Transitioning out of the Classroom? Give Yourself the 30-Day Guarantee
Teaching afforded me a lifestyle where I could purchase some wants and not stress over paying for the necessities, particularly once I moved into teacher leadership. This new financial stability also brought up a painful realization — I was conditioned to believe that it was my responsibility to share the money I had with those I loved. This money mindset, as financial advisors name it, led me to the core belief that I did not deserve to have a robust savings account or spend large amounts on my own desires when those close to me were struggling financially. This belief colored my decisions until I received a free copy of Mindful Money.
The book Mindful Money by Jonathan K. DeYoe takes the reader through a series of tasks and writing prompts to re-align money decisions to one’s values and principles while also ensuring that the reader is the center of each decision. One of the key tasks is to withhold from making any large purchases for 30 days. The idea is that in 30 days the reader could more accurately determine whether the purchase is truly aligned to their values and needs.
I first engaged the 30 day test in 2016 when my beloved car Sparkle Bright stopped working. I needed to decide whether to buy a new car or spend half of the car’s current value to repair it. Half of the car’s value was significant but not necessarily excessive since the car was already paid off. For 30 days I took public transportation and Uber. It turned out that my car mostly sat in parking spots. I didn’t miss the luxury of driving because most of my day was present in one space. I didn’t really need a car to get through 90% of my day. In fact, it turns out that I enjoy walking to and from the train station, having lunch already prepared, and not hassling with parking. After the 30 days, I paid to have my car fixed and, when I did finally sell the car two years later, the dealer paid me more than I paid for the repairs.
My experience of the 30 day guarantee is relevant to educators seeking to transition out of the classroom. In recent conversations with career-transitioning educators I have noticed a pattern wherein educators believe they need to quickly jump out of the classroom and into a new position. In response, I have encouraged them to create a 30-day self-guarantee. Given the last two years, educators — and equity-minded educators specifically — need time to decompress. Equity-minded educators deserve time to center themselves and make a career decision out of desire, not solely responsibility.
Much like my old belief that I did not deserve to have money, educators have become conditioned to believe that they do not deserve to take time off. Many veteran educators leave the profession with YEARS of personal leave. Why? Because the working definition of personal leave is often life-threatening circumstances rather than proactive care. Educators who take personal leave can be shamed — particularly if the school does not have an effective system for coverage. Yet this shame is not appropriate, just as my belief that I was responsible for the financial needs of everyone in my inner circle. Not only is it not appropriate, it is not sustainable.
A career transition should lead to sustainability. Sustainability is an appropriate balance of one’s economic, health, environmental, and societal needs. Thus, whatever job an educator takes should appropriately meet their financial, cultural, climate, self-care, and social needs. However, in a state of distress, educators can rashly select a new position that only responds to one or two areas of sustainability. Taking a 30-day self-guarantee can disrupt a rush to choose.
I am not saying that 30 days is all that may be needed to reach the fullness of sustainability. Instead, I am emphasizing that without giving oneself a chance to consider each element, it is more likely that sustainability will not be the outcome of a career transition. What makes me so certain? My personal experience with my own career transition and supporting others through theirs has shown time and time again that when we rush to meet the expectations of others, we make decisions that don’t align to our intuition, values, and needs — it never works out. Instead, we find ourselves feeling trapped. Educators can avoid the roller coaster ride of career transitioning if they are willing to make a self-guarantee: if a job opportunity, a career path, or a position does not embody the elements of sustainability after 30 days, then it is okay to shift, to reconsider, to say yes to ourselves.
How does one really know the right decision to make in 30 days? Through a lot of reflection and noticing. Each day consider:
What brought you joy and stress?
What dreams or visions did you have about your career?
In what ways did you help others that felt reciprocal and not transactional?
What were some of the financial needs or desires that came up?
How did you feel when it was time to wake up or go to sleep?
What were your eating habits?
Who did you spend time with and how did you feel before, during, and after?
As I mentioned earlier, I found that not having a car allowed me to actually get daily exercise through the mile walk to and from the train station. I enjoyed these walks and sought to keep walking as a regular part of my day afterwards. Before giving up my car for 30 days, I had no idea how much walking improved how I felt each day.A 30 day self-guarantee may reveal hidden and significant needs in your life as well. Aspects of living that increase sustainability.
You deserve a career that is sustainable. A transition that is not based on other’s ideas of what sustainability should look like for you.
Give yourself a 30-day guarantee.
Dr. Lanette Jimerson is a writer, educator and scholar. She helps equity-minded leaders expand their impact and craft a career trajectory that centers their professional and financial needs. Book a conversation to learn how she supports leaders in transition. Check out 12 Tips to Transitioning Careers to get started on your journey
