NOTE FROM TRISH

Who am I now . . . without my business card?  

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I vividly remember the first professional networking event I attended after I had left my long-time career. After 20+ years in the C-Suite, suddenly I had no professional title. No professional affiliation. No business card. Unlike other attendees who had name tags stating their title and company, mine simply read ‘TRISH WHEATON’.

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The perceived loss of my professional self was profound. I felt unmoored. 

Like many of our LEANING OUT followers, I was experiencing an identity crisis after leaving my career. From the surveys and countless interviews we’ve conducted, we know that Loss of professional identity ranks among the top things women tell us they miss most about leaving their career. 

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At the time of my identity crisis, I wish I had known this month’s guest blogger, Marge Watters. Marge has spent 25+ years as a coach and consultant working with individuals in career transition. In Who Am I Now? . . . Beyond the Business Card Marge takes us through the necessary and highly therapeutic steps for reclaiming your identity from giving your emotions their due to doing a personal skills, style, interests, knowledge and values inventory. As Marge wisely notes, The skills and personal characteristics that propelled you belong to you, not your former employer’. 

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Enjoy the read!

P.S. Check out the SPOTLIGHT section for survey results on what women say they miss most after leaving their career. #1 may surprise you.

How would you answer this question?

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