What I wanted to talk about today was simply this.... I notice that many folks across North America are in a Career "flux" mode.  It has been documented by various news media, that a large percentage of America is ready to leave their jobs in search of fairer pastures, or has already quit, with the anticipation to 

carve out a new work life balance or create a whole new "career animal".

What is a bedroom town? It's basically a "safe" place to live which becomes the place you raise your kids in, but not necessarily the place where you work. It becomes a place full of suburban towns, but not great career opportunities.

I am surrounded by families in my neighborhood that have not yet come to the realization that we live in a bedroom town. They try to eke out a living from local side hustles...and wonder why it is so hard to make ends meet. These are the families that wind up selling their homes. They just can't admit to themselves that such a pretty town can not support their career aspirations. That's the kicker. Pretty towns are pretty places to live....not necessarily the optimal places to work.  

In all honesty, it can be quite a harsh wake up call, to realize that you really can't work and live in the same location. To admit that you need to travel to a new postal code to find work, can be quite upsetting to those who love to snuggle in and stay in their comfortable and familiar home neighborhood.

But like a true nomad, like those before us who "followed the buffalo"  to hunt and provide for the tribe, somtimes we too must learn how to go where the "eatin' is good". We sometimes have to be willing to get out of town to find greener pastures. The pandemic made many of us into "home bodies" and now it's getting time to shake that lifestyle off. It's time to get back on the horse and make some epic stuff happen.

Bedroom towns are great for relaxation, especially if you have access to a water front, where you can dip your toes in the beach sand and watch the sunlight dance on the waves. But, sometimes we need to put on our "big girl pants" and realize that the sunlight is not paying us to play...unless of course we are going to open a lakeside hotel or a bed and breakfast. Yes, the hospitality industry will recover well in my city....but  many other industries are not quite so lucky. 

Zoom meetings do not create the "buzz"....the motivational "umph" that makes a career hum with momentum. Sometimes you need to move to where the action is.  Facebook founder Steve Zuckerberg uprooted his startup and moved it  to California, to be where the "action" was. Creating the right corporate buzz is really important to attract and retain the right workers and create an epic corporate culture.

Bedroom towns can be beautiful for corporate retreats, weddings, and other recreational activities, but they just might not be your ideal place to "git er done". I love the quote of Michelle Romanow, who stated" You don't need an MBA degree to succeed, you need a "Get Sh*t Done" degree"... 

It isn't that you can't create buzz where ever you are....but it's harder in some locations. Vacation towns have a certain "slow-ish" pace that the tourists adore...but the locals must resist the lull of such luxurious pace if they are to keep up in the "big cities" with the "big city high speed" decision makers.

I am not trying to tell you not to live in a bedroom town or a gorgeous vacation town, but I am trying to help you understand that if you are not ready to slow down and retire, you are going to have to fight to fan the fires of entrepreneurial vigor and vim. You might just have to drive into the bigger cities on a regular basis, to stay relevant and keep vital connections alive.

Don't give up, my friends. God has a reason for your ambition....take care to nurture it and not let it grow stale....whatever it takes. He gave it to you.

Peace,

Carla