When I first set out in my corporate career I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I knew I needed to get a job and earn money. However, I had no clue what I was passionate about or how determination would see me through so many challenging times.

Over the years and several redundancies later, the determination to get another job to pay the bills and enjoy the lifestyle I’d become accustomed to stayed with me. Yet, I was still not passionate about my corporate job. I had been a Personal Assistant/Executive Assistant (and variations of that) for more years than I could remember.

I remember starting new jobs in the corporate sector, looking forward to meeting new people, learning new skills and taking on my next challenge. It was quite exciting and interesting in the beginning then over the years I become more and more fed up; the work became repetitive and mundane. I was bored of the same core elements in my job, I lacked motivation and had no passion for what I did…I felt unfilled and fed up with the daily commute.

I had become a hamster in a revolving wheel with no way out! What was my next step?

Over time, years I finally figured out what I was passionate about. That is working with women to give them the confidence to build a business they are passionate about and live life on their terms.

I spent so many years stuck in the same or a similar job thinking that I had to stay because ‘the pay was good’, or the ‘benefits were good’, or that I ‘couldn’t make a living doing anything else’, etc. Who was I kidding?! The corporate 9 – 5 job was just one pay packet and as I knew from previous experience the rug could be pulled from under my feet at any moment and my whole income would be gone!

The thing is that’s what many of us had grown up to believe i.e. you go out to work and you do the corporate 9 – 5. You get paid each month then start the whole cycle again, but you’re not really living your passion, you’re just living the daily grind. That’s the way life is supposed to be. But wait, no, stop! Your career doesn’t have to play out like that anymore.

You have a choice and you can choose what you do or don’t do for that matter. Why be stuck in the same job year in year out and have the life slowly sucked out your soul by the boredom, lack of challenge and the lack of fulfilment? Doesn’t seem like much fun to me!

I’ve been lucky enough to find something I’m absolutely passionate about and I wouldn’t exchange that for a monthly pay check in the 9 – 5. Although it’s easy to set up a business, it comes back to determination and drive and the love of what you do to make it successful.

Being in the corporate world taught me a lot about what I didn’t want and a lot about what I do want. Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion!

However, it took me a long time to get to this place and I wish I had a coach when I was going through some of my difficult decisions. I know they would have helped me make stronger/bolder/braver decisions. They would have held me accountable and challenged my thinking enabling me to see the solutions that were in front of me the whole time.

My journey into coaching has really taught me to question my values, my passion and my drive and of course the decisions I make.

Do you ever feel you could do more than you’re currently doing, then you start persuading yourself of all the perks of the corporate job? Does fear hold you back from taking the plunge into business owner territory?

• How long have been feeling unhappy in your job?
• How’s it affecting your home life/relationships?
• How is it affecting your happiness?

These are some really good questions for you to think about. Remember, you can plug a leak with a piece of chewing gum but it will only last so long before it starts leaking again.