Introduction:

Hello and a very warm welcome to Episode No 96 of the podcast.

Today, I’m talking about changing paths in mid-career.

This is a subject I know a lot about after changing things up in my mid-career and of course through helping lots of my clients to change their paths at a similar stage.

And - big announcement alert – this topic today, changing paths in mid-career, is the subject of the book I’m in the process of writing.

Yes, keep that to yourself, I don’t want too much pressure.

But, yes, I’m in the process of writing my book.

No date yet for when it will be published but I am looking for Beta readers. People, perhaps like you, who are interested in changing their career.

Ideally you will be in your mid-career, and you would be willing to read an early version of the book in exchange for giving me some honest feedback.

And, to help me improve the book further.

 I would hope that you would get a lot of value from being a Beta reader.

So, if that’s you, if you would like to be a beta reader, please do let me know. mark@bravocoaching.co.uk

 Anyway, let’s crack on with the show and my discussion of changing paths in mid-career.

Actually, the idea of a mid-career is a somewhat vague notion.

It’s where you find yourself in your career after a decade or two of working.

And, it’s often seen as a marker, a signpost along the road of a linear progression although I like to think of mid-career as less of a milestone marker and more of an opportunity to rethink and reimagine what might be next for you.

Many of us find ourselves at a crossroad in our mid-career, I did and maybe that’s where you find yourself now.

We begin to ponder whether our job and career are a good fit for us and what else we could do instead.

This all means we get stuck in our head a little bit. We think that maybe what we're doing isn't right for us but we're not sure what we should do next.

It all gets a bit confusing, to be honest.

Maybe you’re starting to wonder about the possibilities in your career - gazing in the direction of a more enjoyable work life.

Or maybe you are wondering whether any of this matters?

Well, of course your career does matter.                                                                                                                       Surely, the idea that we should endure our job rather than enjoy it is a thing of the past.

Enjoying work and having a satisfying career is vitally important at whatever age or stage you find yourself at.

There's no reason why your career satisfaction and enjoyment should suddenly flat-line in mid-career.

And, if it’s already flatlining, or worse declining, just know that that can change.

Here’s a phrase that struck a chord with me:

How can I make the rest of my life the best years of my life?

Now, to be clear, I’m not saying that making a change is a trivial undertaking, something to think about briefly and launch into.

To make a career change at any stage in your life can mean some element of challenge. It takes time to find out what you want next and of course, there are some steps to follow. But is it doable? Of course!

Also, it can mean having a reduction in income, depending on what you choose to do? Will this be permanent? It needn’t be!

 And it also means that you often need to zig in order to zag, there’s an element of repositioning that goes on to get where you need to be.

 Does this last forever? No, and it’s a natural part of making an important change.

 These challenges can be dealt with - step by step, and are a part of the path.

So, don’t worry about whether you’re too late to change. Especially if you’re not enjoying your job or career. Instead think about your years ahead and what you want them to be about.

How can you make the rest of your life the best years of your life?                                                                    

My story

I found myself stuck on my path in mid-career. Although I’m not sure I even thought I was on a path at that point. I had a good job, but it wasn’t a good job for me.

I spent years trying to figure out why I was unhappy at work.

 It’s actually one of the reasons I became a career coach.

By that stage I was a qualified coach and I had read every book I could find on how to have an enjoyable career.

 I realised, with alarm, this was it. There was going to be no second act. That my career matters. And so does yours.

 It matters, because what you do at work affects all parts of your life.

 It matters because we spend a long time at work, and yet, in mid-career, for the first time, we realise our time is finite.

In mid-career we begin understanding what matters to us in our life and denying ourselves these things leaves us feeling empty and a bit unfulfilled.

                                                                                                                                       Getting control of your career

You’re probably thinking that’s great Mark, but what can we do about it.

Well, when it comes to your career the good news is that you are in control. You get to decide what happens and nobody else gets to decide for you.

This has always been true for the micro-decisions you’ve taken in your career so far - whether to apply for a promotion, switching companies in the same industry, but it’s especially true for the bigger changes like changing career paths.

For now, just remember that your career is your responsibility.

Envisioning your Ideal career exercise:

So, to get you started …

I want to talk you through a simple exercise that will get you thinking about your current path and maybe what an alternative path might look like.

So, here we go … Feel free to use the pause button as we go through this exercise.

Firstly, take a moment to reflect on your current career situation. Consider your job role, responsibilities, work environment, and overall satisfaction level.

So, this is the current path you are on.

What do you enjoy most?

What aspects of you job do you find challenging or unfulfilling?

Are there any areas where you feel underutilised?

How does your current job align with your long-term career aspirations?

Now, let’s start to use a bit of imagination.

 As your mind wanders, as it does …

 Begin to imagine your ideal career scenario.

 Broad details are fine at this stage.

What does your ideal workday look like?

What tasks and activities are you engaged in?

What type of organisation or company do you work for?

 Is it a start-up, a non-profit, a large or small company, or something else?

 Are you working for yourself?

 Who is around you?

 What is the work culture like?

How does your ideal career align with what’s important to you?

Allow yourself to explore these possibilities.

Are there any recurring elements or themes that emerge?

Make a note of anything that has showed up for you.

Was there anything obvious that popped into your mind?

 Even as you think now, are there things on the edge of your consciousness that want to creep into your awareness?

What are those things.

As you begin to loosen your thinking, just let these be ideas that you might want to explore further.

You can’t think your way into a new career

But you can use thinking to get started …

 So,

 Ok, I hope that was helpful.

 By the way, since you were reflecting on your present role and then a future scenario …

you might be wondering whether you should stay in your current job and perhaps try and make it better, rather than changing your career path.

 I wondered this for years and I did try and make it better.

 Loss aversion is a powerful force that keeps us hanging on to what we’ve got rather than trying something new.

If you are interested in exploring whether staying in your current job is the right choice for you, why not read my Should I stay or should I go guide, which is free on my website. https://www.bravocoaching.co.uk/go

Next, I want to deal with some myths which surround a career change, particularly in mid-career.

Here are three prevalent myths and their positive alternatives:

Myth 1: It's too late to change careers

 We often think that changing careers in midlife or beyond is impractical or unrealistic. However, this is just not the case. A successful career transition can happen at any stage of your career. Embrace the notion that your stage or age should not limit you in any way.

Positive alternative to this Myth: Your career path is always open to new directions

 Myth 2: Changing careers means starting all over again

This myth puts a lot of people off. In reality, the skills, experiences, and expertise you've accumulated in your current career are transferable. Recognise your strengths and use them to move ahead and explore alternative career paths.

Positive alternative to this myth: your transferable skills can move you forward

Myth 3: I need to have everything figured out before making a change

Thinking you need to have all the answers before starting on your career change journey can be paralysing.

Instead, view the process as a journey of discovery.

Embrace uncertainty, explore various possibilities, and trust in your ability to navigate the path ahead.

It's okay not to have all the answers right away.

Trust in your ability to adapt and grow along the way.

Positive alternative to this myth: embrace the journey of discovery

Ok, so there are 3 myths put to the sword.

And here is a quick summary of what we have discussed so far.

Summary

Your mid-career matters:

It's crucial to enjoy your work and have a satisfying career, especially as you spend a lot of time working. Your mid-career is a great time to reassess whether you’re on the right path.

Your path isn't predetermined:

Your career journey isn't static or predetermined. It's open to new directions and possibilities, regardless of your age or stage in life.

Embrace the idea that change is natural and can lead to something even better.

Challenges are part of the journey:

Making a career change can be challenging, but it's possible with the right steps and mindset.

And finally,

Taking control of your career:

You are in control of your career, and it's your responsibility to make choices that align with what’s important to you.

 So, here are a few actions steps you can take to get started straight away.

Action Steps

1. Take some time to think about your job role, responsibilities, work environment, and overall satisfaction level.

Ask yourself what you enjoy most, what is good about the role, and how does your job align with your long-term goals.

2. Imagine your ideal workday, the type of organisation you want to work for, the people around you, and the work culture.

Reflect on how your ideal career may better align with what's important to you.

3. Pay attention to any recurring elements and themes that emerge from your reflections and explorations.

Make a note of these key insights.

 And finally,

5. Is there an action you can take right now to move you closer to a career that you'll love.

However small that may be, do it now. Get started!

Conclusion:

So, that wraps up today’s episode.

I hope you have enjoyed the content.

And, a reminder if you do want to be a Beta reader for my new book about changing paths in mid-career do let me know.

It would really help me to make the book even better.

Thank you for joining me, I’ve enjoyed your company.

See you next time.