It's all about passion
Dear e-COACH,
I am trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, even though I'm in my fifties. For the past thirty years I've been in a career that I don't want to continue. My most recent employer has closed down and I am now out of work. I have one more shot at working for about ten years and want to finally do something that I like. My question is how do you figure out what you might want to do if you're looking for a complete change? I want try something new, but how do I figure out what that something is on a zero budget?
Dear Out of Work,
I congratulate you on seeing this situation as an opportunity rather than lamenting your misfortune. I couldn't agree more that, after thirty years of doing a job you don't like, you deserve to find something that you take pleasure in. Finding that which excites you involves getting to know yourself better. Ultimately, you want to determine where your passion lies and how you can use your favourite skills to pursue it.
I suggest you start by thinking back through your entire life, including school, job, volunteer work and even work at home. Record at least five to ten situations in which you were feeling particularly proud, accomplished, happy or contented with what you were doing. Fully describe the experiences, breaking down your activities into verbs.
What skills were you using for each event? Were you writing, coaching, analyzing, planning, building, calculating or repairing? Be as specific as you can. Once done, you should see a pattern emerge that gives you a clue as to what skills you truly enjoy using. This is what you love to do.
Next, think about what topics ignite your passion. Ask yourself what topics you are drawn to and write down your answers. When you go to the bookstore, what section do you visit? What types of magazine and newspaper articles do you like to read? What topics do you enjoy discussing with friends? What kinds of companies and industries do you feel drawn to? None of this has to make sense right now, just write down what comes to mind. This second list, once examined, should give you some idea as to where you might like to use the skills that make you happiest.
Finally, ask yourself what you value most in life and what your goals are. Your next career must harmonize with your values and your goals or you will be unhappy. For example if you love betting and race tracks but value integrity, becoming a bookie will not be a fit.
Some larger overall questions to ask yourself are: "What was I meant to do?" and "If I knew I could not fail, what passion would I pursue?" You alone must answer these questions after you dig up and discard any deeply buried (real or imagined) obstacles that may exist in the form of expectations, conformities, obligations, assumptions and self-limiting beliefs. If you do this work thoroughly you should have ten to twenty pages of written or typed material to read.
Now read it and think, summarize and reflect. The answers are within you. Be open to new situations and people that may help you on this journey. It may take several steps and more time than you thought to get your answers. Be prepared to be excited, and, at times, scared and uncomfortable - pursuing passion is like that.
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