This career change mistake is the biggest blocker approximately 90% of my clients face when they are standing at a crossroads in their career.
The career change mistake so many of them make is feeling they have to be clear on their destination before they take the first step.
It’s not unusual for prospective clients to send me an email or DM talking about their predicament of feeling stuck and saying things like, “I just need to work out what it is I want to do, then I’ll be ready to talk to a career coach…”
If this sounds familiar, then you’re not alone!
I know just how unsettling it can be to feel like you’re free-falling; no idea where you’ll end up or how you’ll even get there – wherever ‘there‘ may be… But waiting until you get clarity on your destination may well delay your work happiness by months… if not years.
In 2016, I was made redundant from my Head of Talent & Engagement role whilst – unbeknownst to me – in the early stages of pregnancy with my second little girl. Soon after, my husband was also made redundant.
Quite frankly, it was a bit of a sh!t show all round!
“ By far the biggest mistake people make when trying to change careers, is to delay taking the first step until they have settled on a destination. “
– Herminia Ibarra
Tune into your inner compass
It was like my world had been turned upside down overnight. I had zero clue what lay in store for me professionally and my confidence was in tatters.
I didn’t have the luxury of time on my side with a baby on the way, so I just put one foot in front of the other and started. Lucky for me, having worked in personal development for years, I had a good deal of self-awareness and a strong inner compass which I proceeded to follow relentlessly.
I said ‘yes’ to opportunities that ‘felt good’, aligned with who I was, energised me and played to my strengths. I also said yes to a few things that didn’t feel quite right – and then instantly regretted it!
Through this iterative process of self-discovery, lots and LOTS of cock-ups, lots of baby steps (and lots of lovely learning), I finally created my own work happy place a couple of years later.
The point is, you don’t have to know where you’re headed, you just have to take the first step and START. Work out who you are and then start doing it on purpose.
“ Find out who you are and do it on purpose.“
– Dolly Parton
Take the first step
The ‘working out who you are‘ bit is the undoubtedly the hardest part!
Which is where I come in…
Luckily, self-discovery, personal development and personality stuff is kind of my zone of genius. I’ve been helping people understand who they are, what they’re great at and what would make them happy at work for the best part of 2 decades now.
So, if you’d like to give the googling and self-help books a rest, I’d love to help.
Or if you’d like to talk about how we could work together 1:1 so I can help you find more purpose and create your own ‘work happy place’, you can book a free ‘no-strings -whatsoever’ call via the pink button below (prices start at £1599) or you can sign up for my affordable career coaching membership, The Shine Collective today if you’d rather take things a little slower and ‘DIY’ your work happiness journey for only £47/ month.
