The Happy and Prosperous Blog

In the first part of this series, I introduced this excerpt from my personal history - the time when I escaped the corporate world. Do read that one before you read this post otherwise it might not make much sense !

The Start of A Change

Studying Homeopathy: Bas Relief Detail Of Charles Henry Niehaus’ 1900 Doctor Samuel Hahnemann Memorial At Scott Circle (Washington, DC)
Photo by takomabibelot

Given the enthusiasm and passion that I had developed for homeopathy, I wondered if I could make a career out of it - other people had done, so why not me ? With that idea in mind, I enrolled on a 4 year part-time course in homeopathy starting in September 1998. I went to college one full weekend every month so I could continue working at the bank without any problem.

Full Pockets, Empty Soul

As I continued with the course in homeopathy, I became convinced that I wanted to pursue this as a career. I knew that I would not earn as much money as I did at the bank but that was not the most important thing to me. The bank was looking after me financially but it was draining me emotionally and it was doing nothing for my soul. I wanted to give something back to the world - give something back to people - help people.

Homeopath vs. IT Project Manager

It’s hard to imagine two such distinct professions. As an IT project Manager I was concerned with plans, budgets, deadlines, reports, staff issues etc. As a budding homeopath I was interested in people’s health, their emotional life, what made them tick, their hopes, fears, aspirations. I was starting to live a double life !

Working Part-Time

As I started my third year at college in September 2001 I asked if I could reduce my hours at the bank to give me more time to study. The bank agreed to this and I am grateful to them for their flexibility in allowing me to work a 4 day week. As I progressed into my final year, the bank agreed to my request to work a 3 day week and, in doing so, I relinquished my role as a Project Manager and took on the job of supporting other Project Managers and Leaders in their roles.

This was great and I was able to do plenty of studying. Financially I was worse off, of course, but that was OK as I felt like I was involved in something much more worthwhile. So I finished college and got my diploma and set myself up in practice working one day a week. This was fine and I got some clients but not that many and not nearly as many as I had hoped.

At this time, following a reorganisation at work, I came under some pressure to increase my hours at the bank and return to a 4 day week.

More soon.

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