We all have experienced transitions in life. Some transitions like childhood to adulthood are passive in nature. They happen, like life, while we are busy making other plans! Other transitions are more active in nature, like the decision to get married, or to do further education, or to change a career!
In my experience of transitioning from my 23 years of an immensely fulfilling Corporate career at PepsiCo, to an equally, if not more, gratifying career as a Life & Executive Coach, I found an interesting similarity with Hang Gliding!
First comes the 'early run' stage: Including all exhilarating ingredients of anticipation, preparation, putting on your protection gear, and starting the gentle run with your Hang-glider, this stage sets up the foundation for a successful transition. In my case, the early run started with joining PepsiCo in 1999 as a management trainee and went on for nearly 15 years! The mind is racy in these years, there is daily, monthly and even yearly excitement of a steep learning curve. Roles, Projects, Conferences, Awards, start rolling past as milestones on the run-up!
Next comes the stage of 'gathering speed': This is when the sight is beginning to get set on the transition and you start building momentum. It is the first time you get the butterflies in the stomach that something extremely exciting lies ahead and it starts propelling you to go on with all your strength and passion. I first got a glimpse of this stage around 2015, while setting up 1-on-1 coaching conversations with my direct reports in Indonesia. I started spending extra hours in my day on offering coaching to colleagues and team members of my peers on top of my day-job as a Country GM at Indonesia or as Sector PMO Lead at GBS.
And finally comes the Great Leap!: This is by far the most 'heartful' (some say gutsy) stage of the transition. You are running full steam towards the edge of the cliff, the wind is in your sails, and the Hang-Glider takes you off the cliff, soaring into the crisp air! This is it… you have taken the Great Leap …the ground beneath your feet is replaced by the wind, and in that magical moment you become one with the Hang-Glider! I took this great leap at the beginning of 2022. With the confidence of my inner calling as a Life & Executive Coach, and the backing of my wife and daughters, I went ahead and spoke with my managers and well-wishers at PepsiCo and kicked off my Coaching career!
Every Transition has its unique challenges! Its twists and turns (and even bruises!) may get our heart racing faster than ever before. But at the end, we come out stronger, wiser and, with a little help from the universe, we may even get to glide a few feet above the ground!
What's your experience with life transitions? #LifeTransitions #StrongFoundations #FindingyourIkigai #HangGliding #Gratitude
Photo Credit: Sebastian Mittermeier on Unsplash
The Author, Anuj Chadha, is Founder of Three Circles - Coaching to create the Life that you love! At Three Circles, we come with a deep understanding of what it takes to navigate the challenges that life throws at us. We partner with our clients, listen to their life aspirations, and support them to break through the obstacles that seem to be holding them back. Life is too precious to be unhappy, unsure, or unfulfilled. Give us the opportunity to partner with you as you re-imagine and re-create the Life that you Love!
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