See how people like you have started meaningful careers with the help of Your Career Homecoming
Homecoming Stories
I now have three things I never in my wildest dreams could’ve imagined: clarity, confidence, and direction.
direction
- Nicole Nguyen
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I have a clear and unapologetic understanding of my Homecoming Career.
CLARITY & CONFIDENCE
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
For the first time in my life, I'm excited to work.
start your business
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I'm finally getting off the hamster wheel of corporate America!
make a difference
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I got more out of these eight weeks than I received in two years of therapy.
find purpose
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I can definitely name what I’m looking for and what would TRULY make my heart sing.
find purpose
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I no longer question my career path, and that is HUGE because I was the queen of career indecisiveness for years.
find purpose
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I’ve quit my job. I’m solidly on my new career path, and, much more important for me personally, I know WHY I want what I want.
quit with a plan
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I am so glad I made this investment in myself.
practical plan
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
Knowing that my calling can make a difference for people I admire is amazing.
make a difference
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
This is the single most effective career transformation I've ever experienced or seen.
Change Your Life
To see over 80 full-length case studies, visit this page via desktop.
I have a clear and unapologetic understanding of my Homecoming Career.
clarity & Confidence
I now have three things I never in my wildest dreams could’ve imagined: clarity, confidence, and direction.
DIRECTION
This is the single most effective career transformation I've ever experienced or seen.
CHANGE YOUR LIFE
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This is the single most effective career transformation I've ever experienced or seen.
Change Your Life
I don't know many people who have done more personal development work than I have. I'm an addict. And I've even taught personal development workshops. This is the single most effective career transformation I've ever experienced or seen. There is something alchemical about the magic of Your Career Homecoming. If you are really ready for a transformation, this is so much more than an "online class." It’s an experience that is transformative and supportive, and for me, it really, really worked.
In my first call with Laura, she said, "I'm not a leap and the net will appear kind of a person, I'm a 'how fast can we build the net' kind of person." And I knew this was the right step for me at that time. Granted, I had to build the net really really fast, I got fired halfway through the program! But I am SO glad I took the leap, I am a much more resilient, innovative, happy person on this side of that decision.
- clare
I now have three things I never in my wildest dreams could’ve imagined: clarity, confidence, and direction.
direction
Before YCH, I felt like I was losing sight of who I was. YCH seemed like the real deal. No flowery language, no crazy promises. I decided I was ready to do the work and finally talk to someone who understood what I was going through.
I’ll be honest – I didn’t expect my life to change after YCH. I now have three things I never in my wildest dreams could’ve imagined: clarity, confidence, and direction.
I no longer feel that sense of dread when I think about work. I actually wake up everyday excited to work on my Homecoming Career. The happiness I feel has inched its way to other areas of my life and for that, I am grateful.
As someone with I-have-too-many-interests syndrome, YCH has been invaluable in helping to ground me and figure out what to focus on. The best thing that I’ve gotten from YCH is action. I made a solid and responsible plan for leaving my job. I didn’t wait for permission, more education, the right time, or more money to start working towards my Homecoming Career.
I am happy to share that a couple weeks after YCH ended, I officially transitioned from my tech job into my new role as a floral design assistant, the first stop on my path towards becoming an event designer. I owe YCH for helping me find purpose for doing this work and giving me the tools I need to make my next leaps forward.
- Nicole Nguyen
I have a clear and unapologetic understanding of my Homecoming Career.
CLARITY & CONFIDENCE
I had quit my job due to burnout but didn't know what I could do next. I was totally disconnected with myself and had no idea how to move forward. I had tried traditional career counseling and felt discouraged from the results.
I'm happy to say that I now have a clear and unapologetic understanding of my Homecoming Career. I can say what I'm looking for and feel confident that finally, I'm moving in the right direction. I've also gained back some confidence that I'd lost. I know that it will take a lot of work to get where I want to go. But for once, I'm no longer questioning what my bigger career roadmap is. I feel like I'm actually working towards something, instead of just spinning my wheels!
- Larissa
I am clear on who I am, what I am capable of, and what I want in my career.
clarity + confidence
I thought it might be time to pursue a different career, but I had no idea what career to aim for, let alone how to begin exploring career options. I was lost, frustrated, and depressed.
When I came across Your Career Homecoming, I knew it was different because of Laura's message that there's a fundamental flaw to "follow your passion." I had spent so many years trying to find out what my passion was (and feeling stuck), that this message made complete sense to me.
Because of the program, I am clear on who I am, what I am capable of, and what I want in my career.
I went into Your Career Homecoming with confidence that it could help my career, but I had no idea that YCH could affect my entire life! Since working on the program, I am calmer and more mindful. I am excited about my future.
- ye lee
YCH made me confident that I wasn’t making an impulsive decision.
love your work
I was going in circles. I knew I wasn’t aligned or fulfilled in my current line of work, so I was thinking up possible other career paths and then constantly second guessing myself - would that REALLY make me happy? What if that ends up being a worse situation than the one I’m in now? Which would then lead to me shutting ideas down altogether: I probably can’t make money doing that; I probably don’t have the right experience for that; I should just stay where it’s safe. Basically, career change was on my mind constantly, but I was making zero traction.
Now there’s no more second guessing or questioning. YCH builds a solid foundation so you can’t argue with the outcomes! It’s based on my core values, interests and skills - and every option is put through a feasibility/practicality filter. So when I landed on final options, I KNEW they would make me happy, and I KNEW they were feasible. Bye-bye excuses and second guessing!
It wasn’t realistic for me to up and quit my job without a transitional plan. YCH made me confident that I wasn’t making an impulsive decision, but rather creating a mid-to-long-term plan for my career. It felt realistic and attainable, and a huge leap all at the same time. But because of the YCH structure, I felt what I was doing was sensible.
UPDATE: I have just accepted an offer for my “transitional” career - an exciting entrepreneurial venture - and I will be leaving my 10-year long career in finance. I’ll also be formally launching and building my coaching practice on the side!
- stephanie
I know exactly the career I'm meant to have.
practical plan
When I tried to figure out my next move and new path, I got swept up in the whirlpool of my own thoughts and fears and other people's opinions. I felt I was moving sideways instead of forward. I knew I needed to make a change before yet another year passed of wandering in this wilderness. I didn't want to live half a life anymore. I needed a change.
By the end of my initial conversation with Laura, she got me and nailed her assessment of my situation. I knew I had found the right person at the right time.
By the end of the program, I had ownership of my new career. It was a career I always had in mind but I only yearned for it without having a plan to move towards it. I had always thought it was destined to remain a fantasy. Today I'm making solid steps in that direction and whenever I feel the grip of fear or insecurity, I pull out all my program notes. There in my own handwriting are all the reasons I need a change, why I chose this career, and how I already have the skills to pursue it.
I know exactly the career I'm meant to have. I've broken away from the guilt of leaving a career that pays well but holds no fulfillment. I'm so much happier knowing that I now have a different career story to write.
- steph
When YCH crossed my path, I took a deep breath and grabbed hold. Best decision I could have made.
clarity + confidence
I was losing hope. I had been for a long time. Frustration with my job had me snapping at coworkers. I nearly quit and walked out on more than one occasion. I was using paid time off every week as a way to cope and was coming in later and later in the morning. I needed to change jobs but didn't know where to go next or how to make a better choice.
In other words - I was a mess. I needed clarity to make decisions, didn't have it, and had no idea where to find it. DIY hadn't worked well in the past. I needed help to see what I was missing.
When YCH crossed my path, I took a deep breath and grabbed hold. Best decision I could have made.
I understand the "unifying principle of me" for the first time in my life, an understanding of myself that I have wanted for decades. I understand what service I provide to the world. I know how to talk about what I do and what I have to offer without being pigeon-holed or losing my curiosity about what’s around the next corner.
The clarity YCH has given me brought joy, laughter, and delight back into my life. It also gave me wings and the courage to use them. Most importantly - I have No More Excuses. I have the direction, tools, and a support system I trust to help me make the change I need.
- kay
I'm finally getting off the hamster wheel of corporate America!
make a difference
I have basically never felt sure in my career and I knew I needed to dedicate some time and effort to figuring out a better way to use my skills to make a difference in the world.
I was burnt out and scared and didn't feel like I had the tools to make a real change. I wanted a structured way of thinking about my skillset and my desired life and how to actually make that come together, which is what YCH gave me.
Now I am so excited to create a business that will use my skills to make a difference in the world. Because of Your Career Homecoming, I'm grounded in where I'm going and I'm finally getting off the hamster wheel of corporate America!
- robin
I know what type of career works for me.
Find Purpose
I was unsure of what I wanted to do next in my career. My current government job no longer fit with the person I'm evolving into. I had some ideas of what I might like but I lacked confidence in the viability of my thoughts and I had a lot of mental roadblocks that were preventing me from digging deep and unearthing a good career fit.
Now I feel great. I know what type of career works for me. I have more confidence in communicating and pursuing the career that I want, and feel so energized to put my transition plan in place.
- janai brown
I can definitely name what I’m looking for and what would TRULY make my heart sing.
find purpose
I was starting to feel (again) like the career I am in is just not what I’m really meant for. I can do it, sure. I can even be satisfied with doing it some days. But do I feel fulfilled by it? Not by a long shot. Not ever. That eats me up a little bit inside.
I learned so much about myself through this process (which, I have to tell you, shocked me right down to my toes! I have done so much ‘inner work’ over the years that I did not believe I’d learn much of anything new about myself through this program. I was wrong.). This must be the single most thorough and well-thought-out program I’ve ever taken, and I’ve taken a LOT through the years!
Now, I can definitely name what I’m looking for and what would TRULY make my heart sing. That’s pretty exciting for someone who’s spent the last 20+ years feeling like nothing was right; nothing was good enough & I was just wasting my days away. I feel relieved.
- angel
I got more out of these eight weeks than I received in two years of therapy.
find purpose
Honestly, I was skeptical that this would work for me for the first few weeks of YCH.
At first, I kept showing up because of the financial investment, but by the end, I was doing this for me--the me that I wanted to be and the me that I was becoming. I was being held accountable by Laura and by my peers. I didn't want to let anyone down (myself included), and the program was not going to let me get off the hook.
I also was hesitant about the cohort model, but in the end that really made this program for me. The support was what I needed to push on and not give up. Your spouse, partner, family aren't going through YCH---they may not even be stuck or understand why you're stuck but this group does...Laura does.
Laura called me on my bullshit and provided support when needed. I didn't know what to expect but I got more than I expected. I have no regrets and am so glad that I did this. I would recommend this program to anyone who I thought was ready and who I thought would be committed.
I got more out of these eight weeks than I received in two years of therapy. I actually have a path that I believe in. I know that it will take time for me to get where I'm going, but I can see the destination and I know I can do it.
- ryan
Your Career Homecoming helped me find my way to a home that I always had within me.
It’s not that I suddenly became something; it’s that I found something within myself that I’d overlooked before.
start your business
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Your Career Homecoming helped me find my way to a home that I always had within me. It’s not that I suddenly became something; it’s that I found something within myself that I’d overlooked before.
start your business
Before Your Career Homecoming, I was floundering. I’d hit a wall at my administrative job and was scrambling to find a way out. I felt absolute despair at the thought of being stuck here, or, maybe worse, of finding another job exactly like this…and another after that.
Thanks to YCH, I know what business I’m going to start! I know that I’m going to start a business! Can you feel how huge that is for me?! At the start of this program, I had NO idea whatsoever that, months later, I’d find myself on a journey to become a solopreneur. It wasn’t even remotely on my radar. Once it emerged toward the end of the program, I flipped back through my YCH pages, all the way from the beginning, and reread all of my writing and musing about who I am and what’s important to me and what I want to be known for…and sure enough, it was there all along. What a gift!
Your Career Homecoming helped me find my way to a home that I always had within me. It’s not that I suddenly became something; it’s that I found something within myself that I’d overlooked before. I had no idea that I truly could get paid for being me.
UPDATE: I quit! I quit the office job and am working exclusively on building my new business over the next couple weeks. Next month my beau and I are embarking on The Adventure of a Lifetime — traveling by RV all over the U.S. until we find Home. It’s wild to me that you’ve only known me as this whirlwind woman because, I swear, I’m. not. usually. like. this. I don’t typically leap. Ever. But, in the past year, so many things have felt either so not right or so right, and it’s been wonderfully easy for me to tell the difference. Decisions I might’ve agonized over previously are now no-brainers. I attribute some of this to learning so dang much about myself through YCH.
- helen McLaughlin
From participating in this program, I now know I actually have value and service to offer the world.
find purpose
I felt so hopeless when it came to my career because I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do. I also felt like no one could ever need or want what I really have to offer.
Through my own hard work and the support of Laura and the others in this group, I now have a guiding compass. I have a long-term vision for my career, and I have a plan for taking small steps to get there.
I’ve also started writing again, which has been a long-time strength, inner-growth tool, and source of enjoyment that I had really forgotten and neglected. I have reconnected with my own intuition, and I am actually following it more often than not instead of constantly doubting myself. From participating in this program, I now know I actually have value and service to offer the world.
-jayne anne
I know what type of work makes me happy and is sustainable versus just what I can do to make the most money.
change your life
I was bored out of my mind at work with a high stress level. I felt drain, burned out, lacking in creativity and options. I knew I could not keep doing what I was doing and so I stopped; I took a big break. While the big break has been awesome I wanted some ideas about what to do next.
I knew a traditional type of career counselor was not going to help me because they tend to do an outside in type of process – see what is in the world and how I could fit it, and what I wanted and needed was an inside out approach. I needed to understand more about me and see only then, what in the world might fit or what I could create from my strengths and joys. I am glad I did!
Now I feel like I have the knowledge and tools to set myself up well professionally and avoid burn out much more effectively. I know what type of work makes me happy and is sustainable versus just what I can do to make the most money. I feel like once I decide to return to the work force I can and will do it on my own terms.
- annie
I'm the architect of my career, and I'm grounded in my own agency.
start your business
So many of my jobs, even my self-employment, were choices made based on what other people needed or expected from me.
Through Your Career Homecoming, I discovered the all-important thread that weaves my eclectic body of work together and that's not only key to being able to move ahead with confidence, it's SUCH A RELIEF!!
Now, I get to play and implement that in as many creative ways as I choose. I'm the architect of my career, and I'm grounded in my own agency.
- Tracie nichols
For the first time in my life, I'm excited to work.
start your business
I have confidence that I'll get there, and that's something I've never had.
make a difference
I feel like what I want is materializing in front of my eyes. Not to be trite, but it feels a bit miraculous.
love your work
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I feel like what I want is materializing in front of my eyes. Not to be trite, but it feels a bit miraculous.
love your work
I was bored with the business I’d started 5 years back. I didn’t want to do it anymore — but I didn’t know what might be next … or, rather, I had a few ideas, but didn’t have the courage to go for it.
I’ve gotten very clear about what I want and have organized my life around getting it. Being a journalist doesn’t feel like a pipe-dream anymore; it feels like it’s inevitable at this point. Almost like what I was always meant to do, I just didn’t quite know it before. I’m happy in a way I haven’t been for a long time. I feel like what I want is materializing in front of my eyes. Not to be trite, but it feels a bit miraculous.
UPDATE: Today I had the first of two interviews with an American Public Media show— and was thanking my lucky stars for the work we did together. Those "Tell me what you bring to the table" and "Why are you the best person for this position?" questions felt so simple. I hope the job is mine. I know I could rock it. Regardless, I feel great to have made it to the final 5 of 300+ applicants.
Anyways, I’m reaching out to say thank you, again. I don’t think I would’ve found my way here without your support. Sure, there’s plenty of hustle and tears and sleep deprivation ahead, but it feels good. I’m inhabiting a kind of confidence I’ve never experienced before. It feels right. And Your Career Homecoming helped me get here.
SECOND UPDATE: I’m so excited to announce that I am joining the brilliant team at North Country Public Radio in Canton, New York as a Digital Content Producer. These folks and this station are everything I’ve been hoping and searching for.
- brit
I have confidence that I'll get there, and that's something I've never had.
make a difference
Before I found Your Career Homecoming, I was confused about what I wanted to do with my life. I kept waffling on my decisions around a career change, which made me feel unfocused and like I didn't have a purpose. I was sick of wasting time trying to make a decision on my own, so when I found Your Career Homecoming, I was hopeful that it would help me end the back-and-forth in my head.
After working with Laura, I've made the decision that I want to be a coach—hands down. I'm focused now on creating the life I want and I've already started to show up as a coach. And because I'm committed, I know I'm not going to bail out on my dreams. I have confidence that I'll get there, and that's something I've never had.
- stacie
For the first time in my life, I'm excited to work.
start your business
When I found Your Career Homecoming, I had been miserably hopping from job to job, trying to figure out the career that would make me happy. I knew that to find a job I loved, it would have to give me the opportunity to help others and make a difference in their lives, while also having financial success. But what was that thing?!
Now I not only know Homecoming Career, but I'm pursuing it with confidence. I started my business and I'm loving it! For the first time in my life, I'm excited to work. My passion is not running out. I'm THRIVING.
- alexandria Thibodeaux
Doing this program helped me come up with concrete, realistic career ideas that fit me.
quit with a plan
While I was successful in terms of external factors (promotions, people being pleased with my work), I was really unhappy and it was draining me. I had come to realize that the field I was in was not a good fit for me. I wanted a job that I enjoyed, and that supported my life rather than detracted from it.
Before YCH, I felt like the kind of work that I was good at was work that I didn’t enjoy. I had a swirl of ideas about what I was interested in, but all of my ideas felt impractical. I was really stuck. I longed for something that was a better fit, but felt like having that was unlikely and unrealistic.
Doing this program helped me come up with concrete, realistic career ideas that fit me. I quit my draining job. I started taking better care of myself. I feel like I now have a clear, practical path and am on my way to a career that I am excited about.
- kathryn
I don't say this often, but you are a game-changer. You are a life-changer.
make a difference
I felt stuck, at my job and outside of work. I kept thinking, "Is this it? This is what it is going to be for the rest of my life?" I was giving 150% to a job that wasn't giving anything back to me except a paycheck. I felt drained and depressed. I didn't want to get out of bed and go to work every day. I would cry on Sunday evenings. I knew I had to make a change or I would be sad, bitter, and frustrated for the rest of my life. I didn't want to live that way anymore.
We can celebrate you rescuing me. That's what it feels like. I have a healthier mindset. I know what I want. I know I'm not going to settle anymore. I have tools and my courage back to make my dreams and plans a reality because of this program.
The meaningful work I am starting to do doesn't leave me drained. It amps me up! I can't wait to start putting it into action and actually help real people. Knowing that I have found meaningful work where I can encourage, empower, support, and work in service to others feels so exciting.
The universe presents people when you need them. You walked this path with me and I found something that is a spark and an amazing career. I don't say this often, but you are a game-changer. You are a life-changer.
- JANE L.
When people used to ask me what I do, I would kind of groan. Now I feel happy to answer that question. I care, and I like what I do.
love your work
My biggest problem in my career was not feeling challenged enough and not feeling like I was growing or learning as much as I wanted, and just feeling underutilized. And at work that was obviously difficult because I didn’t feel satisfied. And then when it got really bad, it followed me around after work. I was just too tired to want to do anything else because the day was such an energy suck.
When your confidence is shaken, you feel like you can’t find or don’t deserve something different. But I did the Your Career Homecoming work and turned the corner.
Now that I have my new job, I get excited to go to work. Haha! It’s a weird feeling! I feel like I have literally learned something new every day. My self-pride and confidence is up. When people used to ask me what I do, I would kind of groan. Now I feel happy to answer that question. I care, and I like what I do.
I feel like it’s spurring me to make other changes in my life. I’m moving into a new apartment in a new part of town that I’m excited about. I’m taking fun workout classes. I’m finding joy again.
- kathleen
This breakthrough allowed me to declare my Homecoming Career with the confidence of knowing this wasn't just a phase; this was home.
Love Your Work
I left my government day job.
Make a Difference
I have the name of what career I want, the confidence to pursue it, and the surety that this choice is right for me because it is backed up by data.
make a difference
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I have the name of what career I want, the confidence to pursue it, and the surety that this choice is right for me because it is backed up by data.
make a difference
I was so stuck. I knew I wanted a new job but I didn't know what kind of job. I know I'm an intelligent individual and I can learn just about anything when I try, so I struggled with what to dedicate myself to. Should I learn to write Python code? Sell insurance? Get certified in Google Analytics? There seemed to be too many possibilities to narrow down. And everything that I was looking at seemed like I had to sacrifice something inherent to my sense of self to do it. I was so down on myself before--thinking that there was something wrong with ME for being unable to find a career and subsequently, a place for myself in the world.
But through completing YCH and lots and LOTS of resilience work, I was able to find a renewed sense of self and I am more confident than ever that I am VALUABLE and I have something to offer the world.
Call me optimistic, excited, hopeful, delighted, and content. I have the name of what career I want, the confidence to pursue it, and the surety that this choice is right for me because it is backed up by data.
- katie
I left my government day job.
Make a Difference
Before, I felt a bit like a failure; I was at a point where I knew I wanted a plan to leave my day job, but was unsure of the exact direction. I now have clear direction on my path, I have a plan on when to leave my day job, and I have the clarity and confidence to move forward in a direction that feels right to me.
UPDATE: July 11 is the date I left my government day job – TWO years ago! Time flies when you are having fun. And I’m having a lot of it, thanks in big part to Laura and YCH. The work I did with her not only brought me back to myself, but helped define my work’s purpose: to help people create a foundation – a sanctuary – for themselves through their home. Two years ago I was in a beige cubicle no longer feeling like I was making a difference in my job. I’ve since created my own cubicle-free job, and today, I create programs and resources to help people create a home they love, that inspires them to live the life they want. It makes me jump for joy to be able to say that. Laura – you do really good work…so we can also do really good work. Thank you.
- tania Wojciechowski
This breakthrough allowed me to declare my Homecoming Career with the confidence of knowing this wasn't just a phase; this was home.
Love Your Work
I had a deep call to do something great and many different ideas, but I didn't know how to channel the overflow of creativity. I wanted to change, I was ready to do the work, and maternity leave was the perfect time for that. I knew I needed someone to help me organize my thoughts, and Your Career Homecoming felt authentic.
In all my previous career change journaling, I was regularly looking for signs...signs of certainty. What happened at Your Career Homecoming was exactly that!! I gained certainty in who I truly am and what I truly want. This breakthrough allowed me to declare my Homecoming Career with the confidence of knowing this wasn't just a phase; this was home.
It's my voice that led me to this career, and I feel empowered, committed, limitless, motivated and contagious!
- pia
I no longer question my career path, and that is HUGE because I was the queen of career indecisiveness for years.
find purpose
I had always wanted to start my own business, but then I graduated college at the height of the recession and grabbed the first admin job I could get at a local university. Somehow, years later, I found myself still stuck in administration. I had done A TON of independent research on possible careers (I had notebooks upon notebooks filled with research), tried a couple of online programs to no avail, was drowning in indecisiveness, and feeling utterly stuck.
I had followed Laura for awhile and always had the idea of trying Your Career Homecoming, but it wasn't until I hit "career rock-bottom" (i.e. feeling genuinely depressed most days and hating 5 out of 7 days in the week) that I finally decided to invest in myself and enroll in YCH.
I recognized how comprehensive and systematic the program truly was and how YCH is a true "fluff-free" zone. You won't hear, "Follow your passion, and the money will come" with Laura or her program, and I LOVED that. YCH allows each person to create a truly comprehensive, personalized filter, and this filter is rooted in real life, practical terms, which was a huge factor in my decision.
Also, you are so not alone in YCH. Laura is a mentor, oracle of career wisdom and knowledge, and an incredible guide throughout each step of the process. I had done other online career programs on my own, and because of my past experiences, I recognized the serious value in having a guide to walk with you.
I no longer question my career path, and that is HUGE because I was the queen of career indecisiveness for years. And I did not land on this new path on a random whim; I have a massive binder of cold, hard, personalized evidence on why I chose this new career, and that's an incredible, beautiful thing. I'm also far more optimistic because I know that my current admin "day job" is not my "forever job" anymore. Also, as a remarkable residual benefit of YCH, I'm far more attuned to my daily resilience and self-care needs and practices.
Finally, after years of going back and forth, I know which type of business I'm going to start! I'm confident and excited for this new upcoming chapter. I landed on my most immediate goals over the next three months, which will serve to bridge the gap between where I am now to the type of business owner I desire to be.
- toni
I have a very clear idea of what it is I want to do, I have a written plan for how to do it, and I've already started a beta version.
practical plan
My career was just wringing the life out of me, mentally, physically, and emotionally. For years I had so many ideas in my head of what I could do, and for a time I'd feel like I knew the answer. But days later, I'd have that cloud of doubt come back over me. For years and years I have run in circles in my head. I was in a desperate need to find some clarity in how to move forward.
I was always attracted to the down-to-earthiness of what Laura had to say. There was none of this crazy "follow your passion and you'll earn millions in 6 weeks" posture and attitude.
Because of Your Career Homecoming, I have a very clear idea of what it is I want to do, I have a written plan for how to do it, and I've already started a beta version.
And so I'm just really excited about it. I know it's not going to be quick or even easy, but the path to get there is just exciting in and of itself. And it just feels like that essence of unnecessary struggle has disappeared, and the grinding I felt before is just not part of the equation anymore and that just feels so much better.
I learned that it's not just about checking off a tick-box of what jobs you can do. It’s really about the YCH approach to what work and contribution are and having that foundation underneath that changes what's possible for you, and so it's worth it for that alone. If you do the work, you'll uncover something that you didn't realize was there but was within you all along.
- HH
Knowing that my calling can make a difference for people I admire is amazing.
Make a Difference
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Knowing that my calling can make a difference for people I admire is amazing.
make a difference
I was almost a year into my latest position in higher education development when I finally accepted the realization that while I was good at what I did, I wasn’t passionate about it.
I was playing safe and needed a program that could help guide a change.
I knew it was going to be hard to balance YCH with a full-time job, raising 3 kids, being a supportive wife and completing my first full marathon, but the program was a no-brainer so I went for it.
Now I know what business I’m going to start, and I’m definitely more confident – and proud – because I am aware of what I really want and the type of legacy I want to leave. Even though I’m still employed in higher ed for now, YCH extended greater confidence in my job.
I’m taking bigger steps than I ever have before. I walking down the path that I’m creating as a result of the YCH work. There is no denying the path will require time and effort but I’m committed to following it.
- aimee
I know what kind of change I want to make, and I've got the skills to help me get there.
confidence
It wasn't bad enough for me to leave, but it wasn't fulfilling and I'd lost a lot of motivation. I was lost when I thought about which direction I wanted to go.
I'd seen some of Laura's work and felt that her approach matched my philosophy. I was walking to work when I found out Your Career Homecoming opened up, so I stepped to the side and filled out the application right there on my phone.
YCH helped by breaking down the big questions into smaller, less scary ones.
Instead of churning over "What do you want to do for the rest of your life?," YCH gave me the framework and support to really examine what I can do, what I like to do, and what impact I want to make.
I'm much more confident about my skills and strengths, and how useful I can be to others. Instead of a vague idea of needing "a change,” I know what kind of change I want to make, and I've got the skills to help me get there.
-michael
Your Career Homecoming has helped me lift a huge burden in my life.
change your life
Over the course of about 12 years, I felt like I had "tried it all" to find meaningful work, but was still spinning my wheels. In fact, instead of getting closer finding work that fulfilled me, I felt stuck in a career path that was becoming toxic. I was at a loss on how to move forward and that feeling of being in limbo or treading water was so unsettling.
I've always been a very self aware and analytical person, but since working on my Homecoming Career with the support and guidance of both Laura and the others in the group it feels like I am seeing myself much more clearly.
Through the program, I identified a career path that I had previously discounted because I thought the learning curve was just too great and it would take me too long to learn the skills needed to become gainfully employed. Well, the learning curve (or my perceived learning curve) hasn't changed, but now I the have tools to overcome obstacles (real or imagined) to head down this path that feels authentic. Your Career Homecoming has helped me lift a huge burden in my life.
- ann
My career change is now a very exciting place to be in as opposed to being the daunting place it had been before.
clarity
I was in the midst of a career transition; I had done some training in life and equine-facilitated wellness coaching but was at a complete standstill on how to go forward.
I lost faith in the choices I had made for transitioning and had lost confidence in my capacity to build a new career. I realized that I needed structured help to understand why I had ended up in this stagnation and what I could do to move from it.
When I decided to take the plunge into Your Career Homecoming, immediately I felt a huge sigh of relief from deep inside and knew that I had come "home" to the right place for me.
I can now recognize and face the fears and vulnerability that career change creates. I have a stronger vision for the future that feels truly aligned on who I am, my values, and how I wish to contribute. I feel supported by Laura and by the community of Homecomers and feel that I can call on them for ideas, feedback, and simple positive presence.
I know what I wish to do, why I wish to do it, and how I will do it. I am energized, more confident, able to face challenges with greater clarity and purpose. My career change is now a very exciting place to be in as opposed to being the daunting place it had been before.
-anne
I'm so excited about my plans that I can't sit still!
clarity & confidence
Before YCH was over I had scored a new job where they’re excited about what I have to offer and treat me as an asset.
love your work
This is a HUGE breakthrough for me. My purpose and role is very clear to me, and I know in my gut that this path makes sense for me.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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This is a HUGE breakthrough for me. My purpose and role is very clear to me, and I know in my gut that this path makes sense for me.
make a difference
I felt stuck and hopeless about ever finding a path that felt right for me and doable. Even though I'd tried a lot of different approaches to finding the kind of work I wanted, I hadn't been successful. I was resigned to letting go of the idea of having real interest or connection in my work.
Before, I always had this vague "I want to help people" notion but couldn't really get beyond that in any way that could become a lucrative career. I came away from the program with a very clear picture of the business I want to start and the problem I want to solve. This is a HUGE breakthrough for me. My purpose and role is very clear to me, and I know in my gut that this path makes sense for me.
This work helped me to tap into something I hadn't been able to do before and as a result I have plans now that feel authentic, possible, and meaningful.
- kendra
Before YCH was over I had scored a new job where they’re excited about what I have to offer and treat me as an asset.
love your work
I was in a job that didn’t fit anymore, and in an environment that was getting more toxic every day. I was exhausted.
YCH gave me the opportunity to identify my strengths, and to learn about ME and what I can do. The curriculum definitely opened my eyes to all that I am and am capable of. After Your Career Homecoming I can say I like my current career; it was the environment that had to change.
Before YCH was over I had scored a new job where they’re excited about what I have to offer and treat me as an asset. And now I have the tools to reinvent if this one doesn’t fit at some point. I see possibilities ahead, and there are no limits now.
-maxiel rodriguez
I'm so excited about my plans that I can't sit still!
clarity & confidence
I had an inkling of what I wanted to do with my life career-wise, but I lacked the conviction and courage to pursue it. Now I'm so excited about my plans that I can't sit still!
I no longer feel apologetic about working toward the life that I want. I feel more self-assured. Mostly, I feel very hopeful about the future, and confident that I'm moving in the right direction for me. I know it won't be easy, but I know it is possible and that I'll always regret it if I don't try.
- Joanna
I have the knowledge and the tools to get there now.
I was feeling very stuck in my current career. I wasn't sure why I didn't enjoy it and I was lost when it came to thinking about what else I could do. I had already changed careers before and the idea of doing that again was so daunting I felt like I was suffocating. My life was slipping away and I was wasting my time doing work I didn't enjoy.
There are two reasons why I signed up for YCH: 1) Laura's message and ideas around finding meaningful work made me realize why I had been so unhappy in my career so far. It felt like I had found someone who finally got what it was I was looking for. 2) I knew I was going to need help and support in this process, as well as some kind of accountability check in. Otherwise I never would have gotten anywhere.
Now I find I am less stressed about finding the “perfect" job. I have the knowledge and the tools to get there now, and I am so much more confident in my interests, skills, and in what I can achieve.
change your life
- jodi
I feel more energized and more confident about finding work.
love your work
My husband had just gone into remission for cancer, the hospital bills were piling up, and we were both frustrated that he was still the one working daily, despite chemo and radiation, bringing home the bacon as the breadwinner of our household. I was feeling shame, guilt, and desperation that my freelance job as a virtual assistant was inconsistent when it came to being paid.
Now I feel more energized and more confident about finding work. More opportunities (especially writing and editing ones, jobs I had dreamed about in the past) seem to be opening themselves up to me, more than ever.
And I love the group coaching calls and the YCH community; there’s something about being with others who are on similar paths, yearning for similar goals, that makes you feel less alone, more fortified.
I feel much more hopeful and confident about my future, wherever it goes. I am realizing there isn’t just one path for me. The career that feels like home can and will change. And that’s okay. Trust is something I can actually hold onto now.
- lily
The work we did reminded me of what I didn’t want, but also what I needed to be okay — and to allow me to exit gracefully from the horrible-fitting job I was in.
clarity + confidence
I found a brand-new facility that hadn’t even opened yet, filled out their application, and told them they really wouldn’t need to interview anyone else for the position I wanted, that I was all they needed, and more. (Such boldness!)
I have you to thank for that, Laura, because the work we did reminded me of what I didn’t want, but also what I needed to be okay — and to allow me to exit gracefully from the horrible-fitting job I was in.
So, Laura, thank you from the bottom of my heart! You gave me the confidence to realize I didn’t need to compete with 100′s of other applicants, and from there I had only to decide the how of going out and picking up my new job… (just like shopping, LOL).
- dar
I'm excited about the job, but even more excited to be the man that I want to be.
find purpose
Working with Laura changed my life.
love your work
After 6 years of trying to figure it all on my own I knew that I would just be in the same place as I was now several months later if I didn't sign up.
clarity + confidence
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After 6 years of trying to figure it all on my own I knew that I would just be in the same place as I was now several months later if I didn't sign up.
clarity + confidence
I wanted to get on the YCH tour bus and be delivered to career clarity.
I feel much more confident in my direction of my career now. It was a really important moment for me when you gave me permission to pursue the career I was most interested in. Before you said that I don't think I would have felt "allowed" to pursue it. I also had an important moment on our final call when you said that the things that I don't like about that field can become points that I can use to differentiate myself. Also your encouragement that being a beginner in the field brings with it it's own advantages. That was a real confidence booster. So I got given lots of confidence in the course from you, Laura. I got a champion in you to say yes I can do this, it's possible.
I now know what course I am going to study. I feel safely delivered to that doorstep! I also have a game plan so I know the next steps forward in terms of starting a business.
The indecision panic has subsided. And if it flares up again I just go back to my awesome tower/filter/career manifesto and it always answers my questions and reassures my doubts. Like you said, that piece of paper is my real resume. I can always come back to that and refine it with time as I continue to learn about myself and my likes and dislikes.
- jane
Working with Laura changed my life.
love your work
Working with Laura changed my life. She was practical, but she also saw my future, the one I wanted, and it was totally safe in her hands.
From 6th grade English teacher to author/illustrator.
THIS IS IT was published with Greenwillow/HarperCollins (February 2018), I GOT NEXT (July 2019), and AMERICA, MY LOVE, AMERICA, MY HEART (April 2021). Daria is also the illustrator of GLORIA TAKES A STAND by Jessica M. Rinker, a picture book biography about the life and work of Gloria Steinem (Bloomsbury, March 2019) .
- Daria Peoples-Riley
I'm excited about the job, but even more excited to be the man that I want to be.
Find Purpose
I was in a hole emotionally, personally, and with my career. I felt like I was just getting by and not doing what I was meant to do, but I had no idea what I wanted to do. I needed someone to help me understand why I felt like I did and to learn more about myself.
Now, I am confident that I am where I am supposed to be. I have a clear vision of my Why! I know the questions that I need to ask myself on a daily basis to make sure that my values stay aligned with what Laura helped me discover. And, I just got a job offer for a company that is perfectly aligned with my needs and wants. I'm excited about the job, but even more excited to be the man that I want to be.
- mitch zenaty
I have clarity around the kind of work I want to pursue and more importantly, why I want to be doing it.
practical plan
Before signing up for YCH I didn’t feel like I had an intentional direction for my career. I had a work history composed of a series of different jobs where the purpose was to pay the bills. And I realized that I had lost sight of pursuing work that would be meaningful to me – work that would make me happy and pay the bills.
As a creative person, the message of following your passion is one I’ve heard over and over again. I’d tried following my passion and that hadn’t worked for me. While I enjoy creative projects on a personal level, I didn’t have a sense of contribution that I now realize I needed in my work. So the idea of finding a purposeful career, something that I enjoy that would also help others, made a lot of sense.
I have clarity around the kind of work I want to pursue and more importantly, why I want to be doing it. I have a clear set of criteria that is personal to me and incorporates my values that I can use now and in the future to guide my career decisions, whether I continue on the same path or decide to make a change down the road. And I have a practical plan in place to work toward establishing my Homecoming Career!
- Dara
I know who I am, what I need and want from a position, and am not willing to settle for anything else.
love your work
I had been contemplating a career change for about two years because I felt like my current position no longer aligned with who I was or how I wanted to show up in the world.
I would apply for jobs that I really wasn’t excited about but sounded like something I could do. Unsurprisingly, I didn’t land one interview during that time. I knew it was because my heart just wasn’t in it. I was frustrated and knew I needed to take a different approach.
I thought at 37 years old I had a pretty good handle on myself, but through YCH I learned a lot about myself and how to ‘own’ those unique qualities and leverage them effectively in my next career. Rather than trying to bend and shape my resume to what I think an employer is looking for I feel like I know who I am, what I need and want from a position, and am not willing to settle for anything else.
I have my own personal filter to run potential career choices through and if it doesn’t meet my standards, it’s not the right fit. I have shifted from the, ‘You have a job that pays the bills and has health insurance so be happy,’ mindset. I expect more and know I deserve it now.
- keli frigo
I am so glad I made this investment in myself.
practical plan
I was feeling very out of control in terms of my career. I could not see a way for me to think about it strategically, or approach it from a place of confidence. I was stuck in an "I have to take what I can get" mindset. I needed to learn how to build my own GPS system
For the first time...maybe ever, I can look at a challenge and think through it strategically and take the action to back myself up even when my lizard brain is going crazy and tossing out the fear signals. I feel more confident in knowing that I am capable of breaking down a problem to the sum of its parts and problem solving from every angle.
For the first time I am seeing what it feels like to be on the other side of "committed". To have done something for ME, not an external factor.
I have faced fully the business desire that is in my heart (and heart is home), and I now have a system and the knowledge to create a framework around moving forward. I am so glad I made this investment in myself.
- amber j, Jones
No more “ending up” places. I get to choose my life’s work and legacy.
love your work
Talk about night and day: I’m no longer super anxious about talking with my boss. We talked Friday and I found out I’m getting 4% raise! I’m also getting a 14% bonus!! I’m now also eligible for 15% bonus next year...And the best part of all of this was that he told me that he recognizes all of the things I do behind the scenes along with how much I care and that HE TRUSTS ME!!!
When I started Your Career Homecoming I was soooo desperate to get out of the corporate job I’d ended up in 10 years earlier. YCH helped me learn what my values are AND how to advocate for myself, uncomfortable conversations included. I never would have dreamed that the job I had could become a great fit for me. At first I felt awkward that I “didn’t move on” from this job or this company....but in truth I DID move on in mindset and approach and that has made all the difference.
I am now intentionally choosing my path. Now I KNOW what is important to me and what drives me. No more “ending up” places. I get to choose my life’s work and legacy.
-karly
I had been suffering in my career for a long time, and the relief and focus I feel now is a game changer!
clarity & confidence
For four years I had been telling myself, "This will be my last year at this job." I kept hoping that the right thing would just come to me. I was finally ready to step it up and make a choice for my future instead of waiting around. I didn't want to see myself as the person who just does the laundry. I wanted to make a difference, and I wanted to feel appreciated for it.
When I first started YCH I thought “maybe I should have just read this book or that book, or watched a million TED talks”, but as I followed the program I realized that this information is not even out there anywhere else and never in a million years could I have put together a plan like this. And hiring a pro is always worth the money! You wouldn’t leave a leaky roof just because your last roof repair man did shoddy work!! No, you would do your research and find a pro!
I had been suffering in my career for a long time, and the relief and focus I feel now is a game changer! To know what I want to do, and to belief in myself that I can do it? This was worth every penny.
- karen
I have absolute certainty that starting this business is what I want to do. Perhaps most importantly, I believe that I can do it.
change your life
I'd been working for about 3 years as a Senior Learning & Organizational Development consultant for a tech company. I was doing well in the role, and on paper, it seemed like a great fit for me. But in reality, quite a few things were still out of alignment. I felt like my organization always benefited more than the people I was trying to help, and I wasn't able to achieve the autonomy and lifestyle that I wanted. But I was "making progress," and I told myself that this is just how things are "in the real world".
Then Aunt Corona and her big pause button arrived on our doorsteps unannounced. That brought some things bubbling to the surface that had been eating away at me for a long time. I had an urgent sense that life was ticking away too quickly, and that I wasn't really doing what I wanted with mine.
I can honestly say that the benefits of the program have extended far beyond my career. YCH allowed me to embrace my strengths, my desires, and how I want to show up in the world. It helped me build the belief and trust in myself that I needed to go for what I want. It's caused a shift, and now I approach everything in life a little differently. And as if by magic, new and better things are showing up in my life as a result.
In terms of my career, I went from a tangle of doubts and nebulous ideas to, "I can totally do this, I want to do this, and I have a flexible plan for how I can do this." I have absolute certainty that starting this business is what I want to do. Perhaps most importantly, I believe that I can do it.
- elaina
I was hired at my top pick ranch.
love your work
I have some awesome news to share. In three months I will be working on a dude ranch in Wyoming. I will be there for the summer and then hopefully onto another ranch in Arizona for the winter. I get to meet people from all walks of life, write in my free time and take photos of the beautiful landscape, and of course wear boots and jeans every day.
It was visiting a ranch last summer that sparked the question, “Could I do this for a living?” So I began scouting ranches online and submitting applications, which was an experience of its own having to submit my resume that highlights my work background in finance/real estate and trying to explain why a realtor from Nashville wants to work on a ranch as a server. Anyway, it worked! I had several interviews and just today I was hired at my top pick ranch. I'm so thrilled and wanted to share that with you.
Thank you for helping me open up to my hopes and desires and discovering new thoughts of what work means to me and how that might look.
-SUZI minor
Now I can confidently say what business I’m going to start.
start your business
I'd been floundering around for years being really unsatisfied with my career/work situations, but not having the clarity and confidence to move forward and make a change. I was drawn to the practical and actionable characteristics of Your Career Homecoming. After I talked with Laura, I really felt heard and supported - I knew she would provide the accountability and guidance I needed!
I had been contemplating entrepreneurship for a long time, but I never had any idea what I wanted to do. Now I can confidently say what business I’m going to start.
I have a roadmap for my next steps, which is so huge considering I felt like I was aimlessly consuming information from a million sources and hoping that I'd have the light bulb moment that would lead me to THE ONE CAREER/BUSINESS!
Most importantly, I know how I want my future to look and feel, and I can use this to guide my career baby steps.
-jessica maas
When I finally figured it out, it didn’t come with a choir of angels and trumpets; it just made sense.
Find Purpose
Before I signed up for Your Career Homecoming I had an okay job in veterinary medicine for 10 years. I had been looking for a change for some time, but every time I thought I’d figured out what I was going to do next, I convinced myself that where I was was good enough and that I shouldn’t complain or take the risk of pursuing something new.
I was so burnt out, stressed, tired, unmotivated, uninspired, and my work performance was terrible in ways I never thought were possible for my high standards and work ethic.
Then, I was fired from my job. Though I had a lot of fear about the future, it turned out to be just what I needed to initiate change.
In YCH, I learned that I can have a transition period – I kept thinking that I needed to go from my crummy job straight to THE DREAM job. Having this re-framed was essential in my process. When I finally figured it out, it didn’t come with a choir of angels and trumpets; it just made sense. YCH was a very complete plan which spoke to a part of me that I needed to hear from.
UPDATE: I did end up going back to school to get a degree in Nursing. I worried a lot about how I would pay for college. However, when I went back, within a few months I received a scholarship for a FULL RIDE. Yeah, no joke! For me, it was a sign that I was on the right track.
I still use my worksheets about every 6 months to reaffirm my decisions. They help me to know I'm still in alignment with the values I put in place.
Thanks for the emails! I still read them and feel part of the community even though it's been a few years.
- kayla
I have a path laid out and I cannot wait to get started! I would not have gotten here on my own.
practical plan
I had wanted to make a change for so long, but I really I had no idea what I could do that would be fulfilling. I did not want to bounce from thing to thing, and I did not want to feel this lost this time next year!
Through doing the Your Career Homecoming program, I have definitely gained confidence in myself. I know my strengths and skills and that I don't have to settle. But I also I know exactly what I'm looking for in my career, employer, and workplace, and that feels great! I have a path laid out and I cannot wait to get started! I would not have gotten here on my own.
- erin
I “retired” from my property management position!
quit with a plan
I was feeling unfocused, scattered, knowing I needed a change (…it was LONG overdue), but not certain of the direction. There were elements I wanted, like creativity, but other than that I was sitting with a bunch of anxiety over what steps to take next.
Your Career Homecoming helped me to look at my journey from a variety of angles, ensuring I created a full and complete map to bring me to my Homecoming.
UPDATE: I “retired” from my property management position! Well, more accurately, I moved it into my home and turned in into a 2-3 day/month job so I can focus on building my new business.
- jennifer mears
I defined the ethereal thing in my head.
clarity
The Homecoming Binder. Oh, how I love that binder. With it and the program, I defined the ethereal thing in my head.
Would I recommend YCH to a friend? I would say Yes. And then Yes again. It is an invaluable experience, and worth the investment, if you’re willing to do the work and follow through.
- lisa w.
When people ask me what I’m going to do, I no longer have an internal mini-crisis.
practical plan
Before YCH, I was unemployed by choice. While I knowingly had left my job without another job so that I could take a break, the plan never was for me to be unemployed forever. But even with over a year to rest and recover, I still couldn’t navigate my way into job seeking beyond sitting on job posting sites. Every job looked either “too hard/not qualified” or “something I would hate doing.”
YCH appeared to be exactly what I was looking for – not a job in hand at the end, but a knowledge of self that would help me from never being in the situation I was currently in again.
When people ask me what I’m going to do, I no longer have an internal mini-crisis. I know what the next steps I need to take are. And instead of seeing dead ends and no possibilities, I see possibilities and opportunities.
- lauryn
If you are looking for your Homecoming Career, you'll get it. 100%.
quit with a plan
I'd spent two years feeling guilty for hating a "dream" job. I'd been researching a career jump, but felt like I would have to get a master's degree to even start on a path I craved...which felt impossible, so I kept looking and looking and feeling like I didn't have the tools to do anything else.
Life is different now because I can see the steps I need to take to get where I want without feeling pressure to get it all done today. I'm not stressed about it; I'm actually enjoying the process! I'm listening to that little voice within and bowing to her wisdom. I truly feel like I know what's best for me and I'm asking for what I want.
If you are looking for your Homecoming Career, you'll get it. 100%. For me, though, getting to know myself and gaining the confidence to use what I learned about myself to forge a new direction was the best part. I can use it in other areas of my life and the tools I learned to get there are always available to come back to.
- steph
I am excited about and inspired by what I'm doing.
Find Purpose
I began working with Laura when I was weirdly lost and going in a direction that everyone else felt I should go. Inside, I knew it wasn’t for me, but I wasn’t equipped with the right tools to make a shift.
I went from being in a career that I was miserable in to a position and work environment that are actually aligned with my core values, and are perfect for my schedule and lifestyle. Plus, I still have the time and energy to work on my personal business goals because I am excited about and inspired by what I’m doing.
- Zakeisha jones
I know where I want to work. There's a huge sense of relief in just having an arrow pointing in the right direction.
practical plan
I was going through an identity crisis and wasn't happy with my isolating job, feeling like I needed to contribute more financially to my family and plan for the future. We had just gotten married, moved, bought a house, and were thinking of when and how we might adopt children, so it was a time of change and life decisions, and I needed to feel grounded in myself before I could tackle any more big questions.
I found Laura through random Internet searching for "actor career change" and decided she was the one to help me because we shared a background of being trained actors. She also did an incredible job of listening and feeding back what she was hearing on our first call together. I felt like she got it and understood me, maybe more than I understood myself at that time.
Through the work I did in Your Career Homecoming, I've embraced how acting can fit into my life while taking the financial burden off of my artistic endeavors so I can release the resentment that's been building over time.
Now, I know where I want to work. There's a huge sense of relief in just having an arrow pointing in the right direction. I feel a sense of ease and purpose that I was lacking before. I know why this work makes sense for me, and I feel well equipped to roll with the punches.
- ross briscoe
Your Career Homecoming was the catalyst I needed to get past my stale, unproductive way of thinking about my future, my career.
find purpose
The words that would describe the amazingly positive, insightful and thought-provoking journey of Your Career Homecoming just don’t seem to exist.
Your Career Homecoming was the catalyst I needed to get past my stale, unproductive way of thinking about my future, my career. Laura’s amazing ability to ask just the right questions in a way that’s gentle yet piercing to the core made me think about the answers and reset my “what I want to be when I grow up” button. The importance of HOW I want to be when I grow up became crystal clear.
This experience set me on my purposeful path and gave me the roadmap I needed to chart the right route.
UPDATE: Laura, I have really appreciated your guidance over the last few months and I know that some of the decisions I made were a direct result of going through this work with you! I honestly don’t believe that settling on a master’s program and going through with the application process would have happened had I not been able to clarify my vision of where I wanted my career to go. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support, the encouragement, the hard questions, and the kick in the pants!
- bev
For me, it wasn’t just about finding the right thing; it was about me feeling at home in it. And truth be told, I think I'm home.
start your business
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For me, it wasn’t just about finding the right thing; it was about me feeling at home in it. And truth be told, I think I'm home.
Start Your Business
I began Your Career Homecoming (#lifechanging) while almost simultaneously starting a 6-week freelance gig for which I was so excited. AND holy moly, also so lost and desperate. This gig was work I knew I loved, but work I never actually pursued because I didn’t see myself as qualified. Instead of settling into a new career path, I was reeling.
It's not that all my worries magically poof! disappeared, but they no longer keep me stuck in my tracks. Now I know everything's going to be ok. I have a better sense of control over my life and career. I’m owning my skills and am confident in my abilities. There's a deep sense of knowing what I value in myself and in work and the tools to pursue that magical intersection.
It’s not just that I feel better; I’m. Doing. The. Right. Work. Work that lights me up. Work that I’m excited I get to do. Work that serves me AND serves others without making a servant of any parties involved.
For me, it wasn’t just about finding the right thing; it was about me feeling at home in it. And truth be told, I think I'm home.
- megan dowd
Your Career Homecoming has provided me with a firm starting point so that I’m not floundering anymore with ‘what shall I do with my life?!’
start your business
I was struggling with what career I should choose. There were so many options, and I was trying to combine everything I liked into ONE career!!
Laura is hilarious and means business at the same time. The process was fun, reflective and gives you a chance to evaluate each career option with your intuition AND logic- something that I haven’t seen with other career coaches. If you want clarity, even if it’s clarity on ‘What career do I start exploring first?’, get into Your Career Homecoming and get ready to know yourself like you never have before.
I am at a point where I’m seriously trying out my business idea (like- actually talking to people and having SALES conversations!), so I’m experimenting as I go. Your Career Homecoming has provided me with a firm starting point so that I’m not floundering anymore with ‘what shall I do with my life?!’
-roshni
I feel more capable of managing my fears and insecurities.
start your business
I've never been happy as an admin assistant, so for a few years I'd been considering and looking for something to transition to. Nutrition coaching was a possibility, but that felt a bit off, so I closed the book on that one with no other options on the horizon. This made me feel hopeless, which is never a fun place to be. I wanted to see if nutrition coaching was really what I wanted, or if fear was holding me back. I also wondered if something totally different might feel meaningful.
Now I know what business I'm going to start, and I know that it will be part time at first. I know who ideal client is. I feel more capable of managing my fears and insecurities. I'm also finding more peace in my current job because I know that the future holds an end.
-lisa kam
It has been 8 weeks since I started Your Career Homecoming, and I almost don't recognize the person I was then.
love your work
I was frustrated as I had been a stay at home mum for 6 years and I very much wanted to start a new career path, but I didn't know what. All I knew was that I didn't want to go back to my old job. This dilemma kept me stuck at home without a plan for longer than was good for me. I felt under-challenged, like I was playing small. I had started to resent my home life. I felt really low at times, and powerless to change my situation.
It has been 8 weeks since I started Your Career Homecoming, and I almost don't recognize the person I was then. I feel empowered, I know what career I am pursuing, I have taken big first steps in making it happen. I have a clear plan of what the next steps are, and I am 100 per cent committed to making them happen. Laura's advice has been invaluable.
Most of all, I feel I have my power back. The power to make choices, the power to make decisions, the power to create the life that I want through pursuing the work that I want to do in the world. As a family we are moving house to a different part of the country, a place we have always dreamed of living. I can honestly say I have found my mojo back, with regards to my career and across other parts of my life. I never thought a career program would have this effect but that's what it has done for me.
- ingrid
I know what I want. It’s REAL now.
practical plan
The first time I heard Laura say that getting paid for being you is a “strategy and a choice,” I was skeptical. I thought it was for trust fund kids that had an option of being a starving artist because they had loads of dough to actually pay the bills (aka: I had some false beliefs to overcome, and I seriously lacked empowerment. Oh, and a smidge of victim mentality). But I knew I wasn’t happy in my current job, and I wanted to make a change.
The curriculum of Your Career Homecoming was amazing. It was practical, and in being practical, it gained credibility with me. I mean no disrespect to the “follow your bliss-ers” but that doesn’t lay out much of a practical path for transition.
The great thing about YCH is that it taught me a process for the work; I learned how to match my career possibilities with my income requirements and values. I learned how to match up these possibilities with the core of what I wanted.
Now I feel empowered and beyond excited. I won’t be exactly where I want to be for likely around 3 years, possibly sooner, but I know what I want. It’s REAL now. It feels like a rebirth.
- shannon
I figured out what I really wanted from work and walked away with options on how I could serve the world in strength.
change your life
My youngest children were about a year away from kindergarten and a full school day. I felt like it was a good time to put the focus back on me and address some concerns related to my work. I had always been told I was a “people person,” but I couldn’t understand why year after year my clients were draining me and why I couldn’t find true satisfaction in the work I was doing. Getting answers to my uncertainty was exhausting because I just couldn’t get to the wisdom on my own.
Your Career Homecoming helped me identify the beliefs that were holding me back and articulate what success would look like for me. I figured out what I really wanted from work and walked away with options on how I could serve the world in strength.
I feel a tremendous weight has been taken off my shoulders! I am motivated in a new way because I understand my story and what I need to strive for in order to flourish. Currently I’m focusing my creativity to giving value in the area of character strengths. I believe everyone has an inner-beauty that can fuel deeper connections, positive experiences, and authentic self-expression. My work helps people to be understood. I will always cherish what I learned from Laura and continue to use the results of my YCH experience as a “life” guide.
- zuzette estevez
Unclear, ‘what do I do with my life?’ frustrated days are gone.
clarity + confidence
I had wanted to make a change for so long, but I really I had no idea what I could do that would be fulfilling. I was unclear of my career options. I felt ready for a change and was doing what I knew to do, yet nothing was panning out.
Now, I can definitely say what I’m looking for. Unclear, “what do I do with my life?” frustrated days are gone. I’m less fearful, and more focused, hopeful, and courageous.
Even though I am just starting out toward my Homecoming Career, I’m on my way. The steps are paying off, and I have more deeply satisfying days than I’ve known in a long time.
- faith
I know what I really want to do and have a plan for how to get there.
quit with a plan
I was a scientist running out of funding, feeling like I had failed but also just very puzzled, because I had come off several years of working hard and getting better, and yet not rising in the ranks or feeling like I fit in.I knew I had cool skills but had no clue about where to take them.
I am much more confident now and have a more rational understanding of why I no longer fit with my old career. I’ve traded shame for understanding and clarity. I know what I really want to do and have a plan for how to get there. That’s exciting! And a huge relief.
- lisa
I am about to leave a job that has caused me a lot of pain, and I couldn't have done that without YCH (tried to for years now!)
Change Your Life
I had been working at the same company for my entire career, I'd grown up there. And while that has offered me great opportunities it also has taken me down a road that ultimately wasn't in alignment with what I felt wasn't ME. The struggle between my inner self and this job was affecting all parts of my life.
I signed up for YCH because I knew that a half measure wasn't going to solve this for me anymore. I had taken every job fit test, you'd be a great XYZ quiz and personality profile under the sun. I needed something more. Laura and her course offered the accountability, flexibility, and structure I needed.
I feel in control of my future and the direction of my career now. Until I went through this process I felt very much at the mercy of those around me to make decisions to direct my fate. I get to make those choices and will not allow someone to do that for me again.
I really know what is going to make me happy at the end of the day, what I can live with to feed my family, and what I just cannot do.
I am about to leave a job that has caused me a lot of pain, and I couldn't have done that without YCH (tried to for years now!)
- Katie
I have a plan: clear stepping stones and actionable steps I can take now to work towards my Homecoming Career.
change your life
I had been following Laura for a couple years....or so I thought. When I actually looked back at emails I'd saved of newsletters and the like I had in a particular job/life lessons folder it turns out I had been following for more than 5 years! 5 years of unhappiness in my current job. So I finally stopped just skirting the edge of the room and knew it was time to jump in and DO something (with guidance and support) to genuinely make my life better.
I have firmed up my understanding of what is actually important to me in my work, and am confident of where I'm willing to compromise and what I will adamantly not accept. I have hope that I can actually change my direction to follow new paths, and with the tools to keep me on a positive track towards success. I have renewed faith in myself, that I am stronger and more capable than I had believed before. I have a plan: clear stepping stones and actionable steps I can take now to work towards my Homecoming Career.
I'm just immensely hopeful! I am happier and feel like I have direction in my life instead of spinning my wheels like I'd been doing for so long.
- melissa r.
I’ve quit my job. I’m solidly on my new career path, and, much more important for me personally, I know WHY I want what I want.
quit with a plan
I just started a new job and feel poised for satisfaction.
change your life
There’s nothing I’d change about Your Career Homecoming. This program is a lifeboat!
Start your business
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There’s nothing I’d change about Your Career Homecoming. This program is a lifeboat!
start your business
I took a part-time corporate support job at a law firm in New York City. I had both an income and time and energy to write, and I felt incredibly lucky.
Eventually the balance between my law firm job and my creative energies that had served me so well for the past two years shifted. I felt like I was trapped in all-work-but-no-play mode, and this made me anxious and frustrated, but I wasn’t sure how to repair things.
Now I feel freshly committed to writing and am both more aware and adept and more realistic about balancing the writing part of writing, the business part of writing, and paid work, and I’m able to be more open-minded, creative, and versatile about brainstorming ways that I can tip this balance by seeking out paid work that is more creative and by seeking out ways of getting paid for my writing in addition to trying to sell my novel. YCH also gave me a big booster shot of patience with my current job, and I don’t feel trapped in that job anymore. I feel level-headed and autonomous.
There’s nothing I’d change about Your Career Homecoming. This program is a lifeboat!
- miriam lawrence
I just started a new job and feel poised for satisfaction.
change your life
It’s not a weight loss program, but I’ve dropped 17 lbs. with no more need to numb out the drudgery of my day job. Now, I live in a gorgeous, perfectly sized apartment. My family called my last place ‘the one with the Silence of the Lambs shower.’ I’d not been on a date in two years; been out several times now!
But wait, what does that have to do with Your Career Homecoming?
Everything.
These shifts, these fun opportunities…this opening to Joy – which did not come about through a question like, “How do you open your life up to Joy?” – allowed me to touch center again.
I’d spent eight years pursuing a day job in an industry that was leaving my soul feeling Dementor-ed. With my North Star in perfect view, I knew, instantly, the moment I would no longer work for someone with such incredibly different personal values than my own, and because of YCH, I knew why and didn’t feel a lick of guilt about it. I could leave. I just started a new job and feel poised for satisfaction.
-sasha harris
I’ve quit my job. I’m solidly on my new career path, and, much more important for me personally, I know WHY I want what I want.
quit with a plan
I had been working in the financial industry for about 10 years, which was about 9 years too long. I knew from the beginning that it wasn’t my thing, but I just didn’t know what my thing was! After trying to figure out my next career move on my own for, oh, 3 years (not exaggerating), I knew I needed help.
There have been such big changes for me in the past few months! I’ve quit my job. I’m solidly on my new career path, and, much more important for me personally, I know WHY I want what I want, and am confident of the direction in which I’m headed.
That whole grounded, HOMECOMING feeling it took me awhile to wrap my head around, but once I figured it out everything fell into place. It really has been life changing.
- stephanie cleary
I feel really good about the future of my career now.
change your life
I felt I was at a cross-roads. I liked my job, but did not feel any sense of fulfillment from it on a personal level.
I feel really good about the future of my career now. I am more open to possibilities, and feel more confident about what my intuition says is a right move for me. I was able to explore so much during the course that made me aware of my past successes, what matters to me most, and how I thrive and I watch for those things now in my day to day. I would highly recommend Your Career Homecoming to anyone who is searching.
UPDATE: I sold my home and downsized to a condo! Part of this enabled me to refinance and open up doors financially to consider courses for my planned YCH career. It also enabled me to gut and completely renovate my condo so it is exactly a true reflection of me. I also recently met a lovely guy who has become a huge part of my life in a very short time. As for the current job, I was recently recognized for my hard work with a promotion and raise (which was amazing)!
I would say that all of this came as a result of deep reflection and learning that I have been doing over a number of years – and with the help of YCH as well to help me segment my life into going for the things that are a true representation of myself and putting other things aside that are not.
- sarah finney
I know what my Homecoming Career is and I've started the steps to get me there.
quit with a plan
I had known I needed a career change for more than a year before I signed up for YCH. Entrepreneurship was not working for me, which was disconcerting because that was already my career Plan C!
I wanted a process and framework to figure out my next steps that dealt with the emotional and practical aspects of career change.
I know what my Homecoming Career is and I've started the steps to get me there. I accepted a new job before the program was over that has completely surprised me; I owe much of my ability to land that job to Your Career Homecoming. I absolutely love the new job and it will bridge the gap between where I am and where I want to be in five years. I feel confident, at ease, and resourceful.
-ana
What's funny is that I wanted all this before I turned 30. And, it happened. My dreams actually came true.
change your life
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What's funny is that I wanted all this before I turned 30. And, it happened. My dreams actually came true.
Change Your Life
A couple weeks ago, I was doing a lot of reflecting. I can't believe what 2018 entailed. I had just finished the YCH program. I went in feeling lost and desperate for direction, and came out with a clear idea of what I wanted in a career.
I vividly remember writing down that I wanted a career that let me continue to hone my management skills but no longer as a consultant; a company that offered the benefits and salary I wanted; and an office near the mountains and the ocean. What's funny is that I wanted all this before I turned 30. And, it happened. My dreams actually came true. I just got chills.
You gave me the reflective work I needed to do. You supported me when I was feeling anxious or discouraged. You made me believe in myself again. Thank you so much.
- linda y.
I think I will be returning to what I learned in YCH for the rest of my life.
Change Your Life
I was embarrassed by my lack of income and wondering if I should get a day job.
Your Career Homecoming helped me to see through a lot of lies that I believed about work, figure out what was really important to me, and chart a clear course toward not just a good career but a good life.
YCH was valuable for the perspective I gained in this one time in my life, but its greatest value was in teaching me to orient myself and find my center. I think I will be returning to what I learned in YCH for the rest of my life.
It was fantastic. It was exactly what it said it was on the tin, and it was exactly what I needed.
- kristy
I am in the process of interviewing for a definite Homecoming Career!
love your work
I was not stimulated in my administrative job, unclear what to do to move forward, and not utilizing my best skills.
Now I am in the process of interviewing for a definite Homecoming Career!!
The wild thing is that I used to joke with people that if I retired or if you gave me a million dollars today, what I would do is continue to do the programs that I’ve been volunteering with for the past 10 years. And what’s amazing is that I could actually do that. There’s only one paid position in this entire organization, and I’m up for it. They contacted me. That is pretty unbelievable. But before YCH, I felt like I actually had to have a million dollars in order to do this work. Because who gets to do this for a living? Maybe I do.
And that’s one thing that has really stuck with me from YCH. Laura helped me recognize my own style and how things come to me. I’m not Mr. Write 12 Things Down and then go do them. But I still experience lots of awesome success, and synchronicity, and growth. I realized that I don’t really like to hustle, and that’s not a detriment. I learned in YCH that I am not flawed. I do not have to revamp the way I do things. I have to embrace more and more of who I am and my style of things and not complicate it.
- tim bryant
I was able to untangle the web of ideas in my mind.
make a difference
I knew for a few years that I needed a career change, but my breaking point finally came when stress caused me to take a medical leave. It was around this time that I found Your Career Homecoming. It was clear that I had to make a change, but I knew I needed help and support to figure it out.
Joining Your Career Homecoming felt like a huge risk in the beginning, but I thought of it as an investment in ME. I decided to give it my all and hold onto the promise that everything would become clearer as I moved through the program—and it did!
Through Your Career Homecoming, I was able to untangle the web of ideas in my mind. I learned that, deep down, I knew what I wanted all along, but I didn't realize it without help. Now I have a plan, more confidence in myself, and a belief mindset that I AM capable. I AM enough. And I DO deserve a life that makes me happy and joyful.
-lynette
I have a very clear focus of where I'm going and that gives me the most confidence that I will get there.
quit with a plan
I will admit that I was a bit leery of taking a program that was taught by someone who comes from a different discipline. But I am SO glad that I did.
start your business
I feel really great about my path going forward and I know I couldn’t have done it without this program.
practical plan
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I feel really great about my path going forward and I know I couldn’t have done it without this program.
Practical Plan
Before YCH I was trying everything I could to make my current career path in health insurance work. I had already invested so much time in this path. I was trying different roles and different companies but as soon as the “newness” wore off, the same feelings came back.
I signed up for YCH because it wasn’t about finding your one true passion in life that would make everything magical. That is so much pressure… like you only get one shot to find your way to be happy or else you're doomed. I wanted to work with someone that didn’t try pushing that one passion answer.
By the end of the program I have been able to get a new day job that will allow me to develop skills that will help me in my Homecoming Career and I’ve signed up for the training I will need to move forward in my Homecoming Career. I am completing this program with a path forward and the confidence in myself to walk that path!
I feel more in control, like I don’t just need to pick a path, cross my fingers and keep moving forward no matter what. I know that I can keep reassessing as I go because there is no one right answer. I can adjust the plan and I have the tools and ability to figure anything out that I need to in order to make my career what I want it to be. I feel really great about my path going forward and I know I couldn’t have done it without this program.
- lisa c.
I will admit that I was a bit leery of taking a program that was taught by someone who comes from a different discipline. But I am SO glad that I did.
quit with a plan
As a nonprofit director with two business degrees, I will admit that I was a bit leery of taking a program that was taught by someone who comes from a different discipline. But I am SO glad that I did.
I finally have what it takes to say “yes” to a change and let go of the past. I am letting go of parental and societal expectations (the path I should be on as an MBA, etc). I am more aware of what it feels like to “come home” and Laura created the space for it to slowly sink in with me that it’s OK to want this feeling while I work. Did I have doubts? You betcha. But the YCH community was there to keep me going.
Update: Yesterday [6 weeks after YCH ended] I told my boss I was accepting another job (quitting). WOW, that was cathartic! Thanks to the support of YCH, I have been able to reconnect with work that makes me feel more creative and alive. I am now able to move away from my toxic boss and work environment, and work in a way that’s in alignment with my personal / family needs and Homecoming Career.
- allison
I have a very clear focus of where I'm going and that gives me the most confidence that I will get there.
start your business
I had just come off a couple very challenging years dealing with the death of my mom, an auto immune illness, two major moves, and the responsibility of my mom's estate. I had to put my own needs and career objectives aside during this time and I finally felt ready and able to start focusing on myself again. I needed some sort of structure and format to help me along, and the combination of holistic and practical principles plus community support meant that Your Career Homecoming was right for me.
It turned out that I was on the right path but had lost confidence that I could get there with all the life distractions I had been facing over the past several years.
I know what business I'm starting. I have a very clear focus of where I'm going and that gives me the most confidence that I will get there, even of there are distractions and bumps along the way. I'm proud of my values and what I stand for.
-melissa arra
I have clarity around what business I want to start now.
clarity + confidence
I had been teaching high school for 7 years and feeling burned out and uninspired. I wanted to be able to enjoy my work and make more money. Many ideas had been floating in my mind for a while, but I still needed a solid direction.
I have clarity around what business I want to start now. I have self-understanding and also respect for what I have already done, and that has helped me to feel confident in myself and empowered to move forward. This career path feels doable to me now. I feel less frantic, that I can create the life I want while enjoying what I already have.
- christine soja
I have a blueprint for whatever my future throws at me.
love your work
I was really unhappy with my job. I spent most of my time pissed off, frustrated, and didn’t like the person I had become in the office and at home. I knew that my job lacked the meaning that I wanted and I felt I was doing things more for other people than based on my own goals and motivations.
Your Career Homecoming has allowed me to dare to go for something I wouldn’t have had the confidence to aim for, something that I may have thought was conceited to even imagine.
I have a blueprint for whatever my future throws at me, thanks to the massively increased understanding I have of myself and what I see as my place in the world. I have a sense of purpose, a mission to absorb myself in, and an area that I am passionate about and fascinated by. I feel confident and comfortable about this new direction.
- JESSICA
I feel I'm on the right path and see a more satisfying work-life as both possible and on the horizon.
practical plan
I felt stuck in an unsatisfying job and overwhelmed by the prospect of change. I had been following Laura's blog posts for a number of years, so I trusted her presence and enjoyed her perspective. I knew I was ready to put some time into figuring out a better way to make a living and I knew I needed help to figure it out.
The program has given me tools that I can organize my discovery process around--questions I keep returning to, ways to chunk things down. I feel less anxiety around a career change and I have a clear idea about what kind of work would be more satisfying to me.
What has been most meaningful about this course is the change in my relationship with myself--I am far more forgiving, compassionate, and appreciative of who I am and what I bring to the world. I’m more aware of how I sabotage myself and feel that my self-esteem has improved.
I feel I'm on the right path and see a more satisfying work-life as both possible and on the horizon.
- carolyn
As you browse the story gallery,
remember...
These are all real people who live in the real world. They’ve had their challenges like fear, debt, people who doubted them, families to support, mortgages or rent to pay, and busy lives.
Despite the obstacles, they believed in a better future for themselves and got the support they needed to change their careers and lives. If they can do it, so can you.
