Career Pivots Don’t Have to be Frightful
Are you trying to figure out a new direction or a new start? Are you feeling super excited or super freaked out?
Figuring out a new direction or new start can feel lonely, confusing and overwhelming. AND it can feel exciting and good. Both can be true. Both are true.
If you're in the super freaked out camp, remember that feeling is totally normal. Also remember that we are so much more than our jobs. It can all change so quickly.
If you are in the super excited mode, you're on to something good....we are all meant to have the opportunity to live purposefully, in full expression of ourselves.
But when we're in that place where we just don't know where to start, it's scary and it doesn't feel good. It often keeps us from taking any steps at all. And taking no steps feels like death. Right? We’ve all been there. Knowing we need to make a change, but just….not…..doing….it. If get’s so heavy. Movement forward, any amount, gives an instant feeling of hopefulness and lightness.
When considering change, or if you're in the face of a forced change, acknowledge ALL of the things that make you unique, bring you joy and give you energy. We get used to seeing ourselves pretty one-dimensionally. Maybe two. Ok, maybe three. I’m a Coach. I’m a mom. I’m a wife. But that doesn’t even scrape the surface of my wealth of experience, knowledge and know-how of course.
It’s important to think of who I am as the coach I am, what do I bring to the table that other coaches might not have? What do I bring to the table just by showing up at the table? What is innate in who I am as a person? What makes me excited? What can I talk about for hours? What is fun for me? What are things I CAN do, but make me want to poke my eyes out? What is really hard for me? Specifically. What do I dream about? What do I want to look back on and be proud of and not regret?
Times of transition CAN feel unsettling. Of course it feels weird. Our brains are wired to feel good when they know what to do. They like routine. But it is important to stay uncomfortable long enough to really do the work to mine all of the great stuff inside you so that you set yourself up for a fantastic next phase. If you just jump to next, without giving it too much thought or without spending time flapping around in discomfort, you may miss out on some really great stuff.
It can be very subtle, but you do have the answers you need. You just need to ask. And you need to listen. You need to pay attention. For example, I’ve thought off and on about re-joining the corporate world. LinkedIn serves up jobs that I might find interesting and I open the ones that sound interesting. When I read through them, I see what my brain thinks of the job and I see how my body feels with the job. Often, my brain will be, “Yep, I have the skills for this and the experience”. But my throat may constrict a little, or I feel a little pit in my stomach. Yes I could do the job, but it feels terrible.
Same goes in the opposite direction. Just the other day I read a job description for the job of People and Culture Assistant Director of the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston. Now, I don’t have experience in corporate HR, I have zero experience in hospitality and Assistant Director is about 4 levels lower than where I would ultimately like to be. BUT the coolest part? I had never considered working for a luxury hotel group but I could see how this could be a great fit for me. I can easily ascertain that people working in a luxury group MUST feel good about the place they work, and their role within that place, to authentically and consistently convey the positive, professional, helpful attitude that is expected at the Four Seasons. I LIVE for helping people uncover what drives them and makes them feel great. I LOVE luxury travel. It is what I dream about ALL the time. I have done luxury travel as a guest. I have done luxury travel as a businesswoman. How amazing would it be to have “staying at the Four Seasons” as a corporate benefit? It turned on a light I’d never thought about.
Did I apply for that role? No. Did I search LinkedIn to see who I could connect with who works in the Four Seasons group to gain more insight? 100%! And I am really excited about the opportunity to learn about this!
Now, I have no idea if I’ll ever pursue a career in that direction, but my point is that I listened to what felt good. I let it be fun. When it feels like a slog, then it IS a slog.
Sometimes you just need help to uncover what feels good again.
#careerpivot #yourbestself #exploration #leadership
