If you missed the June events in Denver with Marci Alboher, kick yourself, twice. I interviewed Marci for the Northwestern University Club of Colorado on one night and then the next night, Marci gave a talk for the Lighthouse Writer’s Workshop on the topic, "Secret Lives of Writers." After this second appearance, she emailed that it was one of the highlights of her "slash tour."
On the night that I interviewed her, Marci captivated the audience with her observations on trends leading to more slash careers, stories of specific slashes that showed how to get started and keep it going, and details on the lifestyle changes that a slash career requires/enables. The Q+A from the audience was thoughtful and thorough, from asking if the slash career meant advocating multi-tasking (answer:no, it’s about going deep into a couple of areas, not wide) to wondering if unpaid work counts as a slash (answer: yes, if it’s something that the individual deeply associates with his/her identity.)
The most rewarding part of the evening was talking with the attendees afterwards, while Marci signed books. Individuals felt validated, as in "Hey, I’m not weird, the rest of the world just hasn’t caught up." They saw new possibilities, not having to stick with the same career they’ve come to hate after twenty years. And they were inspired to create a career that fits them perfectly, instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Throughout it all, I was in whole brain heaven, surrounded by people willing to engage in both left-brain and right-brain activities to create a full life.
While in town, Marci was interviewed by Channel 9 news in Denver (KUSA). Here’s the link:
http://www.9news.com/life/programming/shows/mornings/article.aspx?storyid=71943
(The link expires in 30 days so there’s no time like the present….)
Marci’s book is One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success. If you get her book and really like it, please provide a review on Amazon. Help get the word out on what a great worklife can look like.