In the past three years, Brisbane yogi
Hanson has completed 500 hours of
yoga teacher training, taught in studios
across Queensland and garnered an
Instagram following of more than 17,000
people @daniquerambo. However, her
start to working life was much different.
‘I entered my career straight out of high
school, to become the office manager
and book-keeper of a cabinet-making
company,’ says Hanson. ‘However, the
role and its tasks had become second
nature and I found myself unhappy.’
At around the same time, Hanson
began practising yoga. ‘The more that
I embraced the yogic lifestyle, the more
I experienced the overwhelming benefits
it had to offer the mind, body and spirit,’
she says. She completed her 200 hour
yoga teacher training part-time over six
months and began casual teaching in
October 2014. ‘I was finally passionate
about what I was doing and instead of
feeling like a cog in a machine, I was
living each day with purpose.’
In April 2015, Hanson quit her job
to teach yoga full-time. She has since
completed her 500 hour yoga teacher
training and also works as a brand
ambassador, model and guest blogger.
‘Don’t let fear hold you back,’ she says.
‘Sometimes you have to leave the “good”
to get to the “great”.’Danique Hanson, 31, quit her
office manager job of 11 years
to teach people yoga‘I quit my job
to become a
yoga teacher’
DO YOUR
OWN 180
TIME FOR YOU TO^
CHANGE CAREER?
If your Monday mornings are filled
with dread, chances are you’re in need
of a change. However, before you make
like a tree and leave, career coach
Nicole Grainger-Marsh says that it’s
important you assess the situation. ‘You
need to make sure you’re not reacting
to a bad day (or month) at the office.
Take a minute to imagine yourself in
the same role 10 years from now. If the
prospect fills you with horror then it
might be time to move,’ she says.
For many, work dissatisfaction also
comes from a lack of challenge, says
Mallick. ‘No one wants to do the same-
old. It’s important you like what you do
and feel you’re achieving something.’SELL YOURSELF
While changing careers may seem
daunting, it turns out your perfect job
could be right around the corner...
and study is not even a prerequisite!
There’s just one catch. ‘You must blow
your own trumpet!’ insists Mallick.
‘Education is important, but in a lot
of instances it isn’t necessary. If you
talk to the right people and sell your-
self, you could get a foot in the door.
It’s about understanding your skills
and articulating your achievements.’
Mallick says the same principle applies
to promotions at work. ‘People think
if they put their head down and work,
they’ll be promoted. You should never
assume your boss knows what you’ve
done. You have to tell them.’RECOGNISE YOUR
TRANSFERABLE
SKILLS
If your plan is a little grander than an
internal promotion and a little wilder
than a change of company, a conveyable
skillset will be your best friend. ‘Direct
experience isn’t always a barrier to
career change,’ says Grainger-Marsh.
‘Employers look for people with skills
that are transferable across industries
and jobs, such as leadership, teamwork,
communication, negotiation, time
management and organisation.’ That
doesn’t mean you’ll be swapping your
stilettos for a space suit anytime soon.
‘You should firstly ask yourself if the
job is achievable,’ says Mallick. ‘Do
your research to see what the job entails
and try to work out what those skills
are. Only then can you truly make an
informed decision.’ #FOLLOW YOU R
PA S SION
While choosing your new career may
seem confusing, you can start off by
asking yourself a few questions, says
Grainger-Marsh. ‘What do you enjoy?
What do you want from your job? What
energises and motivates you? Which of
your friends has a career that interests
you? And, how much money do you
need to earn to support your lifestyle?’
And while there are no easy answers,
life coach and author of The Life Plan
Shannah Kennedy says choosing some-
thing that motivates you is important
for all aspects of your life. ‘We lose
motivation, inspiration and joy when
we are not growing, learning and
thriving in our career,’ she says.WORDS BY EMILY EKLUND POWER. ISTOCK
COSMOPOLITAN June 2017 91
work