My Story – How I Left My Job
When a Tree Falls on Your Head – Take It as a Sign!
Sometimes life nudges you to make a change.
Other times, it drops a tree on your head.
Back in 2013, I found myself on holiday in beautiful Prague, sipping wine by the river, when a freak accident quite literally knocked some sense into me. A tree – well a huge branch of a tree – fell on the terrace where I was enjoying lunch with my family. Fortunately, we escaped with minor injuries, but the shock had a profound effect.
As the dust settled (and we realised how lucky we were), a question popped into my head that changed everything:
“If I had died today, what would my legacy be?”
And just like that, the decision I’d been dancing around for over a year became crystal clear. I had to leave my job.
The Real Beginning: A Slipped Disc and a Wake-Up Call
Rewind to 2012 – I was the manager at DFS Furniture in Bristol, a position I was proud of and had held for over a decade. One Saturday, I spun around in my chair to answer a question, and snap — excruciating pain shot through my body. I’d slipped a disc.
Cue 13 weeks off work, a lot of pain, and some serious soul-searching.
Enter Rachel, a brilliant Alexander Technique teacher who helped me in more ways than just physical recovery. She gently pointed out something I hadn’t fully admitted to myself:
Maybe my injury was my body’s way of walking away from a job that no longer served me.
And so the seed was planted.
Back to the Office… But Not for Long
Determined not to be ‘that manager’ who disappeared off sick and never returned, I went back to work later that year. I gave it everything, even opening and staffing a brand-new store across town, but the truth was becoming harder to ignore.
I was working harder than ever, but my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. Burnout was knocking loudly at the door.
The Tree, the Turning Point, and the Tearful Resignation
Fast forward to that sun-drenched terrace in Prague. One crashing tree later, the message was deafening:
Life is too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t light you up.
As soon as we got back, I handed in my notice. I was in tears, covered in stress-induced hives, and scared out of my wits. But I knew, deep in my bones, it was the right decision.
After 17 years, I walked away from my “safe” job and into the unknown.
Here are some pics from that fateful day!
What Happened Next? The Dream Job Happened.
Since then, life has changed in the best possible ways. In my view, your dream job is the one that’s right for you, right now. For me, that turned out to be coaching.
⏰ I work flexibly from home, doing what I love.
📊 I’ve built a business that lets me help others create careers they’re excited about.
🌳 In 2019, we moved to beautiful Devon (where I was born and bred) to be nearer to my family.
💖 With Maureen Townsend, I’m developing the Devon Women in Business network and we launched the annual DWIB Awards in 2021.
✅ Most importantly, I continue to support brilliant clients across the UK who are ready for a change, just like I was.
Whether they’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain fed up with being overlooked, I help them reconnect with their strengths and reimagine what’s possible. And then we go out and make it happen.
Because when you’re in your dream job, everyone benefits: your family, your community, your clients, and you.
Ready for Your Turning Point?
You don’t need a slipped disc, a falling tree or some other disaster to make a change.
You just need the clarity to know it’s time and the support to take the leap.
If any part of my story resonated with you, if you’re longing for more meaning, freedom or recognition in your work, let’s talk.
Book a free Clarity Session or a Virtual Coffee. No pressure, just a friendly conversation to explore what your version of a dream job could look like.
✨ Here’s to building a legacy that truly matters.
With love,
Louise Jenner, The Dream Job Coach
Copyright: Louise Jenner, The Dream Job Coach – 2025
You were the most professional and dedicated manager I have ever worked under also you helped me with some issues that I was having
So pleased that all has worked out so well for you
Hi Sallyann, Lovely to hear from you. Thank you for your kind words. I enjoyed working with you too!