Tara Horstmeyer

I didn’t plan to have a resume gap.
But, I have a big one.

I didn’t plan to have a winding career journey.
But, I have a wild one.

I used to shy away from the fact I spent 6 entire years out of the traditional workforce.

That I chose to hop off for a reason instead of climb up for a season.

That I redefined what success looked like for me (and me alone) in that season.

And that I still do.

My name is Tara, and I have a 6-year gap in my resume. In my work history.

But, it doesn’t define me.
Resume gaps don’t define me.

And your gaps or transitions don’t define you either.

No matter if they are of your choosing or not.

No matter if you are climbing or pausing.
Raising revenue or raising babies.

Or raising both at the same time.

So, let’s normalize it.
Let’s normalize it all.

Let’s normalize life’s seasonality.
Let’s normalize life’s career transitions.
Let’s normalize different paths to success.

Let’s normalize what ‘success’ means all together.

Whether that’s gaps or curves.
Winding roads or clear horizons.

And most of all, let’s normalize the stories we tell ourselves.

Because a resume gap or career transition isn’t the end of your story.

In fact…

Maybe, just maybe, it’s the beginning of your best chapter in the most beautiful story of all.

The story you are meant to write in this season, and in this season alone.

The story of your unique career journey.

So, what chapter are you writing in your career story today?

#leadership #writing #resumegaps

If you do nothing else this week.
If you do nothing else this month.
If you do nothing else this (new) year.

Do this one thing:

Just write.
Just write anyway.

Write to process privately.
Write to discuss publicly.

Write to think better.
Write to do better.

Ultimately, write to be better.

So, if you do nothing else…

This week
This month
This (new) year

Just write.
And just write anyway.

Not only will you at the end of 2022 thank you.

But your career, your role, your customers, your prospects, your colleagues and your future promotion will thank you, too.

Consistency in writing = Clarity in thinking.
And clearer thinking = better doing.

So, what are you going to write this week?

via: Adam Grant

#writing #communication #leadership