Career Regrets
A career journey can have lots of twists, not a definite path
Ever wonder what your life would be like if you’d chosen a different career path? A recent survey revealed that nearly half of “older millennials” wish they’d chosen a different career. Some may read that statistic and think it’s sad that so many people aren’t truly happy with their careers. But consider some different perspectives that can reveal the opportunities behind this desire for change:
Let Go of Regret
Many of those who wish they’d chosen a different path may be living with regret. Instead, it’s a chance to look at what they’ve learned and accomplished thus far. Just because they chose a particular path at the beginning of the journey doesn’t mean they have to stay on that path forever.
People often find joy in two, three, or even more types of work throughout their life. We make the best decision we can at the beginning of a career based on the available facts and personal desires at the time. But facts and desires change as we grow and mature. It’s entirely appropriate to change a career trajectory based on new desires.
My own career path has taken twists and turns based on my personal evolution. As a teenager, I was obsessed with politics, government, and media. I studied classical literature and communications in college. I attended law school not because I wanted to practice law, but because I thought it would help me with a career in politics and legislative work. I ended up mostly working in political communications and media.
In my mid-30s I discovered my passion for coaching and decided to pursue a coaching certification. As many successful coaches say, “I wish I’d discovered coaching sooner!” It’s true, once you find your passion, you may wish you’d done it since the beginning. But that discounts the amazing journey you took to discover that passion and all the wisdom you acquired along the way that you can now draw on in your new career.
You are Not Your Career Identity
It’s important to not get caught up in the “identity” of a career or role. Many people think, “Well I paid $200,000 for this law degree and I thought it’s what I wanted, I guess I’m a lawyer for the rest of my life.” When we start identifying with a title or a role, we can lose sight of the internal joy we find when our passion is aligned with the work we do.
As Robert Keegan shares in Immunity to Change, research now shows that adults continue to learn and evolve throughout our life. We don’t stop learning and changing just because we graduated high school or college. You aren’t a lawyer, accountant, or marketer. You are so much more complex than that. You don’t have to get locked into an identity just because you think “this is how it is.” “How it is” can change just as humans change throughout life.
Regularly Check-in with Yourself
As a conscious leader, it’s important to make sure you’re in alignment with your career dreams. So have regular check-ins with yourself and ask a few key questions:
Am I still passionate about or invested in what I’m currently doing? If not, why not? If so, what is it about the work that I genuinely enjoy?
Where do I see myself in two, five or even ten years? Is it doing this job, or is it doing something completely different?
What are my long term financial and personal goals? Will this job or work help me achieve those goals?
What else have I always wanted to do in life that current responsibilities have prevented me pursuing? What’s standing in my way that I now have the power to change?
Working with a coach is an excellent way to explore these probing questions. I’ve worked with many professionals in career transition and it’s always a joy to see them let go of fear or expectations and jump into a new career passion that truly makes them wake up every morning eager to get to work. No regrets, just unlimited opportunity.
Work happy. Live happy. BE happy.
Meredith
The way we work and build teams is rapidly changing. Leaders often feel unprepared to navigate the transition. As a conscious leadership coach, consultant and communicator, Meredith helps leaders and their teams create new ways of working and relating so they can prepare for the future by consciously co-creating it.
Contact her to develop your conscious leadership and transform your organization into the workplace of the future.
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