You’ve Opened My Eyes

Whenever I teach my How to Work Less, Earn More seminar I always get an interesting mix of attendees. From small business owners to corporate climbers to recent retirees and terminated employees, every career situation imagineable is in the room.

This week I had the privilege of meeting a doula who recently relocated from the midwest. For those of you unfamiliar with doulas, they are best described as birth coaches. No, they’re not meant to replace dear old dad in the room, but doulas act as the experienced helping hand to guide expectant mothers from the birthing process.

In this case, the doula I met had given up the profession for a few years to begin raising her family. She loved her time at home with the kids but now was the time to re-enter the workforce. Going into the class, she assumed that meant getting a traditional job. But by the end of the seminar, she was brimming with new work less, earn more ideas including:

• Leading doula seminars to train those interested in the profession
• Creating a birthing video and selling it on the internet
• Joining together with other doulas in the area to create a business

Her specific quote to me was “you really opened my eyes to new ways to make money without settling for a traditional job.” I love that word… “settling”… because it really sums up how so many of us feel about our current jobs. We’re simply settling! That’s a sad way to go through life and one that doesn’t have to be your destiny when you pay your life first.