Let me guess, you'd love to do something different with your work, whether it's a side-step or a total change... but you are stopped by these types of thoughts:
"It's too late to change your career".
"You're on this path and You need to stick with it".
"You have no other *real* choiceS".
But is that true? Really?
If there's one thing I know for sure, it's that we all make up stories and treat them as facts. Some stories are helpful and others keep us stuck doing the same old thing, no matter how much we want a different experience.
It's time for that to change.
One story that I hear over and over is that someone can't go after the career or business that they really want because it's too late. They've invested so much in what they've done so far and don't want to have 'wasted' their working lives.
I definitely believed this story.
I had devoted SO much time, energy and study into being a researcher. I genuinely thought it would be impossible to have another career.
Even though I was exhausted and disillusioned and my body was making it's opinions known (a month in bed, terrible health problems - more of that story here). I was clinging to the idea that it was too late. That I had no other real options.
It took me months of crashing and burning to come around to the idea that I actually had choice. That I could mix things up in my career. That most of what was standing in my way was fear.
So, is it true that it's too late to change your career?
Well, let's look at three facts.
Times have changed.
We will be working until we are 70 years old. Put that way, you still have the majority of your working life AHEAD of you. Ten, 15 or even 20 years of work under your belt is still less time than you have left to work. So it might actually be the perfect time to change careers or start up a side business!
There's no rush.
Often people worry about the financial implications of changing careers and to that I say, there is no rush. You can study one unit a semester, not full-time. You can start a teeny tiny business on the side. You can volunteer at different places and try them out. You can have coffee with a handful of people in the industry you love over the next two years. Let things percolate. Let the vision of your life have time to take shape.
No knowledge or experience is wasted.
It's common for clients to worry that all their experiences and knowledge will be down the tube if they change careers. This just isn't true. Think about it. Did you bring anything at all from your last job into this job? From your first business into this business? There are things that I bring from my first jobs when I was 13/14 years old into what I do now. No knowledge or experience is wasted. It all makes you better, more thoughtful and informed.
So... if you will let yourself play around with the idea of changing careers. Let's have some fun!
Ask yourself, if I could only do what I loved and what felt good to me, what job would I do? It might surprise you.
Let yourself daydream. What would your ideal job be? What do you love doing? What are you good at? What can you learn to do?
Follow joy and let yourself daydream. Explore options. Dip your toe in. Take the pressure off.
In doing this – following joy and dipping her toe in – one of my clients discovered a creative business opportunity that suits her perfectly, brings her huge joy and can be built while she works in her usual 9-5pm. Who knows what she will end up doing (she has so many wonderful options!) but right now she is following what feels great and it is making her shine.
Lastly, what would you do if you weren't afraid?
This question cuts through a lot of crap. What would you do? Then, what are you afraid of? Are you going to let fear run your life?
As I always say, find the next small step and take it. Just a tiny one, then another and see where you end up!
You can absolutely do this!
Helping you find and go for a bigger or more fulfilling career is my jam. I've got an awesome deal now for you to jump on! Click here to find out more and book in today.
xx Lara
Hi, I'm Dr Lara Corr, life coach and researcher in work and wellbeing. I coach successful 30 and 40 somethings who want more fulfilling or bigger careers but doubt themselves and their options. I help them get out of their own way, find direction and go for what they really want.