Christina's Career ShIFt Story

For 14 years, from my early 20's to my mid-30's, like many young Americans, I chased the "Almighty Dollar" in order to reach what I thought was the "American Dream". I was an Account Executive for Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, at the age of 27. I had been married to my wonderful husband, James, for 3 years and we had left our apartment to move into our first home. It was a 3000 sq. ft. custom home that we had built, with a 3 car garage, on 3 acres of land.

I was so proud of my and my husband accomplishment and what we had created together!

So, I had to work and make a lot of the "green stuff" to get that mortgage paid and all the other "things" added to our home. It was not until I was, 34 that I gave birth to my first daughter. I found a fantastic caregiver for my daughter and I did go back to work after 3 months of maternity leave. This decision caused me a lot of emotional conflict, as it causes many mothers, who leave their child in the care of others, while they work outside of the home. But, I had that mortgage to help pay, so I could not quit!!!

In 2000, I went to my first National Meeting put on by my employer, Baxter Healthcare, where I had to leave my little one for the first time, for 4 days and 5 nights. During that meeting, I ruptured my achilles tendon in my right foot, playing basketball with some colleagues, during our designated 'free time'. I realized later that I manifested that!

"Everything happens for a reason."

Rupturing my achilles caused a huge shIFt in my life and my career. After the surgery to

re-attach my achilles tendon, I had a full leg cast on my right leg for 2 weeks. Then a cast below my knee for another 6 and then the soft boot. I had to use a wheel chair at times, so I experienced what handicapped people go through. The ordeal with the physical therapy, healing and recovery lasted about 4 months. I had to re-learn to walk and drive a car due to the muscle atrophy that had occurred in my right leg.

I really was "knee deep in shIFt" ™ ...in my career, during this whole experience!

How did this experience shift my career? Well, like many people I was on the gerbil wheel or in the RAT RACE just doing and doing, because of my work. When I was lying in bed one day, all alone, crippled and not able to do much. I did some soul searching. I found a book that had a definition of "workaholism" in it. It was then, that I painfully realized that I was a "workaholic". Throughout my convalescence, I realized my life was not the life I really wanted to be living.

So, this quote means a lot to me:

It does not matter what the "story" or "issues" were, but I realized at that moment, my Achilles Tendon injury showed me my weakness...which was chasing the "Almighty Dollar" to pay for a "Dream Home", but to do it in a way where I had no energy left for me. I realized, I was too busy making a living and it was preventing me from LIVING MY LIFE! This was soul crushing for me! This revelation caused my Career shIFt.

While I was on crutches during my Achilles Injury, I did hobble into a book store and I was drawn to a book with the title, Take time for your life by Cheryl Richardson. Cheryl is one of the pioneer coaches and first graduates of Coach U (where I took my training) in the Life Coaching and Business Coaching arena. When I read her book, I knew that coaching was the profession for me. I had always been someone people would turn to for guidance, support, encouragement and wisdom. I knew that it was my calling and my "gIFt in my shIFt". I believe everything happens for a reason and that there was a reason for my Achilles Injury and a reason why that book showed up in my life when it did! It talked about Balance and Extreme Self-Care...something I really needed.

So, I gave up my "Dream Home", and my job at Baxter Healthcare, and my identity of a workaholic. I followed my and my husband's dream to move to beautiful and sunny Arizona. So, here I am...now I am living a balanced life, enjoying my work off the perpetual "gerbil wheel" with the ability to TAKE TIME to enjoy and BE with my family. I am loving it. I pick and choose my work and how hard I work. I can say "NO" to work too! I have always had the "Entrepreneurial Spirit" and I am much more fulfilled being in charge of my destiny and serving others in terms that are a win~win for all parties. IF you want to learn how to create a Career ShIFt that serves you, then contact me for a Free Career ShIFt Assist ™ Discovery session. Your Career shIFt will be different from mine, but IF I could do it, you can too! Believe it and you can achieve it!

Christina Carpentier
Founder of Co-Volution™
Master ShIFt Coach™
Specializing in Career ShIFts

"IF it is going to be it is up to me."

~ Mary Kay Ash

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