Comments on: Ask Career Renegade: Can You Go Renegade In Midst Of Crisis?

By: Jonathan Fields on being a career renegade in a time of crisis

Jonathan Fields on being a career renegade in a time of crisis — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 04:23:35 +0000

[...] his post Can You Go Renegade In Midst Of Crisis?, Jonathan Fields writes about pursuing an entrepreneurial life in difficult [...]

By: Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills

Jonathan - Advanced Life Skills — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 20:15:36 +0000

To quote from one of my favorite movies The Ultimate Gift: “I’ve lost everything 3 or 4 times, it’s the perfect place to start.” If your unemployed, now’s your chance to take advantage of this great opportunity.

By: Jonathan Fields

Jonathan Fields — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:51:16 +0000

@ Joe – I interviewed someone recently who left his job as a successful money manager to head up one the the largest bicycle touring touring companies.

When I asked how he justified doing it with a family to support, he said it was so important for his wife and him to demonstrate to his kids that passion matters and that it’s okay to take risks.

I feel the exact same way. I’d rather that lesson come earlier in life that later…or worse, never.

By: Judy Martin

Judy Martin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:43:08 +0000

Hi Joe,
This is a great story – can I use it when I lecture???? I don’t have children per se – it’s a long story. But I try to be more understanding as that’s the first thing I hear when I encourage people to take the risk. Thanks! judy

By: Joe Jacobi

Joe Jacobi — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:09:23 +0000

I think you raise a great point about kids entering into the equation, Judy. I would only add this – our child is the one of the biggest reasons we “jumped.” The idea that the way one evaluates their own life opportunities is being watched closely by your child is a HUGE motivator for me.

A quick personal story about this. I decided to extend my athletic career with USA Canoe/Kayak after the birth of our child. It was challenging in that competing means long periods of time away from home at training camps and races. On the upside a few things happened:

- When I was home training, I spent way more time with my daughter during her early years as my athletic training took place early and late in the day. In other words, I was home most of the day.

- Because I knew what I was “giving up” by continuing my training, I was motivated to do it REALLY well.

It worked out well for me – I competed in my second Olympic in 2004 in Athens, 12 years between my other Olympic Games appearance (1992) and my daughter was a huge a part of my process.

Renegading is a fantastic opportunity to share this journey with your child and teach him/her/them the most important life lessons they’ll never receive in a school.

By: Judy Martin

Judy Martin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:55:18 +0000

SInce this discussion seems to be evolving. I’m all about not dying like a sheep. But I’m not sure everyone is ready or able, especially with children to jump off the bridge.

I’m fortunate, because I’m free as a bird (for better or worse) and have jumped. Never could I have imagined how warm the water was.

By: Genuine Chris Johnson

Genuine Chris Johnson — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:26:24 +0000

Dude.

Life is made of these moments. These tests. The time that your current plan is failing is the BEST TIME To start a new one, to put your passion into acquiring the skills.

HELL YES

Do it. Life is minutes.

I did. I am reinvented after 6 months. It was a grind. I got behind on bills. I had to juggle. But now? I’m fully engeaged and LOVING what I do for a living. MONTHS not years later.

Had I continued on the old path I’d have died a slow death.

Cross the F#@%ing rubicon, and win.

Don’t die like a sheep.

By: LisaNewton

LisaNewton — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:13:39 +0000

I’m still working because I need to eat, but I’m definitely taking a career regegade approach to my “hobby.”

Great advice, Jonathan.

By: B7

B7 — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 00:08:53 +0000

Why wouldn’t you go renegade if you got laid off? It’s the perfect opportunity to find something new and better and different. Anyone who just gets another job will be in the same unenviable position that they were in before they got laid off.

Sure, it’s OK to look for a job. But I think it’s a great idea to try other ways of making money at the same time.

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:34:44 +0000

Now feels like a great moment to take time to think about what we want for/in our own lives.

Our roles as consumers are on pause. Either because we have run out of cash. Or looking back at what we used money to buy previously we realise how much is just ’stuff’ . If we stop consuming then we give ourselves the opportunity to focus on producing and creating. At any level.

I think even if people are not going ‘Career’ Renegade yet they are going Renegade in other ways. Whether it be home cooking, growing their own, crafting etc. Activities which may be driven by economics but for which the act of getting involved and doing is also rewarding.

Could this be the pivot point at which we start to stretch our self reliance muscles and reach out to form links and connections to others as individuals?
Leaving large companies and organisations to manage themselves but not us.