When I look back at my career timeline it looks seamless.
I’ve transitioned between different companies, industries, roles, labels, ways of working - and I can clearly see the thread that links them.
At the time? At each of those crossroads and question marks? Not so much!
At each of those points I was full of confusion. It’s a tricky time. Knowing that something has come to an end, but not what will start up next.
What I did know was what I didn’t want.
I was super clear on all the things that weren’t working any more - what wasn’t right, what I needed to move on from, what had been brilliant but just didn’t fit anymore.
Which, at the time, didn’t feel that helpful - because how could I figure out what was next if I didn’t know what I wanted to do instead!
I wish I’d known then that it’s is absolutely fine and a completely normal place to be.
I also wish I’d known that it’s more useful than we give it credit for.
Knowing what we don’t want is really not a bad place to be - it’s a great starting point:
It shows us we’re ready for change.
It gives us something to react to and create from (much easier than creating from scratch).
It enables us to eliminate options from a place of insight.
It’s a place we can build from.
Yet so often we undervalue it and the information it gives us. We focus on what we don’t know, rather than what we do.
So if you can’t work out what you want to do next, try starting with what you don’t want - in a role, an environment, an industry, in 10 years time, in your daily life…
…and then value the information it gives you
It can be an easier place to start - and a great place to start - even if it doesn’t always feel like it.
Wishing you all a week of learning about what you want from what you don’t,
