You know, nothing lasts forever, right? It’s a phrase I often use to reassure my career change clients or fresh-faced individuals just starting out. As a careers’ practitioner at a university, I’ve seen firsthand how people stress over finding the perfect career path or having a master plan. But let me tell you, it doesn’t always work that way.
I know the agony of trying to make the right career decision. I was miserable in my old professional services marketing career for a long time and would take a multitude of quizzes, read blog posts like this one and wait for my big career change idea to hit me.
The truth is, my career change idea didn’t strike me like a lightning bolt. It evolved gradually over time. But I do remember one magical evening when everything seemed to align. I furiously scribbled down my vision for my business, feeling a surge of excitement. I couldn’t contain myself and immediately emailed my coach, Naomi Arnold, to share the news.
But what happened after that big idea?
Well, to be honest, not much at first. I enrolled in a coaching course, told a few people about my plans, and started coaching for free. But I was still grinding away in professional services during that time. It wasn’t until later that I mustered the courage to quit and devote more time to my business. Of course, I was also juggling the never-ending job of taking care of my kids (which, let’s be real, is a full-time gig on its own).
From then on, I thought my business would just grow.
Here’s the thing, starting a business was tough. I was a one-woman show, wearing all the hats and desperately trying to find clients. Surprisingly, I found myself spending more time on marketing—ironic, right?—than on actual career coaching. But hey, life has a funny way of throwing opportunities at you. One day, a casual gig opened up in the careers service at a university. I thought, why not give it a shot? After all, nothing is forever, right? I figured it would bring in some money, help me gain experience, and align with my business goals (even if it slowed things down a bit).
Fast forward four years, and guess what? I’m now a permanent staff member at the university, taking on a secondment, and diving into the exciting world of developing entrepreneurial learning content. It’s a bit different from my one-on-one career advice days, and I’ve put my coaching services on hold for now. Oh, and did I mention I’m writing a book too? Throughout these changes, my vision remains the same—to help people, especially women, find meaning in their work lives.
So, did my career change fail? Nope, not at all. It simply evolved in ways I couldn’t have predicted. And you know what? I’m totally cool with that. I’ve learned that you don’t always need a grand master plan. What matters most is taking those next possible steps and being open to where they might lead you.
So, here’s the bottom line: just get started, my friend. Embrace the twists and turns, even the tough parts. Because let me tell you, I’m loving this journey, and I’m sure it’ll continue surprising me along the way.