5 Questions for Author and Career Expert Nacie Carson - FlexJobs

5 Questions for Author and Career Expert Nacie Carson - FlexJobs5 Questions for Author and Career Expert Nacie Carson -10I recently had the good fortune to speak with Nacie Carson, author of the book The Finch Effect The five strategies to adapt and thrive in your working life. And I was so inspired by her approach to professional development that I had her answer some questions for our job binnenseekersNacie describes herself as a professional development author and explorer, which is perfectly appropriate given her background in exploring career evolution, entrepreneurship, the gig economy, and the Millennial generations work experience. After reading her book, The Finch Effect,I felt that sort of get-up-and-do-something feeling that comes along after youve read or seen something really inspiring, so Id highly recommend it for anyone considering breaking out of a career rut or traditional office jobBelow, Nacie talks to us about her experience in a traditional full-time job, as a f reelancer, balancing work and life, and adopting the gig mindset- which promotes taking ownership of our careers, rather than having them be dictated to us by employers and circumstances.5 Questions for Author and Career Expert Nacie CarsonFJ How did you get into the gig lifestyle- what pushed you to break out of the traditional job mold?I started freelancing in 2008 after a year in the full-time corporate world. When I finishing up my degree in History, my father lovingly suggested I look for a job in a field where I could make a real living (read not live in their basement forever). I tried to get into finance and ended up in financial software (a close approximation, right?). It took me all of three months to realize I didnt care for my job, and another 6 months to realize that I could do something about it. I was 22, and realized that I couldnt spend another 40 years dreading going to work every day and spending the majority of my time in an artificially lit cubicle. So, I quit. After a lot of soul searching, I identified writing as my true passion and calling and thus Nacie the freelance writer was bornFJ You talk about reducing the division of work life and real life for a better living and human experience which sounds AMAZING. What are some specific ways your life has been better as youve broken down this barrier between your work and real lives?For me, becoming aware of this barrier, working to break it down and more purposefully integrating work and life has led to a greater sense of connection and perspective. I dont define myself by my profession, but see my profession as a reflection of Nacie the person. Instead of working to live, I live to work or, more specifically, live to share my voice and pursue my calling which is a comprehensive entity. Who I am as a professional is influenced by who I am as a daughter, sister, lover, and friend, and vice versa. I have gained a greater appreciation for how life enriches work, and work enriches life.FJ W hat are some of the first steps a person can take to get into the gig mindset for their careers? Especially for anyone who has never considered gigs over traditional employment and may be hesitant?The first thing to do is to examine your professional identity do you define that by your skill set, your company, or your job level? The gig mindset is all about moving ownership for your career away from the external structures (economy, career ladder, etc) and onto you. To do that, you need to first understand how you see yourself so you can start making the necessary adjustments in perspective.FJ Adaptation is the central theme of your book, The Finch Effect. How can professionals working in a traditional job still exercise this skill even if they arent ready to jump into a gig lifestyle?The best thing anyone can do to exercise the skill is to build a strong professional brand and constantly be looking for ways to strengthen, support, or deepen it. At its core, for both us and the res t of life on this planet, adaptation is all about constant movement forward, whether its a minuscule inch forward or a huge leap. And we ourselves, not our bosses or the economy or anything else, is what makes us move forward. For us as professionals, this might mean taking a course, getting ourselves on LinkedIn, or just taking a half hour to have coffee with someone we professionally admire.FJ Off all the jobs/gigs youve had, whats been the most fun/interesting/memorable?When I first started freelancing, one of my gigs was writing copy for a fur companys holiday catalogue. I had to come up with 144 appealing and different ways to describe fur in short, Tweet-sized bursts. I never imagined that I would write the phrase supple and elegant fox trim hood as parte of my writing careerOur big thanks to Nacie Carson for speaking with and sharing her story and expertise To get in touch with Nacie, you can find her on Twitter,NacieCarson, or her website, The Life Uncommon.Readers, what do you think of our interview with career expert Nacie Carson? Tell us in the comments below