So today, I want to talk about the choices we make when it comes to our career. Specifically, how to get (or maybe STAY) clear on what we want. 

There are a few reasons I wanted to discuss this today.

First, in my experience as a coach and as a leader of people in my career, most of us spend a good amount of our career “not knowing” what we really want. Sometimes it’s because we’re not in touch with what we’re good at. Sometimes it’s because we’ve never taken the time to really get clear on the type of work that makes us happy or fulfilled. And even if you think you know what that is when you start out, as we move through our career, for most of us, our interests, wants and needs will change at different life stages. So, it’s good to do a reflection like this from time to time to make sure that what you’re currently doing for a living is consistent with what you WANT at this point in your life.

Second, it’s graduation season and for those with newly minted bachelor’s or graduate degrees, it’s important to get clear on what lights you up BEFORE you dive into a job search. Or if you’ve already accepted a job, this type of reflection can help ensure you get the most from it or get clear on what you DO want before you think about spinning up the search for a new job.

Third and last, despite the overheated economy, it’s impossible to deny that this is also a time when people are being laid off. In the U.S., the rapidly rising interest rates have led many VC-backed start-ups to rethink their staffing plans and that has spurred many layoffs in the tech sector. And while the job market is still hot and those folks will likely land new opportunities quickly, this is a good time to do some reflection to get clear on what you really want from your career going forward BEFORE you accept another position.

This kind of Career Discovery Reflection can serve you at any stage of your life. It’s a great exercise to go through annually. Because even if you like your current company or job, this type of reflection can help you stay in touch with how you’d like your current position or responsibilities to evolve or grow or maybe even how some investment in outside courses or study can add to your skills in a meaningful way to prepare you for next level growth.

I’m going to approach this as an exercise, so be sure to have a pen and paper handy. Or you might want to open a Google doc so you can take note of the questions as we go through. I think this is going to be super helpful, so let’s dive in.

Before we get into the questions, I want to talk first about the choices we make when it comes to our career. Because I’ve found that too many of us take a passive approach, meaning we sort of let life and opportunity (or the jobs we’re offered) dictate where our career goes. Versus, intentionally choosing. 

But the truth is, according to statistics, you’re going to spend about 92,000 hours working (based on a 40-hour work week, with 4-5 weeks of vacation or holidays a year and a career that spans almost 50 years – from 18-67). 

For context, that equals 21% of your total waking hours over a 76-year lifespan. Or 35% of your total waking hours over a nearly 50-year working life.

Ever thought of it that way? 

When you see those statistics, it’s clear that career choice is among the most important decisions that people make. So, you want to make choices that are right for YOU. That are about what YOU want. Not what your partner wants, or your parents wa

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