Career decisions! Should I stay…?

Career decisions! Should I stay or should I go?

A couple of my clients at the moment are making career decisions – major decisions about their future careers – and potentially making major changes!

A common theme (assumption?) is that they feel they need to choose between doing something they love and/or gives them fulfilment, and something that will provide a comfortable income.

Binary options and decisions which seem ‘all or nothing’ or ‘black and white’ are really tricky!

For example if you’re trying to decide:

Whether to stay in a job you don’t really enjoy OR to leave right now…

Whether to earn a good salary OR find fulfilling work…

Whether to start your own business OR remain in employment…

Often, through discussion and exploration, it becomes apparent that there are more than just two options – there is a third (or fourth or fifth…) way. But at first it can seem that an option that is e.g. both fulfilling and lucrative, is just too good to be true!

As good as it gets?

Sometimes we can feel that we’re very lucky to be in the job that we are in, that gives us flexibility or gives us a good salary, and that we therefore need to compromise on the actual work that we do. We can make assumptions that compromise is necessary.

However, often we’ve not tested that assumption.

How do you know that you would not be able to get the same salary and benefits elsewhere?

How do you know that another employer would not allow you to work part time?

etc

How could you find out?

What about you?

Are you considering a major change? Are you wondering if this is it? Are you thinking it’s now or never?

Are you putting off making a career decision because it seems too hard or because the choices seem too stark?

What alternatives are there?

What assumptions might you be making?

How can you find out?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

If you are feeling unfulfilled in your current role or wondering should you stay or should you go, or you know you are leaving but you’re unsure as to what next? – please get in touch via the contact form or call me on +44 7526 740486.

[To get your free copy of my eBook ’10 questions to ask yourself about your business’, sign up for my fortnightly newsletter using the sign up box on the top right of this page, or at the foot of the page if you’re viewing on a mobile device.]

Best wishes!

Sian

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