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Pause, Please – It’s Time for a Detour

Chapter Be_detour

So…I have made the decision to take a break from Chapter Be for a few months. My hope is that by stepping away from the site and all that goes with the day-to-day operations of it, I will be able to see more clearly what my next steps should be. I have become so wrapped up in the daily posts, interviews and logistics of making a podcast happen each week, that I fear I have lost sight of my bigger mission and goals.

Over the last few years, I have come to recognize that I have some rather intense leanings toward being a “good soldier.” I create a structure and follow it to a tee – fearful of straying away from it. These traits are what make me a good and hard worker, but they also are what can take me away from following my gut or thinking creatively or making a change or taking a risk.  All of this goes against the grains of what Chapter Be is and what I was hoping to move away from in my 9-5 job. So, as it turns out – habits do die hard.

I have to thank Seth Godin for helping me realize that taking a break is something that I need to do in order to move forward with Chapter Be. In listening to his podcast, Startup School, I had a bit of a break-though when I heard him say,

The reason everyone doesn’t do this is it’s really frightening and you get very little support from the people around you to do this very difficult, scary work of putting yourself out there and saying, ‘Hi, this is me. I made this. ‘ And – if you make it and people don’t see the value, you don’t give up. You remake it.

I’ve been frustrated with Chapter Be, as of late, and have felt like it is somewhat stagnant. My feeling is that I need to breathe new life into it. It needs to be remade. I have grown over the last two years of its creation, and now it needs to grow with me – ready to move to it’s next stage of being or maybe stay in a pause position until I am ready to pick it back up again.

The next few months will help me decide this. By taking a step away from the day-to-day, I hope to be able to do a little deeper, strategic thinking. I want to re-center myself and think about creative ways that I can expand, grow and change Chapter Be to be more aligned to where I am now on my path. I am going to reflect back on the 50+ interviews I have done for Chapter Be and start putting some of the interviewees’ sage advice to practice for myself.

And, if I am completely honest, my computer is slowly killing me. Some days I sit in front of it for 10+ hours (researching, corresponding, coordinating, writing, editing, etc.). It is not healthy and not the way I want to be spending a bulk of my time. Part of what made me so unhappy in my 9-5 job was sitting in front of a computer all day long. So…here I am…doing the same thing.

I want to find ways to be working with people more and engaged in what is happening in communities in a hands-on way. That is important to me, and I need to take the time to figure out how I can make that happen. I might be reaching out to some of you in the days to come for feedback and perspective.

In the same podcast, Godin retells the following Zig Ziglar story: You are on a flight from New York City to Dallas, and heavy winds blow the plane off-course. The plane doesn’t turn around, land in NY and start over. It just adjusts its course and keeps adjusting its course till it gets to Dallas. As he explains, you are going to have things that don’t work – you just adjust and learn from it.

So – I am adjusting and letting the winds take me on this detour. I’ll continue my #365justbe project and will be semi-active on social media, but will not be posting any new posts or interviews.

I am not sure if the next stop will be “Dallas,” but either way – hope to see you there.

eugenia-kim-do-not-disturb-hat-summer-Habitually-chic

Listen to the message…


Photos via Chapter Be and Habitually Chic

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9 Responses to Pause, Please – It’s Time for a Detour

  1. CRB July 7, 2015 at 1:00 am #

    You really amaze and inspire me—you are charting new territory and testing the waters and that makes me proud of you. But if the truth be known, and let it be known, there is nothing you have ever done since the moment I met you that has not made me proud. I will be there supporting, watching and loving as you move through and onto whatever awaits. xxxooo Your Mom

    • kblake July 7, 2015 at 1:44 am #

      Wow – thank you, Mom! I am forever grateful for all of your love and support. There’s no way in hell I would be able to take these steps into a new territory without it :o) Love you much!

  2. Judy Tarlo July 7, 2015 at 9:19 am #

    You are inspirational! I have enjoyed following you on Chapter B just as I enjoyed talking to you on West 13th st. Your willingness to stretch will always land you in good stead. Wishing you all the best. Stay in touch!

    • kblake July 7, 2015 at 4:38 pm #

      Thank you so very much, Judy! I’ve always appreciated your words of encouragement, wisdom and advice! Thanks for taking the time to write and for reading Chapter Be! Looking forward to seeing what its next phase will be :o) Hope all is well in NY and you are enjoying your summer! xo

  3. Sberk July 13, 2015 at 11:02 pm #

    Wow- love the message here, follow your instinct- the answers are inside of you. You are an amazing writer. Your words flow so naturally, and make you a gifted storyteller. I hope you take stock of your strengths at this time as well. I admire your courage to step away and your ability to admit to everyone what’s going on inside your head. Proud of you for what you’ve accomplished since I’ve met you, and I’m equally excited to see your next steps! Let the creative juice flow in a new direction.

    • kblake July 14, 2015 at 3:59 pm #

      Thank you so much for your sweet and thoughtful message, Sarabeth! So appreciate all of your support for me and Chapter Be! Excited to take next steps and fingers crossed for some flow of creativity!! xoxo

  4. Laurie January 8, 2016 at 11:27 am #

    This was so beautifully written. Just on this side of my 60th and I have never fit the norm. A former nurse ( total phoney handing out drugs I never believed in), now a concierge in a midwest town….for now.
    This Doesn’t define me, but its my pause… until I reassess and find a new wave to ride.Thank-you for ‘truth talk’.

    • kblake January 9, 2016 at 4:27 pm #

      Laurie – Thank you so very much! Love meeting kindred spirits :o) Good for you for taking the time to take a pause and explore your Chapter Be!! I don’t think our society gives us enough space to do that, so we just have to take it for ourselves. Good luck as you continue to create your path – excited to hear where it takes you! Happy 2016!

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