Client Case Study Gabriela Contreras - When I Grow Up

Client Case Study Gabriela Contreras - When I Grow Up Um, do you know that Ive coached hundreds of women since I started offering dream career guidance in 2008? And that these women are freakin rock stars, leaving soul-sucking jobs and traveling the world and launching creative, grown-up businesses and simply doing work that fits their lifestyle goals? Well ya do now and youll hear their stories firsthand in my  Client Case Studies series! Gabriela Contreras worked with me via Career Camp, my last group program that focused on dream career discovery. Since we wrapped up at the end of 2013, shes opened her own  illustration and pattern design biz! Why did you decide to work with a creative career coach in a group program? I decided to work with a creative career coach because no one around me (friends or  family) was going through a career transition, and I wanted to connect with people who  were. What were you doing work-wise when we started our sessions? I was working full time as a graphic designer at a University. What was your biggest takeaway from our work together? Because of Career Camp, I had  a clear idea of what I want my next career move to be an illustrator, artist and pattern designer. I gained the confidence and realized that there are other Renaissance souls out there that are going through this and that a career in being a full time artist is possible. Since completing Career Camp I have exhibited at SURTEX and participated in CreativeLive alongside Artist Lisa Congdon! Was there anything else you tried to do as a career between the time we stopped our sessions and what you do for work now? If so, how did it inform your current business? Yes, I tried working as a freelance graphic designer. However that didn’t work out so well. I returned to being a full time graphic designer at a University and I spend all my free time on my business. What would you tell someone now that was in your shoes when we first started working together? Whats your best tip to allow them to make a grown-up living doing what they love? My best tip would be to do what you love whether you get paid for it or not because it brings immense happiness. I love artist Lisa Congdon’s story because she shares that it took her 5-7 years of doing the work before transitioning into a full time artist. I’m working on that myself in order to make a grown-up living doing what I love. Whats on the horizon for your business? Wed love to hear about any upcoming offerings or goals! Yes! I do have my own business Gaby Co., illustration and pattern design. I hope to participate at Renegade Craft Fair Los Angeles in December. It would be my first time there! Im cooking up a Career Change Masterclass that, like Career Camp, will be focused on dream career discovery. Unlike Career Camp, though, therell be just 15 spots that include one-on-one sessions AND a whole month  creating an action plan on how to transition out of your current job. Sign up below if you wanna be posted on all the deets!