After two years in the wilderness, I went back to my old job on 31^st October 2023.

That’s right. Halloween.

While I had numerous doubts & concerns about going back, I’m pleased to report that joining my old team hasn’t been the Halloween-themed horror show it could’ve been.

Here are a few reflections about balancing a 9 to 5 job with my coaching & newsletter biz for almost 12 months:

*** The coaching & newsletter puts the 9 to 5 into a different perspective.  In v1 of my career, work dominated everything.  I don’t just mean time, energy and headspace.  I also mean that work always felt like the priority.  But nowadays my job feels like part of my life rather than “what comes first” and a helpful vehicle to do more of what I love (writing and coaching).  For me, this is a much healthier and more enjoyable setup

*** Weirdly, life flows much more now, even though my coaching & newsletter means I’m juggling more balls.  For instance, earmarking a Tuesday evening to write a newsletter is pointless when I might need to work late that very same Tuesday evening.  So I don’t try to force it.  I roll with it and fit things in where I can 

(there’s a baby-shaped ball on the way in January too and it will be interesting to see how this changes the juggling act!)

*** Having said that, I don’t always get the balance right between work, my writing/coaching and everything else (going to the gym, spending time with Lauren, seeing friends & family, kicking back with Bake Off).  But I also know that balance is a moving target and I try not to stress myself out when things tilt one way or the other

*** I use “micro-moments” more than I used to.  I can draft a few lines of a daily email while I’m on the bus.  I can think about ideas for my next workshop while I’m waiting at Pret for my cup of tea.  I can reply to an email from a reader while the lift in my block of flats bounces between random floors before letting me in.  Over time, these micro-moments add up

*** I had this notion that my job would stifle my coaching & newsletter, and vice versa.  But they actually complement each other.  Being back in the office means an endless supply of newsletter ideas.  It also means a ready-made audience to share what I’ve learnt about stress, performance & work/life balance etc via workshops, webinars, talks and at offsites.  There’s no reason to suspect these opportunities won’t continue.  In fact, I’m pondering how I can do more of this

*** Sometimes I catch myself thinking “why don’t I just jack in the coaching and the emails?”.  After all, I have a regular salary and if I focussed more on my day job, I’m sure I could climb the ladder, get a pay-rise or two and settle in for the long-haul

But in my heart of hearts, I know I don’t want this.  Every time I take a moment to check in with myself, coaching and writing are still my future. It’s so easy to get caught up in the pursuit of promotions, power and prestige that it’s nice having a daily reminder (my own emails!) to stop me getting drawn back into this

*** Every few days I feel a pull telling me there’s much more I could be doing to grow my newsletter and coaching biz.  I could be appearing on more podcasts, doing more email promos, running more webinars, being more active on social media and spending more time finding new newsletter subscribers & coaching clients

But I simply don’t have time to do this while working the 9 to 5.  I also know I’m heading in the right direction and there's no rush.  I’m happy going at my own pace and, more to the point, I’m enjoying the journey

So those are my reflections for today.

Got any reflections of your own?  If so, hit reply and shoot me an email.  I’d love to hear what you think.

Otherwise that’s it for today.

Have a great weekend.

 - Tom