We have had a lot of time over the past two years to re-evaluate our lives. More than a few of us have had an epiphany that we are not on the right path. If you share that outlook, here are some ways to redefine your future.
Decide What You Don’t Want
Identifying a particular objective may be difficult when there are simply too many choices. Cut through the jungle of uncertainty by flipping the game on its head – thin out the herd of options by eliminating what you know will not make you happy.
We all know people (including ourselves, perhaps) who do not intend to ever again work at a company that does not offer the alternative of working from home. Others have discovered that micromanagement is their kryptonite and will automatically reject an overbearing workplace.
These decisions will steer you away from what you already know at the back of your mind you will not enjoy, simplifying the final decision.
Redefine Yourself and Your Purpose
Not knowing where you want to go can be a symptom of staying on the same road for too long. After you have made it past all the milestones to which you aspired at the start of your career, the path ahead can seem devoid of purpose. An effective course correction comes through redefinition.
Visualize the new future you through a set of renewed objectives and milestones, perhaps even a new you. This redefinition resets your brain and forges new pathways that illuminate your true purpose.
Consider Mentoring
Depending on experience or personal preference, some decide that they will step away from hands-on work and opt for advisory or instructive roles instead. Mentoring is the perfect way to take your foot off the gas pedal but in a good way.
It is an opportunity to remove yourself from the noise and grime of the rat race, not by withdrawing from it altogether but by giving yourself the wings of oversight. Mentoring elevates your status within the industry, expands your network to include a diverse group of up-and-comers, and proffers lessons not possible with a regular role.
I have seen executives who have had middling corporate careers grow into mentors respected across the industry, and go on to play instrumental roles in creating the leaders of tomorrow.
Embrace Guidance Yourself
A business coach or life coach can transform your life. They are, in a sense, a supercharged mentor. They provide an illuminating external perspective and are particularly adept at
identifying – and addressing – the speed bumps in our careers. A good coach will help you apply the strategies discussed above and more.
You may not have a clear picture of your preferred direction, but somewhere in your mind a clearer picture does exist. One of the reasons that hiring a professional coach works so well is the same reason psychiatrists do; they act as an impartial sounding board for those inner workings of your mind.
A personal coach will coax it out and give you a higher-resolution vision of your future beyond the current fog. If you need help to determine your new path, please reach out today.
