Ever wondered what would happen if you just pressed pause on your career to explore what truly makes you happy? Taking a break—whether planned or unexpected—can be a powerful tool for reclaiming your life. In this episode, I talk all things career break with Katrina McGhee, a career break coach and author of Taking a Career Break for Dummies.
If you listened to Minisode 5: We Were On A Break, you’ll be familiar with Katrina’s name. I talked about her book and used some of her reflective questions to look back on my own journey. Today, Katrina joins me to expand on those concepts and offer practical advice for anyone considering a break.
You'll learn how taking a break can help you reset, discover new passions, and come back stronger and more focused. Katrina's story is not just about quitting a job; it's about intentionally creating a space for self-discovery and growth. Warning — this episode might just make you want to quit your job.
About Katrina McGhee:
Katrina McGhee is a career break and sabbatical coach, speaker and author of the bestselling book, Taking a Career Break for Dummies. With her wealth of knowledge and experience, Katrina helps mid-career professionals design transformative life breaks that lead to happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives.
Katrina developed the Break Blueprint©️, a guiding framework she's used to help nearly 100 clients rejuvenate their lives by taking a break to travel the world, launch a business, write a novel, change careers and more.
Katrina's work was inspired by her own 20-month career break where she saved $40,000 in just 18 months to quit her corporate job to travel the world. As an avid world traveler and digital nomad, her expertise on career breaks and travel has been featured in prestigious outlets such as NBC, ABC, Forbes, Smarter Travel, Thrive Global, and Yahoo.
Key Lessons:
Plan Thoroughly: Assess your financial situation, budget carefully, and prepare emotionally before taking a career break.
Clarify Your Purpose: Define your "why" to stay motivated and focused during your break. Include three to four themes that you can come back to.
Reframing Productivity and Overcoming Guilt: Learn to value rest and self-care as essential components of personal growth and redefine what productivity means to you.
Embracing and Explaining Your Break: Transform your break into a compelling narrative of growth and self-discovery, making you stand out to future employees.
Episode Notes:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:52 Community Involvement and Listener Stories
01:54 Introducing Today's Guest: Katrina McGhee
03:40 Katrina's Career Break Journey
07:08 Navigating Corporate Life and Realizing the Need for a Break
10:05 Planning and Taking the Career Break
19:06 Reframing Productivity and Self-Worth
25:57 Transitioning to a Career Break Coach
31:01 The Importance of Reentry Periods
31:10 Reflecting on Personal Growth
31:45 Embracing Breaks and Self-Improvement
32:42 Sharing Your Break Experience
34:20 Extending the Break
35:11 Financial Management During Breaks
36:33 Unexpected Breaks and Self-Discovery
43:54 The Power of Permission
51:29 Maintaining Break Benefits Post-Reentry
57:29 Advice for Aspiring Break-Takers
Resources:
Katrina’s Website: https://www.kmcgheecoaching.com/
Taking a Career Break for Dummies: Bookshop.org, Amazon
The Sabbatical Project: https://thesabbaticalproject.org/
Sh*t I Reclaimed My Life