Episode 32: How do you choose a career that’s right for you?

TUNE IN AND SUBSCRIBE: APPLE PODCASTS I SPOTIFY I STITCHER

Did you spend your childhood envisioning yourself “making it?” Maybe you saw yourself driving a certain kind of car, or traveling to certain places, or eating lobster. Maybe you saw yourself in a business suit or getting awards and accolades.

Were you all set to be a success, only to realize you didn’t know how?

I pictured myself carrying a briefcase, dressing in glamorous gowns, and eating at the finest restaurants. So, I worked hard, got good grades, went to college, almost killed myself graduating with honors, only to find myself completely clueless about what to do from there.

A first-generation college student, I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t ask my college counselor if my undergrad in psychology would make money, let alone allow me to jet-set around the world. I was too embarrassed.

The first couple of years out of college, I assisted social workers in the mental health field. It was a low-paying, even dangerous job. And to make matters worse, those above me, the social workers, were broke.

I burned with disillusionment and anger. I got a full scholarship, worked my way through school with a baby, telling myself failure wasn’t an option.

How had I managed to graduate with honors, only to fail at life?

The student loans I’d taken out for books and living expenses were due. Day care bills ate up my paycheck. I was determined to find out what I’d missed in choosing my career.

The Oberlin College Guidance Office suggested What Color is Your Parachute. That book began my journey of career self-discovery, prompting me to ask questions like what kind of work did I want to do, who did I want to do it with, and what kind of money did I want to make.

I discovered key things, what I liked and what I didn’t, that helped me take my next right step.

What I liked:

1.       Autonomy. As a field social worker, I was given a caseload with a mission and the independence to accomplish it.

2.       Flexibility. I was able to make my own schedule to accomplish my tasks.

3.       Variety. No two days were alike.

What I didn’t like:

1.       Merit increases. Working for a government agency where people got the same raises, whether they knocked it out the park or just showed up, didn’t motivate me.

2.       I wanted to be able to know that if I worked harder, I could make more money.

A career assessment recommended three possible careers: a teacher, a diplomat, or a salesperson.

I shuddered, imagining myself as a teacher being abused by mean students. A diplomat seemed unattainable based on my background. So, I went into sales which hit on all the things I liked: autonomy, flexibility, variety, and pay for performance.

It was years into sales before I fully appreciated that it took a certain type of individual to be drawn to and successful at sales. It certainly hasn’t been easy. But it has been rewarding. I was able to buy my first house at twenty-seven years old. The first in my family to own a home.

I worked through What Color is Your Parachute twenty-five years ago. Today I’m a sales coach who helps other salespeople succeed.

Over the years, I’ve tapped into many resources to better understand myself and to define what success looks like for me.

For bonus content, subscribe on YouTube!

I’ll share more tools in subsequent episodes.

To help you continue to break cycles, download your gift from me, Journal Prompts for Cycle Breakers. Let’s do this cycle breakers!

If you can relate, send me a message, or leave a comment below!