Navigating Unemployment: Finding New Opportunities After Losing a Job with Adrienne Brabant

In the episode, we interview Adrienne Brabant, a highly-experienced professional who lost her job and embarked on a journey to reinvent her career. Adrienne shares her experiences of unemployment, providing insight into the emotional aspects of losing a job and how she coped with it. The discussion revolves around her strategies for staying productive, finding new opportunities, redefining her career goals, and maintaining a positive mindset. Her journey, which included taking on multiple part-time roles, consulting, and learning to prioritize herself over her work is detailed. The hosts emphasize the importance of an updated resume, having a savings fund for emergencies, and being open to new opportunities.

Connect with Adrienne via email or on Instagram.

00:00 Introduction: The Unemployment Experience

01:15 Meet Adrienne: A Journey Through Career Transition

02:05 The Emotional Rollercoaster of Unemployment

03:29 Rebuilding Identity After Job Loss

04:05 The Struggles of Job Hunting in Tech

07:16 Surviving Unemployment: Financial Strategies and Mindset Shifts

17:49 The Power of Morning Routines and Self-Care

23:23 Job Applications and Career Pivots

27:32 Questioning Career Choices and Interview Skills

27:56 Gender Differences in Job Applications

28:30 The Struggles of Job Hunting

30:35 The Power of Networking and Creating Opportunities

31:14 Exploring Entrepreneurship and Consulting

31:26 The Fear of Leaving a Steady Paycheck

32:01 Diving into Local Business and Community

32:44 The Unexpected Connections in Business

34:13 Embracing the Entrepreneurial Spirit

41:29 The Journey from Employed to Unemployed

41:39 The Importance of Being Prepared and Flexible

43:30 The Power of Saying Yes and Embracing Opportunities

44:39 The Benefits of Joining a Women's Mastermind Group

45:19 The Final Thoughts on Unemployment and Entrepreneurship

Transcript

Track 1: 0:00

being in a position where you're unemployed can feel very shitty. But I think it also can give you like what you're doing is giving yourself an opportunity to like figure it out and do it in a way that's really thoughtful and really healthy versus just like, shit, I better find another shitty job that because. You know, because that's what I'm supposed to be doing, you know?

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 0:59

Hello friends. Hello POD people. Welcome back to We're Doing This Right? Right.

Track 1: 1:06

Welcome. Hi.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 1:08

Hi Adrienne. Adrienne. say your last name'cause it feels like it should be Bra, is that correct?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 1:17

That feels right. Yes, it's.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 1:18

Okay. Adrienne is with us. So Adrienne, is from Mountain View, California originally, and she was there pursuing a passion for event management. Well, she went to Cal Poly here down in San Luis Obispo, which is where we met. She specialized her focus on special event management during college. She interned at Hospice de Rhone a wine festival that. Still she helps out with every year. In 2011, she landed her dream job at Eventbrite in San Francisco, spending 11 years there in various roles from customer experience to hr. After a stint as Chief of Staff at a small startup, she's now focused on developing and scaling operations for local businesses outside of work. Adrienne loves exploring the central coast with friends and her cute dog, and works at a wine bar for fun, which I love to frequent. Adrienne.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 2:08

Thank you for having me. Thanks, you too.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 2:11

So we asked Adrienne to come because Adrienne found herself fun employed after all of that amazing work experience. And I think that that looked different than she expected and what that job market looks like and the feelings that are part of becoming unemployed. And so I, we just wanted to have her here to kind of talk through what that looked like for her.

Track 1: 2:35

We've talked a lot about the evolution of women's careers, especially people who are in entrepreneurship, so I think this is like a really poignant piece of that because in that path. There. talk a lot about gaps and I think sometimes we talk about gaps and people assume that means you've had a child or something, but there are gaps in careers for lots of reasons sometimes because you need to find a new one. So I think that this is a great conversation for us to have to really like normalize this, talk about this'cause I. You kind of touched about just in talking previously, like the grief of losing a job and I'm sure there's some lots of feelings and maybe shame feelings or maybe, you know, whatever those things are. Talk to us about you don't have to tell us why you don't have that, that job didn't happen anymore, but like, so, okay, you don't have the job anymore now. Now what? Like, tell us, walk us through that story.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 3:35

Yeah, 2023 is probably the most humbling year of my life. I've never felt more like I lost sort of my identity and had to rebuild it. And so a lot of people say this to me when they leave companies especially in tech, that they, really like do lose their sense of self and realize how much their ego is tied to what they do. And I always thought that I wasn't one of those people, but I certainly was one of those people. And so I take a lot of pride in what I do and I think I'm a very high performing individual, so it's very difficult for me to, be an environment where. The market is really difficult because everyone is being laid off in tech and there are tons of people looking for work and not a lot of work. Tech companies really tightening their belts this last year in preparation for the recession. And the impact was huge. And so for me it was, I. Feeling like this total, like, oh my God, what am I going to do? And also, there's not a lot of hope for getting an actual, another really great job. I kind of with that chief of staff position, I finally was in this role that I felt like really suited my skillset, but I didn't feel like I had enough experience in it to successfully interview for that next chief of staff role because people are looking for very senior people. So. Greater tenure at my company before searching for that next job. And so there's a lot of, you can probably hear me talking self doubt in what am I, how, what am I, can I even apply for, would they even talk to me? And then there's, so much networking that needs to be involved. The fact, the fact that even left at ATE after 11 years was largely because of my network and I got an opportunity. And so these things, I sort of live my life by stopping. I hate trying to force things to happen and I like to look and pay attention to what doors are opening and kind of walk through those doors. And it has felt a lot like I am pushing and forcing, trying to get this like next job versus. Reflecting and focusing and figuring out like kind of like living and being happy and seeing what doors open because I'm so conditioned to be making and providing and serving. And so with all of that, I can say that identity has crumbled but also been rebuilt. I've liked to say that all of the toxic things in my life sort of left in 2023 and sort of priming myself for. Really great healthy dynamics at work, relationships, everything in 2024. So I'm kind of embracing that mindset. And I'm also telling myself, you know, what's meant for me will, will, will happen. Like, I'm not going to force the wrong opportunity and the right one will just feel right and to keep your head up and your eyes open. But in first leaving the, the job it was, I. A huge I dunno if you all know the five stages of grief, but I was, I teach that a lot. I've been doing learning and development for a long time in work. So I teach the change curve, which is essentially the same thing as the five stages of I found myself in very much in denial and I was super angry, and then I was bargaining, and then I was depressed and I was just sort of like going between these stages of that, the, the stages of grief until I think finally after probably about six to eight months I got to this place of acceptance. And it was then that I started to. Instead of just live in this fear and anxiety spot and spiral, I was like, okay, like my life can go on. I can do other things. I can depart from the thinking that I need. Like success is working at a really great tech company. It could be contributing to your community or doing something on a smaller skill. And so I've been working to design my life to make that work and kind of buy time and for me to figure out what that next thing really is gonna be, that's gonna be really fulfilling for me.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 7:19

I love the design my life. That is such a good, such a good message for anybody that finds themself in a moment of change or needing a moment of change. I.

Track 1: 7:32

Yeah, absolutely. And I think that's, you know, Cheryl and I is kind of, I. Whole thing is like design the life that you want live the life that you know, that makes you happy and defining success, how you want to define success, not how society or somebody else has decided what success looks like. But I wanted you to talk to us about like, that grief period for you, you said was like six to eight months, right? During that time, are you working? Are you, did you find another, like are you doing part-time? Like what's happening? While logistically, like, how are we keeping the lights on during that time? Like what are we, what does that look like? Because I think that's the part where it's like, you, you have these gaps, but like, I mean, my question is like, okay, well how would I pay my bills? Like how does that, what you talked

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 8:24

Yeah. That's where a lot of the fear,

Track 1: 8:25

Yeah.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 8:27

yeah. Yeah. So that's where a lot of the fear sets in of what I always said. I was living. Something mindset. It's like when you, scarcity mindset. I was really, I felt like I very strongly that I was living from this place of scarcity and trying to figure out how to stop that. Because when you're doing that, you're obviously not like innovating and you're not, well, you're not like you could be innovating'cause you have to,'cause you don't have much. But like you're not really being

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 8:53

You're not in growth mindset. You're not in abundance mindset. Yeah. You.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 8:57

Exactly. You're like, oh my God, how do I survive? So survival mindset was real for me. And so to do that, I, there are a couple things that happened that got me positioned that I was very fortunate, which was I bought a house in 2020, which like all the stars aligned. I was really fortunate to work at a great company that went public. So I had money for a down payment. I got in right before the market went crazy and covid hit. And so I. under offered on my house and ended up getting it and like to say, paint a picture. That just doesn't happen right now. And so there's some life things that lined up for me to be positioned really well. Another thing is with this house, I really wanted to remodel the kitchen and I decided, you know what? I just didn't feel right. I didn't, I just something about it because I knew I would blow all my savings in order to remodel this kitchen, and so I. And so at the time where now I'm faced with not having a job, rather than having zero in my savings account, I had a cushion, which I would recommend to every person in the world to have no shit fund because my God, I'm, I was always like that. That will ever happen to me like that. I'll be fine. But that does, it can, and it could happen to anyone. So

Track 1: 10:01

I want you, I want you to pause there because I think there's two really important life skill moments. One, importance of owning your own home. Doing that as soon as you can, as, because that is a real, real asset. And I don't know, you haven't talked about it, but like there's opportunities there where you could have pulled money from your house or things, you know, like the equity in your home. And then two, the financial part of that, which is having the cushion and putting that money aside. Like those are things that a lot of people don't do. They don't have that or they don't feel like capable of that. So how.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 10:36

Yeah.

Track 1: 10:38

Have lined that up for yourself.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 10:41

I don't know the statistic, but it's, it's very shocking how few people have money in their savings account when you like, it's a really, really scary statistic how few people have the oh shit fund. And that's terrifying because so many people wind up where they do where you are right now. Like it happened.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 11:00

Right? It does. And I do feel like I'm coming from a huge place of privilege from having the savings because my life largely felt lucky to that point where I had that, the savings. I worked at a company that did really well, and so when it went public, I did well, but I could never save money to save my life. It was really difficult paycheck to paycheck to actually build a savings. So I would say my heart goes out to people that are struggling with that because I certainly do and did as well. I just happen to. Be at the right place at the right time. But yeah, so that super helped me because I, you know, I had a little bit of breather, like, I wasn't like so afraid. But I also am very, like, I didn't wanna use my savings to float by my life during this like awful time. And'cause I would've resented that. I, so I be created a personal challenge because ultimately I do want that kitchen remodeled. But I created a personal challenge for myself of how do I make my savings last as long as humanly possible by getting scrappy. And that was sort of what spurred my motivation to think of how to live creatively. And so, my friends, somehow someone told me about Furnish Finder, which is where you can find traveling nurses and I live very near a hospital and so I was thinking, okay, like I could rent out my rooms to help me with my mortgage and like property taxes, HOA, all that. There's my living expenses and so. I ended up putting up the house, or, and I have, I have a three bedroom, three bathroom. So I'm fortunate that people can have their own space really, really easily. So it's not like you're living on top of each other. I had been living alone and I was finally like, yes, I've made it. I can have my own house. I live alone. This is fantastic. I, I just figured out how to make enough money to make that work and so I was really not wanting to go backwards. It felt like a massive in the direction with where I wanted my life to go. But I will say. I've had now one, now I'm going on my fourth at the end of February, traveling, nurse, moving in, and they've just sort of, I've either had one room or both rooms rented and it's just been so amazing and it's been really, really helpful for me in making this experience a little bit better.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 13:16

I have to talk about that'cause I am such a proponent for making your assets make you money. And so I bought my first place in 2012 and rented out the second bedroom the entire time. And then when Alex and I bought our place together. We continued to rent out the extra bedroom. I mean, we had a lot more bedrooms now, but we rented one of them pretty much the entire time. We always joked we'd taken strays and we weren't making like loads of money, but we were offsetting our expenses by having somebody else contribute and we had the space. And then when we were getting ready to get married and have kids, we built on an extra bedroom with like a separate entrance and that could be closed off from the house, but could also be utilized by the house and that we rented on Airbnb. Like would just lock it off and it was, it was monumental. It was like, okay, we were able to put money in savings. Like that was really great. And then also like the weekends we'd be out traveling and just like living our best life. It's like, well, it's cool. We've got like$500 being deposited in the account this weekend because we're doing nothing. We're making money while we go travel, and I just really. It's sacrifices. Like I can't tell you the number of people I've spoken to over the years that are like, Ugh, but I don't want somebody in my house. And I'm like, I get it. I understand that. And sometimes we make sacrifices to like catapult forward and Alex and I catapulted forward. I catapulted forward from my condo to my house. To where? To the property that we own now, and it was because we were willing to make those like kind of uncomfortable choices that a lot of people don't. Even with hosting an AU pair, so many people are like, I don't want somebody in my house. I'm like, okay, well I'm paying a fraction of what you are in childcare to share my house with someone. I already have the space, so. Just making those conscious choices towards like the direction you wanna go. Like in your case, you probably didn't have another option. I'm sure this was huge at like replacing the income you lost For me, thankfully it hasn't been that, but it has contributed to our savings account and our oh shit fund for sure.

Track 1: 15:20

And I think too, like understanding somebody mentioning something to you but then. Putting that into action and like being courageous enough, I don't know if that's like the word, but being courageous enough to like take that and put that into action for like survival purposes, but also like for your life.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 15:43

Right.

Track 1: 15:44

There are so many people in the world who are given really good ideas. Or ways to help themselves or ways to survive, and they choose not to take them. And so I think that that is

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 15:54

My dad.

Track 1: 15:55

a credit to you, right? That you, that is the survival spirit or the prospering spirit at its finest, right? To, to be able to take that and put it into action so that you can build the life that you want so you can live the life that you want. Even in a really shitty situation, you know, like that's setting yourself up for success.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 16:22

Yeah, my life has largely felt fairly unchanged, but. Which is kind of shocking. Like I feel like I'm maintaining lifestyle, but I haven't like, dyed my hair for a year, which I'm like, now I'm embracing having my natural hair color. Like, wait. I'm like, no, grays are starting to come in. So I'm thinking, wait, this, maybe this is the last time in my life I'm ever gonna have like my beautiful natural brown hair. Why wouldn't I just let that go? And I, my friend's been cutting my hair, so I'm like very much like taking cuts where I feel like I can, and trying to make, put a positive spin on it, I guess.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 16:56

Yeah.

Track 1: 16:57

Yeah, also like there's, there's mindset to that too, right? Like. Viewpoint and framing, and there's a lot of this that could have been like, this fucking sucks and I am going to sleep and lay in my sweatpants for six to eight months. That's what, that was my question. Right? It's like there is this grieving process and that doesn't mean you're not feeling shitty. It doesn't mean that you're not grieving. It doesn't mean that you don't feel the loss of this identity or this career, but it also. Is like, but you still have to like do the things every day, right?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 17:34

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I can talk about what I did because there were, I did wanna just lay in bed, but I also I, know that there's so many resources out there speaking of podcasts and things that you can listen to, to kind of help motivate you. And so I got, I think actually my friend Summer, who, you know Cheryl,

Track 1: 17:50

yeah.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 17:51

The like, only thing I knew I could, I have a dog and I was like, I've gotta walk my dog, so I'm gonna get up in the mornings. That's a healthy-ish feeling habit. And I'm gonna walk him. And so I, as I was walking him on there's this really, really beautiful bike trail near my house, which I feel really fortunate to have. Mel Robin, I listened to her and be like, well, what's the deal with this lady? Anyway, she, I heard her talking about like the perfect morning routine or the good nighttime routine, kind of set your life up. And so I started trying to implement some of those things to, just motivate myself and kind of get into my creative and think a little bit more outside of the box, and so. It was largely like when you wake up in the morning, don't look at your phone, which is hard, but actually really great when you can do it. Then give yourself a high five in your mirror and then like set your intention for the day and like, and so I would be like, I would do that and then I would, and they would say, get outside. Do something physical, but get, get set on your skin. Everyone's saying get set on your skin first thing in the morning. And so I would go on a back your mind and I would journal. And so through the journaling I started thinking what do. Trying, trying to figure out what I want has, I think across my life has been one of the most difficult things.'cause I'm sort of like, like a servant type person where I'm like, where am I needed? How can I help? Not like, what do I want and how do I go for the thing that I want the most? And so that's been a huge, hugely challenging, but I found that that was really helpful to get me focused and clear my head and think about what I do want. And that was a, a. Those stages of grief for sure was like prioritizing myself and

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 19:21

picture you're painting of the life sounds like, like this. This is my slow morning routine that I really, that I really would love to have like the get Get sun on your skin and get outside and journal like that's my dream Adrienne. I don't ever take the time to do that, and I, you know what, you guys, I'm fucking worthy of taking the time to do that for myself. Credit Despi Mayes on that one. I need to make these shifts and do this sort of thing for myself. It sounds like I. Anybody at any stage of life working, not working, this is like what we all should be doing. But then we get in that cycle of like not rise and grind.'cause what you're describing isn't really, isn't rise and grind, but it's like the things we should be doing, you know, that like should, then we feel shame when we're not doing it. I'm just, I'm thinking out loud, I'm spinning through this, but God, it sounds glorious what your mornings look like.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 20:17

Well, well it, but it ha it's had to shift for me. This was actually, okay, so kind of big picture thinking. I used to wake up every morning and get on my computer and I literally lived, breathed whatever work. I wouldn't come up for air until 5:00 PM and I just was a frigging hyper achiever. And that was like. I, I completely prioritize my work. And so a shift has been to prioritize myself.'cause like what, what work am I gonna prioritize right now? You know? And so it has now become something I look forward to and want to do, which was something that's been like a lifelong journey for me, is how do I flip the script from like, ha, you should be going outside and doing this for yourself because. You should be doing, you know, versus like, oh, I get to go do that. And like I get to walk my, and like I like being in the cold air and I like walking coffee, and I enjoy that activity, which my whole life has been spent like. Completely. Again, not knowing what I want, but doing what other people tell me I should be doing. And so that was a really great transition for me. And even now I found I've always had a struggle with like going to the gym.'cause for me it was associated with like weight loss and trying to look a certain way. And it was never a thing that was like, Hey, do this because you enjoyed what you're doing. And I will say, I've been going to Kismet Cheryl and I'm obsessed

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 21:36

Shout out Brittany at San Luis.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 21:38

I know, and it, it couldn't be the worst time of a class possible. No offense, Brittany, but like it's at four 30 every day, which happy hour has got to get in the way or life, you know? But I am like, no, forget it. I'm going Like the other day I was at happy hour and I left for an hour and came back and I was like, I'm just gonna, I'll pop out and come right back. And it's like so accessible and fun that I just don't even think about it. So those are pretty big wins. I would say for me in this experience is finding something that I love to do for myself and like. Showing up to do it

Track 1: 22:10

Cheryl's talked about this before too. Like sometimes you need those times of quiet or those times where there's nothing to do to really like refocus and reset and like kind of get your. You know, like do the journaling or do whatever it is to, to ask yourself those questions. What do I want to do? How do I wanna serve? Who do I wanna serve? Maybe I should be serving myself. Like, maybe this is the time where I should start, like putting myself first instead of others. You know, when we're in this 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM constantly on the computer, constantly working, constantly doing, you don't have those moments. To be creative, to think, to innovate, you know, all of that stuff. So, being in a position where you're unemployed can feel very shitty. But I think it also can give you like what you're doing is giving yourself an opportunity to like figure it out and do it in a way that's really thoughtful and really healthy versus just like, shit, I better find another shitty job that because. You know, because that's what I'm supposed to be doing, you know?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 23:22

I will say for everything I have on the backend, like I have been doing a bunch to try and figure out what that next job is going to be, and I've been applying for a ton of jobs that would be that same exact experience that I had before. And that's not working. Like I'm not getting the jobs and I can't help but think. I mean, that's really humbling as well because you like go from this like performer at a. Not being able to even get a job. And so there's, we can probably talk about interviewing because that's really terrible. But then also just like what, what cues do you pay attention to in life that help you figure out when you're on the right path? Like on, I don't wanna say right, but a path that you kind of should pursue following. And that's something I'm currently struggling with because I. I can also talk about things that I am doing. I am working locally in a community, doing things, and I'm also applying for jobs that would be kind of going to what I was doing before. But certain things are sticking and certain things aren't, and I'm curious in where that will lead me.'cause I'm still not very sure.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 24:26

This is our second guest of the year that's curious about what's gonna happen this year.

Track 1: 24:30

Yes.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 24:30

Like it.

Track 1: 24:31

Now, you've been doing all this like applying, are you applying for you, you're applying for similar jobs and in that process when you're not getting where you want to go or maybe whatever. Are you feeling like you still wanna do that or do you feel like maybe like, oh, maybe I should pivot. Like what kind of, what happens during that process?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 24:53

I feel a lot of desire to pivot.

Track 1: 24:55

Okay.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 24:56

Well, because, so my, so this is where I'm kind of talking about this like theme in my life where I go where people need help or needed. And so I felt like my career sort of went in a direction that was not necessarily what I would've chosen, but one where I got called to go and. So I was at Eventbrite and I was working in the customer support. I didn't necessarily wanna do customer support forever, but I had kind of grown outta that position and, and was working on this, in this really cool role doing more product operations and voice of the customer where I got to advocate for feature requests and things like that based on customer contact. I thought it was like the coolest job. However, sort of, kind of felt like I reached the peak in that role. And at the time I had worked for a new leader who was in learning and development, and he was just like a most incredible person I'd ever worked with. And I still, he's a great friend of mine today, but he had open headcount. To switch gears and go to his team, and so. And totally took a leap of faith. Went to a completely different career and one that I wasn't sure if that was, you know, I had no idea if I wanted to do that, but it was like a cool opportunity and I knew I wanted to learn from this person. And so after I switched gears and went to his team, I did really enjoy what I was doing, but he ended up leaving after eight months. And so now I was in this job that I didn't know if that was what I wanted to be doing for the rest of my life. Foreseeable future. The leader that I wanted to work for was gone. And so that was a huge life lesson to anyone who's considering taking a job for a manager but not isn't sure of the work. Like, do not do that. Really think about is that the role you want to be doing? And is that work going to ignite you and light you up? Ultimately what's really interesting is in learning development, we learn, talk a lot about. Psychology and you know, human behavior. And I'm incredibly fascinated about that in my personal life. I just love understanding how people tick and what motivates them. And so it's this field that I'm very interested in, but I'm not someone who likes to get in front of a classroom and teach and facilitate workshops. But a large, huge part of learning development is doing that body of work. And so long story, long is those are the types of roles that, like, those are the types of things that I'm equipped to do on my resume. If you look at my resume, you'd say, oh, she a, I. Role that I want. I'm much more operational in nature. I love to design incredible programs and be like the person behind the screen, kind of developing employee programs that make businesses have a great place to work. And so I do think I need to kind of shift the things like I need a, I think there's a lot behind updating your resume to be catered towards the job that you want, but I am also like, you know. When you get opportunities, it's really difficult to get an interview. And so what I've been doing is going to my network and saying, Hey, like do you know anyone who's known? Anyone who's known, anyone who's like, could be hiring? And so I get these opportunities that largely have been l and d roles, and I'm like, okay, is this coming to me because this is what I should be doing? Or is this coming to me? Because that's just like, there's like these huge questions. So I keep going for these roles and it not landing and I'm like, can't help but wonder. Okay. Is that just a completely the wrong role? Do I need to work on my interview skills? Like what is going on? And so there's a huge, I think, open question for me in that area right now that I'm trying to work through.

Track 1: 28:02

when you're applying for these, Adrienne, I heard this statistic one time, or I don't know, somebody said it, but it's

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 28:09

She made it up.

Track 1: 28:11

Up women will look at list of job requirements. Check every single one of those job requirements, they won't apply, but men will look at a list of requirements and if they check two, they'll just apply. Like I feel like that is so interesting. Like do you feel like you're going after stuff or do you feel like you're having to be like perfect for these jobs? I will admittedly say I haven't applied formally for a job. I mean, I've run my own business since 2018, and prior to that I worked at the same place for a long time. So like, I don't, I, I'm just, I don't know, like, is that part of the process when you're looking for jobs?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 28:58

You definitely wanna look at the qualifications and see if it aligns to your skillset.'cause they're gonna ask you about it when you're interviewing. So you either have to go to fake it till you make it, which I'm not good at. I'm not a good liar. I'm not good at like, embellishing my, my career experiences. Which maybe that could be something that other people might feel more comfortable with. I'm sure there's personality types that I have no problem doing that. But no, I certainly like, well, I've applied for things that I'm grossly underqualified for because I'm like, you know, you miss all the shots. You don't take.

Track 1: 29:27

Because I just feel like these dudes, these bros be out here like applying for jobs that are like way, underqualified for, but they're getting'em right because maybe they're confident enough or maybe, I don't know. I don't know. Or they know the right bro.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 29:42

They've gotta be able to Yeah, they know the right people. Yeah, that helps too. But I've had a very, very warm, very good references and not gotten jobs, which has been really, which is fine, but I'm like, oh my God, like something is definitely wrong. So my, my mentor was like, okay, I think we need to do some mock interviews'cause something is not clicking. And I was like, okay. Which kinda made me lose confidence because I do believe the right job will just inherently and the right opportunity. Fit. It doesn't matter how much I practice my star questions or whatever, like when you drive for the right people and you're applying for the right thing kind of kids, like it'll just, it should just work. And so I'm kind of between this like strengthen the interview skillset and accept that like the right job will come and it will match. It might not be what you think it is or,

Track 1: 30:28

Or maybe you need to

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 30:30

might look differently.

Track 1: 30:31

your own business.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 30:32

Colleen and I are just over here doing the same thing. Like, come on Adrienne, just jump. Just jump over here with us. Be an

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 30:38

I know,

Track 1: 30:39

I just.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 30:40

I know. Well, trust,

Track 1: 30:41

Today in my InspireHER Collective group here in Indie. Somebody asked like, well, how do I find these networking groups? I can't find them. And I just said, if you can't find it, you create it. I don't know, maybe the stars are aligning for you, Adrienne. Like if you can't find what you're doing, maybe you need to create it. Like, I'm over here like texting Cheryl on the side. Like should she be like a, like is there an opportunity? Like what, I think there's such, and everybody's wired differently, right? Like, but my brain is like, oh, okay then like we should just figure out what your next company should be. You.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 31:20

Totally. So I, I will say we can navigate towards talking. What about what I have been doing, because it is largely related to consulting and thinking about how to work. I. Start my own thing. And that's been really fun. It's been there, there's so much I would love to learn from you both and being entrepreneurs and owning your own businesses because the departure for me in having a steady paycheck and insurance is so scary. It's hard to mentally commit to, and especially when you don't have a product per se, and clients who wanna buy your service. So I have just been taking this approach of like. I'm gonna do stuff and I'm doing a lot of stuff right now and see what kind of story I can form based off I've been doing so. leaving tech. I was like, I just don't wanna work remote anymore. It's been, I've been remote since 2017, sitting at my computer grinding and I live in this beautiful place that has a, a incredible community. And I was like, I just wanna like be around people again and like. Give back to the community. And so I talked to my friend and I told her this and she said, oh, well my husband might be hiring for, you know, you need some help. He's growing his business and so I've been working for a local mobile vet clinic to help them with their operations. And I've done some really cool stuff with them. They're kind of a startup in a way. And so it's been really cool to take my knowledge and skillset and apply to the things that they're working on and help them kind of grow and expand their business. So,

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 32:48

I have to pause you right there. Because last week we had to say goodbye to my pup and this is a mobile vet clinic and Adrienne and I know a lot of the same people. And so I texted a mutual friend and this hu the hus, the wife of the husband, she was just talking about and I was like, Hey, I need to know a mobile vet number. So text me and my, I made my husband do the call and he, he calls me, he's like, the girl that answered the phone knew you, and he kind of described her. I was like, that's Adrienne. I know, I know who that was, but just such a

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 33:22

I was shocked. I was like, I was like, could you spell your last name? And he was spelling it and I was like. Do I know this person? And then because I, his voice didn't sound like Alex. I was, I was not. I didn't, I didn't, I did not connect the dot. Then he said, my wife knows the doctor's wife. I was like, oh my gosh. Okay. We'll definitely fit you in today. There's no

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 33:43

Well, thank you so much because I was like not able to function until it was over. I was like paralyzed, so thank you and rest in

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 33:52

Oh, I'm so

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 33:53

girl and Dr. Dan is badass. If you're in San Luis Obispo, Dr. Dan is my hero. He cried with us. He explained everything to my daughters, like he was, it was just like the warmest hug. And so anyways, thank you. So keep going. So you're doing, you're growing, you're doing things locally, you're like figuring it out based on like, what's, tell me, tell us more because I see you have the spirit

Track 1: 34:19

Yeah. I'm like, you already are an entrepreneur. You're already going into other people's businesses. You're consulting, you're doing this. I'm like. You could, your, your job could be to go into small businesses and set up the systems for them and get the things like rolling for them, because small business people need those things and they don't know how to do them because they have a product that they sell, or because they're a great baker typically means that they don't know how to do. Other parts to it and so I Congratulations. You are now a business consultant and we've just created your business for you right here on air and everybody, she is available.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 35:01

Also like at this moment, what do you have to lose? You already don't have the job. Like you, you don't have the insurance right now. Like those are the hardest, that's the hardest part about jumping into your own business. Like when I was leaving my corporate job that I was in for 12 years, it was like, fuck, I'm gonna walk away from like paying$400 a month for my entire family's insurance. I'm gonna walk away from my matched 401k. I'm gonna walk away from my pension. I still have some of my pension. I was vested you guys, but like I'm walking away from all of these security things. To bet on myself, and I had the confidence to bet on myself, but fuck, I do miss those other things, but you already don't have'em, so let's go.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 35:45

I know Well, so I have been going, that is what, what I've been doing is I work with a couple different businesses right now and consult and help them with their, their things. I've done, I've helped Summer, I've helped my friends Ria with her travel company. So I've helped, I helped summer automate all of her Compass communications from the time I close a deal to. The next five years, which was like, I love automation and scale. And then my friend RAA opened a travel agency and she needed help launching her kind of client CRM, which with automation and scale like communications. Um, and then I've been doing the vet and then I'm working for Hospice Jerone right now, again, helping them with their, their wine festival and then also helping at the winery at 15 C. So there's a lot of things I'm doing right now and I.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 36:30

And you still have time to get up and take your dog for a walk and journal, and you're paying all your bills.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 36:37

It's been busy.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 36:38

Okay,

Track 1: 36:39

literally living

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 36:39

for being unemployed, I.

Track 1: 36:41

you're like living everyone's best life

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 36:44

I think that I have my newest member of InspireHER SLO because you are an entrepreneur and you need to join us. Yeah, we're gonna talk about this after. You've gotta join us and InspireHER. I think that you are like the exact right fit for. So it's that thing that we talked about before, like if there's not already what you want in the world, create it. So Colleen and I created InspireHER Collective, which is like a women's mastermind group that has no financial costs currently to be a part of. It's just us creating a group of women from different industries that come together monthly and help we grow together by me teaching my skillset, learning from your skillset and It is, it's been really incredible so far, and I'm so excited world. This will be available nationwide, internationally. At some point we will bring you in on our syndication. We're gonna have an InspireHER Collective

Track 1: 37:36

Yeah, so we'll just turn this into an infomercial now. So in InspireHER Collective national, we'll basically launch if you will, this week because we have an indie group. We have a central California group. We will shortly

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 37:53

We're Central Coast. Colleen, I have to teach you, we're the central coast. We're not central California. That's Fresno and Bakersfield, which I love you Fresno and Bakersfield, but we're in San Luis Obispo

Track 1: 38:01

Sorry, I'm so sorry. The Central Coast has, has a membership and then we're gonna be launching in Denver and I think Austin and Philly. So we're gonna have a big network of really amazing female entrepreneurs who all wanna help each other, who all wanna share secrets, who all want to not gate keep and rise by lifting others. And, uh, it's, you're perfect. So welcome. You're in it. Good job. And we love your new business. Now you just like un unrolled here, so you're no longer unemployed. You are it you are an entrepreneur. You're a business owner. Wow. This is so fun. We did.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 38:44

I just did my LLC. I can walk you through how to do your LLC and file your articles of organization so that you can be official and start collecting money and writing all this shit off because,

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 38:55

so funny, I actually started I started a business in 2018 or 17, a property management company still going strong.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 39:02

Yeah. See you've been

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 39:04

done the, the LC stuff.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 39:06

Yeah.

Track 1: 39:07

What. not even unemployed.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 39:08

Well, you're unemployed in the best

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 39:09

say, let's just say I'm not making the money that I wanna be making yet.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 39:13

Well, you'll, you will. We all will like it. It's just like a, it takes time and then it'll be exponential and incredible. Like you talking to you, it's like. Shocking to hear you were ever fun employed because you're so well spoken. You're so intelligent, you have so much to offer, it's you're gonna, you're gonna be able to help so many more people. So when I left corporate world, and that was a little over two years ago now I now see how. or like held back. I was, because now I get to have this creativity be like, oh, I could try that. Oh, I could try that. Oh, I, I can shine here. Like I can create this. I can do that. I wasn't doing any of this, like none of my superpowers. The only superpower that got to shine was my people person.'cause I was in sales. So like that was where I got to shine. But I'm so much more than that and I didn't. Get to know that by being stifled, by working for a company. Now that I work for myself, I just get to be like, this is lighting my soul on fire. And I get to see what it's doing to all those people over there. And now this is lighting my soul on fire and look at all these people that it's contagious for and like the universe is really excited about what I'm doing and I'm excited about what I'm doing and it's the best. So I think that that was a real gift for you, Adrienne, because I see so much in your future.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 40:43

Oh, thanks. Y'all are making me feel real nice.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 40:46

Yeah, you're incredible.

Track 1: 40:47

If you'd like to be coached by us, we will also be launching coaching at the end of the year, by the way.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 40:53

Oh, y'all. I'm a certified

Track 1: 40:55

There you go.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 40:55

it.

Track 1: 40:57

But yeah, coaches need coaches. Like I just hired a coach. I have two coaches now. So that's just part of it, but

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 41:06

I was in more meaning that's a whole other business in of itself. You can go.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 41:10

it can really, like I'm working on it right now and I like see the benefits of it in my real estate business and I see the benefits of it in the podcast. I think it just makes you like a very well-rounded individual with, and it opens your eyes to other thoughts and other ideas that maybe. You didn't have the opportunity to explore without that certification. But I've been a coach my whole life, y'all, without any certifications, so oh, okay. What else should people know about the experience of going from employed to non-employed suddenly? What other things do you think would be helpful

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 41:45

Oh, I would just say if you have a job and you're feeling good about it, just update your resume. I can't tell you how low I felt when I was suddenly unemployed and I did not have a resume because I, even for the new job I got, I barely even people I. Really look at it like when you're a good in networking connection. So, but like to apply for a job that I wanted, then I had to go sit and focus and like write this whole thing about what I've been doing at a job that I did not wanna talk about. It was very challenging and so I would just say write it. Take the 20 minutes and have people read it, help you update it chat. GPT is also really great for helping with resumes and things like that. So like how to word things. So get, get organized, like get your, oh shit fund, have an updated resume at all times. I'd say just always have that plan B kind of ready in case something happens

Track 1: 42:39

I feel like we've lo we've learned some really important life skills in this conversation. One, you should buy a house as soon as you can. Two, you should have you should have some sort of, oh, you know, you call it a oh shit fund, some sort of savings fund, some sort of emergency fund, and. It's gotta be more than a thousand dollars. I think there's, like Dave Ramsey tells you to put a thousand dollars in it. A thousand dollars is gonna pay my bills

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 43:03

Oh, that's that's baby step. That's the baby step. His big thing is like six months of income or six months of expenses put away.

Track 1: 43:11

yeah, but make sure it's more than a thousand dollars, I guess is the point. And and update your resume. Keep your resume updated because new opportunities and new things, but then also like. I really am taking away from this that like having the space and the time to think and process and search and find is really, really where the magic happens. It's really where you have the opportunity.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 43:36

Yeah. And I've just been saying yes to the things that feel like they're flowing well. And like, for example, working for the vet, like I could have said no because I was like, oh, I need to make this much money. But I'm like, no, I'm not gonna use money as a constraint. I'm going to do the work, get the experience and see kind of where that takes me. And be, and that's really the grit and scrappiness of it is like, you know. I think you have to say yes to the things that are coming and feel right and go for it, even if it's not really how you thought it was gonna

Track 1: 44:06

Yeah. Be flexible. Yeah.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 44:10

Mm-Hmm.

Track 1: 44:11

thank you so much.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 44:12

is all part of our vision to reality. We've talked about crowdsourcing, we've talked about pivoting and being flexible. Love it. Okay, Adrienne, where can people be connected with you? Do you want to connect with people? What do you want?

Track 1: 44:26

What if somebody's out there.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 44:27

Yeah. I wanna talk to.

Track 1: 44:29

They wanna hire you immediately. Where should they contact you?

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 44:33

My email is an easy way, it's my first and last name@gmail.com. If there's Adrienne bba@gmail.com, that's also Instagram, A-D-R-I-B-R@adribra.

Track 1: 44:45

Perfect.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 44:45

Okay.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 44:46

Message me slide into my dms.

Track 1: 44:49

Yes,

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 44:49

I will with the InspireHER information because you're joining me.

Track 1: 44:54

yes.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 44:54

Amazing. Yeah, I just got recruited. See, this was the best job interview I've had in months.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:00

You're hired. You're hired. It doesn't pay and you have to buy your own lunch every meeting. But,

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 45:05

oh my God. That's how most of my jobs have been going so far for the course.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:09

It will pay in dividends down the road with the, what you learn from the incredible women that are part of it. And

Track 1: 45:17

Yeah.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:19

And then it'll pay me because I'll learn from you.

Track 1: 45:22

Absolutely,

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 45:23

Oh,

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:24

I love it. Well, thank you so much. I know it's a vulnerable topic and

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 45:30

Yeah.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:30

you brought a lot of light and laughter to it, and I love that so.

adrienne--she-her-_1_02-09-2024_091034: 45:35

Oh, well, thank you for having me. I'm sorry for the wifi issues.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:38

It's fine. I'll just cut it all out. You guys. Adrienne is to blame if it's choppy in the editing because we have some wifi snafus way.

Track 1: 45:47

That's

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 45:47

Adrienne wins the award for most freezes. More than like, I think your wifi is worse than Colleen's, and Colleen's is generally terrible, so. It's cool. This is a shout out to Elon Musk in starlink because mine is always great and I live in the middle of nowhere. We are sponsored by starlink. Thank you, Elon. I'll send the affiliate code out in our show

Track 1: 46:13

Yeah, send me a Tesla.

cheryl_1_02-09-2024_091033: 46:16

Yeah, I'll take, I'll take my Tesla whenever you're ready. Or my Tesla battery wall. I want one of those here out in the middle of nowhere. Okay. I digress. Thanks.

Track 1: 46:26

Bye.