According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person holds 12.4 jobs between the ages of 18 and 54. Those jobs often span 5-7 different careers.
I often hear when someone wants to make a career change that the main thing holding them back is the idea of “starting over”.
I think we need to shift our perspective on this.
You aren’t starting over.
You may have new things to learn, but you will bring with you all the experience and insights from the jobs and careers of your past.
What if we shifted our mindset and thought about our careers as a stairwell?
Each flight gives you training, experience, and new perspectives that you then take with you on the next flight.
The career change moment is like the landings – a place to pause, take stock of where you are, and prepare for the next flight.
My Flights
Looking at my own history, I spent the first five years of my career in engineering. Then, five years in market research listening to the voice of customers around the world. From there, ten years in marketing learning all about branding, marketing strategy, CRM, loyalty, websites, media and more. Next, ten years of marketing agency experience learning how all those marketing materials are created, building teams, and growing future leaders.
Now, I’m focused on consulting, coaching, and writing.
You might wonder how those past experiences relate to my current role.
To me, I see it clearly.
Engineering taught me to not be afraid of complex and new challenges.
Research taught me to listen to customers, clients, and co-workers.
Marketing taught me how to create and express a brand (company and personal).
Agency life showed me the fulfillment and complexities of leadership in today’s fast paced world.
All of these come to the table in the work I’m doing today. I celebrate the landings between each move for all the role brought to develop the professional I am today.
Your Turn
Do you see the “landings” of your career?
How has each flight changed you?
As you consider the paths you would like your career to take next, don’t consider “starting over”.
Instead, take stock of all you bring and understand how that applies to the next flight.
Keep learning, keep looking up the flight. However, take pause on the landing to enjoy what you’ve accomplished so far.