A few of my friends are going thru career changes right now. It brings the memories of my own soul-searching period, changing career more than a decade ago. I am not intended to scare people but the whole process took about 2 years and a half even though I was actively working on it. Depending on what you plan to do, it can take longer or short and all depends on yourself and market as well. There were a lot of downs than ups since I was trying to navigate to the new territory. I think this part of journey is the worst part that most of people are scared to try but it was definitely worthwhile journey to test my interest if I am willing to pay the price for it. I thought If I really want to do it, I would figure it out somehow. At least, I would not regret never trying. That’s the only belief I hanged on to. It does take a lot of guts to follow your gut.
Few people are lucky enough to have a life-long call but this is not the picture for most of us. Even though I agree with pursuing your career passions, I personally believe there’s no such a thing as Life-long ideal job. As we mature and get more experiences, our horizon expands. Our priorities and desires shift. More experience at work and in life sometimes bring a new call. My biggest obstacle was my own mindset that I was supposed to pursue one thing in life and I should have figured out life by then. I could not accept this new call. I felt even guilty about spending all these years pursuing one thing and then put it to the end. It created tornado-size inner turmoil. My emotional and mental struggles would keep me in the middle position not knowing either proceed or not to proceed. Being in the middle stuck was the worst thing ever. I just did not feel alive and even hopeless. I need to laugh now on how much I was naïve even to believe that I should have one life-long passion and it would fulfill my life if I stick with it. Fortunately, human beings are not that simple. It is a beautiful thing about us. We are complex and muti-dimensional. We all have our own inner desires and interests. There’s no right or wrong. It is just about who we are.
The lesson I learned after the career switch liberated me. It is the mindset that I am not locked in my title and position. I am free to do pursue anything and anywhere as long as the new adventure fits to my values, knowledge and experience I obtained over the years. I am not a job hopper. I played many roles in the same industry. My abilities became inter-departmental and good understanding in many aspects of the industry. All the experience and knowledge are transferrable. The new experience only benefited me adding many new skills under my belt. Don’t be afraid to try something new. It all depends on your perspective. Listen to your souls trying to tell you without judgements. You know yourself the best. Share your thoughts.