needs.
He listens. And asks questions. He solves problems that connects their hearts and bodies.
Joyful work - Pete-style
Pete tells me stories of older Donegal residents who used to adore gardening but age or illness stopped them.
So, their gardens have slipped away from them and become unmanageable - like a couple-in-love who have grown apart in different directions.
When they meet Pete, some clients believe their gardening days are over.
Pete comes in, does what needs to be done in terms of design, planning and physically transforming the mess into order.
So much so, that they can get back into their beloved garden, reconnect and fall in love with it all over again.
Now, that sounds like satisfying work...doesn’t it?
Bigger clients
He also told me about the trend for wild gardens in Donegal and how easy everyone believes it is - until they've tried it and failed.
Enter Pete. Who figures out what’s been going on, gets to understand what they need and why. And gives them a plan.
He's also been working with trendy, exclusive Donegal hotels and retreats (some of whom have featured in the New York Times and are booked out for 2 years in advance) advising them on the perfect wild flowers and plants that will thrive in the harsh Donegal weather. As well as doing some of the physical garden maintenance work.
Business - the numbers
There’s no denying it…starting a business from scratch in a new field, in a new country was challenging for Pete.
His first full financial year was very tough. He had zero idea on pricing so started far too low - as most first-time business owners seem to do. (Guilty as charged!)
As the year progressed he learned more about right-pricing for his local market and growing skills, experience and profile.
Year two, revenue has increased by 40% and things are looking really positive.
It’s still physically demanding but his growing network and experimental actions give him cause for optimism for the future.
He knows he can make it work, really work.
“I can see a thriving business for 9 months of the year and then three months of the year where I down-tools and work on other things.”
Pete, the career designer, hasn’t disappeared…
Pete deeply connected with the career design skills her acquired in The Fierce Emporium.
One such skill, reminds him to pause frequently, to ponder if he’s using his Fierce Superpowers enough every day - for his work to be deeply satisfying, every day?
‘I’m not done yet” is his answer.
Is he much happier, fitter and more fulfilled than he was back in UK in the colourless corporate life?
“Undoubtedly!”
Is his career design nailed down forever?
“Never!” (This fills me with joy.)
He possesses career design skills that mean he can evolve his work to fulfill his needs…as often as he wishes…for the rest of his working life.
He can tweak his career design to fit him. His situation. His growing family. His life-expectations.
Forever.
Once a fierce-seeker always a fierce-seeker.
If you liked this case-study, you might also like these:
Designing a midlife exit plan - when all you want to do is press the “eject” button (Dara’s story)
I fear I’ll be in the same position in 5 years - and I’ll just be 5 years older! (Cilian’s story)
When boring became unbearable - a speedy redesign, including results (Joelyn’s story)
So many ideas, so little time - when lack of decision-making gets in the way of potential impact of work (Iona’s story)
