There’s so much that makes career change difficult at midlife, and each obstacle seems harder than the last.
Which hurdle is tripping you up?
Not having the time to plan your career change?
Worrying you’ll be broke and homeless if you make the move to something you really love?
Thinking no one will hire you?
Not wanting to start all over at the bottom of a new career?
Or simply having trouble choosing a career that’s right for you?
Choosing a Career That’s Right For You
Whether it’s one of these problems or something else, I promise, there is a solution. Today we’re focusing on figuring out what will feel like the right next move in your career.
Use the chart below to home in on your sweet spot:
Passions: You might look at this chart and already feel like giving up if you don’t know what your passions are. But the more I work with people, the more I realize it’s ok not to know what your passions are.
Passion is not necessarily a state that you arrive at. You might get to a place where you can say, “I’m really passionate about X.” And then you know at least one of your passions. But if you don’t know that or can’t really say that, or worry that your interest doesn’t quite meet the bar for “passion,” don’t worry. Just go with what you’ve got.
Whatever you’re most interested in qualifies. I don’t care if you experience a “flow” state or not. If you do, wonderful! If not, I don’t think that’s any reason to stay stuck for years wandering about thinking there’s nothing you’re qualified to do. Do what you like right now, and if something emerges that you like more someday, maybe you’ll do that.
People worry that this route means they’re missing out on some huge passion that they would otherwise be engaging in. But to that I say “Where is it?” If you can’t find it and it causes you to loaf about miserably, then you’re wasting your time. It’s better that you follow your mini-passions until your truer passions are uncovered.
(Here’s my secret though: I believe that either your mini-passions will reveal themselves as true passions eventually or lead directly to real passions you’d never have found by sitting around waiting. You need to get up and follow that thread.)
Skills are pretty self-explanatory, though don’t believe what they say about an old dog and new tricks. Not that we’re old. 🙂
Gifts are not just the gifts that you’ve been given like your beautiful singing voice or your ability to connect with people effortlessly, but they are also what you give to others. What do you give back??
Values are what you care about. You could list a whole bunch of things here, but think about your top values for this as well as how you care about being valued. (It’s about what you care about and how you want others and the world to care about and treat you.)
Write down your own answers for these four categories. Once you’re done, now it’s time to take a look at the “Sweet Spot.”
The Sweet Spot
The Sweet Spot is kind of like a math equation. (Though I kinda hate math.) This is just more creative.
1. The first goal is to come up with as many solutions as possible:
Passions + Gifts + Skills + Values = Sweet Spot
2. Then, when you have all the Sweet Spot answers you can come up with, see if any resonate with you. Do any stick out, pique your interest or strike your fancy?
Those are options to continue to explore.
That is a great place to get started with choosing a career that’s right for you.