June 13, 2025 • 30 mins
Feeling unfulfilled or stuck in your job—but unsure what’s next? Imagine creating a second act that fits your life now, with more meaning, balance, and joy.
In this episode, I’m joined by Shannon Russell, host of the Second Act Success podcast and a certified career coach who helps women make bold career changes in midlife. Shannon shares how she walked away from a successful TV career and created a second act on her own terms—and how you can, too.
Whether you're ready for a big shift or just a small change, this episode will show you how to stop waiting for clarity and start following your curiosity.
BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER:
✔ Why midlife is actually the ideal time to reinvent your career
✔ How to start exploring a new path while still working your current job
✔ What to do when fear, doubt, or “what ifs” start creeping in
✔ The power of using your curiosity (not pressure) to figure out what’s next
✔ How even a tiny step—taken from your car or kitchen table—can spark massive momentum
🎯 OMG Moment: Give yourself grace. Allow yourself to daydream.
Take Action
If something feels off in your current work or life, don’t ignore it. Get curious. Start asking questions. And trust that your second act doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be yours.
Grab Shannon's book Start Your Second Act today and allow yourself to keep taking steps forward. Find all Shannon's free resources and coaching options at secondactsuccess.co.
🔥 Join us in the Midlife Pivot Patreon community where I'm sharing my career change story and the lessons I learned.
Why This Episode Matters
Too often, women in midlife feel like it’s too late to start over. But your experience, wisdom, and values are exactly what make you ready. This episode will help you reframe your story and start creating a career (and life) that actually fits who you are now.
🎧 Hit follow now and join me next week as we talk about the way you think about money and how powerfully those beliefs support you or hold you back.
Find all podcast and coaching resources at cherylpfischer.com. Let's connect on Instagram!
Text me to ask a question - I'll answer on the podcast!
🌸 Liked this episode? Share it with fellow midlife women over 40 navigating hormone balance, an empty nest, and self-confidence!
🫶 Love this show? Leave a review to help more women over 50 find us.
💡Want support through menopause, mindset shifts, or midlife transitions?
Book a free Mindset Coaching / Intro Call: cherylpfischer.com/coaching, and join us in Midlife Pivot on Patreon.
Let’s talk self-care, self-talk, and owning your next chapter—without the “midlife crisis” narrative.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cheryl Fischer (00:00):
One of the things that's been a theme
throughout my professional lifehas been around the seven, eight
year mark.
I start getting a littlerestless and I start thinking is
this really what I want to keepdoing?
And I always have wondered andyou can hit the link in the show
(00:21):
notes and send me a message andtell me I always have wondered
if that's common and most peoplefeel that way after a period of
time in a certain job orbusiness, or if it's mostly me
just always liking change.
Either way, in midlife we seemto even more often hit a point
(00:42):
where we're kind of mayberethinking what we want to do
with our job or with ourbusiness.
And so if that's you, let'stalk about it.
Welcome to Mind your Midlife,your go-to resource for
confidence and success.
One thought at a time, unlikemost advice out there, we
(01:03):
believe that simply telling youto believe in yourself or change
your habits isn't enough towake up excited about life or
feel truly confident in yourbody.
Each week you'll gainactionable strategies and oh my
goodness, powerful insights tostop feeling stuck and start
loving your midlife.
This is the Mind your Midlifepodcast.
(01:25):
You may or may not have heardmy story.
I have changed careers a numberof times, and the first major
change, after two jobs that weresort of similar to each other,
was from a corporate job toteaching high school, and that
(01:51):
came about because I had youngkids and I really wanted to be
able to spend at least summerswith them, have a bit more
flexibility, and my job at thetime didn't offer that.
And so I really thought throughwhat in the world, how could I
achieve that?
Because I did need to work andat the same time I wanted this
(02:13):
time flexibility and I wantedsomething that would seem
valuable to me.
I didn't want to just be awaypushing papers around and then
feeling bad that I was away frommy kids for no reason, just air
quotes.
So I realized that in mycorporate job one of my favorite
(02:34):
parts was doing the training ofmy team team members, that I
was managing and helping peopleand explaining things, and I
kind of extrapolated that fromthere.
Now the funny part of this is,when I decided what I was going
to study in college, Ipurposefully picked something
that was a little different thanwhat someone might have
expected, because I said I neverwant to be a teacher.
(02:56):
And then I don't know how manyyears later, maybe 10 or 12,
there I went into 12 years ofteaching that I did enjoy.
So we never know, we can'tpredict the future.
Now, at midlife, I made anotherfairly significant switch, and
here I am with you as well, andso I wanted to bring to join me
(03:19):
today Shannon Russell.
Shannon is a career transitionand business coach, and she
helps women leave unfulfillingcareers and build joyful,
purpose-driven businesses, andyou're going to hear us talk
about this, but she also is theauthor of Start your Second Act
how to Change Careers, launch aBusiness and Create your Best
(03:41):
Life.
So I think we're really goingto have fun with this
conversation.
Shannon spent over 16 years asa TV producer in New York City
and Los Angeles, working forthings you might have heard of,
like MTV, yahoo, popsugar, a&e,tlc.
So here we go.
Hi, shannon.
Shannon Russell (04:01):
Hi, cheryl, thanks for having me.
I'm so excited.
Cheryl Fischer (04:04):
So here's what we want to start with, and
especially for our conversationabout making a career switch.
I think it's really powerful toknow more about your story.
So how did you end up workingwith women who want to make a
career switch?
Shannon Russell (04:22):
Yeah.
So I myself made a careerswitch.
So I left my career as atelevision producer and after 16
years and I was trying tofigure out what exactly I could
do with those skills and thatexperience, and I actually ended
up opening my franchisebusiness to start.
That was my first venture intobusiness and I taught children's
STEM education so robotics andLegos and was able to bring my
(04:45):
two little boys along with me.
But the idea for my coachingbusiness started because
customers in that franchisebusiness would ask me what grade
I taught, because they thoughtI was a great teacher.
And I would say, well, actuallyI'm a television producer and it
would spark these conversationsand they would say, well, can
you help me?
I'm not really happy with whereI am in my career.
(05:06):
Can you help me figure out howto launch a business or change
careers?
And so I would help certaincustomers and friends of mine.
And then I realized a lot ofwomen, especially in midlife,
were feeling the same kind ofmisalignment and that I didn't
want them to have to go throughit alone like I did.
So I launched my coachingbusiness to help other women.
Cheryl Fischer (05:27):
I love that and when we first met, I thought it
was cool how our stories have somany similarities, because I've
switched careers a couple oftimes and I've gone in and out
of education and maybe coachingis sort of the thing that
teachers are going to be reallygood at as well.
Maybe that's what the thingthat teachers are going to be
really good at as well, maybethat's what the thing is there.
But yeah, it does.
(05:48):
It takes guts to make a changelike that.
So this occurred to me when Iwas thinking about talking to
you.
Do you think that because itseems so often that in midlife
women are thinking about achange?
Do you think that it's becausemaybe we didn't choose exactly
the thing we love the first time?
(06:09):
Or is it more often that justwe've changed and so now it's
time for something new?
How do you, how do you see thatI?
Shannon Russell (06:16):
see it as that we've changed that.
You know, when we were 20 yearsold choosing our career path,
we were in a completelydifferent place, and if you are
someone who is a mom or iscaring for parents or has other
personal responsibilities, thejob that you loved when you were
25 doesn't align when you're 35, 45 and beyond.
(06:38):
So I often think it's thatwe've changed and we can love
what we do or we cannot enjoy it, but it just doesn't really fit
, maybe the flexibility that weneed at this stage in our life.
Cheryl Fischer (06:52):
Yeah, I think that's fair because it feels
like there's a lot of movingpieces all moving at the same
time.
Shannon Russell (07:00):
Yeah, Different priorities, exactly, and
sometimes you just need thatflexibility or that freedom, and
if you're working a job, like Iwas, which was lots of long
hours, a commute, travel, itjust didn't allow me to be home
for bedtime and to be around forthe kids the way I wanted to.
So something had to give, and Ithink there's a lot of jobs
(07:20):
like that out there that make itreally difficult for working
parents.
Cheryl Fischer (07:24):
Yeah, I agree with that.
They sound amazing and cool,but they're not always amazing
and cool in practice.
Shannon Russell (07:30):
Yes, exactly, exactly.
Cheryl Fischer (07:32):
Well, what do you find is one or a few of the
biggest concerns or the concernsyou hear the most that women
have about making a switchconcerns or the concerns you
hear the most that women haveabout making a switch.
Shannon Russell (07:47):
Honestly, the number one thing, Cheryl, is
well, who am I to want to makethis change Like?
It's oftentimes that women feellike it's a selfish choice and
that they think, well, doesn'tI've had a couple of women say
this to me well, doesn'teveryone hate their job?
Shouldn't I just suck it up?
And it's like gosh, gosh, likeI know people think that, but it
(08:08):
doesn't have to be that way.
But I hear that so often andthat you know we want to, and
maybe it's the women in us andjust how we were raised by
society, but the fact that weput ourselves second or last and
we think that it's a selfishmove to want to pivot careers so
that yeah, look at you.
Cheryl Fischer (08:26):
If you're listening to this right now, I
have to explain.
I've been sitting here with mymouth hanging open.
That is not what I thought youwere going to say at all and I'm
fascinated and I'll tell you ina minute what I thought you
were going to say but truly I'mfascinated.
So the idea that they wouldeven want to think about, strive
(08:47):
for, take action on somethingthey feel they shouldn't.
Shannon Russell (08:52):
Yes, and a lot of times the second part to that
is that they feel like they'regoing to cause chaos in their
family by trying to make thatchange.
So I have a lot ofconversations with women about
how can I make this changetowards what I want to do, but
in a way that is strategic anddoesn't wreak havoc.
And honestly, it's possible.
And there might be some peopleout there that say, well, just
(09:12):
put the date on the calendar andsay I quit and figure it out.
I'm not that person.
I say I know you have otherpeople who are depending on you
and you have to take care ofyourself and others.
So let's do it in a reallystrategic way so that you feel
comfortable, because when youfeel comfortable with your
change, you feel confident andthat's going to lead you to
success on the other side.
But I think it's that firstnotion that who am I to think
(09:35):
about doing it?
And then so often women say,well, I'll wait until the kids
are out of the house, or I'llwait until retirement and I'll
wait, wait, wait for thatperfect time that never comes.
And that's where I just get myrage and I want to shake and say
no, this is your moment.
If you're thinking about it, doit now.
Don't have a regret 10 or 20plus years down the road.
Cheryl Fischer (09:57):
Yeah, and if I may just stick on that point for
a second again, if you'relistening and you've heard other
episodes of this podcast, do itnow is something that I say all
the time and almost every guest, no matter what we're talking
about, says do it now, start itnow.
Whether it's, you know,hydrating or being healthy or
(10:19):
changing careers or thinkingabout something differently.
Just start now.
Right that, like it's alwaysbetter to start now.
Yes, I was just going to saythere's a quote, and I don't
know whose quote this is, butit's something like the best
time to start was a year ago.
The second best time is now.
That gives me chills.
I love that.
Yeah, so I'll tell you what Ithought you were going to say.
(10:42):
I thought you were going to saythat the top concern that women
mention to you is sort of afear of the unknown, a fear of
how will they get hired or havesuccess in the new thing, and
I'm sure that's there.
But I'm totally fascinated bythe other direction that that
many of them are going.
Shannon Russell (11:03):
Yeah, and and it definitely is both Absolutely
.
But I think the one that upsetsme the most is what I said, you
know, of just feeling like I'mjust not worthy enough to build
myself a better life.
But the fear of the unknown isthere for you, it's for me, it's
for all of us, and anytime wetry something new, that's always
(11:24):
going to be there.
But again, by starting now, youcan get past that first hurdle
of the unknown and then you canrest your shoulders and breathe
right and know that you're onthe right path.
Cheryl Fischer (11:36):
Yeah, tell me more about what you were saying
about how it doesn't have to bea quit your job now and then
figure it out, sort of thing,and it can be more gradual.
Shannon Russell (11:45):
Right, because everyone's situation is
different.
So a lot of times women willcome to me and say I make X
amount.
I'm really worried aboutleaving that, starting a
business where I might not makemoney for a year or so.
How do we get from point A topoint B?
And so we start small.
We really dig into the stuff.
That's not fun.
The money how much do you needto bring into your family?
(12:09):
And what does your savings looklike?
Do you have a nest egg readyfor this venture?
And then we look at okay, well,maybe you're not going to leave
your job and officially gofull-time into that business for
six months, maybe it's a year,but to be realistic sets you up
for success.
And then what doesn't?
(12:29):
I know sometimes women get alittle like upset that it's not
now right, that it's later, andthey're putting off that
inevitable.
But we can do so much to buildthat business in this time.
So while you're earning thatpaycheck you can set up the LLC,
you can do your market research, you can figure out if you know
all the pieces of building thatbusiness the logo, the website,
(12:50):
all of that while you'reworking.
So when you're ready to go andyou have that money saved, you
can just go.
And same thing if you'relooking to pivot to a new career
and look for a new job, you canupdate your resume, linkedin,
do your networking, all of thatwhile you're earning the
paycheck.
So there's ways to kind ofbuild that roadmap to get you
there in a way that feelscomfortable, leads to that
(13:11):
confidence.
And when you're confident aboutthat, it's going to be
portrayed to your family andyour loved ones, who may be a
little hesitant, but you can sayI have this plan, this is my
timeline and I'm going to getthere.
It just might not be tomorrow.
Cheryl Fischer (13:26):
Yes, and there could be some bumpiness along
the road, I'm sure.
And so when you kind of talkthrough this gradual plan, do
you get a lot of concern backfrom people about, well, how do
I have time for that?
I already don't have time forwhat I'm doing.
Shannon Russell (13:43):
Yes, yeah, so I like to, when I'm working with
a client, have that.
You know.
We decided six months.
It's three months, whateverthat timeline is, and then that
list of everything that needs togo into building that business
or finding that next job.
And then we reverse engineerthe timeline and really kind of
make it a practical list ofeverything that can happen each
(14:04):
month, broken down by weeks ordays and then based on your
personal schedule.
It might be working on thatresume or that business plan
over your coffee in the morninginstead of doom scrolling on
your phone, or over your lunch,or when the kids go to sleep or
when you're folding laundry.
A lot of my great ideas, mygreat ideas.
But my ideas come from drivingin the car, when I'm driving the
(14:27):
kids here and there.
So I keep a notebook and I joteverything down when I'm at a
red light and it can still beproductive in those little
pockets in your day.
It's just being disciplined andhaving that plan.
Cheryl Fischer (14:40):
You know what?
Such a great point.
I have often in life been doingmultiple things at a time where
I was working on something elseduring my lunch hour or early
in the morning, and I think Ijust have a personality where I
like to have, I like to have afew different things going at
once.
You know, I'm happy that wayand I do think there's more time
(15:02):
than we realize.
But it's interesting the ideasin the car thing because if, if
you really sit and think aboutit a lot of times, we get our
ideas when we're doing somewhat's the word I'm looking for
like repetitive activity that wejust let our subconscious brain
run and then the rest of ourbrain is kind of working out
(15:26):
problems and stuff.
So it could be in the shower,in the car, doing the dishes,
folding the laundry, and thoseare usually I agree with you,
fully powerful ideas.
So I have often voice textedmyself in the car.
Shannon Russell (15:42):
I figured out how to do that, and without, in
a safe way.
Cheryl Fischer (15:45):
So yes, don't pick up your phone please when
you're driving.
That's not what we're saying.
So, yes, don't pick up yourphone please when you're driving
.
That's not what we're saying.
But writing it on a pad at ared light works too.
But yes, I figured out how totell the car to text me and then
I'll just talk and then later Ihave to kind of figure out what
in the world that text was.
Shannon Russell (16:01):
But yeah, but that's great, especially if you
listen to podcasts like this one.
Right, like you're listening,you're getting inspired and then
you want to get that idea out,because at our age I feel like
the ideas go if we don't writethem down?
Cheryl Fischer (16:16):
Yes, yes, they do.
It is good to write things down.
So I was gonna ask you well,somebody is thinking about a
career change.
How do they start?
And I think you've kind ofgiven a good answer to that that
that timeline is a good idea.
What else would you advisesomeone to do if they're kind of
just tossing the idea around?
Shannon Russell (16:37):
It's doing that research.
I think learning before you leapthat research is so key because
a lot of times you can have allthese ideas right, especially
if you're creatives like us.
You have ideas and they allsound great, and especially if
you're feeling stuck and unhappy.
So then anything seems great.
It's shiny object syndrome,right.
You want to jump for that nextopportunity because it's better
(16:59):
than where you are now.
But if you do your research andyou say, okay, what would my
day-to-day look like in thatrole or running that business,
and then you actually learn alittle bit more, you might say,
oh, that's not for me, let mecross that off my list and go on
to the next thing.
So I think using those littlepockets in your day to do that
research will help you narrowdown to exactly what you're
(17:21):
looking for and then contrastingthat with your skills and your
experience and really what youcan bring to the table will help
you be able to take those stepsin the right direction.
So you're not jumping tosomething and finding yourself
equally miserable in a new role.
Cheryl Fischer (17:37):
Right, because any job or business is going to
have parts of it that we mightnot love, right, it's work, it's
not fun, but I like that yousaid figure out what your day
might look like, because onething that really helped me when
I was making a switch and thiswas a long time ago from a
corporate job to teaching wasthinking about well, which parts
(18:00):
of my day do I actually like,what are the things that I have
to do that I actually like?
And that led me to training,teaching, explaining, and I
eventually figured out okay,well, maybe this is the
direction I want to go.
So, yes, very good point.
Shannon Russell (18:19):
Or, even more importantly, to what you don't
want to do anymore.
Maybe it's something thatyou're really good at, but you
just don't want to do that inyour second act and I always say
you can be a little picky atthis point when you're really
looking to venture intosomething else you want to make
sure that you're doing whatfills you up like you were
saying what you enjoy and thatit aligns also with your.
(18:41):
I call them non-negotiables.
When I left television, I knewI wanted to be present for my
kids, so I needed to find abusiness that would allow me the
flexibility to be a classparent, to pick up at the end of
the school day, and so thoseare my non-negotiables.
I'm not starting a businesswhere I'm working 24 seven.
You know out somewhere.
(19:01):
Yes, as a business owner, youwork 24 seven, but you can make
it flexible for what you need.
So, yeah, just like reallynarrowing down to what you're
looking for and what's going tofill you up in this next act.
Cheryl Fischer (19:15):
Let's go back to your story for a second.
So how did you land on afranchise, and particularly one
that is related to STEM andworking with kids and education.
Shannon Russell (19:26):
Yeah, I love the story.
It was really me floundering.
I had said I'm not going backto television.
My show had gotten canceled, sothat was my sign from the
universe to not pick up thephone and get my next job.
I was going to figure it outand I was doing all the things
that were not working.
I was going for a master'sdegree for something I didn't
want.
(19:47):
I was taking a nine to five jobthat was toxic, I didn't like
and I was at home with my kidsmy newborn and my three-year-old
and my three-year-old wasbuilding with Legos, like the
Duplo Legos, and he was in thezone and I could actually walk
away and make dinner because hewas very attached, especially
with the newborn and I said, wow, like there's something to this
(20:07):
, and I started thinking aboutyou know STEM and thinking like
an engineer and teaching kids tobe creative through building,
and so I was researching openingmy own business because I knew
I could bring the kids with me.
And then I found a franchisethat was already existed and had
everything I was looking tobuild and it was, for a first
time business owner.
It was a no brainer to justinvest in that franchise and see
(20:30):
what I could do.
Cheryl Fischer (20:32):
That's really fascinating and, to be honest
with you, I didn't know such abusiness existed.
I have a good friend who has atutoring franchise and that's
what I imagined, but this is alittle bit different.
Take on that, so veryinteresting.
Shannon Russell (20:45):
But it's flexible.
You can see how that would beflexible for a new mom who
needed, you know, that kind of ayeah, it's really looking at
your needs again and what youwant and I felt like I was
giving back.
I felt like in theentertainment industry for me it
was a rather selfish notselfish, but you know, very
altruistic kind of world and Iwas like you know what I want to
(21:07):
give back.
I want to help other familiesand children and my little boys,
and so that felt good to go inthat direction.
Cheryl Fischer (21:14):
Okay so let's see what we have so far Thinking
about felt good to to go inthat direction.
Okay so let's see what we haveso far thinking about the parts
that we like in what we're doingnow and the parts that we don't
like in what we're doing now,what kind of schedule we might
want, what I guess is the goalin terms of income, maybe kind
of a timeline for that, and isthere anything else that you
(21:35):
would add for people thinkingthis through?
Shannon Russell (21:37):
I think, really examining your skills and your
past experience.
So what do you do every day?
Write a list, as old fashionedas it sounds.
Write a list of pen and paperwhat you do every day and what
you've done in past careers, Ifyou worked in retail, if you
were a waitress or waiter.
Write all of those down so thatyou have all of that.
(21:58):
And then think about youroptions of what you'd like to
move into and pull that threadfrom your experience to the
business or the role and seewhat really aligns, because we
can do so much more than we giveourselves credit for.
And when you look at that skillslist you might say, well, and a
lot of people say well,everyone can do this.
But no, you're just so close toit that it feels that way to
(22:22):
you.
But when you really examine ityou can say, wow, I have a lot
to bring to this other role or alot to bring to this business.
And then you kind of createthat little story for yourself
of this is Cheryl, from act oneto act two, and what that story
looks like and why you aremaking that pivot and how it
aligns.
Or for me it was second actsuccess, and that plays on
(22:46):
entertainment and television andit kind of all goes through of
me producing a show and nowproducing and growing a business
and helping others do the same.
It's my career story, if youwill, and and I feel like you
can't get to that unless youreally examine your skills and
your past experience andappreciate those- yeah, I agree
with that.
Cheryl Fischer (23:05):
That makes a lot of sense to me, and your book
is out now, so tell us aboutthat.
Shannon Russell (23:12):
Thank you for asking.
Yes, it's called Start yourSecond Act how to Change Careers
, launch a Business and Createyour Best Life.
So it's everything I teachreally as a coach.
It's my strategies and it's mystory of career transition and
those of my clients andcelebrities who have changed
careers.
And just I wanted to give lotsof examples of people who have
(23:32):
started a second act and thengive all of my tools and
strategies on how you can startto do it too.
So I'm hoping it'll become thattool or resource that people
can grab and really dive in andbe messy and write notes and
really get their ideas down ontopaper as they read.
Cheryl Fischer (23:48):
I love it and I'll make sure to put the link
in the show notes for the book.
For sure, is there any storythat really sticks out to you
that maybe somebody listeningwould enjoy?
Shannon Russell (23:58):
Yeah, I was actually thinking of this
earlier when we were speakingabout something else is there is
a client and a woman, who wasalso on my podcast, who was
commuting to Manhattan and itwas about a two-hour each way
commute on the train.
But she knew she didn't wantthat anymore and she wanted to
open her own actually alactation consultant business.
She had two little ones and shegot really intrigued on how to
(24:21):
help families feed their babiesand so she decided to use that
time on the train to get hercertification.
So she studied, she got hercertification and she built her
business during her commute.
And I always get excited talkingabout that story because I
think it shows that it'spossible right To really look at
(24:41):
your day and that time that youhave and use it to good use
rather than scroll or do stuffthat isn't going to get you to
your goal.
And that's just, I think, areally inspiring story.
And she did it.
She left her job in the cityand she's got her own business
and she feels so fulfilledhelping others too.
So props to her.
Cheryl Fischer (25:02):
Amazing and it's so cool to think about the fact
that we can even do somethinglike that now that 20 years ago
wasn't even possible.
It wouldn't have been possibleto do courses on a train for two
hours.
Shannon Russell (25:14):
Yeah, exactly, but that's dedication right,
like that really took her to bevery dedicated and work towards
it and not just quit and figureit out.
She really did it while sheearned her paycheck, so it can
be done.
Cheryl Fischer (25:28):
I love that story.
So if this is inspiring someoneto say, okay, maybe that idea
in the back of my mind is reallysomething I should actually
look at further.
How can people find you or getin touch with you?
Shannon Russell (25:42):
Yeah, you can go to startyoursecondactcom.
That has a link to my book andfree resources.
I have a free second actjournal where you can start
getting your ideas and get themdown onto paper with different
prompts.
And yeah, all my coachingopportunities and other free
resources are all atstartyoursecondactcom.
Cheryl Fischer (26:01):
Perfect, thank, you, and let's finish with this.
If there's one thing thatsomebody listening should
remember from this conversation,I like to call it the OMG
moment.
What do you say?
That that is?
Shannon Russell (26:14):
I think it's give yourself grace, understand
that making a leap in anydirection is not going to happen
overnight, but acknowledge thatyou're allowed to daydream
about it and then put in thework to research it and just
take small baby steps to getthere.
And the worst comes to worst.
You get to the other side andyou realize it's not for you and
(26:35):
you go back to the person youare now and you'll never have a
regret of trying it.
You know that's.
What we're trying to accomplishis living a life with no
regrets and doing all of theadventures you know, trying all
of the things to make you feellike a fulfilled, happy person
at the end of the day.
Cheryl Fischer (26:53):
I love it.
Excellent.
And yes, worse comes to worse.
You go back to what you weredoing before no loss, amazing,
yeah, okay, well, shannon, thankyou so much for joining me.
This was really fascinating.
Shannon Russell (27:04):
Oh, thank you so much, Cheryl.
Cheryl Fischer (27:05):
I feel like we could talk all day I wish you
could have been sitting with uswhen Shannon gave me the answer
to what the top concern she seeswomen have about changing
careers was.
I truly, for two minutes, wassitting staring at her with my
(27:26):
mouth hanging open.
I just want to say, if you arein a situation where you have a
dream, or maybe that seems evenbigger than what you have you
have an inkling of somethingthat you want in your life
career or otherwise doesn't haveto be about career and you're
(27:49):
telling yourself that you don'tdeserve to make the change, to
go and try and do that, to makethe change, to go and try and do
that.
That is where coaching can helpyou, because you do deserve to
go for what you want.
Period.
Now.
Is it going to take you awayfrom your family?
(28:09):
Is it going to interfere withsome major key piece of your
life?
Well then, maybe differentdecisions need to be made.
I'm not saying that, but do youdeserve to have the job or the
business or the living situationor the activities that are
really most meaningful to you?
We all deserve that.
(28:30):
We all do.
You would never want your kidsto make a decision and say, well
, I don't deserve to do what Ireally want, right.
So why do we do it to ourselves?
So I just my mind is blown and Iwant to say come hang out with
me in the Patreon community Ifyou are feeling like there's any
(28:51):
chance that you need supportwith this and you've heard me
talk about it for a little whilenow it's totally free all
summer.
As a special for you, we have amonthly coaching call, extra
interviews and conversationsfrom podcast guests as well as
from me.
I think you'll love it andmaybe it will just be that
(29:13):
little bit of extra support thatyou need.
So I'll see you there.
The link is in the show notesand make sure you've hit the
follow button, because next weekwe are going to circle back to
one of the top topics of alltime, and that is money mindset
(29:33):
Actually allowing ourselves tobelieve that it's okay to make a
significant amount of money andto go for that, and to just
understand all the differentpieces behind our crazy,
sometimes relationship withmoney.
So I'll see you there and inthe meantime, oh my goodness,
(29:56):
let's keep creating confidenceand success, one thought at a
time.
One of the things that's been a theme
throughout my professional lifehas been around the seven, eight
year mark.
I start getting a littlerestless and I start thinking is
this really what I want to keepdoing?
And I always have wondered andyou can hit the link in the show
(00:21):
notes and send me a message andtell me I always have wondered
if that's common and most peoplefeel that way after a period of
time in a certain job orbusiness, or if it's mostly me
just always liking change.
Either way, in midlife we seemto even more often hit a point
(00:42):
where we're kind of mayberethinking what we want to do
with our job or with ourbusiness.
And so if that's you, let'stalk about it.
Welcome to Mind your Midlife,your go-to resource for
confidence and success.
One thought at a time, unlikemost advice out there, we
(01:03):
believe that simply telling youto believe in yourself or change
your habits isn't enough towake up excited about life or
feel truly confident in yourbody.
Each week you'll gainactionable strategies and oh my
goodness, powerful insights tostop feeling stuck and start
loving your midlife.
This is the Mind your Midlifepodcast.
(01:25):
You may or may not have heardmy story.
I have changed careers a numberof times, and the first major
change, after two jobs that weresort of similar to each other,
was from a corporate job toteaching high school, and that
(01:51):
came about because I had youngkids and I really wanted to be
able to spend at least summerswith them, have a bit more
flexibility, and my job at thetime didn't offer that.
And so I really thought throughwhat in the world, how could I
achieve that?
Because I did need to work andat the same time I wanted this
(02:13):
time flexibility and I wantedsomething that would seem
valuable to me.
I didn't want to just be awaypushing papers around and then
feeling bad that I was away frommy kids for no reason, just air
quotes.
So I realized that in mycorporate job one of my favorite
(02:34):
parts was doing the training ofmy team team members, that I
was managing and helping peopleand explaining things, and I
kind of extrapolated that fromthere.
Now the funny part of this is,when I decided what I was going
to study in college, Ipurposefully picked something
that was a little different thanwhat someone might have
expected, because I said I neverwant to be a teacher.
(02:56):
And then I don't know how manyyears later, maybe 10 or 12,
there I went into 12 years ofteaching that I did enjoy.
So we never know, we can'tpredict the future.
Now, at midlife, I made anotherfairly significant switch, and
here I am with you as well, andso I wanted to bring to join me
(03:19):
today Shannon Russell.
Shannon is a career transitionand business coach, and she
helps women leave unfulfillingcareers and build joyful,
purpose-driven businesses, andyou're going to hear us talk
about this, but she also is theauthor of Start your Second Act
how to Change Careers, launch aBusiness and Create your Best
(03:41):
Life.
So I think we're really goingto have fun with this
conversation.
Shannon spent over 16 years asa TV producer in New York City
and Los Angeles, working forthings you might have heard of,
like MTV, yahoo, popsugar, a&e,tlc.
So here we go.
Hi, shannon.
Shannon Russell (04:01):
Hi, cheryl, thanks for having me.
I'm so excited.
Cheryl Fischer (04:04):
So here's what we want to start with, and
especially for our conversationabout making a career switch.
I think it's really powerful toknow more about your story.
So how did you end up workingwith women who want to make a
career switch?
Shannon Russell (04:22):
Yeah.
So I myself made a careerswitch.
So I left my career as atelevision producer and after 16
years and I was trying tofigure out what exactly I could
do with those skills and thatexperience, and I actually ended
up opening my franchisebusiness to start.
That was my first venture intobusiness and I taught children's
STEM education so robotics andLegos and was able to bring my
(04:45):
two little boys along with me.
But the idea for my coachingbusiness started because
customers in that franchisebusiness would ask me what grade
I taught, because they thoughtI was a great teacher.
And I would say, well, actuallyI'm a television producer and it
would spark these conversationsand they would say, well, can
you help me?
I'm not really happy with whereI am in my career.
(05:06):
Can you help me figure out howto launch a business or change
careers?
And so I would help certaincustomers and friends of mine.
And then I realized a lot ofwomen, especially in midlife,
were feeling the same kind ofmisalignment and that I didn't
want them to have to go throughit alone like I did.
So I launched my coachingbusiness to help other women.
Cheryl Fischer (05:27):
I love that and when we first met, I thought it
was cool how our stories have somany similarities, because I've
switched careers a couple oftimes and I've gone in and out
of education and maybe coachingis sort of the thing that
teachers are going to be reallygood at as well.
Maybe that's what the thingthat teachers are going to be
really good at as well, maybethat's what the thing is there.
But yeah, it does.
(05:48):
It takes guts to make a changelike that.
So this occurred to me when Iwas thinking about talking to
you.
Do you think that because itseems so often that in midlife
women are thinking about achange?
Do you think that it's becausemaybe we didn't choose exactly
the thing we love the first time?
(06:09):
Or is it more often that justwe've changed and so now it's
time for something new?
How do you, how do you see thatI?
Shannon Russell (06:16):
see it as that we've changed that.
You know, when we were 20 yearsold choosing our career path,
we were in a completelydifferent place, and if you are
someone who is a mom or iscaring for parents or has other
personal responsibilities, thejob that you loved when you were
25 doesn't align when you're 35, 45 and beyond.
(06:38):
So I often think it's thatwe've changed and we can love
what we do or we cannot enjoy it, but it just doesn't really fit
, maybe the flexibility that weneed at this stage in our life.
Cheryl Fischer (06:52):
Yeah, I think that's fair because it feels
like there's a lot of movingpieces all moving at the same
time.
Shannon Russell (07:00):
Yeah, Different priorities, exactly, and
sometimes you just need thatflexibility or that freedom, and
if you're working a job, like Iwas, which was lots of long
hours, a commute, travel, itjust didn't allow me to be home
for bedtime and to be around forthe kids the way I wanted to.
So something had to give, and Ithink there's a lot of jobs
(07:20):
like that out there that make itreally difficult for working
parents.
Cheryl Fischer (07:24):
Yeah, I agree with that.
They sound amazing and cool,but they're not always amazing
and cool in practice.
Shannon Russell (07:30):
Yes, exactly, exactly.
Cheryl Fischer (07:32):
Well, what do you find is one or a few of the
biggest concerns or the concernsyou hear the most that women
have about making a switchconcerns or the concerns you
hear the most that women haveabout making a switch.
Shannon Russell (07:47):
Honestly, the number one thing, Cheryl, is
well, who am I to want to makethis change Like?
It's oftentimes that women feellike it's a selfish choice and
that they think, well, doesn'tI've had a couple of women say
this to me well, doesn'teveryone hate their job?
Shouldn't I just suck it up?
And it's like gosh, gosh, likeI know people think that, but it
(08:08):
doesn't have to be that way.
But I hear that so often andthat you know we want to, and
maybe it's the women in us andjust how we were raised by
society, but the fact that weput ourselves second or last and
we think that it's a selfishmove to want to pivot careers so
that yeah, look at you.
Cheryl Fischer (08:26):
If you're listening to this right now, I
have to explain.
I've been sitting here with mymouth hanging open.
That is not what I thought youwere going to say at all and I'm
fascinated and I'll tell you ina minute what I thought you
were going to say but truly I'mfascinated.
So the idea that they wouldeven want to think about, strive
(08:47):
for, take action on somethingthey feel they shouldn't.
Shannon Russell (08:52):
Yes, and a lot of times the second part to that
is that they feel like they'regoing to cause chaos in their
family by trying to make thatchange.
So I have a lot ofconversations with women about
how can I make this changetowards what I want to do, but
in a way that is strategic anddoesn't wreak havoc.
And honestly, it's possible.
And there might be some peopleout there that say, well, just
(09:12):
put the date on the calendar andsay I quit and figure it out.
I'm not that person.
I say I know you have otherpeople who are depending on you
and you have to take care ofyourself and others.
So let's do it in a reallystrategic way so that you feel
comfortable, because when youfeel comfortable with your
change, you feel confident andthat's going to lead you to
success on the other side.
But I think it's that firstnotion that who am I to think
(09:35):
about doing it?
And then so often women say,well, I'll wait until the kids
are out of the house, or I'llwait until retirement and I'll
wait, wait, wait for thatperfect time that never comes.
And that's where I just get myrage and I want to shake and say
no, this is your moment.
If you're thinking about it, doit now.
Don't have a regret 10 or 20plus years down the road.
Cheryl Fischer (09:57):
Yeah, and if I may just stick on that point for
a second again, if you'relistening and you've heard other
episodes of this podcast, do itnow is something that I say all
the time and almost every guest, no matter what we're talking
about, says do it now, start itnow.
Whether it's, you know,hydrating or being healthy or
(10:19):
changing careers or thinkingabout something differently.
Just start now.
Right that, like it's alwaysbetter to start now.
Yes, I was just going to saythere's a quote, and I don't
know whose quote this is, butit's something like the best
time to start was a year ago.
The second best time is now.
That gives me chills.
I love that.
Yeah, so I'll tell you what Ithought you were going to say.
(10:42):
I thought you were going to saythat the top concern that women
mention to you is sort of afear of the unknown, a fear of
how will they get hired or havesuccess in the new thing, and
I'm sure that's there.
But I'm totally fascinated bythe other direction that that
many of them are going.
Shannon Russell (11:03):
Yeah, and and it definitely is both Absolutely
.
But I think the one that upsetsme the most is what I said, you
know, of just feeling like I'mjust not worthy enough to build
myself a better life.
But the fear of the unknown isthere for you, it's for me, it's
for all of us, and anytime wetry something new, that's always
(11:24):
going to be there.
But again, by starting now, youcan get past that first hurdle
of the unknown and then you canrest your shoulders and breathe
right and know that you're onthe right path.
Cheryl Fischer (11:36):
Yeah, tell me more about what you were saying
about how it doesn't have to bea quit your job now and then
figure it out, sort of thing,and it can be more gradual.
Shannon Russell (11:45):
Right, because everyone's situation is
different.
So a lot of times women willcome to me and say I make X
amount.
I'm really worried aboutleaving that, starting a
business where I might not makemoney for a year or so.
How do we get from point A topoint B?
And so we start small.
We really dig into the stuff.
That's not fun.
The money how much do you needto bring into your family?
(12:09):
And what does your savings looklike?
Do you have a nest egg readyfor this venture?
And then we look at okay, well,maybe you're not going to leave
your job and officially gofull-time into that business for
six months, maybe it's a year,but to be realistic sets you up
for success.
And then what doesn't?
(12:29):
I know sometimes women get alittle like upset that it's not
now right, that it's later, andthey're putting off that
inevitable.
But we can do so much to buildthat business in this time.
So while you're earning thatpaycheck you can set up the LLC,
you can do your market research, you can figure out if you know
all the pieces of building thatbusiness the logo, the website,
(12:50):
all of that while you'reworking.
So when you're ready to go andyou have that money saved, you
can just go.
And same thing if you'relooking to pivot to a new career
and look for a new job, you canupdate your resume, linkedin,
do your networking, all of thatwhile you're earning the
paycheck.
So there's ways to kind ofbuild that roadmap to get you
there in a way that feelscomfortable, leads to that
(13:11):
confidence.
And when you're confident aboutthat, it's going to be
portrayed to your family andyour loved ones, who may be a
little hesitant, but you can sayI have this plan, this is my
timeline and I'm going to getthere.
It just might not be tomorrow.
Cheryl Fischer (13:26):
Yes, and there could be some bumpiness along
the road, I'm sure.
And so when you kind of talkthrough this gradual plan, do
you get a lot of concern backfrom people about, well, how do
I have time for that?
I already don't have time forwhat I'm doing.
Shannon Russell (13:43):
Yes, yeah, so I like to, when I'm working with
a client, have that.
You know.
We decided six months.
It's three months, whateverthat timeline is, and then that
list of everything that needs togo into building that business
or finding that next job.
And then we reverse engineerthe timeline and really kind of
make it a practical list ofeverything that can happen each
(14:04):
month, broken down by weeks ordays and then based on your
personal schedule.
It might be working on thatresume or that business plan
over your coffee in the morninginstead of doom scrolling on
your phone, or over your lunch,or when the kids go to sleep or
when you're folding laundry.
A lot of my great ideas, mygreat ideas.
But my ideas come from drivingin the car, when I'm driving the
(14:27):
kids here and there.
So I keep a notebook and I joteverything down when I'm at a
red light and it can still beproductive in those little
pockets in your day.
It's just being disciplined andhaving that plan.
Cheryl Fischer (14:40):
You know what?
Such a great point.
I have often in life been doingmultiple things at a time where
I was working on something elseduring my lunch hour or early
in the morning, and I think Ijust have a personality where I
like to have, I like to have afew different things going at
once.
You know, I'm happy that wayand I do think there's more time
(15:02):
than we realize.
But it's interesting the ideasin the car thing because if, if
you really sit and think aboutit a lot of times, we get our
ideas when we're doing somewhat's the word I'm looking for
like repetitive activity that wejust let our subconscious brain
run and then the rest of ourbrain is kind of working out
(15:26):
problems and stuff.
So it could be in the shower,in the car, doing the dishes,
folding the laundry, and thoseare usually I agree with you,
fully powerful ideas.
So I have often voice textedmyself in the car.
Shannon Russell (15:42):
I figured out how to do that, and without, in
a safe way.
Cheryl Fischer (15:45):
So yes, don't pick up your phone please when
you're driving.
That's not what we're saying.
So, yes, don't pick up yourphone please when you're driving
.
That's not what we're saying.
But writing it on a pad at ared light works too.
But yes, I figured out how totell the car to text me and then
I'll just talk and then later Ihave to kind of figure out what
in the world that text was.
Shannon Russell (16:01):
But yeah, but that's great, especially if you
listen to podcasts like this one.
Right, like you're listening,you're getting inspired and then
you want to get that idea out,because at our age I feel like
the ideas go if we don't writethem down?
Cheryl Fischer (16:16):
Yes, yes, they do.
It is good to write things down.
So I was gonna ask you well,somebody is thinking about a
career change.
How do they start?
And I think you've kind ofgiven a good answer to that that
that timeline is a good idea.
What else would you advisesomeone to do if they're kind of
just tossing the idea around?
Shannon Russell (16:37):
It's doing that research.
I think learning before you leapthat research is so key because
a lot of times you can have allthese ideas right, especially
if you're creatives like us.
You have ideas and they allsound great, and especially if
you're feeling stuck and unhappy.
So then anything seems great.
It's shiny object syndrome,right.
You want to jump for that nextopportunity because it's better
(16:59):
than where you are now.
But if you do your research andyou say, okay, what would my
day-to-day look like in thatrole or running that business,
and then you actually learn alittle bit more, you might say,
oh, that's not for me, let mecross that off my list and go on
to the next thing.
So I think using those littlepockets in your day to do that
research will help you narrowdown to exactly what you're
(17:21):
looking for and then contrastingthat with your skills and your
experience and really what youcan bring to the table will help
you be able to take those stepsin the right direction.
So you're not jumping tosomething and finding yourself
equally miserable in a new role.
Cheryl Fischer (17:37):
Right, because any job or business is going to
have parts of it that we mightnot love, right, it's work, it's
not fun, but I like that yousaid figure out what your day
might look like, because onething that really helped me when
I was making a switch and thiswas a long time ago from a
corporate job to teaching wasthinking about well, which parts
(18:00):
of my day do I actually like,what are the things that I have
to do that I actually like?
And that led me to training,teaching, explaining, and I
eventually figured out okay,well, maybe this is the
direction I want to go.
So, yes, very good point.
Shannon Russell (18:19):
Or, even more importantly, to what you don't
want to do anymore.
Maybe it's something thatyou're really good at, but you
just don't want to do that inyour second act and I always say
you can be a little picky atthis point when you're really
looking to venture intosomething else you want to make
sure that you're doing whatfills you up like you were
saying what you enjoy and thatit aligns also with your.
(18:41):
I call them non-negotiables.
When I left television, I knewI wanted to be present for my
kids, so I needed to find abusiness that would allow me the
flexibility to be a classparent, to pick up at the end of
the school day, and so thoseare my non-negotiables.
I'm not starting a businesswhere I'm working 24 seven.
You know out somewhere.
(19:01):
Yes, as a business owner, youwork 24 seven, but you can make
it flexible for what you need.
So, yeah, just like reallynarrowing down to what you're
looking for and what's going tofill you up in this next act.
Cheryl Fischer (19:15):
Let's go back to your story for a second.
So how did you land on afranchise, and particularly one
that is related to STEM andworking with kids and education.
Shannon Russell (19:26):
Yeah, I love the story.
It was really me floundering.
I had said I'm not going backto television.
My show had gotten canceled, sothat was my sign from the
universe to not pick up thephone and get my next job.
I was going to figure it outand I was doing all the things
that were not working.
I was going for a master'sdegree for something I didn't
want.
(19:47):
I was taking a nine to five jobthat was toxic, I didn't like
and I was at home with my kidsmy newborn and my three-year-old
and my three-year-old wasbuilding with Legos, like the
Duplo Legos, and he was in thezone and I could actually walk
away and make dinner because hewas very attached, especially
with the newborn and I said, wow, like there's something to this
(20:07):
, and I started thinking aboutyou know STEM and thinking like
an engineer and teaching kids tobe creative through building,
and so I was researching openingmy own business because I knew
I could bring the kids with me.
And then I found a franchisethat was already existed and had
everything I was looking tobuild and it was, for a first
time business owner.
It was a no brainer to justinvest in that franchise and see
(20:30):
what I could do.
Cheryl Fischer (20:32):
That's really fascinating and, to be honest
with you, I didn't know such abusiness existed.
I have a good friend who has atutoring franchise and that's
what I imagined, but this is alittle bit different.
Take on that, so veryinteresting.
Shannon Russell (20:45):
But it's flexible.
You can see how that would beflexible for a new mom who
needed, you know, that kind of ayeah, it's really looking at
your needs again and what youwant and I felt like I was
giving back.
I felt like in theentertainment industry for me it
was a rather selfish notselfish, but you know, very
altruistic kind of world and Iwas like you know what I want to
(21:07):
give back.
I want to help other familiesand children and my little boys,
and so that felt good to go inthat direction.
Cheryl Fischer (21:14):
Okay so let's see what we have so far Thinking
about felt good to to go inthat direction.
Okay so let's see what we haveso far thinking about the parts
that we like in what we're doingnow and the parts that we don't
like in what we're doing now,what kind of schedule we might
want, what I guess is the goalin terms of income, maybe kind
of a timeline for that, and isthere anything else that you
(21:35):
would add for people thinkingthis through?
Shannon Russell (21:37):
I think, really examining your skills and your
past experience.
So what do you do every day?
Write a list, as old fashionedas it sounds.
Write a list of pen and paperwhat you do every day and what
you've done in past careers, Ifyou worked in retail, if you
were a waitress or waiter.
Write all of those down so thatyou have all of that.
(21:58):
And then think about youroptions of what you'd like to
move into and pull that threadfrom your experience to the
business or the role and seewhat really aligns, because we
can do so much more than we giveourselves credit for.
And when you look at that skillslist you might say, well, and a
lot of people say well,everyone can do this.
But no, you're just so close toit that it feels that way to
(22:22):
you.
But when you really examine ityou can say, wow, I have a lot
to bring to this other role or alot to bring to this business.
And then you kind of createthat little story for yourself
of this is Cheryl, from act oneto act two, and what that story
looks like and why you aremaking that pivot and how it
aligns.
Or for me it was second actsuccess, and that plays on
(22:46):
entertainment and television andit kind of all goes through of
me producing a show and nowproducing and growing a business
and helping others do the same.
It's my career story, if youwill, and and I feel like you
can't get to that unless youreally examine your skills and
your past experience andappreciate those- yeah, I agree
with that.
Cheryl Fischer (23:05):
That makes a lot of sense to me, and your book
is out now, so tell us aboutthat.
Shannon Russell (23:12):
Thank you for asking.
Yes, it's called Start yourSecond Act how to Change Careers
, launch a Business and Createyour Best Life.
So it's everything I teachreally as a coach.
It's my strategies and it's mystory of career transition and
those of my clients andcelebrities who have changed
careers.
And just I wanted to give lotsof examples of people who have
(23:32):
started a second act and thengive all of my tools and
strategies on how you can startto do it too.
So I'm hoping it'll become thattool or resource that people
can grab and really dive in andbe messy and write notes and
really get their ideas down ontopaper as they read.
Cheryl Fischer (23:48):
I love it and I'll make sure to put the link
in the show notes for the book.
For sure, is there any storythat really sticks out to you
that maybe somebody listeningwould enjoy?
Shannon Russell (23:58):
Yeah, I was actually thinking of this
earlier when we were speakingabout something else is there is
a client and a woman, who wasalso on my podcast, who was
commuting to Manhattan and itwas about a two-hour each way
commute on the train.
But she knew she didn't wantthat anymore and she wanted to
open her own actually alactation consultant business.
She had two little ones and shegot really intrigued on how to
(24:21):
help families feed their babiesand so she decided to use that
time on the train to get hercertification.
So she studied, she got hercertification and she built her
business during her commute.
And I always get excited talkingabout that story because I
think it shows that it'spossible right To really look at
(24:41):
your day and that time that youhave and use it to good use
rather than scroll or do stuffthat isn't going to get you to
your goal.
And that's just, I think, areally inspiring story.
And she did it.
She left her job in the cityand she's got her own business
and she feels so fulfilledhelping others too.
So props to her.
Cheryl Fischer (25:02):
Amazing and it's so cool to think about the fact
that we can even do somethinglike that now that 20 years ago
wasn't even possible.
It wouldn't have been possibleto do courses on a train for two
hours.
Shannon Russell (25:14):
Yeah, exactly, but that's dedication right,
like that really took her to bevery dedicated and work towards
it and not just quit and figureit out.
She really did it while sheearned her paycheck, so it can
be done.
Cheryl Fischer (25:28):
I love that story.
So if this is inspiring someoneto say, okay, maybe that idea
in the back of my mind is reallysomething I should actually
look at further.
How can people find you or getin touch with you?
Shannon Russell (25:42):
Yeah, you can go to startyoursecondactcom.
That has a link to my book andfree resources.
I have a free second actjournal where you can start
getting your ideas and get themdown onto paper with different
prompts.
And yeah, all my coachingopportunities and other free
resources are all atstartyoursecondactcom.
Cheryl Fischer (26:01):
Perfect, thank, you, and let's finish with this.
If there's one thing thatsomebody listening should
remember from this conversation,I like to call it the OMG
moment.
What do you say?
That that is?
Shannon Russell (26:14):
I think it's give yourself grace, understand
that making a leap in anydirection is not going to happen
overnight, but acknowledge thatyou're allowed to daydream
about it and then put in thework to research it and just
take small baby steps to getthere.
And the worst comes to worst.
You get to the other side andyou realize it's not for you and
(26:35):
you go back to the person youare now and you'll never have a
regret of trying it.
You know that's.
What we're trying to accomplishis living a life with no
regrets and doing all of theadventures you know, trying all
of the things to make you feellike a fulfilled, happy person
at the end of the day.
Cheryl Fischer (26:53):
I love it.
Excellent.
And yes, worse comes to worse.
You go back to what you weredoing before no loss, amazing,
yeah, okay, well, shannon, thankyou so much for joining me.
This was really fascinating.
Shannon Russell (27:04):
Oh, thank you so much, Cheryl.
Cheryl Fischer (27:05):
I feel like we could talk all day I wish you
could have been sitting with uswhen Shannon gave me the answer
to what the top concern she seeswomen have about changing
careers was.
I truly, for two minutes, wassitting staring at her with my
(27:26):
mouth hanging open.
I just want to say, if you arein a situation where you have a
dream, or maybe that seems evenbigger than what you have you
have an inkling of somethingthat you want in your life
career or otherwise doesn't haveto be about career and you're
(27:49):
telling yourself that you don'tdeserve to make the change, to
go and try and do that, to makethe change, to go and try and do
that.
That is where coaching can helpyou, because you do deserve to
go for what you want.
Period.
Now.
Is it going to take you awayfrom your family?
(28:09):
Is it going to interfere withsome major key piece of your
life?
Well then, maybe differentdecisions need to be made.
I'm not saying that, but do youdeserve to have the job or the
business or the living situationor the activities that are
really most meaningful to you?
We all deserve that.
(28:30):
We all do.
You would never want your kidsto make a decision and say, well
, I don't deserve to do what Ireally want, right.
So why do we do it to ourselves?
So I just my mind is blown and Iwant to say come hang out with
me in the Patreon community Ifyou are feeling like there's any
(28:51):
chance that you need supportwith this and you've heard me
talk about it for a little whilenow it's totally free all
summer.
As a special for you, we have amonthly coaching call, extra
interviews and conversationsfrom podcast guests as well as
from me.
I think you'll love it andmaybe it will just be that
(29:13):
little bit of extra support thatyou need.
So I'll see you there.
The link is in the show notesand make sure you've hit the
follow button, because next weekwe are going to circle back to
one of the top topics of alltime, and that is money mindset
(29:33):
Actually allowing ourselves tobelieve that it's okay to make a
significant amount of money andto go for that, and to just
understand all the differentpieces behind our crazy,
sometimes relationship withmoney.
So I'll see you there and inthe meantime, oh my goodness,
(29:56):
let's keep creating confidenceand success, one thought at a
time.
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