27 Mar What do you want to be when you grow up?
Did anyone ask you that when you were a child?
Some people have always known what they wanted to be. But I think they’re probably in the minority.
How would you know as a child what you want to be when you grow up?
There’s so much to learn, so many experiences to go through, so many changes to happen in our lives and in the world.
So when I hear a client who is at a career crossroads say with shrug “I’ve never really known what I want to do” it doesn’t really surprise me.
They usually see it as a negative.
Actually it’s a positive because now is the chance to think about it. It’s never too late.
It can take a while but usually what happens after they’ve thought about it for a while, and when they’ve opened their minds up and not ruled anything out – not matter how impossible it sounds – is they will say
“Well actually if I could do anything I would ….”
The answers are endless
be a musician
be a photographer
work in a bookshop
run a cafe
be an antiques dealer
get into property development
train to be a midwife …..
Sometimes a client will look at pursuing that very thing. But if that isn’t a possibility it gives them the opportunity to work out what it is about doing that thing that appeals to them.
It’s often not the job itself, but it’s what it gives you and how it makes you feel.
So, is the answer to the question about what you want to be when you grow up – a particular job, or is what that job stands for?
Is it about the difference you can make?
Is it about the lifestyle it would give you?
How else could you achieve that?
That little girl squinting into the sunlight didn’t know what she wanted to be when she grew up, she still doesn’t.
But I do know how I want to feel about what I do, how I want to spend my time and who with, that my values are important to me, and I want to help people. For me that means being my own boss.
So have a good think about what you’d really like to be when you grow up.
Don’t rule anything out.
What is it about that thing that inspires you?
How could you work towards including some of that in your life right now?
If you’re at a crossroads or want help thinking about what you would like to be when you grow up, then get in touch and we can talk about how Coaching can help move you forward.
You can book a free 45 minute introductory call with me here.