From talent acquisition director to Tai Chi instructor, meet Baiba Wisse of Raleigh, North Carolina
Meet Baiba Wisse, a multi-passionate creative from Raleigh, North Carolina, who spent a decade in global talent acquisition before life handed her a plot twist: a layoff. While she was still working in recruiting, Baiba discovered her favorite part of the job wasn’t the spreadsheets or the scheduling, it was the human connection. She loved coaching candidates, hearing their career stories, and helping people see their own potential.
That passion inspired her to start her own podcast, The Career in Technicolor, where she interviews people about their career journeys in living color. But when the layoff hit, she found herself in that all-too-familiar “what now?” moment.
Instead of sitting still (because that’s not her style), Baiba leaned into her creative energy, painting, cooking, cleaning, and trying new things. She also followed her curiosity into movement and stress relief, recently earning her Tai Chi instructor certification. Now, she’s on a mission to bring Tai Chi into corporate settings, helping teams manage stress, move more, and age well.
I met Baiba early in my own podcasting journey, and we’ve been swapping ideas and cheering each other on ever since. She’s been a generous supporter, a creative sounding board, and now I’m flipping the mic so you can hear her story.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Connect with Baiba
We see the story where you get the 10,000 likes. You see the story when you get the, um, accolade, you know, the promotion, or you know, where you can say at least you're somewhat successful or you've made it, but you don't see the agony, the stress, the questioning, all the neurosis and ups and downs that go into.
Making a pivot. Hey there. Welcome back to the Career Flipper Podcast, your permission slip to reimagine work life and everything in between. I'm your host Jenny Dempsey furniture Flipper, career change coach, and your slightly unhinged cheerleader for figuring it the heck out. This podcast was born after I got laid off from my tech job and spiraled into a full-blown, Ooh, what am I even doing with?
My life mode. I was firing off resumes like confetti and collecting rejections and ghosting. Oh, 'cause that's so fun. Until one day I find a junky coffee table in my friend's basement. And honestly, I felt like how it looked, I didn't have a plan. I didn't know how to use power tools and I definitely didn't know the difference between oil and water-based wood stain.
But I got curious. I started asking questions and I flipped that coffee table and somewhere between sanding and top. Coat. I realized I'm not just given that furniture a second chance. I'm giving myself one too. Now, this podcast is my love letter to reinvention or flipping as I like to call it. Each week I sit down with people from around the world who've flipped their careers, their lives, or just their mindsets, sometimes on purpose, sometimes by total accident.
And they're here to share the real story behind the flip. So if you're craving a career change, a mindset reset, or just a flicker of hope that your next chapter is out there waiting. Well, this is your sign. Hit follow, subscribe, and let's start flipping today. I am so excited because my guest is someone I have been lucky enough to get to know through my own podcast journey.
Her name is by Boise and she's from Rally North Carolina. When we first connected, I was really just. Starting this whole podcast thing and since then she's been one of those people I can bounce ideas off of, learn from and cheer on. I've even been a guest on her show, the Career in Technicolor podcast, and now it's my turn to flip the mic and have her here.
Vibe has spent over a decade in global talent acquisition. Helping people land jobs all over the world. But what she loved most wasn't really the recruiting metrics or the process. It was the coaching, the human connection and hearing people's career stories. That love of storytelling led her to start her own podcast where she interviews people about their careers in full vivid color.
When a layoff came along, though, Baba face the big What's next question? And instead of sitting still because. She's just not built that way. She leaned into her creative energy, painting, cooking, cleaning, anything to keep moving forward. She also turned her attention to something totally new, Tai Chi.
After realizing how stress was impacting her own body, she got certified as a Tai Chi instructor, and now wants to bring that movement and mindfulness back into the corporate world. In this episode, we talk about the winding path of career change, the importance of staying curious, and how Baba is using her multi-passionate energy.
To create a life she loves. I can't wait for you to meet her. Let's dive in.
You know, Baba, do you remember when we took that, um, it was kind of this like podcasting bootcamp thing, and that is how we connected and like the things that we learned from in there about putting yourself out there and, you know, talking about. Your story and how getting vulnerable. And I remember in those early days thinking, Ooh, that's like, that sounds so hard.
And then I met you and I'm like, you're already doing this. Welcome to the Career Flipper. We're turning the tables now. You have an incredible podcast, which I want you to share all about here in just a second, but I am really honored to have you here and again to turn the tables. So welcome. Tell everybody about you and what you're up to right now.
Thank you so much Jenny and everybody. I'm so excited to be talking to you and be on the Career Flipper podcast. And like you mentioned, you've been a guest on the podcast that I host called Career in Technicolor, and that's essentially what I am focusing on, or one of the things that I'm focusing on as I've been in this career.
Talent acquisition recruitment journey for the last 15 years. I think we have so many parallels in terms of, you know, over a decade in a corporate career mm-hmm. Including leadership roles. So kind of running the gamut. And also, um, I'm one of these people that's been obsessed with chasing purpose and figuring it out and doing all the things and all the practices, you know, from them.
Mind practices to spiritual practices, you know, to connect the dots, to connect the answers, and kind of find that thing that. I think many people will be able to relate. That's calling on your heart when you don't know it. You know, there are these stories because just like you, I interview other people who have had these career journeys and my podcast is called Career and Technicolor.
And um, sometimes it's really clear for people, sometimes they know it when they are kids. But something takes them away and it takes like a full circle for some reason to come back to it. But then there are people who don't know, you know, and it's kind of frustrating to hear that, oh, you know, it, you should, you know, it's somewhere deep in your heart or in your soul.
So, um, that's why kind of, I really stand for that. You have to chase it and chase it. Not in a bad way, but chase. In the best of ways. If you wanna find that aligned work that sparks your soul, your heart, you know, and gives energy to you, not only drains you, I feel like you have to chase it. So that's one of my focus has been, uh, chasing that purpose and, um, starting the podcast and also.
Learning tools to help myself and also help others to kind of put those puzzle pieces together. And other thing that I'm focusing on right now is that I understand and have. Learn the need for and value for health. And, uh, I am also practicing and, and going for certifications in Tai Chi. So teaching, movement, movement of the body because I think, um, many of us can relate from sitting behind the desk and doing these jobs in our computer and somewhere.
Over 40, your body just starts to say, well then if you are gonna do this, and I'm gonna give you random aches and pains. I also felt like many years, a lot of stress and anxiety, um, working. So it's kind of, um, a second. Focus area, and this is also something that we've talked about, that we have drawn parallels.
I think that we both have spontaneity in our nature, and then there is. A part of people that it's okay that they don't focus on one thing. So these are the two things that I am focused on right now. Yes, I love that. I love that. And it really sums up, uh, I had a guest on not too long ago, Lori Wallace, who I actually think I, I might have introduced you to her, but she talks about portfolio careers and I think, you know, you are such a perfect example of that, that it doesn't have to follow just this linear.
Line, it can be multiple things in the portfolio because you are, you know, with your experience, um, you know, in, in recruitment and in in talent and you know, but also your ability to coach and to lead. And then you have this side where you're like, oh, Tai Chi, like I'm gonna teach that. And then I know you've done stuff, you know, creatively or, or painting and home decor and interior design and like.
And the podcasting itself is a whole other adventure. So the fact that you have all of these lined up. Really goes to show that you are like the perfect example of a career flipper because you don't have to just pick one. You could flip multiple times and you could, you could keep it all on the same, the same, uh, the same path.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a one thing and done. And so the chasing of purpose and all of this I really wanna get into because. So many of us are feeling that are listening to this episode right now, maybe on their lunch break, feeling just burnt out. Finally got away from their desk for like five minutes and maybe just listening to this episode in chunks or driving home from the office and you know, thinking, well, yeah, well what's the answer?
How do I figure it out? And so in this conversation today, I kind of wanna dip into that because. I don't know if you'd really ever figure it out, but I think there are ways to tune into yourself and you are so good at that Baba. And so, and I also wanna take a step back here and just show a little bit of, uh, some gratitude because when, this was, I guess last fall, um, when you invited me on the Career and Technicolor podcast, that was the first podcast I had ever been a guest on for.
The career flipper and honestly the career flipper was something that came just, you know, it just was something that was created that I was like, I'll try and see if anyone likes it. And I wasn't even sure if it was something I was gonna continue. And the fact that you had me on and you interviewed me, like it just, I think it really solidified.
A lot of the thoughts and dreams that I had that I felt a little weird about and was like, I don't know. Who am I to do this? And I was like, wait, someone wants to talk to me? Wait, I'm on this. And I just really wanna just drop that gratitude here because, and I think for anyone listening to, sometimes it just takes.
A few people in your circle to really believe in what you're doing for you, who may not necessarily feel so confident in it, to really have the momentum to go forward. So thank you for being a part of that. Like that really just like lit my path and you know, just became a big part of the journey. So this is like, I'm just kind of fangirling to have you on my, my show.
Um, you're welcome. And I just wanted to say, I remember and like when you were speaking your desire and the dreams, you know, to go and speak on stages and have this podcast and inspire people, I saw it. I saw that this is something that you will end up doing and I love how you bring up the point. It's so important.
To connect with people and to surround yourself with people who are supportive. Who believe in you. And sometimes you don't know where it will come from because it's just so interesting. Sometimes it doesn't come from your family sometimes, you know, and the beginning is hard, beginning of changing something.
This is something that we don't see. We see the story where you get the 10,000 likes, you see the story when you get the, um, accolade, you know, the promotion or you know, where you. Can say at least you're somewhat successful or you've made it, but you don't see the agony, the stress, the questioning, all the neurosis and ups and downs that go into making a pivot.
It is. Maybe sometimes it's easy, but that has not been my experience and I say that it takes a lot of courage and the transition can be very murky and it's, you know, many times even your family doesn't support your, does not like, like your post or whatever it is you're doing. You might need not be doing something on social media, but it is so, so important to find.
People who will, emotionally and mentally and, you know, overall be supportive and encouraging. Mm-hmm. True that, oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Um, it, who you surround yourself with is your supportive network. I mean, I. Right there, like it's incredible. And to then be also able to be that person for others at the same time is also incredibly important too.
But Baba, so how did this all begin? Because your career was in corporate for many years and talent acquisition and recruiting. So can you talk a little bit about what that was like for you when you were working in that job? Did you like it? Were you burnt out? Like what was that kind of experience for you?
And then when did you decide, was it by choice or circumstance that you decided, well, I'm gonna do something different? Can you talk about that? Yeah, definitely. And. It's definitely not linear and it's a little bit of everything. And, um, I got into recruitment after trying some sales jobs after graduating from college.
So it was kind of like a few years bumping around. Now I look at and think like, how did I do those jobs? But, uh, an acquaintance. Somebody I didn't really know even, you know, just randomly met and said, this recruiting firm is hiring. You should go and interview with them. Mm-hmm. And then I ended up getting a job.
So it was essentially a staffing agency. Recruitment agency, and, uh, started building a career. In that. And then I transitioned to work internally in internal recruitment or also known as talent acquisition. And then started, you know, building from there, from recruiter to senior recruiter. Uh, I kind of like managed my career pretty aggressively in the beginning, you know, and.
Going from, you know, across couple of different enterprises within financial services. And then I ended up switching over to clinical research, like a largest clinical research company in the world and, and managing, uh, ultimately managing teams in United States and also Europe or a Europe, middle East and Africa region.
And. What happened to me at the end of. 2023 after nine years of working for a company, I ended up being laid off after several rounds of layoffs. I think we have so many parallels. Mm-hmm.
We do. Yeah. Gosh. Ouch. Yeah. But then afterwards, you know, the last couple years have been pretty rough for recruitment. I haven't really seen a dynamic in job market like that. And I did take on a couple of, um, contracts afterward in recruitment over the last year. And so it's, it's, uh. A little bit of both, but, um, when you asked, you know, were there things that were working or were not working?
Yeah, that's also, it's a mix and I think it's usually a mix for people. I think the key is to understand and get more insights what wasn't and what was working. Um. So one of the things upon further reflection, and this is kind of some of the coaching work that I do, is help people understand who are you, what is your personality, uh, really based off or made off, and what are the stronger aspects, kind of how do you.
Look at the world and engage with the world naturally without needing to think or adjust. Because we all have been trained, we have taken on these layers that, you know, and conditioning to handle different situations and to really override our nature, which is appropriate, you know, in certain conditions and mm-hmm.
You know, certain cultures prescribe or dictate certain ways, you know, and you have to really adjust to different mm-hmm. Um, situations, but. One of the things that I clearly understand, uh, where I mentioned that I was experiencing for years, a lot of anxiety and stress and overwhelm. Mm-hmm. And, um, there were times where I would be a Friday, you know, I was just drained and I was feeling, and I won't say that I felt, you know, I also had different roles, you know, and I changed.
It would also go with. You know, depending on the role that you have, the season, the team, you know, you function and kind of what's going on with the business at that specific time. But there were days or times where I felt really drained and I didn't really have much energy for my personal life. So there were some things that were not working and one, it kind of, how it ties back into understanding how you're built better was, um, I understood that I am more of an introverted.
Person and what does it mean and how it translates into your kind of day-to-day work and what's optimal and what gives you energy and what you're built for. Hmm. So that's one of the things that I guess I didn't even realize. You know, you always think on surface level, like introversion, extroversion. Oh, you like people or you don't like people.
Yeah. Right, right. That's so, it's so, so true. I think it's like. Introverts can like people just fine. It's just there's a different level of energy that is given out. And, uh, it also doesn't mean that introverts are so shy and quiet and reserved. Like, I feel like it is a misunderstood, um, definition of, of both of those because yeah, I technically, I'm like, I'm an introverted extrovert.
Like, I don't know, like I, I am both, like, I don't, I don't know, but, uh, I, I think by that like. I'm so, so curious because our story is parallel so much. These things that you're talking about now that you're learning about, that you had learned about yourself as far as you know, energy and the stress and anxiety, did you feel any inclination towards those before you lost your job?
Or did that really come to you after you got laid off? Because I know for me, I didn't really have any, like I had some. Eye-opening moments when I was working in corporate that were very, very eye-opening and I really should like, I really should have caught on a a lot sooner. But then it wasn't really till I got laid off that I started to be like, oh, that's why I felt like that, or, oh, that's why I did that, or, oh.
I really only thought this is what I was gonna like. I kind of just started to have more realizations when I didn't have the corporate job there. And I'm curious, like, what was that like for you when you got laid off? Were there things that you learned about yourself, like these things you're sharing now or anything else?
Or were they kind of things that maybe were in your head while you were working but you didn't give attention to? Yeah, I would say that the health aspects, um, I had worked on and done a lot of research and tried different things mm-hmm. For years. So I was very aware of it. Yeah. But the dots didn't connect because, you know, we learn.
All the time and learning is good, but there's also kind of what is appropriate for you because there's so much advice out there and you know, we can, um, read like one person's Way or one look at one person's six. SaaS and we can try to model it all day long, but it's kind of will be breaking your own personality.
Mm-hmm. And that will be a very tough road. So, yes, I knew about, so I was, um, already, I started the podcast while I was working. While there was no si, you know, I was Okay. Yeah. I knew that I loved like the conversations, the one-on-one aspect of the deeper conversation and connecting with somebody. Mm-hmm.
Yeah. And so I was a seeker. I've just been this crazy seeker already for years. Yeah. So this is, okay, this is interesting 'cause that was built in and that was something you knew about yourself. And so you took the initiative to create the podcast in addition to working the full-time job because you love the conversations.
And were these conversations ones that you had when you were talking with people at work? Like where did those conversations kind of start happening that you knew that this is where you really love them? Like were they with. Potential like employees that you were gonna hire with internal teammates? I guess I'm just curious where, where did you kind of get the inspiration from and how did you tune inward to understand, Ooh, yeah.
This is something that I like and I kind of learned it from here. Like where does that stem from? I was kind of like what you mentioned, how we connected It was on a Okay. In an online community, so I had already taken courses, you know, through Yeah, because I've been an app. Avid self-development fan, and I guess because through my own seeking, learning different programs and tools and meeting people, so I was interviewing more people, you know, through kind of like yourself, not people that I was hiring or even that.
Where mm-hmm. Had to do with my full-time job. No, these were, you know, people that I would meet and then I would think have an interesting story or I see them on LinkedIn, you know, kind of when I do the research and, um, spark some curiosity or some authors like, or I go hear. Uh, like the latest guest that I had, the latest interview is with Scott Clary.
I heard his podcast and I thought like, oh my gosh, this guy like, makes so much sense and like the way he puts things is unique and like, I really like, um, the way he was phrasing things and packaging ideas. So I brought him on. So it's kind of like a, I treat every interview as a masterclass for myself.
Mm-hmm. I love that. I love that. I, I, that resonates so much. 'cause I like to call every guest of mine a mentor where I'm like, what can I learn from, from each person that is here sharing their story like you today? And it's just like, I love it being a masterclass. That's such a great term. Yeah. So having these guests be a masterclass and you intuitively knowing that you were seeking.
Community building around these things. I guess so. And Barbara, I don't know if this is something that shows up for you at all, but when I was laid off and then I started to put my application back out there. In the meantime, I was posting on LinkedIn about the podcast a little bit, and I was posting about my furniture stuff because I was like, I still wanna engage with my network.
Um, I love that type of stuff. But, you know, I also wanted, at that time, was looking for a particular type of job. And I remember being in a couple of interviews and, oh my gosh, you know how you have to like put your LinkedIn link on applications? And there was a moment in one of these interviews where.
The person was like, oh. So I see, you know, I've been seeing some of the things you post on, uh, on LinkedIn. You, it looks like you're a one person, a one foot in, one foot out kind of person. And I was like, oh, can you tell me like more about that? And they were like, oh, well, you know, you do this and you do this and you're also doing this and this.
Like, how are we, how do we know that you'll be actually working for us? Wait, what? Like, of course, like I've worked for companies for 20, like almost 20 years. Like I don't, it was like the weirdest thing where these things that I thought were personal development, character development, um, career path development, like learning, you know, enriching my life and my career path that I have done in the past, whether it was like speaking or whatever.
Suddenly were going against me. And so when you started the podcast while you were still working full time, did you feel any, because I didn't even think about it until it was brought up and I was like, well, I don't wanna work for this person anyways. But I didn't even think about these things as being negative.
Did that thought ever cross your mind or even. When you were working in recruitment, like was that something that ever stood out for you? Does it cross your mind? Now? I'm kind of curious where you land. 'cause I think there are some people, at least I've also heard this from others that are like, yeah, I don't, I don't wanna post about my side job because it could be career suicide.
Some employer might see it down the road and not wanna hire me. And I'm like, yeah, I've literally had that exact experience. I worked with a very short term contract. And they actually ended up, um, firing me because they didn't like that I was speaking at an event about customer service. So, um, I think it's so bizarre.
Yeah. The job was customer service, so I think it is. It's interesting. And so I'm just curious to hear your experience with that, and for anyone listening who might be thinking of starting a podcast or starting a YouTube channel or whatever it is, and wanting to share it. While they have the full-time job.
Is that like, what has been your experience with that? It's, you bring up very legitimate points. Yeah. I would say I had a lot of drama about around this, like there was a time when I was creating the podcast and only posting about it on Instagram and not posting about it on LinkedIn. There was like. I spend so much energy and thinking, do I do that?
Do I not do that? Mm-hmm. Yeah. I ended up doing it inconsistently. You know, at the end of the day, it is a judgment call and it will be in the eyes of the beholder and there will be P who will judge it, just like you say, and it'll limit you. And then hopefully, like you said, that there are people who look at it as.
Look, you're growing your marketing skills. You are adding to your skillset, and I think the way things are switching and really evolving and changing right now mm-hmm. That everybody will need to have this skillset of branding, of sales, of social media, of promotion, and so many, so to me it sounds like an advantage.
But I totally get it and understand the mindset where people are close-minded and they will have exactly that narrative. That you will not be focused, you will not be reliable enough, or that you will somehow take away from the job that somebody might hire you for. So you, it is a big chance. Definitely.
So I can definitely relate with. Having a lot of mental hoops around that. Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. And so for you, VIBA, you got laid off, but you had the podcast going and so now without the full-time job, you are dedicating time to the podcast. And it sounds like you also picked up some contract roles along the way.
So what was that time period like for you in 20 23, 20 24, when you're trying to navigate it? Like where were you kind of landing? Were you also looking for a job? Were you thinking of starting something else? When did kind of the Tai Chi certification come into play? Can you talk a little bit about that time and share kind of like where you, where you were landing emotionally, mentally, like all the thanks?
Yeah, that's a good question. And. Uh, I'm thinking how to summarize it. I know it's not just an easy answer. I was pretty consistently still working in recruitment, uh, although I did feel this kind of sense of instability because you have a roadmap, right? You know what to do. When you show up for work that you've been doing for over a decade, so, so most of last year I worked, uh, within talent acquisition.
And so there's a comfort level in that. At the same time it was very destabilizing because you feel like. Uh, at least with kind of the talent acquisition, and maybe it's similar with customer service, I know tech is experiencing and has experienced it also over the last couple of years. Uh, the dynamic of more layoffs than hiring and still that it's can be in general.
Take a long time and be hard for people, especially people in leadership, uh, to find work. You know, we were seeing, I saw it on the backend, and you see also LinkedIn. I think you can see application counts. You know, you can get 400 to over 2000 applications in like ridiculous amount of time. Mm-hmm. You know, I had never really seen a dynamic like that in the 15 years of my experience in recruiting and kind of being on the other side.
It's just, um, you know, so it's very destabilizing at the same time. I think when you're starting something new, sometimes you, you know, it's kind of like the doors closed and there's that opening where, um, I have applied for jobs. I did apply for jobs and I felt like. I was kicked back, like doing something that I did more than 10 years ago in terms of roles and responsibilities and um, somewhat in pay.
So it's kind of like that combined with. Charting a new territory. All these thoughts and fears about other, what other people will think, how will this impact, or what consequences would it have on your future earning potential? What if things work out? What if it doesn't work out? You know, there's just this transition period.
I think that kind of, as I started saying that, it's not talked a lot about, but I, you know, you kind of make. Peace or accept things. I think one day at a time and literally as we were exchanging messages, you know, as I, and this is why I'm also passionate about like people. Knowing, uh, their true nature better and better because we tell ourselves all kinds of things.
We think we are good with people when that is not our strength. We think we are great leaders when honestly, it's not our strength. We think, you know, we do jobs that we have to then. Do 10 hours of meditation to recover. You know, because our bodies are so tight and stressed out. Mm-hmm. After some time.
And it's like, okay, if you're not gonna pay attention, I'll tell you, you know, because mm-hmm. Yeah. We just have all these ideas. About ourselves that are not necessarily true. So I think it's a ultimate self-love to understand and start accepting, accepting our nature one step at a time. And what happened to me in the last 24 to 48 hours, you know, we exchanged messages, but throughout all of this, like, you know, one of the things that I have built into my personality is that spontaneity versus rationality where.
Rational people will give you advice to stick with one thing and you are, if you have spontaneity, where you need the variety. Mm-hmm. Where you need the change, where you kind of like you're doing the podcast, but you are also doing the furniture flipping so similarly. Yeah, I'm the podcast and I'm also doing the Tai Chi because.
Honestly, it's like I cannot do the career coaching for eight hours a day and just talk about that. Yeah. And yeah, you know, there are these people like creatives, they say, I'm multi-passionate, you know? And just once you accept it, and it's like sometimes maybe for somebody, it's like a lightning bolt and you accept it, but.
It can also be one layer at a time. Once you accept it, embrace it. For example, I will give you an example. So just this morning, right? I had decided to do something. I had it in my calendar. So for rational people, it's great to have schedule pre-planned things. Mm-hmm. I kind of go with that. They're more steady.
Mm-hmm. They can go with the plan and they have a more. Even output of energy versus when you're more spontaneous, you can have like kind of more ups and downs and if you know about it. Ultimately the output can be the same. So it doesn't, doesn't mean that the person who's more spontaneous will output less because they have a dip, but they might like cram in and be super productive in a shorter period of time.
But then they go into that low and there are different strategies, right? To work with that if you wanna work through it, or just starting with accepting it and just accepting and giving yourself permission that. Okay. No, I don't need to pick one thing. Kind of like what you said, that you wanna, you wanna have your cake and eat it too, and have the best of both worlds and just go with it.
And this morning I kind of like, I made a decision. It is okay. I don't need to force myself to pick one thing either. And second of all, spontaneity, you really. Need to give yourself moments and windows of time where you can go with what comes from. Comes up for you in terms of your interest and ride that wave because we are so conditioned when we are in the job, right?
When we are in a framework or we all have responsibilities, right? We are kind of doing what we are supposed to, but we are not listening to those hits of our intuition and, um, guidance and what our own nature is leading us. Towards, and we can condition ourselves out of it already starting from childhood with everybody's expectations, you know.
But this morning it was so beautiful. I had planned something else, and then what happened to me was all of a sudden this interest about kind of, maybe it was in anticipation, this conversation that we will talk a little bit more about, um, you know, the career and the personality aspects. Yeah. But I just started jotting things down about.
You know, different aspects of personality and how it ties into our career choices. And then I ended up recording a podcast recording reels and like just riding that wave. And this is where work doesn't feel like work if you know yourself. Mm-hmm. And how to follow your nature. This is where. You get more energized, and it's also easier to go your own direction, like to hear, because you have to start with listening.
Mm-hmm. And allowing for that. Building it in. Mm-hmm. Oh my gosh. The, like, so many things you just said here. I was like, oh, wow. Yep, yep, yep. Like, first of all, okay, the like, accepting yourself as a multi-passionate individual is. Okay. Like that hits so much because I'll be very honest, I didn't, yeah, and it's the same.
I didn't see people in my family system growing up that had. Multiple jobs. Like my mom was probably the only one who made a switch and everyone in the family thought she was nuts. And yes, she had her challenges, but that's a different story. Um, but still she tried and she, she was not able to fulfill what she dreamed, um, due to health issues and this and that.
But I think like that was it. And because everyone around me. Had said that that was wrong. She should have just stayed with her original path. She went to college for this. She should have just done this. I interpreted that. So as I went through my career, it was really just like, oh, I gotta find something and stick with it.
I too did not think that. However, when I look back and I like, I've been thinking about this a lot lately, whether it's been through work with my therapist, talking with you on our voice notes over Instagram or you know, just like thinking while I'm, you know, staring out at the sky in the clouds, like. I look back on my career path and I think, wow, I was multi-passionate the whole time, but I did not own it.
I was, at one point, I remember I was working my corporate job, uh, at this point I had moved to the East coast briefly to work over there. And, um, I was playing music at different gigs and had little, you know, a gig at a winery and I was playing open bike nights and I was doing all these other little gigs around Philly and New York and like.
I was doing that in addition. And so that's one thing. Or like the other thing, I was like doing blogging. It was for customer service, but I was still writing and I was like speaking at events and like there was always these little parts of me that were trying to like, you know, I kind of picture it like a really, like the desert ground and like a tree is trying to grow out of it and it's kind of starting to sprout, but then it just, it just doesn't.
And so I was just like, I kept trying, but then I kept like. Pushing or telling myself, nah, you're not good enough. Nah, this is not good. Focus on work. Focus on work. Focus on what pays the bills. Focus on that. And I gave up a lot on myself and I, this showed up in many other ways. Like maybe you've experienced this too, but like when you push this down, when there's resistance against your true self.
Things happen. I had anxiety attacks. There was an anxiety attack. I had to work one day and you know, with the team that I manage or other types of things that show up in weird ways around how you feel or the way your body responds. And it was just like. Hearing you say that, and the fact that I've been reflecting on that as well is just like, it takes a lot to own something when you don't necessarily feel that it's okay that it's accepted.
And um, and that could go for so many things. Like we can, we can talk about that all day, but I feel like when it comes to careers and being multi-passionate and being able to put yourself out there and do a variety of things. Like, it's okay. Like for anyone like right now who's listening and like, it's okay.
Like you're okay, you can, you can do all the things. You can start your day doing one thing and you can end your day doing another. Like, just like you mentioned how you're like, you just went on, you know this be where you're like, I'm gonna create these reels and this social content. 'cause like you felt so called to do it.
And sometimes even now I jump around on my day too and I'm like, oh, I'm gonna start here and do this and this and this. And then I'm like. Oh my gosh. I've just like been jumping around so much. Like maybe I should have just stayed on one path and I'm like, wow, what am I doing? Like I'm, it's okay. It's okay to jump around.
It's okay to post here and it's okay to go back and do this and do this. Like, I, I've never been, I don't know, I think it's. I, I think sometimes accepting yourself for who you are and all the quirks and qualms and flaws and wonderful things can be really hard. And so when you brought that up, I was like, Ooh, that hits me right in the heart.
And this is where explanations sometimes can help. Yeah. And because. We kind of can notice in ourselves, and first of all, I think the corporate structures, a lot of the narrative, a lot of successful people, I mean, they're on both sides. Again, it's not like one or the other, but because there are different about like, let's just roughly say 50% are rational and 50% are more spontaneous.
So it's the. Many times, likely the rational person who will look down on the rational person. Mm-hmm. And see it as a downside, as something that is bad, but not one is not better than the other. But I think our structure many times are formed in a way that that is praised. That is good. Yeah. And then the other is bad, and then you just think like, okay, the spontaneous person is a creative.
Crazy person. You know that will never amount to anything. Yes. But to your point, like you are pursuing the singing and doing that is most likely adding to your job because just like when I was doing the career, it's kind of like when we look at our jobs, they can't fulfill every one of our needs. It's kind of like looking at our.
Lover or husband or wife, uh, or significant other, and thinking that they have to be our best friend, uh, our lover, our, you know, emotional support, financial support, like everything in one. But that is just not reasonable. So we look at one job. So you pursuing actually what lights you up outside of your career is actually adding to your career.
And I wish more. I think there's also a lack of education about the personality aspects to this level. Of course, it's one of the things that they don't really teach at school. And then, um, this is where I love kind of, I think when people think about also self love, it's understanding yourself and starting to kind of relinquish those thoughts like where you're kind of telling yourself, but I should be doing this.
Instead of kind of jumping around when you know that you're spontaneous, right, that you have, and it doesn't mean that you're irrational. It doesn't mean that you're never logical. It doesn't mean you're stupid. Mm-hmm. You just have a different aspect of your personality and then you start to ride the wave when you can of embracing it.
And then, because when you try to fit in that other mode for like all hours of day, this is where. Everything can become a tour. Like social media posting, like every, everything just comes, becomes constricted in a job. Mm-hmm. That you have resistance towards. Yes. Right. No, that's so, that's so true and that really resonates because when we do these things, really getting in touch of like.
Who we are when we are showing up and doing these things and really accepting and not comparing and or, I mean it's so hard to not compare and there's some comparison that might be healthy if we're looking to model a certain thing, but otherwise not compare and not let the judgment, which is going back to what we were talking about before.
'cause there will be judgment even if we're like this and people may think these other thoughts and it can be. It can be hard to kind of filter it out, but the slow everyday work. And the other thing that you mentioned, one step a day, like slow and steady, like you can do little bits every day and it can really lead to so much more and it just kind of starts by doing it, and you are a great example of that.
So Baba, where do you see your career path? Going now, like you have the certification locked in and what do you, what else? Like what else is on your list of multi-passionate adventures that you plan to get into in the next year or two? Yeah, so as a spontaneous introvert person, yes. I, you know, like people who are more extroverted.
This is another thing that introverts can struggle with, is that. Charting your own path versus being more open to where life leads you. Mm-hmm. So as an introverted, spontaneous person, I, my balance, or I'm more looking for also how the circumstances will, uh, align. You know, what kind of doors, kind of, how will the universe.
Play with me. Mm-hmm. So essentially it's kind of charting your own path, but not being too rigid. So in terms of like career or work, I would say in terms of work, where I see it going, I love the podcast, so I wanna keep, um, definitely utilizing. All the knowledge and even wisdom. I would say that at this point of time, I have a lot of depth because of the level at what I've gone through myself.
Mm-hmm. And all the tools that I have integrated and practice, you know, and kind of understanding and helping others to understand kind of directionally what's working, what's not working. Mm-hmm. And. Kinda what could be a better fit. Mm-hmm. And then, so definitely career and technical are podcast. I love the connection.
These conversations, there's just something, just more than just a conversation for me that, you know, fills my heart and soul. And then. The other aspect is definitely the physical movement. Tai Chi is, um, developing and continuing to train and gain more skills. And then, um, teach it. Teach it, you know, I definitely s do it.
In person and then I'll see how that grows. I've thought about, you know, do I do it also? Do I bring it on the online community? And this is kind of where I'm playing and iterating. I think what we have to normalize and we have to embrace is beta testing all these companies, all the big company. Who are producing these products, you know, who now are successful?
You just haven't seen, or we don't hear about the so much, the 10 20 ideas, however many ideas that failed before they actually came across the version that sold, the version that stuck. But somehow, you know. When a person tries one thing in a career and it doesn't work out, you know, people are quick to point fingers and we are so quick to turn on ourselves.
Like, see, I'm not serious. Like, why didn't I stick with this? Like, what did you want? We can be so harsh with ourselves. So embracing this beta testing and iterating and knowing the transition, uh, like it, the average transition I think takes about three, four years. It's not a quick. Like hodgepodge thing that just expect that your first idea.
Often will not be the idea, but you get the gold star for trying. You get the gold star for taking the step because you will never conceptually figure it out fully. Mm-hmm. You will have to take those steps. You will have to put yourself out in the arena, if you will. Yeah. And try and this is where you will learn.
Yes. No, and then you will have to iterate. I am obsessed with that beta testing, beta test your own ideas. Like let's go like experiment with it. You don't know, but that is so true. There's, for every one thing that we see that's selling out, there are 20 things that just didn't work before that and they just had to try it.
And I love that. Put so much pressure on ourselves that somehow our first idea has to work. Right? Right. Or that we as humans are not allowed to make a mistake in our careers and try something and be like, okay, cool. I'm gonna pivot to something else. Like giving ourselves that same permission to try, I mean, yeah, to try and fall and get back up, like have the permission to do that and.
You've said Oh yeah. Conversation. This is why I, this is why I love conversations like this, and I think it's not talked enough about Yeah. And we're just so hard on ourselves and we can so much pressure on ourselves. Mm-hmm. We do, we really do. Like unnecessarily. I know, I, I do this all the time too, so I'm like right there with everybody kind of on some.
Ending notes we've talked about a lot today. And do you have any piece of advice, any final piece of advice for someone who might be listening that you know does wanna make a pivot? Whether they've gotten laid off or they're just really feeling the burnout from their existing role? What is a piece of advice that you have for them on their path right now?
I would start with. Thinking about like making an hour and thinking about what are you interested in? Is there something that you light up about and that you do or your research in the evenings in your free time on the weekends? Where do you notice that you do where time just flows by? Nothing is off limits, you know, because I know you might think, oh, I like reading books.
Well, nobody's gonna pay me for reading books. Or, I like walking, or, you know, some activities that we don't think as jobs. But as you start doing these exercises, and this is where finding your purpose, it is a layer journey and you just don't know at which step. This thing will come together. It is a beautiful alchemy and I, I would definitely start with that.
And if there's, it's kind of like Ryan Kelly. We both interviewed Ryan Kelly and he just had that interest or idea to take, uh. Community college classes. Mm-hmm. In design. Yeah. So whatever comes as silly as non monitor, if you have time as non monetary as it can be. Yeah. Crocheting, whatever it is. You know, like while this example is just take an online ca class or a community college class.
Mm-hmm. And start doing it just like you and I just started a podcast. I starting started recording interviews. That's okay. That I never done it before. That's okay. I didn't know anything about it. I figured out the basics and it's really not as scary. The first kind of steps are the hardest, the most cumbersome and the scariest, but just take steps towards, towards those things that spark your interest.
And you don't know. It might be the first interest, it might be the fifth interest. Yeah. Or the interest, but start. One step. Yes. I love that. Just take that step. Get curious. Try it with really no like attachment to any outcome. Just see if you like it, see if you like it, and then go back and make that list that you were talking about.
Take that time, set it aside, and really, really like tune inward. And I think like it can know, it can open our eyes to a lot of. What's going on inside that we may not be listening to because all of the noise of everyone else's expectations and the busyness of life might be drowning out. But Viva, this was amazing.
This was like all of our voice notes in one whole episode. I'm like, oh, I love it. You are such a wonderful person and I'm so grateful for you being here. How can people find you and connect with you? Where can they listen to the career and technical podcast? Give all the things. Share all the links, and ditto.
Jenny, thank you so much. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. I think you're amazing, amazing human being. And I think this is kind of part of the fulfillment or the biggest part of the fulfillment is having these conversations and being able to be blessed, you know, to connect with people that just, just.
Open up your heart and are such amazing, amazing people. So I appreciate you in terms of how to connect with me. As you said, my podcast is called Career in Technicolor. The idea behind it really came from, you know, you don't wanna live in black and white, kind of, you don't wanna have. To relive the same groundhog Day over and over again, that you want that spark and that color and vibrancy and energy in your life.
So it's available on Spotify and Apple Podcast, and I'm also on Instagram app. At Career in Technicolor, the same handle. I'd love to connect with you. I'd love to hear if anything, and what resonated or maybe was an aha for you from this conversation. And then I also will offer, uh. Freebie, if you will, or a resource, you know, for people who are sitting a lot of time and hours behind their computers diligently working of how of a set of movements, how to.
Literally get up from your desk and do set of four or five movements, you know, for a few minutes to release some stress and tension and invite more energy into your day. I think we all can move more. So as I mentioned, that is one of my passions and values, so I will. Send you Jenny, the link to that if you are inclined to add it to the show notes.
Oh, absolutely. Not only will I add it to the show notes, but I will be show notes, but I will be downloading it myself because that is totally. Totally necessary. I'm excited to see that. Baba, thank you so much for being here. Thanks for letting me turn the mic around and, uh, you being vulnerable and sharing so much.
I appreciate you. Thanks so much for hanging out with me and Baba on this episode of the Career Flipper podcast. You can find all the links to connect with BBA in the show notes. And hey, if this episode made you feel a little more seen. Or inspired. I would love it if you subscribed Love to review, to tell me all about it and honestly shared it with a career flipping friend because this whole flipping your career thing is way easier when you know you're not the only one out there doing it.
And if you've got a career flip story of your own or maybe one that's still unfolding, I'd love to hear that too. Head over to the career flipper.com and share it with me. Who knows? Maybe you'll be a guest in a future episode, and if you're looking for a speaker for your team, event, or community who can talk about career change and furniture flipping in a real, honest and hopeful way.
I do that too. Just send me a message to hello@thecareerflipper.com. And if you wanna check out my furniture flips head over to Instagram and TikTok for San Diego Furniture Flipper. But more than anything though, I hope these stories remind you that it's okay to start over, to change your mind to want something different.
The first step can feel terrifying, but it can also be the thing that. Changes everything. So take the step, even if it's messy, even if you're scared, what's the best that could happen?