#131: Career pivoting and making leaps into the unknown with Iesha Small
Release Date: 09/26/2024
#144 How six words can tell your life story with Larry Smith
Another Door Stories
"We tell stories in times of transition because in good times, bad times, lateral movements, figurative movements, we need to make sense of the world. Stories help us help us process. This is what makes us human." Can six words help you process change, and tell your life story? On the podcast Larry Smith shares how a simple Twitter experiment 15 years ago turned into a global storytelling movement - the Six Word Memoir project. Our conversation is not just word count. Larry shares his closing door life moments, from divorce, to relocation, to career change....
info_outline
#143 - Finding the courage to keep pushing forward with Devon Harris
Another Door Stories
“I grew up watching the Olympics and you see these athletes from around the world marching in the opening ceremonies. And then one day, you are setting foot in that stadium. 50,000 people screaming and you look to your right and you see more cameras than you can count. And in that moment that you are on TV around the world and some little kid is probably looking at you the way you looked at some other athlete." How do you find the courage to push forward when fear and uncertainty stand in your way? In this episode, I speak to Devon Harris, member of the legendary Jamaican bobsleigh team that...
info_outline
#142: How to start again after selling your business with Aimee Bateman
Another Door Stories
“My new mission in life...is about helping women be seen, heard, and valued in their space, whether that's in work and beyond” In this episode, I talk with Aimee Bateman, an incredible entrepreneur and advocate for women in the workplace. Aimee shares her story of how experimenting helped her through a closing door after selling her business Careercake. She had spent 10 years building a successful company, then sold it, which was the plan all along. But after the sale, she faced a new challenge: What’s next? She was also adjusting to life as a new parent,...
info_outline
#141: After the music stops, life after the boyband with Lee Murray
Another Door Stories
"For me opening the door was the same door that had shut in my face previously. But going back there and thinking, well, what am I able to do? …I tried many things, but I realised it's music. So I sat down with a blank piece of paper and thought, I've got to make my way again." Imagine being at the height of music stardom in the 90s, performing on Top of the Pops, being helicoptered between gigs, and having fans waiting outside your house. Then suddenly, there is silence. In this episode Lee Murray shares what happens when the music stops. Lee was the drummer in the band Let Loose, which...
info_outline
#140: Do the maths and then change your life with Dr. Claire Handby
Another Door Stories
"It's okay when you fundamentally change your perspective, and it makes different anchors in your life to what you had up to a certain moment of a door closing. I think the door closing on me was about not wanting to be an employed person anymore and wrestling with it.” Ever felt the whisper of your dreams urging you to make a change but hesitated because of the safety net of a steady job? In this insightful episode, I sit down with Dr. Claire Handby as she shares her transition from a 25-year corporate career to embracing entrepreneurship. Of course, there is a lot to be said...
info_outline
#139: When it’s time to explore the other side of fear and chase a dream with Ant Duckworth
Another Door Stories
"I made the decision to jump off that entrepreneurial ledge, which was incredibly intimidating at the time… But, I was so compelled to see what was on the other side of fear, which was leaving full time, gainful, fantastic employment and chase a dream" In today's episode, we have Ant Duckworth, the co-founder of Dear Coco. I’ve been following Ant’s journey and the evolution of ‘Dear Coco’, his award winning coffee truck, since the dream started. We all have these tiny ideas, small dreams, but how many of us decide to take action and step into trying, and giving it a go. Ant...
info_outline
#138: From redundancy to championing flexible work with Elizabeth Willetts
Another Door Stories
"My big door closing moment was when I was made redundant in the pandemic with 2 small children who were 1 and 3, and thought I would never get a good job again.” Turing adversity into opportunity. In today's episode I’m talking to Elizabeth Willetts, founder of Investing in Women. Elizabeth’s company grows from strength to strength, if you follow her on socials she is smashing it. But that wasn’t always the case - and, like many success stories, starts when a door is slammed shut. Like many of us, Elizabeth found herself redundant during Covid in 2020 and decided it was a moment...
info_outline
#137: Embracing the messiness of change
Another Door Stories
In this special solo episode, it's just you and me pondering the intricacies of navigating change. The past few years I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs, and so in this chat I'm sharing my reflections on pausing, embracing messiness, playing with ideas, and the power of trying. We'll also explore the concept of restarting with a fresh perspective, anchored in self-care and gentle intention. Join me as I explore these themes, offering insights and tools to help you face uncertainty and thrive through change. This framework is part of my upcoming book, all about how to navigate...
info_outline
#136: How to keep being ‘directionally correct’ when life throws a curve ball with Michael Glassock
Another Door Stories
"Career transitions may feel uncertain, but aligning your daily actions with your core values can guide you through any ambiguity. It's not about having every step mapped out; it's about being directionally correct and consistent in your efforts." This episode I’m with Micheal Glassocks who shares his career shifts, aligning work with personal values and the power of being "directionally correct”. Michael discusses his transitions from a successful role in project management in the NHS to project managing a new career as a coach, prompted by his father’s Alzheimer’s...
info_outline
#135: How to Divorce Sober with Hannah Harvey
Another Door Stories
"I have learned so much over this process of what matters and what doesn't, how to protect yourself, what boundaries to put in place, whether you're giving up alcohol, a person, or an eating disorder." In this episode, I talk to Hannah Harvey who shares her story about closing a door on alcohol, which also led to her leaving her marriage. Hannah opened up about her liberating journey to sobriety, revealing how quitting alcohol transformed her life and led her to write "How to Divorce Sober." We talk about overcoming societal pressures, personal growth, and finding clarity through...
info_outline“Until that moment I had never left a job with nothing to go to. I've always had something lined up. So this time I was like, Iesha, what are you gonna do? I had no idea. And that was perfectly OK. I had to trust myself”
Today's guest, Iesha Small, shares her journey from engineering to the world of education to her current role as Head of Comms, and now encouraging others with her writing and coaching.
We talk about the twists and turns of career change, and pivoting. Where you aren't always sure what your next move is, but you make it anyway.
Sometimes doors close for us, and we have to decide what to do next, other times we are closing that door for ourselves, and we are in full ownership of why it’s important and what we want next.
Iesha shares her thoughts and ponders in a brilliant weekly blog, and takes the pressure and perfection out of career changing.
"What's the point of achieving all this stuff if it is not gelling with what you actually think is important in life?"
Here are the highlights:
11:19 First time quitting a job without backup.
16:26 Decided to take breaks and rest intuitively.
20:59 Serendipitous job came from conversations during time off.
25:20 Started career pivot talks on LinkedIn.
31:42 Choose family time over earning more money.
32:26 Intentional career shift after realising future uncertainty.
42:19 Weekly emails help with career strategy and values.
55:58 Show Your Work: Share expertise, attract opportunities.
Iesha Small’s Another Door go-tos
The things that helped Iesha navigate change.
Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho; Show Your Work by Austin Kleon.
Music: "You Can't Break My Soul" by Beyoncé.
One piece of advice: “ If you don't fail, you're probably not doing anything hard enough.”
About Iesha Small:
Iesha Small is a communications professional who has navigated a diverse career path from mechanical engineering to education and now communications. She leverages this experience to help leaders and professionals confidently pivot careers and build profitable passion projects. As a Head of Communications and founder of Cute Fruit Ltd, Iesha combines corporate expertise with entrepreneurial insights. Her accomplishments include publishing "The Unexpected Leader," appearing on BBC, writing for The Guardian, and speaking at the National Theatre. Iesha's approach, rooted in her background as an introvert from a working-class family, offers practical advice for career development. She's found success in building an online presence, particularly on LinkedIn, which has transformed her understanding of digital communications. Iesha provides online workshops, one-on-one career strategy sessions, and a Career Pivot Pro course, helping others achieve their professional goals through continuous learning and adaptation.
Find out more: https://ieshasmall.com/
Connect with Iesha:
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ieshasmall/
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
About your host Eleanor Tweddell:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”
Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.
Connect with Eleanor:
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: eleanortweddell.com
Are you looking for speakers with a fresh voice for your next workshop or conference? Check out
https://recommended.anotherdoor.co.uk