Aligning Myself to My Career

A couple years ago I faced a fork in the road - 1/ Stay on the current career course and build upon the successes I had or 2/ Pivot and start down a new career journey focused on my passions. I'd be lying if I wrote that this was an easy decision.

Career changes are never easy - especially when you have considerable obligations. I wrestled with this decision for quite some time. I weighed pros and cons, but that didn't really help. I'd think of whatif-isms, especially around what if I failed, and that was discouraging. I talked with friends, mentors, and family - and each had a pro or con.

Ultimately, what helped me come to a decision were these 3 actions:

1. I gave myself permission to explore
2. I challenged my self-doubts and sought to understand my fear
3. I did a cheesy exercise and asked myself, on my death bed, what have I regretted?

These three actions helped push me out of my comfort zone, which ultimately helped me identify a major internal, unconscious barrier that was the source of a lot of my fear: I was afraid of disappointing a lot of people. I knew the career I wanted to pursue, but I didn't want to let people who depended on me down if I chose to do something different.

My fear of disappointing others really navigated a lot of my decision making. I was afraid I was coming off as disobedient or selfish. So this really impacted how I viewed myself and also in making decisions. As I thought of changing my career, I was really afraid of disappointing my co-workers who had become good friends. I was afraid of disappointing my manager, directors and senior leaders whom I looked up too and respected. I was afraid of disappointing my mentors. I was afraid of failing in front of my family.

Most importantly, I was afraid that these people I trusted and admired would judge me differently because I was going to try something else.

Without identifying this fear, I don't think I would have changed my career path. But by identifying it, and addressing it, I was able to take action and address it both internally, and as well as with them, who actually were my biggest supporters.

Today, I can say I'm working in a space I'm passionate about. I can say I help make the world a better place because the products I support enable companies to do amazing things.

I hope my journey provides you with some hope as you face your crossroad. I may not know your situation, but I'm cheering for you and hope that you give yourself permission to explore your thoughts and emotions as you go through this period.