#BustAMyth “I Am Still A Workaholic Dinosaur”

“Stop telling stories.”

“Freak, I thought you might be relaxing.”

“What do you keep doing the whole day.”

These were the kind of questions I was asked when I quit my Corporate job after 15 years. I could sense tension bottling up inside by head but I contained my emotions. Many a time, my response was just a smile and move away from that place also from those people.

Financial independence is not achieved only when you sit inside the four walls given by the employer. It’s in our mind how we create that independence for our own self. It’s not in those office parties, it’s also at home. When we can create a window to celebrate one, on our successful business closures.

For me it was a conscious choice to quit, I had a great role and a great brand for an organisation, but it was my decision to be with my Princess that led me to take this decision. I missed out on her early years in life when she was a tiny bundle. I did miss the first Amma she called, that first walk and several of those first moments.

In some stories, I have been missing. Today I am creating a battalion through stories. As a writer, the writing community connection is a great pacifier for me.  NLP and Recruitments is giving me business, sitting at home.

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It was one of the like minded who gave me a freelance Consultant role as a Trainer with a publishing house, and tagging me to the “financial independence” label.

Balance is not only in balancing the job, it’s our mind. If the mind says, I can work and maintain a happiness in family. Yes, it is possible.

Having said that, there are people with a preconditioned mindset that we cannot be productive if we are not tagged to a Corporate brand. Financial independence is not about wearing that handbag, hiding the tears with the mascara, coating the lips with sweet colours inspite of bitterness burning there and hiding the mind and heart deep inside along with our passion, hidden deep inside our heart.

It’s about how we create an opportunity for our own self. Be it in the corporate or from home.

Freelancing or consultant role is not about a lavish lifestyle or sit at home and do anything and everything.

Personally it has taught me
– Time management
– To draw a line between Home and “work at home”
– 9.00 am schedule still holds good
– Google calendar is synced even now
– Cooking, Writing, Playing, Coaching and Stories gives me happiness everyday
– Keep going, keep moving, keep working.
– Also the list is endless

Never cocoon yourself with the myths thrown on you, in the name of labelling and preconditioning.

– It’s you who will determine your financial independence,
– It’s you who will decide, which job suits you
– It’s you who will decide, if you want to join back the Corporate or continue doing what you do
– Never allow your role to be decided by the few in the name of well wishers, who actually are good enough to push you in the well.

Also let’s #BustAMyth that women can’t be the same workaholic dinosaur after a career break or when she is working from home.

First published here.

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