Any Way Back to the Countryside
I am a case team/ project leader at MBB with going 4 years experience out of a top MBA. Things are going great from a career perspective but starting to feel that I have already got most of what I wanted from my time in consulting (core skills, basic project/ client management, no more loans etc). I also know that I have never looked across the table at the large corporations/ PE funds who have been my clients and wished I was on the other side- so most of the traditional exit options don't seem particularly appealing.
In a next step I am looking for 2 things:
1. A small-medium size organization (I was in a startup before B-school and I like the comparatively small size of consulting firms)
2. Would like to live in the rural US and have an active role in a community (I grew up in this environment)
Entrepreneurship is on the table but having done this before and being honest with my self- my skills are stronger as business developer/ extender in an established firm (Don't particularly like the salesmanship required of a entrepreneur). I also understand the challenges of building something new in a lower income rural environment.
Right now reaching out to small-medium firms I am interested in, but would like to hear from the community:
1. If they or have known about others making a move from consulting to a small-medium established firm? How did that work out?
2. What other less traditional exits should I be thinking of?
3. Are there any quality "work from anywhere" type jobs available for my skill set?
4. Am I nuts and just suffering from some burnout induced nostalgia?
Thanks!
Yes, you're nuts...
Are you looking only at the community in which you grew up? As you know that's extremely limiting but if you just want small town/rural, you could go operational and find a position. I had the same thought a few years ago-life would be much better living in a very small town/rural yada yada yada-and take a CFO/COO role in one of those companies that actually exist there. The paycut was extreme even if it meant the possibility of buying an incredible house for $180k. And I'm talking extreme. The CFO of a local private widget co makes $150-180k with a bonus that may get you over $200 and there's not a ton of growth.
Take a look at tertiary cities like Portland, ME, where you can actually have a few companies that may offer opportunities and if you live 20 mins away you're in the woods.
You're probably stressed and worn out now, make sure you don't over correct. The grass is always greener as they say. This change will probably bore the shit out of you after a few weeks. I'd recommend considering a less drastic life change. At the least, take a few months sabottical from work the MBB's offer, and spend it in rural America...see if you actually enjoy it first.
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