In the Trenches with special guest Shelley Paxton

Former Harley Davidson CMO took a much-needed Soulbbatical and shared it with us all

Elisa Camahort Page

and

Jory Des Jardins

May 17, 2024

Transcript

Shelley’s “Soulbbatical” Saved Her Life

Shelley Paxton had hit the pinnacle of success in her chosen field as CMO of Harley Davidson. And it was killing her. So, she pulled the ripcord and leapt into the abyss. Her book Soulbbatical is a recap of what she learned in the year that followed, part manifesto, part career guide, and part memoir.

Jory read Soulbbatical and knew her story would resonate with those of us carving out optionality-driven careers and lives, looking for purpose, meaning, and a paycheck.

We’ve got a robust preview ~10 minute clip for all members that we hope you will enjoy, and here are a few of the the things mentioned in the full 50-minute conversation:

How a recurring nightmare was the kick in the pants Shelley needed to realize she was performing success on someone else’s terms
How Shelley let go of Corporate Shelley to become Soulful Shelley
How Shelley sees her book as throwing back a life raft for others because she didn’t have one for herself
The piece of advice 46 year-old Shelley would have given 30-something Shelley to not end up burnt out and on the precipice
How to build an “F U Fund” as a cushion, even if you’re not wealthy
Soul fuels vs. soul sucks
When our identity is tied up in what we do, how can we figure out who we really are, and what we deeply want?
Note the long pause before Shelley answers whether she’d ever go back to a corporate job…and her explanation of it
Also mentioned as a useful exercise: Brent Brown’s Dare to Lead “List of Values”

Shelley is full of quotable quotes and raw vulnerability, practical advice and, well, her soul. The combination aligns perfectly with Optionality’s mission!