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Rewriting Your Professional Story: The Art and Science of Mid-Career Change
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Regardless of your age, where you are at in your career, and what your skills are, it is never too late to transform your career and add a bit of spice to your life. Transforming your working life is a journey filled with promise, excitement, and, likely, a bit of trepidation. Drastic change can feel overwhelming, especially after establishing a successful career over years. Having had success in your career makes this even harder, as you have solidified your identity with your current work.
You’re certainly not alone in your desire to change at this point in life. Countless mid-career professionals experience what you’re feeling; the mid-life itch to shift gears and try something new.
But you probably don’t know where to start or how to go about it. In fact, odds are that you aren’t even clear on what you want to be doing.
Why Mixing Up Your Career Matters
Before we dive in, let’s consider why it even matters. After all, you have a job, and it pays enough for you to be relatively comfortable. You may wish you had a bit more money, but you feel pretty good about your overall financial state. And it’s not like you hate your job or anything. Your colleagues respect you and you get along reasonably well with them.
So why go to all the trouble of changing it?
Because a comfortable life is the enemy of an amazing life.
Comfort is a trap that keeps you with one foot in the grave. When you get too comfortable with your work, you stop taking risks. You protect the status quo. Your work life stagnates as a result, and you lose the sense that you’re making a real difference. That is a dangerous place to be.
Comfort is the enemy.
We spend a significant portion of our lives working. This is how it should be; we are here in this life to be of service, to make things better. A career that aligns with our passions, skills, and values can lead to higher levels of happiness, well-being, and personal satisfaction. It’s not just about financial stability, but also about personal fulfilment and growth. A fulfilling career empowers you to make a significant impact and can lead to a sense of accomplishment and pride. It brings a sense of meaning to your life.
We need to contribute to be content.
Investing time and energy into ensuring your career brings meaning into your life is not a luxury, it’s a necessity for overall wellbeing. Your relationship with your work impacts all other areas of your life, as work is going to remain a significant force in your life. You shouldn’t look at work as simply a source of income. Instead, look at it as a source of meaning, something that allows you to bring yourself and your super-powers to the world powerfully.
Recognizing the Itch For Change
The first step is acknowledging that you desire change. This itch is not just about escaping a potentially unfulfilling job; it’s a deep yearning for growth, self-reinvention, and new challenges. To know it is time for change, learn to recognize some of these warning signs;
- feeling resentment towards having to put your time and energy into work instead of things you would rather do
- a sense that you’ve “checked out” of your work, that you simply don’t care anymore
- feeling your contributions don’t make any difference to anyone, like it won’t matter whether you ship great work
- a consistent sense of dread when thinking about your need to work
If you notice these signs, it is likely time to mix your work life up a bit. You may not know yet what your next career move will be, and that’s okay. The goal is to engage in an open dialogue with yourself about your professional aspirations.
Why Now? Understanding the Mid-Life Itch.
It’s common to question why this desire for change often comes later in our careers. Much of it stems from a natural human instinct for variety and personal growth. After years in a role, we may feel like we’re just going through the motions. Even in a job we once loved, routines can become monotonous, and challenges that once excited us may no longer hold our interest as we’ve “been there, done that”. We need novelty and new challenges.
This period in life also often coincides with a shift in personal values and priorities. Earlier in your career, you were likely focused on building up your skills and reputation. You may have been willing to dedicate more of your time and energy into work. As you enter mid-life, you may yearn for meaning. You can sense that your life is slipping by, and you want to ensure you leave your mark on the world. That being here matters. You’ve seen so much, and know you can contribute more, but you feel trapped by your current identity.
Recognizing these feelings as legitimate is a key part of the process.
Understanding and Facing Fear
Let’s address the elephant in the room: fear. Fear of uncertainty, fear of failure, and even fear of success. Fear can also stem from social pressures — the apprehension about what others will think if you step off the beaten path.
Then there’s the impostor syndrome, a feeling that you’re not qualified or ready for a new role, even when evidence suggests otherwise. These feelings are completely normal. In fact, they signify you are pushing against your comfort zone, which is an essential step towards meaningful growth.
It’s important to remember that fear and excitement are two sides of the same coin. Both are emotional responses to the unknown, driven by adrenaline and anticipation. The difference lies in our interpretation of these feelings. With a simple shift in perspective, we can transform our fear into a powerful drive for action.
There are practical strategies for tackling fear and uncertainty.
One effective approach is to break down your transition into manageable steps. Instead of focusing on the daunting overall task, break it into smaller goals and celebrate the achievement of each. Eat the elephant one bite at a time.
Visualization is another helpful tool. Picture yourself in your new role, enjoying the new challenges and successes. This positive imagery can be a source of motivation, helping to dispel fears and reinforce your confidence in your ability to succeed.
Imagining the worst-case scenario can also help. It is so easy to worry so much about trying something and failing, when most of the time, a failure won’t matter much at all. It will usually just give you some information, but you won’t get that insight unless you fail. Consider the worst-case and decide if you can live with it; it is rare that you can’t.
Remember that people are not paying as much attention to you as you think they are. They are busy dealing with their own crap, and likely won’t even notice if you mess up.
Embrace the fear, don’t deny it. Acknowledge it as a natural response to the unknown. It’s crucial to realize that fear isn’t a stop sign; it’s an indicator that you’re heading towards something new, something potentially enriching.
Reframing the Change
A helpful way to navigate the fear of career change is to reframe it. The lens through which you look matters. Instead of viewing it as a daunting leap into the unknown, think of it as an exploration or a journey. This journey is an opportunity to rediscover your passions, talents, and potential.
Remember, change isn’t about discarding your past; it’s about leveraging your hard-earned wisdom to build a future that resonates with who you are now.
You have one precious life. Don’t let it slip through your finger while you give most of it away to a job that will suck all of your energy from you if you let it. Take control of your career and, by extension, your life.
Not tomorrow. Now.
You owe yourself that much.
Quotation that I have been pondering
One of my biggest challenges has been learning to be kinder to myself. As a driven professional, I have high expectations of myself. I criticize myself for falling short of these high expectations. Or even worse, I live up to my expectation, and then beat myself up for not doing more.
I know I am not alone in this struggle. Which leads to this week’s quote, from author and speaker Louise Hay;
While this is certainly difficult to do, it is something that I am working on. It might be worth you trying as well.
Journal Prompt
Much of our life happens on auto-pilot. We go about our day-to-day life rather mindlessly, doing things out of habit and routine. We take the same route to work, interact with the same people, and do our tasks the same way. That is normal; we strive to be efficient and not waste brain cycles figuring out what to do next.
The danger is that this automaticity can lead to us spending all of our time on activities that aren’t important to us. What we put our time and attention on matters.
Which leads to something worth thinking about and capturing your thoughts on:
You owe it to yourself – and the world – to ensure you live your life up to your full potential.
