How Can I Find Career Freedom, Fulfillment and Financial Success?

You may have already found at least one of these career benefits based on conversations with my coaching clients. The question is, do you recognize it when you have it, and is it enough?

Let's start with a reality check. A golden ticket to career freedom, fulfillment and financial success is not awarded when we are born or when we graduate from high school or college. Nor are these three career benefits guaranteed when you join your family business, get your first job, or invest your life savings in a pizza shop. Career freedom, fulfillment and financial success are not written in a plan you can follow. They are career gifts that you earn throughout a thoughtful and progressive Kickass Career.

Coaching client: "Oh no, you mean I have to pay attention and work for it?"

Me: "Unless you are David Copperfield or Criss Angel, uh yeah, but it's worth it!"

This is where the paying attention comes in

Many jobs can be fulfilling, but do they have the potential of being a fulfilling career? I've had financial success and still hated my job and was miserable. I've experienced fulfillment working a second job as a cocktail waitress but even at the age of 21 did not delude myself into imagining it would lead to financial success. I certainly never planned to include cocktail waitress in my CV, but it was the right job at the right time for me. And because every job counts, what seemed at the young age of 21 like a throw-away job for the extra money, I was actually learning that:

• speaking kindly to rude people works better than being a smartass
• I had strength I didn't know I had after standing up to a sexist manager
• jobs that require 'punching in' are just as important as a salaried job
• working with the public is one of life's best teachers
• a second job 6-12pm, after I my 8-5 office job, was to be respected not pitied because I needed the money
• doing what you need to do to get where you need to go pretty much makes you a ROCK STAR

Every job has value even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. Choosing a job that would not be your first choice so you can earn more for your family, happens. What makes it a Kickass Career move is you know it's temporary. You don't let the less-than-perfect fit get in your head. You are doing what you need to do to get where you need to go, eventually. This is just one type of Kickass Career move that contributes to who you are and who you can become. I have great respect for those who put their career dreams on temporary hold for the greater good. Owning your decision and knowing that every job counts can be - wait for it - fulfilling.

Try this

1. Describe what career freedom, fulfillment, and financial success look like to you. Not your family or friends version, just yours.
2. When have you felt you were in the right work at the right time? What did that look like? How did you feel?
3. Rate your current job satisfaction from zero to ten, with zero being "hate it" and ten being "love it". If you scored low on job satisfaction continue on to steps four and five.
4. Ask someone close to you if they feel your current job is a good fit for you and why or why not.
5. If you are dissatisfied in your current role, list what is and is not in your control to change, like possibly your salary, advancement opportunities, boss, coworkers, deadlines, culture, etc.

Choosing the right work at the right time

No one starts their first day of work being dissatisfied, but over time what seemed like a good career move can break down due to poor leadership, inadequate training, lack of feedback, no opportunity for advancement, or just a bad fit overall.

If you are dissatisfied today and do nothing, you will likely hate your job by next year and go in search of a better fit. Your employer will then replace you with someone who might do nothing more than try harder, for a little longer, to overcome what are often typical obstacles in the world of work. Sometimes a successful career move can require a new level of tolerance and patience.

Big surprise coming

Your career path is a lifetime adventure. It may not always look like you think it should, but how does it feel? Trust your experience, skill level, knowledge and intuition, and embrace the lessons you learn along the way. Your real job is to let your career develop over time. Here's the surprise - you're human. Your relationship with your career is not that different than a marriage or friendship. Everyone changes over time. But staying who you were 20 years ago when you got married, or started a job, with no effort since then to learn, improve, or mature emotionally or mentally, will only lead to dissatisfaction and unhappiness today.

Tough Love

Given that you spend one-third or more of your life working, a daily dose of job dissatisfaction will take you down. It's the evil master that causes you to use all your sick days, self-medicate, get divorced, and suffer burnout and depression. If you still have the courage left to find a new opportunity, you are more likely to burst into tears at your interview than ace it. Don't do that.

This newsletter is your tough love career coach to help keep you from letting job dissatisfaction spiral into career dissatisfaction. That would suck. But even worse, it will also suck the life out of you, your friends and your family. Just ask them.

The good news, finding your career freedom, fulfillment and financial success is a journey that is often filled with unexpected luck, opportunities you never dreamed of, and people who will be with you the rest of your life. Is it worth it to be alert and pay attention along the way? Hell yes! Do you keep your eyes open while driving? This is kind of the same, but definitely lasts longer than your car.

It's your time, what are you waiting for?

If you have specific questions to keep your career on track, or how to identify your track, let me know in the Comments and I'll do my best to provide answers and solutions in future Newsletters.

You know where to find or DM me if you need 1:1 career perspective, accountability or support. Sometimes an unbiased trained third party can be a valuable voice for you, your team, or your struggling GenZ young adult.

What's next? Schedule a 30 minute complimentary session, email me at [email protected] . If you like what you read, please SHARE with your followers. Can't hurt to read Ditch Your Career Plan , visit my website BarbaraFulmer.com , and SUBSCRIBE to this newsletter so you don't miss an opportunity to build or keep your KickAss Career on track.

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