Chasing your dreams by retraining

Guest post by Gillian Fry, former HR practitioner, current Naturopath and Career Coach

Is it possible to make a career out of doing what you love?

Can you totally change direction and retrain?

Is it easy to do?

My answer to the first two questions is yes and the third question is yes and no!  Let me explain.

I made a career in Human Resources, learnt some great skills, worked with some wonderful people but I never felt like I was completely fulfilling my potential or being completely true to myself.  I had always been interested in natural health and natural remedies, and through a suggestion from a friend, I investigated study options, and found the Diploma in Naturopathy through the NaturopathicCollege of New Zealand. 

The Naturopathic Diploma was three years full time or six years part time.  As I needed a regular income I chose part time to continue working, although daunting to think of six years study whilst working, I started and loved it!  Don’t get me wrong, it was challenging, required discipline and commitment, was sometimes stressful and frustrating but I felt like I was achieving something for me and helping me meet my long term goal.  I was fortunate to be able to negotiate going down to a four day week with my employer which meant Friday was my key learning and assignment day.  This meant the weekends were not entirely study focussed and enabled me to spend time with my partner and son.  As for housework – well that’s way over rated!

In my last two years of study I had the opportunity to leave HR and go into a natural health clinic as a Natural Health Therapist – via networking.  Pretty scary, but it was one of those ‘now or never’ moments!  I learnt a lot – both what to do and what not to do, and this gave me the courage and skills to set up my home clinic.  So now I’m my own boss, consulting and providing massage from home, some corporate chair massage in town and little bits of wellness contracting.

It’s great to have the freedom to manage my work and hours, being at home to see my son off to school and after school.  Being self employed definitely has many benefits, although like anything there can be downsides too, such as no holiday pay, no regular income – aspects to consider in weighing up your decision.

Strangely enough although the actual work is health related, many of the HR skills were transferable such as consulting, questioning, listening, building wellness plans rather than people plans.  So although my direction has changed the skills I have developed are portable.  This experience has been invaluable in helping me career coach my clients and work with my naturopathic patients.

So what does it take to chase your dreams?

An idea and passion

Research and discovery

Overcoming your fears and preconceptions

Commitment – stickablility

A supportive partner and/or network of friends

Wishing you the best of luck and health and happiness!

For more information Gill can be contacted at Gillian.symmetry@xtra.co.nz