In this mid-career series, I mentioned that this time in your professional life can be exciting and scary… simultaneously. That’s just the nature of mid-career. If you embrace both the excitement and the worry with humility and a growth mindset, you can set yourself up a fantastic late-career success and positive impact.
The next six posts (titles listed below) will give you some specific ideas (and pose some challenging questions) that will help you move through this part of your career. Not surprisingly, the reflections are applicable to both professional and personal life. I believe these two things are completely intertwined, and that they should work in harmony. Yes! We must balance our time commitments between the office and family; but we are individuals who bring our whole selves to both places. That authenticity is a key component of great leadership.
But before jumping into the specific ideas / challenges, let’s pause and do a quick career assessment.
Mid-Career Homework Challenge: Here are some mid-career questions to ponder. Take your time with these over the next few weeks. Jot a few notes on paper. Review them as you read the 6 upcoming blog posts with specific ideas and tools.
Current-State Career Assessment:
- What do you like about your work?
- Are you challenged in this career field (or in your particular position)?
- Are you finding meaning, feeling fulfilled, and being motivated? (Is that internal or external?)
- In what ways are you learning and growing (both personally and professionally)?
- Is work-life balance real? How do you make time for important life events?
- What are some stressors in your current job (or career field)? What might you change to help the situation?
Opportunity Check:
- Know Thyself: Have you taken an EQ assessment, cultural inventory, hidden bias test, or used other personal growth tools? (Will you give one a try this week?!)
- Coach/Mentor: Do you have a career coach and/or mentor? (Hint: Have several.)
- Learn List: What are some things you want to learn?
- Bucket List: What are some things you want to do or achieve?
- Values Review: How can you exhibit your personal values in your work (again, bringing your whole authentic self)?
Future-State Career Potential:
- Mission: What is your compelling “why”? How can you let it guide and bolster your career?
- Leadership: How can you lead and encourage and enable others (at any level in your organization)?
- Legacy: How do you want to be remembered?
- Challenge: Will you become a mentor (informal/nonformal) and be an encouragement to others?
Again, take some time pondering these. Please do not tackle them all at once. Questions such as this are meant for stewing. In doing so, you will begin to formulate a bigger picture, and ideas on how to move forward to see that picture completed. Some of these will be answered as you read and consider the upcoming blog post questions.
Lastly, remember to give yourself some grace as you ponder these things. Enjoy thinking about the potential that’s inside of you right now. (NOTE: If you don’t believe much potential is there, you’re wrong. Flat out wrong. Call me. I’ll prove it to you.) The fact that you’re reading this now is initial proof that you are moving toward success and positive impact in this world. These conversations (reading them by yourself or discussing them with a mentor) will help you see your potential… and more.
Here are the forthcoming blog posts:
- Time vs. Energy: Which will you manage?
- Opportunity vs. Meaning: Which will you pursue?
- Volition: What are your choices?
- Gratitude: Can making a list improve your career?
- Curiosity: The new currency
- Appreciation & Love: What language do you speak?
Additional Resources: Dr. Brian Raison (raison.1@osu.edu) serves as a Professor and Extension Specialist at The Ohio State University. He has extracted these tools over the past dozen years from his formal classes and Extension programs. Free downloads and videos (and about 25 free e-book codes) are available online: http://encouragingmentor.com
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