Ep. 18 — Finding Your Momentum
In this episode, Amy talks about momentum and finding momentum in your career. She tells a story about a pivotal moment in her career and how she found the momentum she needed through a conference and an amazing supportive community.
Show Links
Mentioned in the Show:
Lou Mongello: https://www.loumongello.com/
Love my Museum Facebook Group, a community for museum professionals: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovemymuseum
Episode Transcript
[00:00:00]
Today on the podcast, we're talking about momentum and finding momentum in your career. I'm going to tell you a story about a pivotal moment in my career and how I found momentum. Let's get started.
Welcome to the Love my Museum podcast. I'm your host, Amy Kehs, and I love museums. I'm also a brand strategist and communications expert for museums. I've owned my own business for 24 years and my journey with museums began even before that. I started as a volunteer, moved on to an internship, and eventually became an employee. In 2000, I left my job and I started my consulting business for museums. For the first 19 years, I worked as a freelancer.
[00:01:00]
My clients would call me for projects like exhibit openings, film projects, or public relations for festivals. Once the project ended, so did my work and then I'd wait for the next phone call. I didn't have business cards, a website, a logo, or any social media presence. It was all word of mouth and that worked for me, especially while my kids were small. I could pick and choose projects that fit into our family schedule.
But by 2019, things started to feel stagnant. My kids were getting older and I wanted to do more. I wanted to help more museums and expand my impact.
[00:02:00]
And that's when my husband suggested attending the Momentum Weekend Workshop, a three-day conference in Orlando, Florida organized by Lou Mongello. He's the host of the successful WDW Radio podcast. The workshop focuses on helping entrepreneurs turn their passions into thriving careers. This was the first business conference that I ever attended. I left feeling incredibly inspired. It really reignited my excitement about my business and it gave me the space to dream big again. Then 2020 happened and my museum clients were forced to close their doors. But this unexpected break, gave me time to focus on my business and those new ideas I had gained from the Momentum Workshop.
[00:03:00]
One of the most important lessons I learned, was that continued education doesn't have to mean going back to school. You don't need another degree or to audit university courses to grow. There are so many other ways to keep learning. After the conference, I dove into group courses, workshops, podcasts, books, and expert advice, to not only improve my own business, but also bring new tools and strategies to my museum clients.
Now my goal is to become a resource for others, help make their jobs easier and their museums a better place to work. Another major takeaway from Momentum was the power of community. The people I met there were so welcoming and supportive.
[00:04:00]
And that didn't end when the weekend was over, we have stayed in touch. We provide accountability for each other. We answer each other's questions. And that sense of community and support was something that I didn't realize I was missing.
Okay, now that you've heard my story, here are a few tips for creating your own momentum in your career that I wish I had known 24 years ago. Momentum is that forward push that keeps you moving towards your goals in your career. It's that continuous progress and energy. You know, like in physics, getting started can be the hardest part, but once you're in motion, it's easier to stay in motion.
[00:05:00]
I wish I had set clear small goals 24 years ago. Many of us have big dreams, but no clear path to get there. Breaking things down into actionable achievable steps is key. For example, at the Momentum workshop, I set those big long-term goals but I also created short term ones. These could be as simple as learning a new skill, networking with five new people, or maybe pitching an idea to your supervisor. Each small goal you achieve helps to build that forward energy. Make sure that you celebrate your small wins. I still need reminder to do this. And use them as proof of your progress. At the end of the momentum conference, we write down three things we want to accomplish. We give our postcard to Lou and he mails it back to us later. It's a nice reminder. And often I've already achieved the goals by the time I get the postcard, but sometimes it can also be a nudge that I need to keep going.
[00:06:00]
Speaking of keeping going, consistency is crucial. Momentum is built by showing up every day. Even when you don't feel like it, if you're putting in consistent effort it can add up over time.Building a supportive community is equally important. Surround yourself with people who inspire and challenge you.
Now, let's talk a bit about strategies for building that momentum. Make sure that you're staying open to new opportunities. Momentum doesn't just come from working hard in your current role. It's also about adaptability.
[00:07:00]
This might mean taking on projects, outside your comfort zone. Another great way to build momentum is through visibility. Start positioning yourself as an expert by contributing to your museum's blog or offering to give internal presentations to your coworkers. You might even apply to speak at museum conferences. The more visible you are, the more people recognize your expertise.
It's easy to get caught up in the desire for that immediate success. Remember to also still think about those long-term goals. Where do you want to be in five or 10 years? Make sure that the momentum that you're building aligns with those bigger goals. Your momentum though won't always be linear. There'll be times when things slow down or take an unexpected turn and that's okay.
[00:08:00]
Reassess your goals and adjust if you need to. Maybe you'll need an extra year to say, I don't know, launch a podcast, or maybe you'll realize you're on the wrong path altogether. And that's fine. Take the time to reassess and pivot. If necessary.
Sometimes in your journey, your spark might fade like mine did. When that happens, reconnect. Go to a conference like I did. Listen to a podcast, check in with your community. Maybe find a mentor who can offer a new perspective. And remember it's okay to change direction. If you feel like your momentum is stalling because you're on the wrong path. Don't be afraid to pivot.
[00:09:00]
That's all for today. I hope this episode has inspired you to build momentum in your career. Remember momentum is a process. It’s about staying focused, consistent effort, being open to new opportunities and surrounding yourself with the right resources. If you'd like to continue the conversation, join my new Facebook group for museum professionals, the Love my Museum Facebook group. I'll leave a link in the show notes.
Thanks so much. I'm so glad you're here. Thanks for listening. I'll see you next time.
