A sailing ship without a clear direction will be blown into any safe harbour.
My career was a little like this, I'd get a phone call out of the blue - either from someone I'd worked with previously or been recommended by someone else, offering me a job.
It was flattering, and at the time the role would have had the necessary requirements - advanced job title and pay - and I'd be off to pastures new.
It wasn't until I'd made myself redundant in 2017 that I had the opportunity to think ahead - what was it I wanted to do?
The decision at the time felt so big - I suddenly had to make a decision about my career, and it felt overwhelming.
I felt like now I had to make a really 'good choice', thinking about all the things that I now wanted - my next move needed to 'solve' all of these things.
Navigating the uncertainty was tricky, I didn't have an obvious next step.
I was stuck, unable to make a choice just in case it was the wrong one, everything was put on hold.
It didn't just impact "Career" decisions, it was everything - maybe I should move from London? Should I still be looking at new houses? What about my holiday next Christmas...
Everything felt too big to make a decision on, I was in a decision limbo land and it was exhausting.
If thinking about the ultimate destination can feel too abstract right now, think instead of the direction you want to travel in.
We're not quite sure where exactly in South America we want to land, but for now, we know we want to head in that general direction.
Two questions to ask yourself:
Often it is easier to make a list of things that you don't want to - things relating to your current or recent situation which now are unpalatable. This could be related to location of role, management structure, style, values or industry etc.
Now you know what to avoid, we're heading in the opposite direction.
You might be brilliant at managing people, but would you rather be 'doing the thing'? Are you interested in technology and drawn to a particular aspect?
List out all of your experience and skills, when you look at this list - what are the things that you actually enjoy doing?
Put some boundaries around what you are looking for, you'll be better able to spot a really amazing opportunity that may have previously passed you by.
Give yourself some space, take the pressure off from trying to pinpoint exactly where you want to land. Start small, immediate term - try something out, and it isn't quite right, make another choice that helps you get closer to where you ultimately want to be.
