Are you at a four-way stop or a fork-in-the-road with your career? Here are some of the signs that indicate you may have reached a career crossroad:
- You are bored,
- You are no longer a top performer, and
- You stopped learning and growing.
If you are over 40 and like most people, you think about your career and its future, at least once and a while. You may be asking yourself, “What do I want to do for the next 25 or 30 years?” Maybe you long for additional success or more satisfaction from your work. Maybe you are looking to increase your income to help achieve other life goals.
If you actively managed the first 20 years of your career you no doubt have envisioned your next promotion or career move. You already have a map or GPS system to guide your next turn. Your four-way stop/crossroad will feel like a peaceful drive in the country on a Sunday afternoon. Congratulations! You will glide forward smoothly and create 20 more years of career success!
What was that? You say you took a different approach? Maybe you elected to abdicate managing your career to chance, your boss or the organization you work for — you are not alone. Maybe you are someone who actually “quit” your job yet continue to show up and collect a paycheck. Yes, there are quite a few who take this approach at the crossroad.
If you opted for this approach, I hope you are among the lucky few whose boss has been too busy to notice or hire your replacement. Either way, you can bet your days of producing just enough to meet minimum expectations while hoping no one notices are numbered.
Whatever your choice, don’t worry, you can still quickly create a map to help you move forward from this crossroad.
Here are the steps to help you quickly move forward:
1. Assess where you are and ask yourself, “Where do I want to be in one year? In three years?
2. Decide how much time you will invest each week in managing your career.
3. Create a one-year plan with weekly action items.
4. Execute your plan.
Before you know it you will have map or GPS system to guide you through your mid-career crossroad. The second half of your career and next 25 – 30 years is often the most fun, as well as the most profitable and satisfying.
Enjoy creating a sustainable, fun and profitable career. It is an amazing experience!
