Some days, I catch myself daydreaming about an alternate career — not because I want to leave my current work, but because a different path can reveal what I value most.
Today’s daydream? I’m a Research Sabbatical Retreat Leader — someone who creates quiet, beautiful spaces where burned-out scientists can pause, breathe, and remember what they love about discovery. There’s tea and music, journals and sketchbooks. The schedule is soft. The goals are internal. No deadlines, no urgency — just a chance to return to joy.
And the truth is, this parallel-universe career doesn’t feel that far off. It’s not a departure from who I am — it’s an expression of my values at their fullest scale.
Why This Dream Fits Me
At the heart of my work — whatever title I hold — is the belief that research should feel alive, not heavy. That discovery is more than output; it’s a mindset, a source of wonder. My core values guide me like a compass:
- I lead with curiosity, asking better questions before offering solutions.
- I protect joy, believing it’s not a luxury, but a source of clarity and resilience.
- I build systems that are both intentional and elegant — grounded in clarity, designed for people.
- I value wisdom and simplicity, especially when the world feels noisy.
In my current role, I live these values through frameworks, mentorship programs, and strategic design. But in my alternate universe, they show up through candles and cabins, slow walks and sketchbooks, deep breaths and big questions. I don’t lead a lab — I lead people back to themselves.
Maybe It’s Not So Alternate After All
What strikes me about this vision is how it doesn’t conflict with my real career. In fact, it reminds me what matters most. It reveals where I’m still aligned — and where I may need to reset.
Even imagining this role is an act of creative reflection, and sometimes that’s all we need:
A gentle nudge.
A signal from the dream-world to the real one.
A reminder that the systems we build should work well and feel good — for ourselves and for others.
Should I Actually Offer This?
Maybe. One retreat. A pilot weekend. A new way to support those of us who lead, mentor, and create in spaces where burnout hides in plain sight.
Or maybe this isn’t a business plan. Maybe it’s just today’s clue that I’m still led by purpose.
What’s your alternate-universe career today?
And what would it look like to bring 5% of that into your real world?
Article publié pour la première fois le 24/09/2025
