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Career Article
I recently received an email from a prospective client with the following question:
"Is it truly realistic to expect that I can have a fulfilling career that really fits who I am as a person, or do I just need to suck it up and deal with the fact that work is a necessary evil for most people?"
No, you don't have to just suck it up and deal. In fact, I don't recommend it. Being frustrated, or beyond frustrated, with your job for years and years on end can have a detrimental effect on you, your health, your relationships, your family and even your community.
There are a number of ways to create a fulfilling career that's fits who you are. In fact, just beginning your quest to identify a better job is likely to start shifting your energy in a positive direction. By looking toward the future, opening your mind to new options, and exploring other facets of your skills, you may be amazed at the options before you. Being in a space of possibility is more inviting than believing you have to be miserable for the rest of your life.
The first step on your journey is to do a reality check. What assumptions do you have about how your career should look, feel and progress? As you read this section, notice what surprises you the most.
Did you know the Department of Labor estimates most people will have 6-10 careers in their life time. Note that's careers, not jobs! Within this context you can see it's no longer feasible to expect to land one job and stay with the same company on a linear career path until retirement. Although most of us grew up holding this image as the ideal measure of success, it is not realistic to compare your current career path with this outdated standard.
When you consider most people will have several jobs per career, it's important to acknowledge that career transitions will be a standard part of life. We must incorporate this reality into our personal and professional planning.
Rather than concentrating on finding the one career that will satisfy you for the rest of your life, think of your career as an evolving truth, a work in progress. Holding this thought is much more freeing than expecting yourself to make one decision to identify your ideal career. If you think about it, that kind of pressure is likely to leave you too afraid to make any decisions about your career for fear of making a mistake! The journey and discovery are part of what brings fulfillment and satisfaction regarding your career.
Another shift in your thinking may increase your perceived opportunities. Rather than trying to narrow your interests down to force fit yourself into a typical job (a constraining proposition for many), consider a career that allows you to tap a unique combination of interests and skills. Called a Composite Career by William Bridges in his book Job Shift, this kind of career has great potential for being fulfilling and is, in fact, how people handled work before the Industrial Revolution. Think of all the "careers" and "job titles" Ben Franklin had! Think of all the ways Oprah Winfrey uses and shares her talents.
A crucial factor to remember is that your "next" job may not be your ultimate job. It may be an interim job that takes you out of the frustrating situation you are in and shifts your focus so you can devote your energy to creating your future instead of fighting your current limited existence.
In addition, don't expect to identify your ideal career in a month. Let the answers you crave evolve as you become more clear about who you are and what you and your family need. It's a process of personal discovery and insight that will, by definition, impact not only your career but you and your entire life.
On your journey I can promise you one thing: You will run into potential dead ends and possible barriers on your journey. Don't let these stop you--let them spur
you on! When you run into something that feels impossible to overcome, make note of your observation and continue your exploration. Sometimes inconsistencies
resolve themselves as you gain clarity about your needs. Other times it takes some creative brainstorming to find ways around the inconsistencies. Inconsistencies and potential barriers are not a reason to stop your exploration, but a reason to dig deeper to determine if there is a way to resolve or redefine the problem.
The process of identifying a new career is very individual. If you've changed careers before, this time may be different. You may experience one or two major breakthroughs that allow you to see your live from a new vantage point, allowing you to see new choices and opportunities. Or you may experience transformations
as a result of a series of smaller breakthroughs. You have no way to predict what your journey will look like. You can however determine when you start the journey. The minute you begin to explore new ways to look at careers in general and your career specifically, you begin to shift your perspective.
If you keep looking at your career in the same ways you always have, you will continue to run into the same unworkable options you always have. The key is to ask yourself new questions. If you can't think of new questions to ask yourself, reach out for support. The resources offered on this site are a great starting point.
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