What did you want to be?

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I recently posted on LinkedIn about not knowing what I wanted to be when I grew up. It’s been one of my most popular LinkedIn posts ever!

So I thought I’d share it here…

When I was at school I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up…

I made my subject and degree choices based on subjects that I liked rather than career path.

When I finished my Physics degree I chose a PhD in the Biophysics group where I’d enjoyed doing a final year lab project.

And on it went, choosing the adjacent possible each time rather than having a clear goal or plan…

…Until I made the decision 4 years ago to leave my corporate role and set up my coaching and training business.

Recently a client described how she got to be in her current career and it was all very similar to the above! Now approaching 40, she’d like to explore what she really wants to do…

My 13 year-old daughter was telling me this afternoon that at school she is the only person in her class who doesn’t know what she wants to do as a career. I’m not sure if telling her about my experience and that of my client helped…!

What people have shared about what they wanted to be when they grew up

On LinkedIn and Facebook, people have commented on my posts and shared so many stories about what they wanted to be when they grew up or how they came to be doing what they’re doing now.

Some people knew exactly what they wanted from an early age and focussed on getting there and love what they do!

Some were dissuaded from their chosen path by family or people at school.

Others love what they do now but have taken quite a roundabout route to get there.

Others love doing jobs that did not exist while they were at school…

The stories are fascinating to read :)