Owning Your Unconventional Path
Learning to Embrace My Colorful and Varied Expertise
For years I told myself a quiet lie: that the things I love to learn about aren’t “legitimate” enough.
There is immense societal pressure to fit into a neatly defined career path. Our culture places a so much value on what we do for work that “So, what do you do?” is often one of the first questions we’re asked when we meet someone new.
When I left my career to support my husband and family, I used to dread getting asked this question at events. I felt like I needed to justify my expertise, to prove that I’m still a valuable member of society. Part of this was my own personality. I've always been ambitious, and letting go of my identity as a working woman was really hard. But a big part of it was also the reality that the fields I chose didn’t come with built-in status.
Even though I pursued the highest level of accreditation in every discipline I’ve studied—a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design, a 500-hour yoga teacher training, and an MA in Women and Gender Studies—each of these fields holds varying degrees of legitimacy in the public eye.
When I told people I was an interior designer, they’d say I must be really good at picking out curtains…even though I earned a four-year degree and specialized in commercial design for higher education.
A neighbor once said, “Oh yeah, I teach yoga sometimes at my church, it’s really fun,” as if my 500+ hours of education in yoga philosophy were just a casual hobby.
And honestly, who knows what my MA in Women, Gender, Spirituality, and Social Justice will mean under this new administration, considering “women,” “gender,” and “social justice” are now words being eliminated from government documents.
And now, I find myself hesitating again. I recently earned my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) certification from the International Coaching Federation, and instead of immediately celebrating, I caught myself holding back. I worried that coaching, like the other fields I’ve studied, wouldn’t be seen as “legitimate.” That people would think, Oh, here she goes again, hopping to yet another field. That I’d have to prove AGAIN that my work is meaningful, that my expertise matters.
But here’s what I’ve recently realized: my unconventional path isn’t a weakness…it’s actually my greatest strength.
Uncovering the Lies We Tell Ourselves
Good coaching education requires that you experience the client’s seat. whether it’s to let a peer practice coaching on you, or to practice coaching techniques on yourself. Last week, I attended a coaching seminar with Paul Boehnke on facing our inner critics, and he gave us an exercise to “uncover the lie” behind some of our persistent self-doubts.
And, of course, all those old messages resurfaced: I’m not good enough. I’ve been “just” a mom for too long to start a new career. I’m too flaky and indecisive because I’ve bounced around to all these different fields. Why can’t I just pick a path and get a real job like everyone else?
But when I sat with those messages and examined what felt true, I realized something. These different fields I’ve studied - interior design, yoga, women’s studies, and coaching - might seem unrelated at first. But in reality, all these seemingly disparate fields all share a common thread: they explore human experience, transformation, and our relationship to the world.
Seeing the Throughline: How It All Connects
I haven’t been flaky. I haven’t been aimlessly hopping around. I have ALWAYS been drawn to fields that deepen our understanding of the world:
How we move through spaces (design)
How we move through our bodies (yoga)
How we move through systems of power (women’s studies)
How we move through personal and professional transformation (coaching).
These disciplines might not seem traditionally connected, but now I can see the throughline: they are all about shaping experiences. Whether it's designing a space, reclaiming embodiment, understanding social structures, or coaching people toward their fullest potential, my diverse and colorful expertise offers a totally unique perspective that helps people learn more about themselves and what they need to do to step into new possibilities.
The mainstream may not fully recognize these intersections yet, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t valuable. Maybe it just means I’m ahead of the curve. The world needs more people who challenge conventional paths, who integrate different ways of knowing, and who see connections that others overlook. And that’s exactly what Rebel Leaders is all about.
Owning My Expertise
This new perspective is such an important mindset shift for me. Instead of feeling like I need to justify my varied education, now I trust its value. And instead of feeling hesitant or shy about announcing my latest accomplishment, I see it as a milestone - a moment of fully owning the depth and uniqueness of my expertise!
If you’ve ever felt like your unconventional path needed justification or struggled to see the value in your own expertise, I’ve designed an upcoming spring workshop that can help you navigate what’s next! This April, I’m hosting a 4-week group coaching program called Your Next Move: 4-Week Reset for Women Ready to Take Action, designed to help you get unstuck, uncover the patterns that are holding you back, and give you the confidence and momentum to make your next move.
As a thank-you for being part of the Rebel Leaders community, subscribers get a 20% discount! Apply coupon code RebelLeaders at checkout.
I’d be honored to support you as you claim the next step in your journey and learn how to embrace your own unconventional path to expertise. 🌱