You’ve already read the post about My Qualitative Research Journey right? Then you’ve read about my path to qualitative research. I’ll expand upon my career at some point in time, I’m sure, especially if you ask me to via the comment boxes below.

So instead, let me take you back to August of 2003, when I had to slow my career down a bit. I was on the phone with my favorite client planning an easy-to-execute, traditional qualitative research project. “The only glitch would be,” I explained, “if the biopsy I just had comes back positive.” But since I had no family history, and I was only 35, it seemed unlikely. (The doctor said there was an 80% chance the abnormality they found would be nothing. I tried to explain to the doctor that I was a qual girl, that I didn’t do statistics, but she didn’t get the reference.)

Turned out it was cancer so I couldn’t do the project. Bummer, right? Yet since I was diagnosed early, my treatment was quick, and it was a short hiatus before I went back to work.

Then I had a recurrence in 2006 and, well, I needed to slow down even more, to say the least. I focused on my kids. I indulged my passion for writing. I kept one foot in the qualitative research industry by backing up other moderators and writing reports while I wrote for magazines and blog networks and the people that publish the Chicken Soup books. But I wasn’t sure if I’d ever start speeding around the qualitative racetrack again.

Until last year when a friend and colleague suggested that after almost five years cancer free, I get back on the horse to see if I still loved to ride. So I helped her with a day of in-home interviews … then I took on two days of traditional focus groups … whoooooaaaaaaa Nelly, did I still love to ride! I immediately started to put out there that I was back in business. Calls started coming in, conversations started happening. I was once again collaborating with respected colleagues on some amazing qualitative initiatives.

After five years, my doctors say I’m cured (no more statistics!). So I’m thrilled to be riding high once again … seeking consumer insights … together with you.

(Have you ever taken a hiatus? Did it give you what you needed it to?)