A Summer break gives us time to recharge, reflect, and dream about what life could be like. But as the tan fades and the routine kicks back in, it’s easy to slip into old habits.

What if, instead of returning to the same-old, you used this moment of clarity to make real, lasting changes?

I heard an interview which may inspire people who are thinking of making changes, and picked up a few themes to share. Since it was on daytime radio and most people in the corporate world probably missed it, I thought I’d weave this story and a few of those themes in to a September blog.

The post-holiday dilemma: a familiar feeling

You’ve returned from a well-deserved break, and as you return to work, you notice a nagging sense that you want something more—something different.

This feeling is common, especially for those who’ve spent years building successful careers in technical fields like IT or engineering. As you approach or settle into your 50s, the desire to shift from a focus on achievement and income to something more meaningful often becomes stronger.

But where do you start? How do you identify what’s meaningful for you? How do you overcome the fear that it may be too late?

Don’t panic! If you had asked Nick Johnson and Jenny Thompson what they wanted to do in the next phase of their careers, they wouldn’t have said “team up and bring the town centre of Altrincham back to life by creating an award-winning foodie heaven”. And yet that’s exactly what they did! And part of their inspiration was a Mediterranean-style market town they visit during their holidays. Aside from the fact their project had a positive impact their project on the town and local community, they also sound like they’ve really enjoyed themselves!

TLDR*? If you don’t have time to read the whole blog, scroll down to Moving forward: turning reflection into action.

A moment when I was inspired during a holiday in Mallorca

1. The power of saying “no” and reclaiming your time

The first step towards change often involves saying “no” to the things that no longer serve you. Nick looked at his impressive CV and realised he didn’t even recognise himself when he looked at all the titles. He found himself disillusioned with being on so many boards and missed the excitement of his younger days. He started withdrawing from existing positions, and saying “no” to new invitations to join boards.

Maybe, like Nick, you’re realising that some of the activities and commitments that once seemed important are now just distractions. Saying “no” more often can free up mental space and energy, allowing you to focus on what truly matters. This doesn’t mean abandoning responsibilities, but rather prioritising those that align with your current values and goals.

It’s about creating space for something new to emerge.

Nick, Jenny and their children lived in Altrincham, a town in the North-West of England. Nick’s career was in inner-city living and design, and Jenny had run a successful bar in Manchester. They lived very busy lives.

When Nick was asked to join yet another board in 2010, to look at how to bring the increasingly desolate-looking town centre of Altrincham back to life, he said “no”. But he did like the sound of what they were doing, so he offered to write down some ideas.

2. Drawing inspiration from your surroundings

The fact Nick had started to say “no” to other things meant that the timing was perfect. He had more mental space to dedicate to this project. He researched the history of Altrincham and found out it used to be a market town and still had a market hall which wasn’t being used to its full potential.

He talked about it with Jenny. With four young children, they knew exactly what they’d like to see in a local market: hot chocolate and decent toilets!

They were also inspired by a place they’d visited on holiday abroad. One of those lovely “egalitarian, cosmopolitain and chaotic” town squares with people of all ages milling around in the evening, eating and chatting.

Turn your post-holiday blues into inspiration…

They held this vision in their minds and realised they wanted to team up and play a driving role in this project.

Returning from holiday with a fresh perspective, you might notice inspiration all around you—if you’re paying attention. These moments of inspiration can serve as a catalyst for change. They can help you envision a different path, one where fulfilment isn’t just a vague concept but a tangible reality.

3. Embracing creativity: your next chapter

As you consider your next steps, remember that you don’t need a grand plan to start. Sometimes, the best ideas come from constraints. Just like Nick and Jenny who ended up transforming Altrincham’s old market hall on a low budget without involving banks, you can get creative with the resources you have.

They also have a value of embracing mistakes, saying they don’t take themselves too seriously and know that if someone makes a mistake, there’s an opportunity to learn something from it. This helps everyone else relax and be more creative too.

Start small—perhaps it’s a side project, volunteering, or exploring a new hobby. The key is to begin, even if you’re not sure where it will lead. What’s the smallest, easiest next step? Over time, these small steps can accumulate into a significant shift, bringing you closer to the fulfilment you’re seeking.

If you’re drawing a blank, maybe do a “deep dive” with me and explore what really makes you come alive, and how you can bring more of that into your life.

4. Collaborating with others: a team effort

One of the most fulfilling aspects of starting something new is the opportunity to collaborate with others. Whether it’s teaming up with colleagues, friends, or members of your community, working together can amplify your efforts and make the journey more enjoyable.

Consider what strengths you bring to the table and how you can complement others. Collaboration doesn’t just distribute the workload; it also brings fresh ideas, perspectives, energy and fun into the mix.

“You can’t half your age but you can work with people half your age”, says Nick in this interview, reflecting how they managed to bring some more excitement back into their lives through this project.

And in this case, the couple were a dream team. Just as Nick’s design expertise was key to the project, Jenny’s knack for “talent spotting” helped bring in successful food businesses like a popular pizza van, which drew in the crowds.

As Nick says, “real estate and urban regeneration is only partly about buildings and good design. The majority is about people, …/… and the way to effect transformational change is to curate what people do.”

Maybe collaboration has been fairly straightforward when you’re in charge of a technical team who mostly have a similar “analytical” personality type to you. Maybe you’re not so sure what it would be like to step outside your comfort zone and put your people skills to the test in a different environment with a broader range of people. Help is at hand. The mental fitness programme (see below) changes people’s lives, and one of the ways in which it does this is because people notice that as they move through the programme, they see improvements in their relationships.

The “food heaven” attracted life back into Altrincham, transforming the town centre and reigniting the local community

5. Prioritizing genuine human connections - talking and listening

This is a skill which is often undervalued in the business world. It’s not just a “nice to have”, when you’ve got time, after getting the “important stuff” done. I noticed what a key role Jenny played: how often she mentioned talking to people and listening to what they had to say… talking to market stall holders and seeing their passion, understanding their needs. It sounds like she did this naturally, and will have created a sense of trust with people at the same time. This wasn’t just market research – it was a desire to genuinely connect with other human beings, with the result being that they all felt part of the project.

A culture was being formed which would provide a strong foundation for the project.

In our increasingly digital world, it’s easy to overlook the importance of genuine human connections. Yet, as this story shows, these connections are often what make projects—and life—truly fulfilling. Their vision included “real time” face-to-face human relationships, sitting at trestle tables with family, friends or strangers, to counter the loneliness of a world where too much is online. They even created a “Wall of shame” with framed print-outs of their worst one star Tripadvisor reviews, which a) is funny and b) illustrated the stark difference between how people might behave when bashing away on a keyboard versus how they might behave when part of a real-life community, human to human.

Whether it’s through face-to-face interactions, community involvement, or simply making time for the people you care about, nurturing relationships can bring a deeper sense of satisfaction and purpose to your life.

Are you ready to turn reflection into action?

Moving forward: turning reflection into action

As you settle back into your routine after your Summer break, take a moment to consider the following:

Reassess Your Priorities: What activities or commitments can you say “no” to in order to make room for more meaningful pursuits?
Seek Inspiration: What moments or experiences from your life, or your recent break if you had one, could inspire a new direction in your life?
Start Small: What creative projects or ideas can you begin exploring now, even if they’re just side activities?
Collaborate and Connect: Who in your network or community could you partner with to bring these ideas to life?

What’s the easiest next step you could take, to turn the post-holiday blues into an opportunity for growth and fulfilment? It’s about using the clarity and energy you’ve gained from your time away to make meaningful changes in your life.

How I can support your journey

If you’re ready to take action and would like some support, my 6-month 1:1 coaching programme is designed to help you succeed. We begin with a short “audit” looking at you and your idea, followed by a mental fitness programme which provides you with an amazing set of tools for living life to the full, and 10 hours of personalized coaching.

For those still exploring their options, we can insert my “deep dive”/career coaching programme after the mental fitness programme. You receive 12 hours of support over 3-6 months, to get in touch with what really matters to you. It includes some fun, creative exercises. You’ll clarify your goals/interests and chart a new path. Within 9-12 months, you’re well on your way to a more fulfilling chapter of your life.

If you choose to work with me, you’ll find a destination which you’re really excited about and you’ll enjoy the journey. Living life to the full!

For more information, visit sallymay.co.uk. If you’d like a discovery call, please get in touch.

Notes

Gap finders: Nick Johnson and Jenny Thompson, radio interview, released on 23rd July 2023 (also available on BBC Sounds app).

“Couple behind reinvention of Altrincham Market awarded MBEs in New Year's Honours list” Altrincham Today, article published on 29th December 2023.

*TDLR means “Too long; didn’t read”. I only found that out recently. Quite useful!

NB: I picked the story told in this interview because I really enjoyed it and I noticed some themes which might be of interest to people I’d like to work with. I’ve never been to Altrincham and am basing this blog on what I heard in the interview. I once worked with someone who said “never let the facts get in the way of a good story”. That’s not part of my modus operandi so I do feel the need to let you know I haven’t done any other research on this - I just enjoyed listening to this couple tell their story. Gapfinders is a great series with many inspiring stories of people who’ve done something a little different. If you’re in the UK you can find it on the BBC Sounds app.