Feeling out of sync with your work?

This self-paced digital playbook gives everything you need to consciously decide if going on an extended break from work is the right move for you

Carve out time and space to make this Big Life Decision properly

Transform any fear-driven indecision into a clear way forward

Unlock what your head and your heart have to say

Take people around you on your journey

Buy now for $150

This playbook will give you

Structure

when you might be stuck in chaotic thought loops, wondering what to do and whether you've missed anything important in your thinking

Space

to engage with the decision-making process in a simple, objective and constructive way

Insights

to help manage your biggest fears constructively and with compassion, and to unlock new perspectives on the problem you're facing

What's included

01

Welcome—I'll introduce you to how the playbook works, and share my sabbatical story. You'll also meet the panel of sabbatical-takers who will accompany you throughout 'Thinking of a Sabbatical'.

02

Intro to sabbaticals—I'll demystify sabbaticals, and introduce you to four sabbatical archetypes to help you sketch out your own. Paul Millerd, the author of The Pathless Path, will share thoughts on the value you get from taking a break from work. You'll also hear some sabbatical stories from famous people.

03

Navigating your fears—We'll dive deeper into the classic fears people have when they're thinking of whether they should go on sabbatical e.g. structuring open time, spending/not earning money, potentially damaging your career etc. I'll make sure you don't miss out on anything important.

04

Visualising the future—You'll visualise what what you want to get if you went on sabbatical, what would happen if you recommitted to your current path, and if it's worth considering any alternative options. This is the moment where you let your imagination run free!

05

Making the decision—The moment of truth. We'll look at what the decision-making process looks like, and the moment where the decision 'clicks' inside of you. Michael Ashcroft, a teacher of the Alexander Technique, will share thoughts on how to navigate change when it feels wrong.

06

Preparing before you go—You'll get tips to help you prepare for your sabbatical so you don't feel like you're jumping off a cliff. We'll talk about managing your psychology as you prepare for take-off, about setting intentions rather than business-like goals, and about planning, among other things.

07

Extra wisdom and resources—The panel of sabbatical-takers will share some final words with you. You'll also have access to a mighty list of resources that you can dive into, as well as contacts for some of the panel and guest speakers.

Your guide

Cécile

15 years in corporate and consulting; self-employed since Feb. 2024
Took a 12-month sabbatical in 2022 to rest, reconnect with my curiosity, and explore
Have spoken to 60+ people about sabbaticals and helped 30+ decide whether to take the leap
Creator of On Sabbatical, a playbook to help make your sabbatical transformational

A delightful panel of sabbatical-takers

Bruno

Entrepreneur, currently on sabbatical

Yujia

Energy strategy professional, went on sabbatical in 2021

Sriram

Software Engineering Manager, went on sabbatical in 2023

Raymond

Software developer, currently on sabbatical

Meryl

Ex-corporate lawyer turned somatic coach, currently on sabbatical

And a couple of expert guest speakers

Paul

Paul Millerd left his consulting job at McKinsey in 2016 after a decade-long career. Since then he's been self-employed as a podcaster, a creator and a writer. He's written a huge amount about the evolution of our relationship to work and is the author of The Pathless Path, which has helped more than 50,000 people re-imagine a better story for work and life. In 'Thinking of a sabbatical' he shares his thoughts on the value of taking a career break.

Michael—coming soon

Michael Ashcroft is a writer and a coach. He's also a teacher of the Alexander Technique, which is an embodied, real-world mindfulness practice that can help you notice, expand and play within the space between stimulus and response—and frees you from patterns that keep you stuck. In 'Thinking of a sabbatical' he shares his thoughts on how to get out of your own way, when making a big life decision like this one.

Here's what real people say about my work

When you join 'Thinking of a Sabbatical' you're signing up for an experience that's helped dozens of people before you.

Cécile’s thinking around sabbaticals helped me immensely last year as I was sorting out whether to take a formal sabbatical. Her actionable questions and approach made the decision much clearer and helped me get unstuck from lots of “should I, shouldn’t I” avenues of thinking.

Tanner Gesek

Talking to Cécile really helped demystify what taking a sabbatical would mean and what it could do for me. Though life ended up getting in the way this time, I'm still interested in taking one in future—and have a much clearer idea what it would entail!

Adam Englebright

Hearing Cécile share her experience on sabbatical on a podcast made me realise that this is something I could do too. But it’s only once I spoke with her directly that I was able to fully give myself permission to take a year off. I'm very grateful for her guidance and constructive nudges!

Bruno Selun

Speaking with Cécile was really important for me to "see to believe". Here was someone who had built a really successful corporate career, took a year long sabbatical, and it had a significant positive impact on her life. Cécile also challenged my thinking on some of the blocks I was facing.

Brenna Mulvaney

Your advice during our call was instrumental in helping me make the decision to take my sabbatical. Thank you for your invaluable guidance, Cécile. I'm truly grateful!

Sriram Thiagarajan

Talking to Cécile helped me clarify my thoughts about taking a sabbatical. Her insightful suggestions and her personal experience gave me the confidence to take the leap.

Johnny Atler

Choose between two options

Essential

If you want structure, insights and companionship to help you make a decision that feels right for you

You get access to the playbook:

Thinking of a Sabbatical

Seven chapters including an introduction to sabbaticals, navigating your fears, visualising the future, making the decision, and preparing before you go

Short invitations to reflect in way that engages both your brain and your heart, using renowned framework

Expert advice from our guest speakers and constructive wisdom from a panel of sabbatical-takers

Useful resources (e.g. books, podcasts) and access to any upgrades I make to the playbook in the future

Buy now for $150

Premium

If you feel stuck and you want a constructive sounding board to help you make a decision

You get all the benefits of the Essential tier, plus

A sparring partner

We'll have two hour-long sessions in which we will explore your options and address any indecision points

We will meet for our first session once you've gone through the playbook; the second session will happen maximum two months after that

It will feel like a mix of coaching and mentoring

Buy now for $450

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sabbatical?

It's an intentional, finite and extended break from work, usually 3 to 12 months long.

No two sabbaticals are the same as each sabbatical is a unique expression of what a person needs in the moment, depending on their circumstances, hopes, risk appetite and character.

Nevertheless, there are four sabbatical archetypes which I explore in 'Thinking of a sabbatical'.

Who is this playbook for?

It's for anyone who is curious about sabbaticals.

For anyone who wants to consciously shape the next phase of their life, and is wondering if a sabbatical might be the best next move for them.

And crucially, for anyone who doesn't want to 'work their life away' while never having given themselves the time to think about whether they might want to take a break.

This is brilliant but too expensive for me. Can you help?

I want to make this accessible to anyone who needs it so I've created three pricing tiers.

The standard price is $150, excluding local sales tax.

If you cannot pay the standard price, you can select the reduced price of $100. And anyone who has the money and feels generous enough to do it can pay the benefactor price of $200 to help me offer the reduced price to those who need it.

Most transition programmes cost a fortune. Why not this?

I believe everyone should be able to engage with a process like this if they want to, and let's face it, not everyone can afford experiences that cost thousands of dollars.

I didn't rent a fancy studio to record the videos, I made them with a camera, a microphone and a lamp placed on a couple of tripods in my home. I didn't pay anyone to share their thoughts. I'm also not offering you access to world-renowned coaches or fancy in-person retreats or cohorts.
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With 'Thinking of a Sabbatical' you'll go through the (thoughtfully-crafted) material at your own pace, and if you want to have coaching-like conversation, you can purchase the Premium tier.

How long will it take for me to complete the playbook?

As long as you want or need.

Overall, there's approximately 150 minutes of video made by me incl. two videos by Paul and Michael, 70 minutes of stories and insights from the panel, 8 invitations to reflect and a list of dozens of useful resources including books, podcasts, newsletters, courses etc.
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Some will go through the material in one sitting. Most will take longer, tuning into the material for a while, and then disengaging to digest. You might even come to a decision before you complete it.

Will I have direct access to you or other speakers?

If you buy the Premium tier you will have access to me (and me only) according to the guidelines I've included above the FAQ above.

If you stick with the Essential tier and you have questions as you go through the playbook, you can reach out to me via direct message on the platform, or through the community.

Both guest speakers and some members of the panel have left their contact details at the end of the playbook. If you want to contact them, you can do so at your leisure and off the platform.

Are you a certified coach?

No, I am not.

I am a 'sabbatical guide' or a 'sabbatical consultant' but not a certified coach. In the sessions I offer in the Premium tier, I position myself as a friendly, objective and constructive sparring partner. I've had many conversations like these in the past two years—you will be in good hands.

Check out some of the testimonials (above and below) to see what others think, or the video below to get a sense of the kind of presence I will bring to our conversation!‍

Who will be able to see that I have signed up for this?

No-one apart from me.

Unless you post in the small community I've set up alongside the playbook. At that point, others who hang out in the community will be able to see whichever username you chose to use when you joined Mighty Networks, the platform on which the playbook is hosted.

How long do I get access to the playbook for?

So you will have access for as long as the course exists. If I choose to not make it available at some point, I will give you ample notice and/or an offline collection of the material.

Can get a refund if the playbook is not what I expected?

If you feel the playbook is not delivering on its promise, you can ask me for a refund within 30 days of purchase and I will refund you.

What do I do next if I want to sign up?

Click on the button below to purchase the playbook. A series of automated tasks will happen in the background to allow you to watch it almost instantly.

Here's a video that introduces the playbook in detail

More testimonials...

Talking with Cécile when I was considering a career transition helped resolve many of my uncertainties. Realising I could go on a sabbatical not just to 'take a break' but to 'find work which aligns more closely to what matters to me' was super helpful. I am about to do just that, and am now excited to be moving on to the next phase I’ve shaped for myself!

Bhragan Paramanantham

We’ve all met people who seem like they were simply born to do what they do. Cécile has a remarkable gift for helping others get in touch with themselves and enabling them to design a life that suits their authentic self. She is one of the most exceptional listeners I have ever met, and her thought-provoking questions and thoughtful encouragement helped me decide to go on a sabbatical during which I shaped an exciting new life phase for myself.

Duncan Piper

After months of lonely and anxious back and forth about when and how I’d take a sabbatical, my session with Cécile felt super positive, thought-provoking and grounding. We explored a few alternative paths I hadn’t thought of, which in turn inspired me to better define my intentions for leaving my role. A few weeks later I was able to select a path that feels deeply right to me.

Paige Flanagan

I scheduled a chat with Cécile after hearing her on a podcast. I had a great time and she provided wonderful clarity for me on my sabbatical journey. If you're thinking of a sabbatical, I highly recommend Cécile.

Bill Bergeman