Kay Childs’ Post

Might as well post before the honeymoon ends. End of last week I said my good byes to my second career; sometimes it seems like a few years ago my first career of 22 years in the Marines, followed by 23 years in various public and private sector jobs mostly in the construction industry. I often get asked and specially at retirement as what was the most rewarding job or role. This is difficult to compress into a single sentence. However, firstly, some jobs and roles stick out more than others because of their good vibes (people and tasks) and also those that were painful because of their grind without any reward or satisfaction. Secondly, every situation or problem I witnessed or was involved in these two careers was solved by Leadership! I learned the most valuable lessons from witnessing bad leadership or the absence of it. Now on to my next chapter of my journey; time and space for more volunteering projects within my community and being more accessible to my family members and extended family. Happy New Year!

First step to moving my career forward.

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝟒𝟕!⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ At 47, I made the 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘱 to retire from my international business career. For years, I climbed the ladder in the world of supply chain: manufacturing, laws, regulations, and the hectic import/export scene. One day, I did reach management level. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ But over time, I felt I was no longer being challenged in my field of expertise. The things I was being challenged with were not what I needed nor wanted as part of my daily struggles. I did not feel that I was making an impact in the ways that I wanted to. I no longer enjoyed my work. 🕰️⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ The pandemic halted my usual travel adventures, prompting 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. I explored the depths of my mind and discovered that my identity extends far beyond any job title. This self-discovery, 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐩 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 I never imagined. 🧭⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ I learned how to 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, which led me to exciting new possibilities. 🧭⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ Deciding to retire felt like a huge leap, but it was also liberating—like a chapter had closed, leaving space for something new and expansive. I embraced this change, finding joy in working from home and helping 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞. ❤️⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ It's a journey full of ups and downs, but 𝐈'𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝. ⁣⁣ ⁣⁣ 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞. Because when we let it, the universe indeed guides us to spectacular places. ✨

Time to retire

Adding new dimensions in my career path.

Reflecting post-holidays! 🌟 Grateful for the past and excited for the new year with family and my amazing job at PocketRN. Last year brought corporate challenges, but losing my job turned out to be the best thing. Scary, stressful, and humbling—it allowed me to reset. Thats right.. you didn't read that wrong. Everyone thinks it will never happen to them, but if I learned one thing that stands true from my college soccer coach its "Everyone is replaceable." Boy.. if that truth didnt hit me straight in the face. You might wonder why losing my job was the best thing. Many are facing similar struggles, and each journey is unique. For me, it was a reset—a chance to rediscover myself, my passions, strengths, and areas for improvement. It led me to create non-negotiable's for my next job and life. My top priority? Family! Balancing work and life became crucial. While preaching family/life balance in my old role, I wasn't practicing it. I found myself working longer days, transforming into a leader I didn't recognize. Lost in the process, I realized I wasn't present for my husband, 2-year-old, and 1-year-old. I accepted a position with PocketRN—joining a company that truly values me, my time, and my family. Many talk about it, but few live it. After a few months, I can confidently say I've adapted, and there's no looking back. Grateful for the company and work culture I'm a part of. To those job hunting, consider ways to turn challenges into positives. It's easier said than done, but I'm here if you want to talk! Happy New Year!

Stepping confidently into the next chapter of my career

Sometimes we forget to see the half full part of the glass, we forget to feel grateful for at least having a job , and instead we focus on what we don’t have . No matter what kind of jobs you are doing, you should feel grateful, because simply Financial Stability: Your job provides income, which is crucial for covering your basic needs, supporting your family, and achieving financial goals. Your Personal Growth: Work offers opportunities to learn new skills, gain experience, and develop as a person, both personally and professionally. Even Social Connections: The workplace is often where we build relationships and connections with colleagues, which can contribute to a sense of belonging and community. Having a Purpose and Achievement: Having a job gives you a sense of purpose and accomplishment, as you contribute to projects and goals that can positively impact your organization or society. Besides Benefits and Security: Many jobs come with benefits like healthcare, retirement plans, and job security, providing peace of mind. And definitely Opportunities: Employment opens doors to advancement, career progression, and new opportunities for learning and growth. Remember Gratitude's Positive Effects: Cultivating gratitude for your job can lead to increased job satisfaction, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being. On the other hand , Feeling grateful for your job doesn't mean you can't seek improvement or change if you're unhappy, but it can help you appreciate the positive aspects of your current situation.

🛠️ Happy Labor Day, (US) Folks! 🛠️ As we pause this Labor Day, the saying “The sweet is not as sweet without the bitter” comes to mind. It captures the essence of our shared human experience, reminding us that our highs get their full flavor from the lows we’ve weathered. 👔 At Work:You meet tight deadlines, successfully launch products, and even climb up the career ladder. These victories become even more meaningful when balanced against the late nights, problem-solving sessions, and self-doubt you’ve conquered along the way. 🏡 In Personal Life:You cherish vacations, value family gatherings, and celebrate milestones like homeownership. These moments become more treasured when you think about the sacrifices made and challenges navigated to arrive there. Instead of simply focusing on the finish line this Labor Day, let’s also honor the path that took us there—complete with its ups and downs. It’s the sum of these experiences that turns us into well-rounded individuals, capable of appreciating the true richness of life. Wishing everyone a peaceful and fulfilling Labor Day weekend! 🎉