From Barrister to Garden Designer

From Barrister to Garden Designer Success Story > From: Job To: Solopreneur From Barrister to Garden Designer “The Bar requires a long-term commitment of difficult hours and high levels of stress. I didn't feel sufficiently driven by it to make that commitment.” * From Barrister to Garden Designer Overworked in her career, Angela Newman quit to follow her passion for working in nature. Now, she's using her time to create beautiful outdoor spaces and feels more fulfilled than she ever dreamed she could. Here's how she made it happen. What was your role in your old job? I was a self-employed barrister at a set of Chambers in London specialising in public, property and planning law. What is your new role? I'm a self-employed garden designer. I design outside spaces and planting schemes, advise and project-manage. After graduating from KLC's Diploma in Garden design, I set up my own business. I've done freelance work for other designers, created a garden for the Chelsea Fringe and I'm currently working on several private projects, which are at various stages. Why did you change? The Bar requires a long-term commitment of difficult hours and high levels of stress. I didn't feel sufficiently driven by the law, legal process or financial return to make that commitment. I wanted to find a career with more personal satisfaction, creativity and which involved working with nature, and one that would be flexible, enjoyable and manageable with a family. What do you miss and what don't you miss? There's very little I miss; I have never regretted my decision to leave. Obviously the income was greater than I currently enjoy, but this has been manageable and the benefits far outweigh this aspect. How did you go about making the change? I left the Bar in 2009and then took a break before jumping straight into another career. I did voluntary work, work experience and various projects, just to allow myself the time and space to reach what I wanted to do. Once I had the idea of becoming a garden designer I did some research, went to an open day at KLC and my mind was made up. What was the most difficult thing about changing? The process of leaving the Barafter working so hard to get a place in Chambers, realising that it was not going to work for me in the long term was very hard. What help did you get? I had some help from a career coach, but predominantly I have received support from my family, particularly my husband. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I was lucky in that my husband and I were able to manage on his income alone. We hadn't overstretched ourselves financially in terms of a mortgage or lifestyle and this, combined with a fortuitous fall in mortgage interest rates around the time of my career change, made things easier. One of the reasons I decided to make a career change when I did was that I knew the more I relied on the increasing income I had at the Bar, the harder we would find the adjustment financially if I left. In addition, I was able to use some savings. What have you learnt in the process? Too much to write down! The main thing is that I was absolutely right to make the change. What do you wish you'd done differently? Gained more horticultural experience before training as a designer. Since starting out as a designer I have worked hard to build my knowledge of plants and their care as well as my design skills. I believe both are key to being a successful designer. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Do not be put off by what you perceive to be the stigma of 'giving up' what you are doing. I think this can be a common problem where people are in professional jobs that they don't like. My experience is that people very much respect and admire my decision to take a leap into the unknown. YoucanvisitAngela'sgardendesignsiteatwww.angelanewmangardens.comand find out more about KLC school of design atwww.klc.co.uk What lessons could you take from Angela's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

The High Cost of Unhappy Employees

The High Cost of Unhappy Employees Anyone who’s ever been disengaged at work knows the symptoms: unhappiness, lack of motivation, decrease in creativity and productivity, a high level of apathy, and feeling like “a cog in the machine”. It’s clear that low engagement can dramatically affect the health and happiness of an employee, but just how much does it actually affect the employer? Answer: a lot. According to a 2013 Gallup study, seven out of 10 workers in the US say they aren’t fully engaged at work, meaning they aren’t working to their fullest potential. The resulting loss of productivity is costing the US economy upwards of $450 billion each year, and has a huge impact on the overall bottom-line of companies. The following infographic created by workplace happiness app Good.Co breaks down some of the most startling employee engagement statistics available, proving that companies who fail to invest in employee engagement can â€" and will â€" lose their competitive edge. With statistics like these, employers simply can’t afford to turn a blind eye towards disengaged employees â€" rather, they need to take steps to actively raise engagement within their workforce. Infographic from Good.Co This infographic originally appeared on the Good.Co blog.

Healthy Holidays and How To Have Em

Healthy Holidays and How To Have ‘Em By, Michelle Pfeninnghaus Its like a scene from a movie: Snow gently falling, family and friends gather joyfully to sing songs and exchange good wishes. Theres good food, good fun, and Wait a minute. Lets pull back the curtain here. Often behind every holiday gathering theres someone totally stressed out trying to clean the house, dress the kids and prepare a meal. The phone rings, the dog barks, someone spills something. Guests arrive early, someone says something snippy after a long car ride, and things get tense between family members. Oh, and half of the party has a sniffle or a fever. Or, perhaps theres a lack of friends and family in our lives. Winter can be a lonely time that brings sadness and the false comfort of too much macaroni and cheese. The fact of the matter is, the winter months can be some of the most difficult times of the year. No Black Friday Sales or Christmas Shops are going to make it all better. In fact, the need to shop and spend and go into debt is just another reason to stress out needlessly. This year, do yourself a favor and take care of YOU, first. It all begins with self care. That means sleeping enough, exercising enough, eating wholesome foods, and being true to yourself. When we get busy, self care is often the first thing to go. Then we do ourselves another disservice by getting made about gaining weight or getting sick. Why not set your intention this year to get through the holidays happy and healthy? (And that formal New Years Eve party youve been dreading? Screw it.) Here are my top 5 tips for staying happy and healthy all winter long: 1. Do unto others. Wish there were fewer social obligations this holiday season? Make it a point to go easy on your own family and friends. Instead of hosting yet another cocktail party, bring homemade soup to a sick relative, or call a friend who lives far away just to say hi. 2. Use low tech solutions. A stuffy nose can be treated with a neti pot, steam bath, or some hot chicken soup. Medicine is fine but can make you feel worse in the long run. Often, natural alternatives are best put to use preventatively so dont wait until a cold has blossomed to take good care of yourself. 3. Create your reality. What do you really want to do this winter? Ski? Take a trip to Italy? Paint your bedroom lavender? It doesnt matter what it is, but choose to do the things that will make you happy and satisfied. Theres no law that everyone has to spend the winter months exactly like everyone else. Bor-ing. 4. Enjoy your favorite foods. But skip all that other nonsense the party platters, the cheap chocolates, the generic corn chips. Why bother? Thats not the good stuff. Allow yourself to savor homemade lasagna or hot mulled wine while talking and enjoying the company of those around you. Differentiate between eating as nourishment and eating as a way to feel less awkward at a party. 5. Give yourself the best gift, ever. New slippers are nice, diamond earrings are pretty, but whats the gift that youll cherish most? Not being wiped out on January 1st! Join me for a teleseminar that will help support you through this crazy time of year and help make these tips a reality for you. Happy Holidays How To Have ‘em Sunday, November 15, 2009 8pm Eastern Time Get more info here Registrants will receive the call-in number and passcode via email.

Ways to Find Your Purpose and Plan Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Ways to Find Your Purpose and Plan Your Career - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Studies show that lifelong careers are not the norm anymore and statistics prove that an individual is expected change careers three times during their professional lives. Therefore, if you are not satisfied with your current career, below are four tips to help you find your career purpose. Find out What Makes You Happy: Nobody can do something that they don’t enjoy for at least 40 hours a week for 25-30 years. Therefore, the first thing you should do is finding out what you truly enjoy doing. Maybe you started your current career thinking that this is what you are going to do for the rest of your life but as you get into the details of the job or as you have worked throughout the years, you’ve lost your passion and interest. Therefore, you are no longer enjoying what you are doing. These things can happen. The best way in this situation is identifying your new passion and taking steps towards changing your career. Don’t Make Money Your First Priority: While everybody wants to earn money, this should not be your first priority. At first, earning money from your current career may seem attractive but as the time passes, you may feel that making more money doesn’t satisfy you anymore and you want to do something more meaningful. Then, try to choose a job based on your abilities and interests. Don’t limit your options because of the paycheck. Even if you need to start over and accept a job for less money, do it because you can make up for it in a few years as you progress and get promoted later on. Keep in Mind What You are Good At: Maybe you don’t have passion for any type of career. In this case, think about what you are good at. For example; if you are good with numbers, then you can work in finance. If you are good at using computers, then you can think of a career in information technologies. Think about your skills and abilities, then, identify your strengths. Try to match these with job descriptions so you can figure out what you want to do. You can even try to take a career assessment test to help you figure out your possible careers. Make a Plan for the Rest of Your Career: Think of your career as a marathon, it will be long and challenging. Also, it won’t be linear. There will always be ups and downs to it. If you see your career as stepping stones, it will be easier for you to identify your next steps and as a result, make a plan for your future.

Relocating for Your Career A How-To Guide - CareerMetis.com

Relocating for Your Career A How-To Guide With 77% of US workers willing to relocate for their jobs, your thoughts of moving somewhere for a new career aren’t out of the ordinary. Maybe your dream job is with a company based in another city, maybe there’s a promotion or new opportunity available in a different area, or perhaps you feel overworked at your current job.Whatever your reason, moving yourself or your family to another city is possible when you take the right steps.Source- Pexels.comLet’s walk through every stage of relocation and look at some tips for making the process as smooth as possible.1. Find a JobevalevalOnce you’ve decided that relocation is for you, the first step is lining up a job. Sometimes an offer will come out of a conversation You may have to start off in a hotel while you look for a place if your new job needs someone quickly. Eventually, though, you’ll want to find something a little more permanent.Ask yourself a few questions beforehand to speed up the process: Do you want to rent or buy? Will you need a house or an apartment? Are you okay with roommates, or do you need a place to yourself?Services like Trulia and Zillow simplify finding a place long distance. But if you have the money, you should take a trip to your chosen city to scope out a place to live. It can be hard to get a feel for a home from just pictures online. For maximum efficiency, pick out a few favorites and plan to visit them when you fly in for an in-person interview.3. Double-Check Your BudgetWhen planning your move, factor in any differences in the cost of living while looking at housing and utility options. Even nearby towns can have significant gaps in prices. Luckily, you can calculate these costs using tools online to remove some of the extra work.evalBe aware that some areas are shockingly expensive! It’s a lot more money to maintain the same lifestyle in New York or San Francisco as you had in Savannah or Charleston.If you have to move to an area with higher living expenses, this mo ment may be an excellent opportunity to negotiate a higher salary. Many companies are willing to tack on an additional pay increase to compensate for cost-of-living changes.eval4. Plan Your MoveChanging jobs and moving cities is stressful enough. You don’t want to make it any more stressful by trying to wing it on moving day. Plan out your move, so you arrive at your new residence a week or two before you start work. This should allow you time to unpack and settle into your new home.Many people like to move themselves to save some money, but a work-related relocation is one of the best times to step out and let someone else handle things for two reasons:Leaving a familiar environment and job to dive headfirst into the unknown is stressful. And that’s without trying to keep boxes organized and dig through all your old drawers. Professional movers can come in, pack you up, and have you shipped out without you lifting a finger.You have a good chance your new employer will pay for i t. Many companies offer relocation packages or compensation for new employees, primarily if you work in a high-demand field. It’s something to consider bringing up during negotiations.Like with real estate listings and cost-of-living calculation, you can also use online tools to find a moving company that fits your needs.5. Take a Deep Breath and RelaxMoving to a new city means a lot of changesâ€"new job, new house, new city, new friends, new schoolsâ€"planning can help remove some of the stress. Follow the tips listed here to start your planning process.And try to keep in mind your reasons for relocating, whether they’re for professional development or personal reasons. Before you know it, you’ll be all settled into your new position and a new home.