I often hear from people who are unclear about their career direction. Are you one of those people?
If you are, then you are not completely satisfied with your current job but you don't know what would be better. You don't know if you need a complete change or just a few small corrections. Even if you can envision a better job, you don't know how to get there or you don't believe you can. Because of your uncertainty, you are not fully committed to making an investment in a new career. You are hesitant to start when you can't fully imagine the results. This uncertainty can happen at any point in your working life.
I can really relate to this problem because I've experienced it myself. After I moved to Hong Kong, I spent several years groping and fumbling, trying to find a new career that would allow me to contribute and work at my best. Luckily I eventually discovered coaching, not only because it turned out to be such an ideal career for me, but also because through getting my own coach, I started moving much more quickly and directly towards what I really wanted.
After a four-year search, I reached a point when I was suddenly very clear about what I wanted to do with my career. And I was absolutely certain it was right for me. From then on, I was on a downhill track towards my current wonderful working life.
Being uncertain about your future direction makes it very difficult to make the investments of time and energy necessary to get you on the right track. You dabble and dither, or you just remain stuck. But once you are sure about what you want and where you are going, the decisions are easy, the investments make sense and the future draws you forward relentlessly.
So what did I do, and what would I recommend others do to get past that very difficult hump of uncertainty about what your career should be? Here are four keys:
1) Keep noticing and admitting your discomfort. This will motivate you to continue searching until you feel you are on the right track. Don't give up. Don't settle for less than a fulfilling career.
2) Realize that if you keep working towards a more fulfilling career, you will inevitably succeed. With sufficient persistence, you cannot fail.
3) Learn as much as you can about yourself, especially about your strengths, what you like and what you don't like. This is the only way to figure out the puzzle of what work is right for you.
4) Make sure you have at least one strong supporter who will understand your desire for more fulfillment and believes in you. Most people get stuck because of self-doubts, criticisms or fears coming from their own thinking and from those around them.
Which one of these tips is most important to you right now?