Life on the Meandering Career Path

Brenda Griffin  Get A Job Expert

The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. - John Morgan and Ewing Webb

     Are you letting yourself explore your career options while enjoying the journey?  Are you taking time in your busy week to let yourself capture a vision of your perfect work?  

     Many pressure themselves.  They believe they have to figure it all out up front when contemplating their career.  When things don't fall into place fast enough, they give up in frustration.  Most don't realize they have an option - to let things flow, evolve and take shape.

     It all comes down to giving you permission to see new options and opportunities as they appear, and having the guts to act.  So, where does the pressure come from?

     For some, the process of trial and error causes stress.  Take going back to school. Some enroll in programs only to find out it isn't what they thought it would be. Then, beat themselves up for not knowing things weren't a perfect fit.  Talk about pressure!

     This also happens with jobs that aren't a perfect fit.  Instead of seeing a job as a temporary learning opportunity, many see it as a life sentence. When things don't go as planned, they feel trapped thinking they're stuck, not realizing they can make a change.

     I watched a friend evolve and go with the flow, all the while living her life and enjoying her meandering path. Her perfect career took shape over a 15-year process. Taking classes and exploring her options lead her to her dream job.

     Her undergraduate degree was in English; she loved to write.  She was also passionate about the environment because of her love for nature and wildlife.  She continued her education, getting a masters degree in environmental communications. This would allow her to use her writing skills in the field she enjoyed. 

     It was during her graduate school years she realized her strongest passion - actually working with animals.  She was so passionate about animals that she applied for vet school.  To be accepted, she had to go back to school to include more science coursework! And that is exactly what she did.  Once she completed vet school, she went on to live out her dream job as a practicing veterinarian.

     The truth is, you may not know what you like until you try it.  It may take time, and some trial and error, to find what best suits you.  If you take that accounting class and find you really don't like to deal with details, now you know!  Or maybe you think you want to be a teacher but find that dealing with kids is harder than what you thought. Thinking about it is one thing and actually trying it is another. 

   One thing is certain, you all have the opportunity to change your minds, your direction and keep learning! And you can continue to live your life to the fullest along the way, no matter how many twist and turns your career takes along the way.