With so much uncertainty in the world, many of my clients are questioning what they are doing. They wonder if they are in the right career, and they think about making a career change. A person is likely to make a change between 3 and 7 times during his or her career. Amazingly, 30% of the workforce will change careers or jobs every 12 months. Are you following your internal compass? Or are you just changing jobs without taking full advantage of what your strengths are and what you have to offer?
We have all had a vast number of stories in our past that will guide us to find clues that will help us succeed in our careers. By examining our life stories, we will find valuable information about our desires, strengths, personal qualities, and potentials. The problem is that many of us do not take time to reflect on what we have done, in searching for clues that will point us in the right direction. Your own history is an extremely valuable resource in getting the most use out of your internal compass.
By examining your stories, you will find clues from your experiences — your school graduations, good and bad experiences at work, something you are proud of, and so forth. These stories will shed light to help direct your internal compass. Your path will be more clearly defined, and you will have a better idea about the direction you need to follow. It is important to honor and examine what you have already done. We often dismiss our past and only focus on the future, ignoring our past skills and accomplishments that can guide us to a new and successful career.
I suggest that you start by assessing your own life stories to see what they tell you. Review the various career opportunities that you have had to see what has stood out and what has given you the blues. Ask a friend or colleague to give you an assessment of who you are, what they see in you and where they see you in potential career opportunities.
Self-reflection is the key to unlocking your compass of life. Take some time to review where you’ve been and what you’ve learned from past experiences; then evaluate what you can bring forward from those experiences. See if you can find patterns developing from the different strengths, interests and desires that will lead you to explore new possibilities. Once you have your possibilities narrowed down, the next step is to explore those opportunities to see where they guide you.
It starts with reflecting on your past stories and experiences; it ends with discovering how to use your internal compass to lead to your eventual career success.