"Which way should I go?" This is the classic quandary that spans across the ages by every walk of life at various stages in life. Since we do spend the majority of our lives as working adults, it's very important to know within ourselves in which direction we will go to find a successful career path. The beauty is that we never have to stick with a decision that we made about a career ten or 20 years ago - we can change directions when we discover that small voice inside that whispers, "When you love your work, it doesn't feel like work." The trick is to figure out how you get from where you currently are to where you actually want to be.
We can take a big hint from the wise, yet strange, Cheshire Cat who has a similar discussion in the book, Alice in Wonderland. In the story when Alice finds herself roaming around in circles and feeling lost, she meets the Cheshire Cat and asks him about which way she should go. The Cheshire Cat asks if she has a place in mind, and Alice answers that it really doesn't matter. The simplistically sensible Cheshire Cat advises her that if it really doesn't matter where she goes, then it really doesn't matter which way she goes. We can view this advice as being shallow and insensitive to Alice's immediate needs, or we can see it as a snippet of deep truth that Alice should heavily ponder before she takes one more step.
Here are Five Strategies that can help you fix that dilemma:
Define What Matters-Write down the factors you want from a great career. Money should never be the sole focus and drive; your wallet may be full, but your quality of life could feel empty an unfulfilled. Do you want challenges and growth, steadiness and routine, or be a part of the unknown and undiscovered possibilities? Work-happiness has a meaning for each person, so find out what that means to you.
Change Your Vantage Point- If you've ever been in a plane and looked out the window to see how tiny a big world can appear from a different vantage point, you can relate to how this changes your perspective. What we know as being miles of road on the ground, the same roads are only inches from a bird's-eye view. This is how you should look at your career path; step back (way, way back) to reveal more of the course you'll need to take to get from point A to point B (and so forth) until you reach the point of your destination, which is the job in the career you really want and love.
Chart Your Expected Chunks of Achievements- if the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step, then identify what that first step is for you. Will it be more training, more education, a different environment, a better job in your industry of choice, or connecting with the right people that can help you move forward? Seeing your goals spread out like blocks on a board game help you visualize your progress and what lies ahead that still must be done.
Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan- rarely will a magic moment come along and suddenly place you smack-dab into the exact job you've always wanted. While it's very true that sometimes, as they say, "the stars will align" and everything falls into place, depending upon it will only lead to increased self-doubt and disappointment. Your personal roadmap is your guide. Mark each step of the way and celebrate the milestones!
Share Your Progress with Others- a cheering squad can keep you on track and always motivate you to complete your journey along your career path. Somebody who knows somebody else can tell another somebody else about your hard work. Then the next thing you know, some stars begin to appear in alignment for you because you are actually participating in arranging the stars yourself!
And remember: The Cheshire Cat didn't make it easy for Alice. Instead, he posed the likelihood that she would continue to wander around in wonderland if she didn't know where she wanted to go. Chasing a white rabbit was a spontaneous decision she made, and all through the story, she never knew where she was going. Don't let that happen to you along your career path! Know where you want to go, and then you'll know which way to go!
Meloney B. Hall is the Director or Creating Marketing at AGI Hospitality Recruiting, which is the expert in connecting GREAT managers with GREAT employers within the Hospitality/Restaurant Industries. Located in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, AGI has job-opening opportunities across the United States. Contact one of our professional recruiters by phone at 513.731.1359 or email jobs
View the Original article