Skye’s Post

Sabbatical - For me... A period of personal growth and reflection! Taking a year-long sabbatical was a significant experience. Initially fuelled by the separation from my wife of almost 30 years, this time became much more than just a short rejuvenation period. Here are a few of the key reflections I was fortunate enough to have gathered during this time. Clarity of Priorities Through the space and time afforded by the sabbatical, I gained a clearer understanding of what truly matters to me in life, both personally and professionally. Renewed Sense of Purpose Stepping away from the routine allowed me to reconnect with my passions and rediscover my sense of purpose, helping me realign my goals with what brings me fulfillment. Self-Discovery The sabbatical provided ample opportunity for self-reflection and exploration, leading to a deeper understanding of myself, my strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth. Embracing Change Embracing change became easier as I learned to adapt to new environments, routines, and challenges, fostering resilience and flexibility. Appreciation for Life’s Simple Joys Slowing down enabled me to appreciate the beauty of everyday moments and find joy in simplicity, leading to a greater sense of gratitude. Rejuvenation and Well-being Taking time for self-care and relaxation rejuvenated my mind, body, and spirit, enhancing my overall well-being and reducing stress. Cultivating Connections Strengthening relationships with loved ones and building new connections enriched my life and provided valuable support and companionship. ⁠Exploring Passions Exploring hobbies and interests outside of work reignited my creativity and brought a sense of fulfillment beyond professional achievements. Perspective Shifts Stepping back from the daily grind offered a valuable perspective on what truly matters in life, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling outlook. Planning for the Future Reflecting on past experiences and newfound insights helped me envision and plan for a more purposeful and fulfilling future, both personally and professionally. I am excited to return to the workforce with a rejuvenated mindset!  I am confident, this adventure will bring a fresh perspective and renewed energy to my career!  I am going to tackle new challenges with enthusiasm and determination! I am ready!

I once believed I was indispensable… . . . but a 31-day sabbatical revealed the truth. The world went on, and surprisingly so did I, just with more laughter and peace. In October, I stood at a crossroads: Do I launch my fractional business or embrace the call for rest? I decided I'd do both; launch my business and then take a step back and rest.  The sabbatical wasn’t about doing more; it was about the deliberate absence of action. I stepped back from the relentless pursuit of results and the self-imposed demands that led to burnout—a burnout not caused by external pressures but by my own drive for excellence. During this intentional pause, I discovered what truly matters to me. My family, my inner peace, and my time. These treasures I’ll seek to protect these with new boundaries. My career has been dedicated to optimizing operations for others. This sabbatical taught me to optimize my own life’s priorities. The outcomes are clear: A restructured approach to work that doesn't just serve my clients but also honors my well-being. This journey led me to: - A restructured work ethic that values clarity and creativity.  - An understanding of my limits, and the courage to confront them. - The importance of community, and the decision to actively invest in it. - The power of asking myself what I truly prefer, not just what I can achieve. Here's to setting boundaries that preserve our joy! Have you ever stepped back to move forward? What lessons did your time away teach you? #sabbatical #clarityiskindness #burnoutprevention #burnout #fractionalexecutive

What if you could hit pause on your life and completely redefine it? Kira did, and she never looked back. She left her corporate job, sold everything, and relocated to Mexico. While Kira's 26-week sabbatical to reinvent her life may not be everyone's path, her journey underscores a universal truth: trust the process. Kira's story offers powerful insights: 1. Kira didn't just step back; she stepped out of her comfort zone entirely and boldly embraced the unknown, demonstrating that the most transformative changes often require the biggest leaps of faith. 2. Even when it feels unconventional, trusting the process can lead you to unexpected fulfillment in your sabbatical journey. 3. After her sabbatical, Kira didn't just return to work; she designed a life where her career and well-being don't compete but thrive. Could a sabbatical change your life, too? Discover Kira's story here: https://lnkd.in/dgc6aTpV

🌍✨ Ever Thought About Taking a Sabbatical? ✨🌍 In our fast-paced world, hitting pause can seem impossible. But what if a break could boost your creativity, productivity, and overall happiness? 🌟 Imagine dedicating months to travel, personal projects, or simply resting and reflecting. 📚✈️🧘♂️ A sabbatical isn't just a luxury—it's a chance to rejuvenate, grow, and return with fresh perspectives. 🌱💡 Why Consider a Sabbatical? Recharge Your Batteries 🔋 - Prevent burnout and come back energized. Pursue Passion Projects 🎨 - Finally work on that book, art, or research you’ve been dreaming about. Learn and Grow 📚 - Take courses, attend workshops, or explore new fields. Travel and Experience 🌍 - Discover new cultures and broaden your horizons. Strengthen Relationships ❤️ - Spend quality time with family and friends. Reflect and Plan 🧘♂️ - Gain clarity on your life and career goals. Boost Creativity 🎨 - New experiences can spark innovative ideas and solutions. Improve Mental Health 🧠 - Break away from stress and find balance. Develop New Skills 🛠️ - Acquire competencies that can enhance your career. Network Globally 🌐 - Meet new people and build international connections. Rediscover Yourself 🧳 - Find new passions and interests. A sabbatical can redefine your career and life balance, providing a fresh start and new motivation. 🌟 Is it time to invest in yourself and take that leap? 🤔🔄 #Sabbatical #CareerGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #MentalHealth #ProfessionalDevelopment #LifeGoals #Travel #PersonalGrowth #Innovation #Creativity #NewSkills #GlobalNetworking #SelfDiscovery

TL;DR: I took a 5 month sabbatical and return to work tomorrow! June 2023: I sat at a red light on my way home from my parents' house thinking, “All my problems would disappear if my car just rolled forward into the intersection.” November 2023: I started my 5 month sabbatical. As much support as I had, I got a lot of judgment: “You’re too young”, “Why?”, “If the work is so hard, just find a new job”, “Is it that stressful?”, "It can't be that bad." And in the same vain, all of those questions felt like: “sO WHaT’s YoUr WhY?”, so here’s my WHY: - I felt as if my career path had spiraled out of my hands and I was going through the motions - I had a bad project team experience where I felt belittled and looked down upon - I strove to ‘catch-up’ to my peers at the expense of living my life - I was having constant breakdowns, anxiety attacks, and passive thoughts of suicide. Between June and November, all I could think was: here I am, I’ve done what I have been told will bring me happiness, or supposed to anyways - get a degree, get a stable job that pays well, advance my career - and yet, here I was with all that and I wasn’t happy. I felt as if there was always something stopping me be promotion cycle, charge-ability, client milestones, etc. By November, I realized there was no perfect time. I couldn’t ignore the fact that I was deteriorating into a shell of a person. I was consistently asking myself: - What’s my purpose in this life? - What am I even good at? - Do I have hobbies? How do you accumulate hobbies? - What makes me feel fulfilled? I had no answers. So I pulled the emergency brake. My sabbatical was nothing like I had envisioned. I was going to trapeze around the world on this wonderful, fulfilling, life changing adventure, that would be the story of everybody’s dreams. Instead, it was a lot of crying, a lot of therapy visits, and asking myself those core questions. So what were my key results? - I’m medicated now, life is tough, and try as hard as I might to internally reflect, acknowledge my passive thoughts, and keep moving forward, I needed extra help and there is nothing shameful in that.  - I’ve learned how to sit and draw out the good moments in life, to enjoy life and to protect my peace. Identifying if something is serving me and if not, what the trade-off is. To that end I’ve moved away from my hometown after 27 years to a new state, a new city, to start my new life, and explore new experiences. - I tried to start a business and invested myself into something that I wanted for what felt like the first time. It was tough and ultimately ended up on the back burner due to some unforeseen circumstances (I tore my ACL, whoopee!!).  - I realized life will ebb and flow and I don’t need to have everything figured out right this very minute.  - I know that helping and advising others brings me joy and something I’m good at may very well be my calling. May 9, 2024: I return to work!

A sabbatical isn't a holiday. A sabbatical can be a journey of deep reflection. I never envisioned myself taking a sabbatical. Just the notion felt strange to me, reserved only for a future older version of myself. Yet, the relentless pace of a seven-year hypergrowth sprint and the life-changing arrival of my first child challenged this belief. As my chapter at EVBox closed, I faced a crossroad moment: dive back into the frenetic world of scaleups (and there were a fair amount of opportunities to take on) or pause and seek a new direction? In early 2022, amidst the shadows of COVID-19 and with an exit package in hand, the choice became clear. My family and I chose Costa Rica for a period of unstructured exploration. For the first time in "forever", I had "nothing" to do. I journaled, engaged in deep reflection, did the altMBA, and wrote extensively. More importantly, I was present—for myself and my daughter. Sabbaticals might resemble holidays, but their essence is profoundly personal. This sabbatical was my reset, a precious break to spend time with my wife and daughter and to realign with my purpose. It reaffirmed my ambition to be an agent of positive change at a larger scale, challenging and reshaping leadership paradigms. The path forward is not yet clear, but the sabbatical marked the beginning of this new journey. If you're contemplating a sabbatical, it's a sign you need it—for reflection, reassessment, and to chart the course ahead. Don't let external influence or outdated beliefs affect unknown paths for yourself. Be curious. After all, you own your time, and you can choose best what to do with it. #sabbatical #break #reflection

After 12 months, I'm graduating from my sabbatical... Twelve months ago, I started my sabbatical. Now, I've realized that I've graduated from it. Like students who graduate from school, I’m transitioning into something new. You might wonder, “What will you do now?” It's a question many of us face when we step away from our usual routines, whether it’s taking a break, changing careers, or pursuing a passion project. The answer isn't always clear, but perhaps that’s the beauty of it. It invites you to reflect on your own journey. Embracing uncertainty can be liberating, giving you the freedom to choose what comes next. Earlier this year, I even asked myself if I was still on a sabbatical… After all, I’ve started a coaching business, explored investments, and taken on new clients. But maybe it never truly ends? As long as you work as much as you want, doing what you enjoy with people you care about, this could be your forever path. There is joy in exploring new paths, just as I did during this year of discovery. Perhaps you'll always be looking for the next step, just like me. So, as I graduate from my sabbatical, here’s my advice to you: - Work with passion - Choose your own path - Always look forward to what’s next The journey continues for each of us, and I'm excited to see where it takes us. How about you? What's the next step in your journey?

I took a 3-month sabbatical late last year. Here are my top takeaways: 1. I realized I had been severely addicted to work communications, to the detriment of my mental health. Emails, texts, slack messages, you name it. They came in incessantly, causing a buzz on my wrist or in my pocket, and I realized I had been trained to crave them and check my apps for new updates. This was all affecting my mental health and (arguably) my effectiveness as CEO - it’s impossible to work on big picture strategy when you’re caught up in minutia. I came back to work from sabbatical with concrete ways to reduce notifications and unhealthy digital habits. Here’s to hopefully keeping them! 🤞  2. I gained more appreciation for time spent with family. The wisdom of spending time with young kids is widely-shared but hard to appreciate when you’re in the thick of your career. Only by stepping away and completely removing the noise of work from the back of my mind could I appreciate the importance of these moments and realize that they were being tainted by stress and constant thinking / reactivity to work. By coming back to work with resolve to avoid being addicted to work again, I know I will be a better family member.  3. I got to spend time thinking about career goals on a longer time horizon. Before sabbatical, I barely gave myself time to think about my future 5 or 10 years out, but the sabbatical enabled me to think huge-picture goals and it was inspiring to think about what else I can do in life and career before retirement. I am proud that we offer the sabbatical benefit to all employees at 5 and 10 years. If you've taken a sabbatical in your career, what were your big takeaways? PS. This is me in Zaragoza, Spain in November.

Amazingly, it is 150 days since I started my sabbatical, and this is a little bit of what I have got up to since then. This post is not just to share you some "holiday snaps" but to inspire you a little bit, based on my own experience, if you are thinking of being bold, taking a risk and doing a sabbatical, then all I can say is... Go For It! If you are able to save up and really do the necessary planning, and most importantly know what you would like to personally achieve with some time off, then it is one of the best things you can do. Why? The freedom, the clarity, the completely different feeling is truly fantastic. But most interestingly, not spending your time having to think strategically forward but allowing yourself to enjoy the 'here and now' moment is like a giant reset button for your soul. You really do see the change in your mindset and immersing yourself to appreciate, slow down and enjoy the point you are in, something that our busy work brain does not really allow us to do. The change I noticed in health metrics such as stress levels, heart rate etc have been noticeable. If you are considering taking a step off the career ladder for a few months, reflecting a little bit on yourself, then genuinely I would totally recommend it! So, what comes next? That will be the interesting part.... #sabbatical #workbreak #mindset #worklifebalance #careergoals #aroundtheworld