Career planning - I want to fly

I've met only one person in my life that when he was a kid and people asked him, "what do you want to do when you grow up?" he consistently answered, "I want to fly". Forty years later, he is a Colonel of the Air Force and Director of the Air Force Academy, where future combat pilots train. After all these years of a career flying those speedy air crafts, he succeeded on his career pathway, and I admire him. He is my big brother. He never doubted what he wanted. At 15 years old, he started hang-gliding and won some championships. Today, you can find him assembling miniature combat aeroplanes or watching videos regarding aerodynamics during his free time. He also drives his car as he is in the air and mimics the sounds of a jet.

There are very few lucky ones, like my brother, who are born with such clarity on what they want to do. But most of us are not sure what we want from life, so it is essential to take some time to self-discover and plan out things.

Thus, career planning gives you that clarity and, in some way, true meaning and purpose. It makes you aware of your strengths and weaknesses and the skills and knowledge required to achieve your career goals.

Independently of your age, gender, profession, or personality type, if you think, "I don't know what I want", "I hate what I am doing now", it is time to rethink your career and options. Sometimes we go with the flow, feeling unsettled because we find ourselves immersed in a chain of events thinking that we don't have a choice. In my case, some great (and not so great) managers have either encouraged me to move on and accept new challenges or, by their lack of leadership and support, forced me to make decisions that moved me in other directions. A couple of my career moves have happened because of sudden changes in my private life. These situations mean "it's time to think strategically" and find a different perspective.?

?"Not deciding anything or a further move is also a decision".

Reflecting on these career choices and the inner motives that drive people to choose a particular career pathway, I think career decisions could come from:

• what inspires you and what drives you to reach your goals if you set them,?
• self-awareness?
• personal values, cultural beliefs and individual situations
• maybe driven by love or fear.?

If you take the time to plan your career by exploring what you like and don't like, your skills, what you dream, what inspires and makes you shine naturally, the benefits could be not only in your career in the medium and long run but also in your personal life.

It takes time and needs a proactive approach because you will be out of your comfort zone, exploring and taking a risk, trying new things as many times until you make it.??

When we are fear-driven, our plans come from a different headspace because we are calculating the best scenario in the worst situation, this is not wrong, and I don't want to judge anyone for doing this. Just think about the inner voice comments like: "I am too old (too young) to do this", It's not easy to change industries", "there is no way to pay bills by doing XXX (e.i. Artcraft)", "I don't have money to go back to school", and the list goes on and on. We have the right to feel fear and choose to face it and embrace it.

My answer to my mentees and young people is: "if I could, you can too," and I humbly share a few personal examples. I decided to migrate to Australia with my family in my early 40s'. It was, though, but I planned my steps to keep working on my profession by creating a clear career plan and strategy, and I am still following it. Today, I love my job and helping others determine how to set up their career goals based on a holistic point of view of personal and professional development. And the second great big decision ever is to start my karate classes to keep me active just a year ago. I still feel I am too old for this, but who cares? I love it.?

There will constantly be challenging situations to overcome. It doesn't matter if you know what to do or not. But having a career plan provides valuable insights about yourself and your environment that helps to make informed decisions, discover yourself, and reduce uncertainty about all the unknowns in life.

My professional life is quite far from what I expected when I started my studies in the late 80s. The nice thing about it is that I'm thrilled and grateful for everything in my life, family, home, engaging and challenging job.

So, what's the conclusion of all this 'uncertainty' from a career planning perspective?

Don't take it too seriously!

Make plans, set goals, action them and enjoy the journey. Challenges will happen along the road that makes you adjust plans or even scrapes them entirely and take a new direction.

It doesn't matter as long as you enjoy life, work for an organisation you like...or maybe work just because you want to enjoy your private life.

In retrospect, my early plans didn't get as planned...but I'm grateful and happier today, maybe because of the capacity for adaptation and an open mind. We are not in control of the external things happening around us, but we control our thoughts, reactions and career decisions. We decide where to go, and we can reach our dreams by walking one day at a time—minute by minute persistently.?

Most important of all. Don't be afraid to start a plan; adjust it. Instead of waiting for things to happen to you, instead of worrying about the past or the future, instead of complaining, receive challenges and change as an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. Be flexible and adaptable every time things don't happen according to your plans and take control of your life.?