43yo, broke and broken. Hopelessly stuck.
Employment history
Project manager with over a decade of experience. Last full time role was a remote PM gig for a US firm. Got fired when I burned out after 2 years of 16+ hour days.
Also owned a gym for 12 years. Closed it down as client acquisition has dwindled over recent years despite my efforts. I couldn't cope any more and I was being pulled in too many directions between the freelancing and the gym.
Skills
- Project management, conversion rate optimisation, copywriting, analytics.
- Strong client facing.
- Strong technical understanding, but not a developer.
- Great at selling, could be a high ticket setter or closer.
Current situation
- Freelance project management, by the hour. Severely underemployed.
- Retraining as a psychotherapist.
- Ex-wife has a great paying job, but is getting laid off end of May. Family is in dire financial straits.
- Mental health is in the shitter. Depression, anxiety, ADHD. Have a psychologist and am on psychiatric meds.
- My parents and sister are keeping me afloat every month with money for food and rent.
- I can't even pay maintenance towards my children and I feel terrible.
- Selling off my gym equipment on FB marketplace, but that's not going to keep me going for very long.
- Ended the relationship with the love of my life (not my ex-wife, the subsequent relationship) because I'm broke, can't cope, she wants children more than anything but time's up on her biological clock, and I couldn't show up as a partner let alone contribute towards a financially stable household. Grieving.
Things I've tried
- Applying for full time project management roles for over a year. Every job posting has more than 100 applicants on the first day of listing. Have only had one interview in a year.
- Applying for freelance PM roles on Upwork. Got a couple, but in recent months responses have dwindled to zero.
- Tried producing tons of content on social media and running an online strength coaching business.
- Tried keeping the gym afloat with funnels, then running paid ads to them.
- Patting up my network to see if anyone can get me into a role.
- I've cut all my costs to the bone. I've never lived lavish and I don't have any vices.
Ask
What would you do?
I am paralysed and demoralised.
- Job applications are a black hole.
- The lead time for training to become a therapist is 1-2 years.
I've got all these skills at a high level, and I can't seem to get my foot in the door. I just need to close one fucking job paying 5000 USD per month to keep my family afloat. I want to work.
I'm broke and out of time. I don't know where to focus my attention.
Any advice on what to do next would be warmly received.