How I Found the Courage to Pursue the Career I Really Wanted
These are the four steps that helped me redefine my career goals and become a social entrepreneur.
According to my 10-year plan, I would become a Management Consultant after my studies, work for two years, pursue an MBA, return to consulting for two more years, and then join one of the corporate clients to climb the career ladder further there.
For too long I was setting new goals on the given path, but never questioned the path I was on.
One Meeting Changed My Life
After graduating with a major in Economics, I actually made an internship at one of the Big 4 and started my Consulting Career as planned. Everything went according to my plan.
Countless extra hours, a few spreadsheets, and many PowerPoint Presentations later I sensed Consulting may not be what I was hoping for.
One day I had a meeting with a — what I perceived back then a “highly successful” — manager. After her studies she was in Management Consulting, then did her PhD and later joined a big corporation as a high-ranking employee — very similar to my career plan.
She started the meeting with a deep breath, then took a sip from her cold coffee and said: “Nice to meet you. Could you remind me please, why are you here? What can I do for you?”
At first, I felt really bad, almost mad. For a second I thought about leaving but the rest of the meeting went well and in the end, I got what I wanted.
If someone else is managing your schedule — you are not in the driving seat of your life any more.
On my way out I overhead the personal assistant briefing the manager for the next meeting. It was 18:00 and getting dark already outside.
She seemed to have meeting after meeting all day. Probably it was like this every week. Maybe even every day.
Seeing that she gets briefed minutes before a meeting I understood why she was not prepared and at first, did not know why we had the meeting.
I felt that this is not what I want to become — but at the same time had no idea what I wanted to become instead.
Making New Plans
After some time wondering how to make a living by helping others, I started to talk to other people about my plan. The advice that helped me the most:
Listen more to what your inner voice says and less to what society tells us.
Step 1: Take Time to Reflect
Think about your past weeks and months.
Think about Fridays — do you feel a sense of accomplishment?
Think about Sundays — are you looking forward to the week?
Think about your tasks — do you enjoy the majority of them?
Think about your colleagues and your boss. Are you working for them or with them?
Think about the company’s purpose. Do you support this purpose? Does the company even have a purpose? Does the company act according to that purpose?
Think about your personal goals.
Are you doing things that support reaching your personal goals or are you just getting a paycheck every month to pay rent?
Step 2: Embrace Radical Candor
Ask yourself: “Do I like my job? Is this really what I want to do?”
Be honest with yourself. Don’t bullshit yourself with the answers you’d give in public. Ask yourself what you’d do if no one would judge you.
Don’t fool yourself.
Exercise:
Here is a powerful exercise that only takes around 15 minutes:
- First, write down all the things you love to do — things that you draw energy from and things that you are really good at (those are probably the ones you genuinely enjoy) — in one column.
- Then, write down all the things you are doing on a daily basis (at work) in another column.
- Now compare the two columns.
This exercise will help you to see if you are spending time on things that are important for you or if you spend time on things that are important for others.
Step 3: Think Long Term
We very often overestimate what we can do in a short period of time (<1 year) but we always underestimate what we can accomplish in the long run (3+ years)... so dream big!
Dream big, but break it down into milestones.
Make a plan and start small.
Step by step.
Everything is possible.
Always remember: It is a marathon, not a sprint.
Exercise:
If you struggle thinking long-term, you can do the following powerful exercise.
When people die, the funeral speech very often is the last big tribute to that person. Usually, there is not much time and only the most important things are said about the deceased. Often it is hard for friends and family to know what was most important for the person who passed away.
Now imagine you are at your own funeral. All your friends, loved ones and family are present. What are the last things they should hear about you? What are the things you want to be remembered for?
Write your own eulogy.
This exercise will help you to realize what really matters to you in the long run. It can serve you as a compass in life and help you to make decisions when you are facing crossroads.
Step 4: Start Today
The things you are thinking about at this stage are deep.
They are fundamental and can be very tough to solve.
Talk to your partner or best friend about it. Search online or read a book.
Talk to others who seem to have found their path and ask how they did it.
You don’t need to solve this on your own. Ask for help. You will be surprised by how willing people are to help.
Listen to your inner voice and follow your passion! Stop comparing with others. Give yourself time. Don’t stress yourself. Start the process today and make one little step towards your goal. You can do it!
Final Thoughts
I found my way to combine my passion for Business and Entrepreneurship with the desire to help people in Social Entrepreneurship.
No matter where you are on your journey, I hope this article will help you to take the next step towards the career you crave deep inside.
Don’t be afraid of losing people.
Be afraid of losing yourself by trying to please others.
Good luck!
Further questions? Ask Me Anything here.
