Sliding Door Moments: Reimagining Career Decisions and Future Possibilities

Have you ever wondered how different your career might have been if you had taken a different path at key moments?

Let's explore these "sliding door" moments of your career.

I'm going to walk you through an activity (part of the career change framework I use in my coaching) to identify pivotal turning points in your career and then use these moments to explore the alternative routes that were available to you.

This is a really powerful exercise to kick start your career change thinking.

Whether you're contemplating a career reinvention or just curious about the road not taken and what might have been, this exercise will extract valuable insights and inspiration.

As I always say, you hold all the answers within. As a coach, I am here to help you find those answers!

How to prepare...

To get the most out of this activity, bring:

Your experiences

An open mind

A pen and paper

We're going to journey through the fascinating world of career choices and the paths not taken, delving into your past.

Why We Settle for Uninspiring Work

One reason we accept uninspiring work is that human beings are extremely adaptable.

We can live in climates ranging from below zero to sweltering desert heat.

Because of this survival instinct, we can hold down an uninspiring job for a very long time, for me it was 6 years!

However, just because we can do this, doesn’t mean that we "should".

Many of you, I know, are stuck in a career rut.

According to John Lees, one of the top Career Strategists in the UK and Europe, and the designer of many of the exercises I use in my Career Change Framework (and this exercise), the worst kind of rut is the velvet-rut.

You hate being in it, but it’s just too comfortable to climb out of.

Ruts persist because of stuck thinking.

You know something needs to change, but you're unsure what. What you need instead is breakthrough thinking. A great idea to propel you forward requires thinking and behaving differently.

The Power of Reinvention

I believe in the power of reinvention.

In our rapidly changing world, many of us must will do this more than once in our careers.

I have - in my 20s and in my 40s I facilitated my own career shifts. Reshaping your career means staying open to possibilities, remaining curious, and trying new ideas.

Cultivate tentative plans for exploration instead of discarding them.

For example, if you wonder about a career in nursing, don't immediately ask, "Do I want to be a nurse?" This early decision crushes creativity. Consider other related roles like pathology, paramedic, nutritionist, or counsellor.

Explore what it is about these roles that is appealing?

Is it helping people? Is it curing the body of ailment? Is it working with mindset and beliefs?

Reflecting on Career Decisions

If you're considering reinvention, it's important to reflect on how you've made career decisions so far. Think about the paths you've taken, and the ones you haven't.

Activity: Exploring your 'Sliding Doors' moments

Consider important turning points in your life:

Moments when you had to choose a path.

Record these key turning points in a methodical way:

• Decisions around subjects you took in the final years at school.
• The course or university you chose.
• The first job offer you accepted.
• Opportunities you did/didn't take (study exchange/travel).
• Accepting a promotion.
• Deciding to work for the family business.

Here's an example of my Career Sliding Door Moments:

Choose one turning point, from those you have recalled above, to explore further now:

• Write it in a box in the middle of a piece of paper.
• Draw out your paths not taken for that particular moment in a mind map style.

Here's an example of what mine looked like:

These are the alternative choices that were on offer at the time, things you nearly did, or could’ve done.

Questions to Consider

• What choices were available to you at past turning points?
• How did you choose each path?
• What difference would a different path have made to you?
• How have you made career decisions since?

Approach this as if all doors are open to you. Imagine you're guiding a friend through a career reinvention. You wouldn't constantly tell them, "NO, that's not right for you" but sadly, this is what we do to ourselves.

For a friend, you'd explore variations and new opportunities. Generate ideas for roles and sectors worth looking in to. Look for areas that spark your curiosity and enthusiasm—they're clues to your future.

Moving from 'What If' to 'How Could I Make This Work'

There comes a point when it’s healthy to move on from 'what if' to 'how do I make this happen'.

Think in terms of testing and experimenting with low-risk methods to get things moving. This approach is a key part of design thinking—testing and experimenting to easily gain confirmation. In my previous Digital Product Strategy career, I mastered this art by finding ways to test all possible solutions before building them. It's a great way to gain greater clarity and certainty about your chosen way forward.

Possible ways to do this:

• You can also extend yourself by studying in a field of interest in your own time.
• Engaging in voluntary activities outside of work can help you experiment with your career aspirations.
• Short-term or temporary employment can serve as a useful testing ground for your career plans.

Sometimes the best prompt for everyday experimentation is, "don’t think, just leap." Take advantage of this opportunity today by reflecting on your career turning points.

Today you will have discovered new avenues for future growth and possible reinvention.

Don't waste this breakthrough thinking!

If you want more of this—more breakthroughs —consider my Career Coaching Catalyst Programme.

You can reach out below to learn more.

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