#5 Burnout, Going Back To School and Accidentally Starting a Business

My guest today is Debbie Cohen, the founder and director of The Style Chapter, a boutique interior styling studio, based in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.  

Debbie spent the first 10 years of her career in business development across law firms in Perth, London and Sydney.  After feeling ‘stuck’ and unfulfilled in her career for a very long time, it took a case of physical and mental burn out to be the wakeup call she needed.  With absolutely no contingency plan in place she left her job, and took the time to really consider what it was that she wanted to do.   

She enrolled in Design School to become a qualified Interior Decorator, freelanced for various styling companies, and in May this year, launched her own business, The Style Chapter - in the middle of a pandemic with a baby and a toddler in tow!

In this episode we chat the four stages of burnout, going back to school and how she accidentally started her business.

[8.12] The four stages of burnout[10.25] The sign from the universe that made her realise she had to make a change and she found herself saying: “There has to be more than this.” (she took the words out of my mouth!)[12.50] The Friday morning it all changed: Screaming on the inside: “I cannot do this anymore.”[14.30] With hindsight, the point she realises she should have evaluated.[17.28] A book she recommends: What Colour is Your Parachute, by Richard N. Bolles. [18.12] Moving in with her now-husband, merging their belonging, they used an interior decorator. Debs found herself asking: “Is this your job? I didn’t know jobs like this existed.”[19.40] Doing work experience at 32 years old and going back to school at Sydney Design School. Getting a part-time job.[20.30] Tip to work out what you might want to do: ask the people who know you well: What is it I enjoy, when do you see the sparkle in my eyes?[21.00] Walking away from your salary. “I didn’t have a Fuck Off Fund, if I did, I could have left earlier.” She was supported by her now husband and part-time job. [24.39] Deb’s never set out to start her own business, it was just a Covid-19 opportunity that came around. 2016 was a busy year: she retrained, got engaged, married and had a baby! [27.15] Birthing The Style Chapter: named because it’s a new chapter in her life and for her clients it’s a whole other chapter in moving house. [27.55]  Deb’s top tips for refreshing a space: don’t just go with what’s on trend and think about how you use this space.[29.17] What Deb’s wishes she had known before leaving her career: I was so worried what people would think. You don’t leave a job without another job. Now I realise people don’t care.  [31.55] When I was waiting for my visa, I kept asking myself: “What is the reframe? I can put more money into my Fuck Off Fund and what I am learning?” (Fuck Off Fund: Glorious pot of money to give you the power back to leave your career.)[33.00] What Deb’s kept hearing before she quit: “Is it really that bad? Just don’t go in? But it’s really good money.”

Want to follow Debbie’s adventures? Follow her on instagram.

Thinking about leaving your career and want to Build Your Freedom Fund  - find out more here.