For all the most important things, the timing always sucks...

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

In my early career, I always knew exactly where I wanted to be in 5 years. I had a definitive answer and a clear path which drew a line of sight to my target. My every forward move calculated only to my end-game goals. I believed that was how successful people reached the highest heights. Today I realize that way of thinking came astonishingly close to boxing me in, inhibiting my career satisfaction and limiting my success.

9 years ago I stepped off course when an incredible opportunity presented itself. It was a largely undefined role, in a division which was viewed as an experiment. We had a purpose, a vision and a problem to solve, but no clear path to get there. The role would be mine to mold and success would be what I made of it. It could succeed or it could fail, the future was entirely uncertain.

9 years ago I stepped off course.

In the days before I accepted the offer, I was frozen. The role had never existed before. It had no clear career path! No trajectory to recognizable titles! This was not on my plan! What if I was throwing myself off track for what I had defined as "success" and I could never find my way back? Was I about to zig, when I should zag? 

My fears were compounded when a trusted colleague and friend sat me down and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this? Ask yourself where will you be in 5 years?"

 Was I about to zig, when I should zag?

My gut told me to take the risk. My heart was all in on a new adventure. I loved the purpose and I loved the people. I set fire to my 5 year plan and leaped off the path, with no idea where I would end up. It was greatest decision I ever made. I learned more about myself in the first year of that role than ever before.

I was right about one thing, taking that leap, lead me totally astray. I'm not where I thought I would be or doing the things I thought I would do. Instead, I am exactly where I should be, doing the things I really love to do. My career has become an adventure rather than a series of milestones.

I am exactly where I should be, doing the things I really love to do.

I became purpose driven rather than goal focused. In my work, I have found my North Star. Serving my purpose has become far more important to me than a planned path, title or checkpoint milestones. Now when I consider a new opportunity I focus on the types of problems I want to solve and the type of people I want to work with.

This shift in thinking is critical, as your role can be ever evolving even though your purpose stays the same. And working with passionate, dedicated people never grows old.

I became purpose driven rather than goal focused.

I've also come to terms with the fact that opportunities sneak up when you least expect. That could mean having to make some really difficulty decisions in order to pursue something new. If it aligns with your purpose and it excites you, you have to think seriously about taking the leap. You could end up exactly where you never thought you would be, loving every second of it.

With that, I'll leave you with the words of Tim Ferriss:

"For all the most important things, the timing always sucks... the universe doesn't conspire against you, but it doesn't go out of its way to line up the pins either... "Someday", is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you"

“The opinions expressed herein are my own and not necessarily those of Swiss Re.”