Setting Course for the Life You’ll Love

You are a success. You set goals. You achieve them. You are at the top of your game and that should make you happy. Right? Yet, you’re not especially happy. You’re feeling a little unsatisfied. Something is missing, but you can’t put your finger on it. You’re feeling out of balance, and maybe a little indifferent to your success. Sound familiar?

We all have days where we wish we could hit that snooze button and snuggle down under the covers just a bit longer. If you greet every morning with a lackluster feeling of “not ready to face the world,” however, it might be time to re-evaluate where you are and where you should be headed.

I’ve been on that train before. From the C-suite, to the boardroom, to the ranks of business owner and mom of special-needs children, I’ve reinvented myself and my life on several occasions. As a leader and executive coach, it’s my mission to help leaders take the world by the tail and create passion and purpose in their lives and work. But where do you start?

Give Yourself Permission

We’re supposed to climb the corporate ladder and reach the pinnacle of our profession. We’re supposed to live out the dreams of our younger selves and see them through to completion. It’s not that you’re unhappy, you’re just tired from trudging up the mountain side. You should just pat yourself on the back and focus on appreciating what you’ve got. Right? Well, not necessarily. You’ve changed. You’ve had life experiences that influenced your outlook on the world. You’ve discovered new skills and passions. Embrace those! Give yourself permission to re-draft your life goals. Growing into the person you’re meant to be is a fluid process. Give yourself the go-ahead to take the detour off your original path.

Take Stock

You’ve committed to exploring your options and re-evaluating your destination. Awesome! Before you head off on this new trail, however, take a moment to review where you’ve been. The skills and experiences you’ve been amassing to this point will come in handy. Trust me on this one. The skills you used as an accounts payable manager may not appear to have much in common with your new undertaking of creating and selling one-of-a-kind up-cycled items. Your accounting know-how, however, will help you navigate the ins and outs of managing your business. Perhaps being Chef-Owner of your own eatery doesn’t seem like a good training ground for your new roll in corporate human resources, but your experience hiring and managing a staff gives you a unique perspective for this new gig.

Find Your Mentor(s)

Even if you are well armed with training and applicable skills that will translate to your new endeavors, you will still benefit from the wisdom and support of a mentor. Having your own cheerleader and/or sounding board is worth its weight in gold no matter how far off the beaten path you’re venturing.

Envision the finish line

Undergoing a career or life metamorphosis is like any other goal you set. You need to know where you’re going if you’re going to be successful. This process of self-rediscovery begins with taking inventory to identify what you can do, defining what you want to do, planning out what you need to do to get there, and defining what “there” looks like when it’s complete.

Quiz Yourself

Yes, the process of identifying and defining a new path can feel overwhelming. The good news is you don’t have to do this alone. There are tools to help you start this journey on the right foot. For example, the Creative Blueprints for Leaders Leadership Quiz will help find your starting point and get you on the way to a life you love!