Your ‘Forever Career’: How to change to a career you won’t want to retire from
Anna Black
No doubt you’ve heard the term
‘forever home’,
meaning the house you love so much, you can’t imagine wanting to live anywhere else.
Well, what if you could find your
‘forever career’?
This translates to the career that lights you up. So much so that you’ll never want to retire.
The sad thing is most people never even consider this idea.
We're conditioned at a young age to believe that work is something we have to endure.
It's sold to us as a non-negotiable, long, hard slog that we're locked into until close to 70 when we've finally earnt the right to retire and do stuff we enjoy.
What a soul-crushing way to live!
Annie Dillard once said,
“How you spend your days is, of course, how you spend your life.”
And, of course, she’s right. Our lives are made of years, made up of months, made up of days. And every single day is a small part of how you will have spent your life when you look back.
The scary thing is that the days tick by. Quickly.
When I first read that quote around 15 years ago, it hit me like a brick.
I had the sudden realisation that I was waiting for life to happen for me. And that the life I wanted sometime off in the future wasn’t going to magically create itself.
My life was happening now! And I was not in the driver’s seat.
Now let's fast forward to a few months ago,
I was sitting outside our villa at a holiday park sipping my morning coffee and enjoying the warm sun on my face when our friend shared their goal to retire by 55.
He turned to me and asked “When do you plan to retire, Anna?”
I didn’t have an answer. I paused for a minute then said,
“I don’t think about retirement because I don’t actually want to retire”
I have my ‘forever career’.
I love my work 90% of the time (I won’t pretend I don’t occasionally have ‘those days’) so why would I stop?
In my experience with over 240 professionals, the only things standing in the way of finding your ‘forever career’ are
- being aware that it’s possible - which I'll show you here, and
- figuring out what your 'forever career' is and how to make the career change.
I have many stories of my clients who’ve achieved satisfaction, like
- Paula, who changed career from Operations Manager in a small air-conditioning business to Sales Manager for Wealthi, in property investment
- David, who found a new perspective on his Health and Safety role and is building a portfolio of passion projects in writing and connecting others through art and nature, and,
- Tim, who's shifting career from geology to consulting and teaching.
And you’re welcome to check out many more examples of how my clients have changed careers in my
Google and
LinkedIn reviews.
You can see that it’s absolutely possible.
So the real challenge is figuring out what you truly want; what
your
‘forever career’ is and the best way to make the change.
The good news is, once you know what it is, the pull towards it becomes stronger than the fear holding you back. The next step becomes obvious, and you’ll start moving forward like you’re on autopilot.
And the fear? It'll fade away.
Clarity is powerful. And, in case you're wondering, here’s how you can achieve it for yourself.
I break it down into six steps, in my Define Your Future™ career change system. It's counter-intuitive but simple.
Define Your Future™ career change system (aka how to change to your ‘forever career’ in 6 simple steps)
Step 1: Explore What Makes You Tick
You’re a unique mix of values, interests, strengths, and personality. To find a career you love, you need to understand these things deeply. What are you interested in? What do you enjoy? What energises you? My Clover™ model helps you answer these questions and map out your blueprint for career satisfaction on a single page. This is the critical foundation for getting your career change right first time.
Step 2: Define Your Ideal Work
If someone asked, “So what do you want to do?” would you have an answer?
Most people don’t but this is what we define in this step. It has the power to open doors. I’ve seen clients land amazing opportunities just by clearly articulating an answer to this question, even at a backyard BBQ!
Step 3: Brainstorm All Possible Options
Here’s where you uncover all the potential career options that could be a fit for you. We use four specific methods, and tap into the most up-to-date data sources, AI methods, and LinkedIn (with its membership base of over 1 billion users). We leave no stone unturned, and we’ll uncover options you never even knew existed!
Step 4: Evaluate Objectively
Here’s where we assess the options and see how they stack up against each other. Comparing them, ‘apples with apples’ you’ll see how many of your boxes each idea ticks. In this step, something magical happens – most of the options will fall away and the best fit career will reveal itself.
Step 5: Decide and Design
With clarity and confidence, you decide on your path forward and set to designing your career to create the lifestyle you want. We look at different ways of transitioning, combining roles, and making sure your career works for you (even if your needs change over time) so you’ll be totally in-sync, not making more sacrifices.
Step 6: Take Action
Once you’ve found your direction, and defined how you’re going to make the career change, the next step is to simply put it into a plan of action. Noting down exactly what you need to do, and how you’re going to do it, so you can focus all your energy on moving forward and making it a reality. You’ll see how the momentum builds fast when you’re aligned and excited!
So that's the process for creating your own career change. Having guided over 240 mid-career professionals to more satisfying futures, I can tell you it’s a lot more simple than you think.
When you break down each step into bitesize pieces and follow them one by one, you really can’t go wrong.
So ask yourself. If you spent your remaining days, months and years of your life doing what you’re doing now,
How would you feel about how you spent your life?
Is it time to find
your
‘forever career’?
If this resonates with you... if you’re tired of feeling stuck, and you
know there’s something more out there, I’ve created something to help you.
👉
Join me for my free online workshop where I'll walk you through the Define Your Future™ system in more detail, and show you exactly how to start mapping your own path to meaningful, energising work.
Then I'll invite you to book a time to talk to me directly about how you can achieve this for yourself.
Your ‘forever career’ is waiting. Let’s find it.
Anna Black
A guy reached out to me on LinkedIn interested in what I do. I called him and we had the most engaging conversation. I know the pain points of people who are dissatisfied with their careers. Everyone is a little different, but the shared experiences are very similar. There are always common themes. But every now and then, someone will articulate the challenges in a new way. This particular gentleman has been in his current role for around 5 years. He's not feeling challenged or motivated and there are no new opportunities for him within his current organisation. No "glimmer of hope", as he put it. So he's been applying for roles externally. Each one has something that interests him to a degree. But each only has the scope to be an incremental improvement on where he is now. Perhaps a little more responsibility. Or a little more money. But they would still lead to, in his words "a mediocre life". This stopped me in my tracks. *Click to read more* Immediately, it became immediately clear that this was a guy who wants more from life. He wants to do something extraordinary and not settle for a job that pays a little more, or gives him a little more kudos. He wants to make a difference. Doing something he loves. Building something of value. A legacy, even. Not everyone feels this way. Some people are content with a job that pays the bills and allows you to work with a decent bunch of people. There's a lot to be said for being able to feel satisfied with what you have. So while 'mediocre' is a loaded word. The question I have for you is genuine. Are you content with what you have? An OK job which pays the bills. Or do you have that fire in your belly making you crave more? That knowing what you're truly capable of if you focussed your efforts on one thing? An extraordinary life. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
Before I had kids, I saw motherhood as an obstacle to overcome in my career. But a simple comment from my mum shifted my perspective and inspired me to completely change my path
Brianna shares her first-hand experience of how her father's career change positively impacted the whole family in so many ways. His role-modelling of the importance of having a career which makes you happy is inspiring.
Does the advice 'just follow your passion' leave you floundering? Society has an obsession with finding and following passion, which is immensely frustrating for the majority of people who don't know what theirs is! I felt the same until I realised this simple fact about where passion comes from.
I changed careers back in 2012. After fourteen years in the mining industry - including several feeling wholly dissatisfied - I figured out that I wanted to support professionals to discover more fulfilling careers. I resigned from my job and studied for 18 months to get my second Masters degree, this time in Career Development, and I've worked in the careers field ever since. There's a range of titles used in our field; "Career Development Practitioner,” (the formal term used really only by career professionals themselves) Career Consultant, Career Coach and several more. For several years I've called myself a Career Coach because that's what I thought people would expect. Athletes have coaches, business owners have coaches, CEOs have coaches... it seemed like the most relatable term to use. But the truth is, I'm a Career Counsellor. Full stop. So what's the difference between a Career Coach and a Career Counsellor anyway? And why the big deal? Well, if you’re ever looking for support in your career, it's important to know. You want to make sure you have the right person on your side. And while I'm here, I'll clarify the valuable roles that mentors and sponsors can play in your career too. A Career Coach helps you get what you want in your career. They help you get clear on specific goals, map out what you need to do to achieve them, and then hold you accountable for doing the work to be successful. A Mentor is different. They also help you get what you want in your career, acting as a coach but also as a teacher and connector. They bring relevant knowledge, skills, experience and networks into the mix to help you be successful. A Sponsor , you guessed it, helps you get what you want in your career. They put your name forward for opportunities and vouch for you to help you secure the role you want, often a promotion. All of these people can help you get what you want. And they're all worth their weight in gold. On one condition... that you actually know what you want! If you’re unsure about which career you want, then a Career Counsellor is the one person that can actually help you. Until you know the position you want a Career Coach can't help you market yourself, a Mentor can't teach you what you need to know and a Sponsor can't help you secure that next role. So unless you’re crystal clear on the role you're aspiring to, start with the foundation of exploring what you want. And if you're wondering how to do this strategically, ask a Career Counsellor like me! Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna _ anna@strategiccc.com.au _ for more information.
Controversial suggestion, I know! I've loved seeing the acceleration of action on gender equality over the past few years. The sheer number of International Womens' Day events, awards and publications this year has again been quite incredible. I can't help but think, though, that fighting for equality for women is only half the battle, and I see it driving a wedge between the sexes. Before I go any further, I want to acknowledge the specific significance of the economic disadvantage of women and am wholeheartedly behind the urgent cause for women to become financially secure. But otherwise, being a woman isn't ALL bad, and both sides of the fence have their challenges. So, here's why I think recognising the challenges men face is also important. The expectations on men have increased exponentially in a generation Think of your parents' generation. Most likely your dad was the breadwinner and your mum was the home-maker and primary carer. Your dad would've come home from work and, let's face it, not been expected to do much at all except perhaps mow the lawn at the weekend and take the bins out once a week. I'm not having a shot at your dad. That was normal. A couple had one paid and one unpaid job between them when the kids were young. Two jobs, two people. But now dads are expected to take an active role in parenting. This is a wonderful thing and, in my experience, most are keen to do it. However, the pressure and expectation are significant. I remember my husband being abruptly ordered by a mid-wife to wash our first-born in the hospital after little sleep, a full day at work and a trip out to the airport and back to pick-up his mother-in-law. He was exhausted and this was a big ask. When kids come along, dads often become solely responsible for supporting the family financially after years of sharing this load with their partner. Perhaps for a short period of maternity leave, sometimes for longer. Either way, the financial pressure generally shifts to dad. Dads are now also being told that they must support their wives' careers by sharing the housework load too. I believe in a fair split of the load, but my point is that there are a fixed number of hours in the day and humans have finite capacity. When mum and dad both work full-time (and some add study or voluntary roles such as School Board Director into the mix… ahem… guilty!) we are now trying to cram three or more full-time jobs into the capacity of two people. Everyone has their limit, male or female. We can’t keep piling on the pressure without expecting someone to break. Men suffer from stereotypes and bias too Just ask a man who’s a stay-at-home dad how 'included' he feels in the local mothers group or ‘mums and bubs’ activities? How frustrating must it be when child-care insists on calling his wife and not him when there is an issue with the child despite being told that HE is the primary carer? What kind of comments do you think he deals with when he tells his male colleagues he's leaving his job to be a stay-at-home dad? Just ask a man who chose to work in the childcare industry who’s told that parents don’t want him to change their baby’s nappy. Or the man who chose to become a primary school teacher who's told to raise his hands in the air if a student approaches him to prove he's not touching them inappropriately. Just ask a man who, when he sees a woman walking alone at night, crosses the road to keep his distance so she doesn't feel threatened. These are just a few examples that illustrate the flip-side of stereotypes and how they manifest in bias against men. Mutual empathy is the key From a male perspective, all the talk of how unfair the world is for women, how we are oppressed, discriminated against and generally hard-done-by must wear thin. If I was a guy, I’d naturally see the advantages of being a woman (the grass is always greener!). I have my brother to thank for pointing out one example years ago when he said “You have a choice”. “You can choose to work or not work when you have kids. I can’t. I have no choice but to work full-time”. He was right. I know this isn’t always the case, many women have to work and some men have the choice not to. But it’s definitely more common for women to have leeway on this and employers are far more accommodating of their requests for flexibility. As a man, I would feel that women didn’t understand my challenges. In this new world of gender targets, especially in Mining/Resources, life has got tougher. Let’s be honest, discrimination in favour of women is rife. It’s justified in the name of redressing the balance and maybe it's a necessary step. But for the poor blokes who are there now, trying to get a job or hoping to be promoted and being told “don’t bother applying, I have to give the role to a woman”, it’s tough. Let’s acknowledge that. The risk of ignoring the challenges for men I’m a feminist and being a feminist means believing in equality which means equality for men too. We know that in Australia, men are three times more likely than women to commit suicide. This has been linked to the expectations and culture of masculinity in our society. It concerns me that if we focus too heavily on the challenges of women, and allow the perception that men are to blame and 'have it easy' to persist, we could see the situation with men's mental health worsen. Mutual understanding and empathy is the key. If you ever have the opportunity to switch roles with your partner, I encourage you to do it. I did and I learnt a lot. I'll save the full story for another day, but suffice to say that life can be tough for both women and men in different ways so let’s open our eyes and show compassion for both sides. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
There I was in the dive shop, one foot in a wetsuit and hopping around less than gracefully, trying not to lose my balance altogether. I don't remember it being quite that difficult. But then it had been 20 years since the last time I tried. When a friend suggested a trip up to Coral Bay I jumped at the chance. It’s where I Iearnt to scuba dive all that time ago. I was a British backpacker travelling Australia on my own, indulging in all the experiences on offer. Ningaloo reef is spectacular. A gem tucked in against the coast of Western Australia. More remote than most people will ever venture. Imagine the Great Barrier Reef but on a smaller, more intimate scale and literally on the beach. In Coral Bay you can stand ankle deep in water and watch tropical fish weaving in and out of the coral. You barely need to even get wet! But let's face it, who wouldn't want to get up close with all that stunning marine wildlife. Learning to dive was an incredible experience. I got the bug and went on to do an advanced course spending 3 days and nights on a boat diving the Great Barrier Reef. This was next-level including a deep dive, photography dive and even one in the pitch black at night. But these amazing memories seemed to fade as I moved on with life. Career, family and all the grown-up things. As soon as my friend mentioned Coral Bay, all the memories came flooding back. I couldn't wait to have another go at diving. I’m so glad I took the opportunity (after the wetsuit battle had been won). It was beautiful. Rainbow parrot fish, turtles, reef sharks... shoals of silver fish sparkling like diamonds in the bright sun. From this I've learnt how important it is to hold on to those things you love. So often we focus on being open to new experiences (which is valuable of course), But often our past holds many of the clues to what we enjoy. Whether we choose to bring them into our work life or not, is up to us. A personal decision. I'm not about to change career (again) and become a diving instructor, but this experience reminded me of the joy, the tranquility, and the sense of freedom of gliding around underwater witnessing the amazing underwater world. It reminded me of something long-forgotten that makes me feel happy, relaxed and inspired. And how valuable it is to tune into this every day. For some, past passions can become their life's goal, their purpose. Perhaps you 're one? So I challenge you to ask yourself, "what amazing experiences have you had in the past? what would you love to do more of?” “do you have a hobby you’d love to make a career of?” I'd love to hear your thoughts. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-c. areer professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
A couple of weeks ago, I was interviewed by the ABC National News here in Australia. I commented on how people make career choices in relation to a new University funding proposal from our government. As I talked with the reporter, our conversation reminded me of how easily we can end up in a job without thinking much about how we got there. ( ABC Article here ) Having self-awareness of how we make life decisions is so valuable. If we can understand how we make decisions, we can then reflect, review and improve our choices for the future. In the context of our careers, better choices mean better alignment with who we are, what we enjoy and what we value. This means a higher level of satisfaction and fulfilment. So, take a moment to think about your career path, “How did you end up where you are now?” For most people, the influences boil down to one or more of these three things: Following an interest. Your favourite school subject, a hobby, or a passion. Pursuing what you’re good at. Being guided by the job market (or perceptions thereof). What would be secure, high-paying, or in-demand? However, of course it’s not just about these factors. We are social animals and are also strongly influenced by the people in our lives. Our parents commonly have the strongest impact here. Their knowledge, opinions and expectations play a large part in out decision making. Our teachers can also be strong role-models. If you think back to your favourite subjects in school, those subjects likely had great teachers. And vice-versa for those you enjoyed the least. Teachers are also likely to actively encourage us into fields of study we are best at. Our wider network of family and friends can also be highly influential. Perhaps you had an uncle, aunt, grandparent, neighbour or family-friend who’s inspired you. Reflecting on your career path and understanding your choices is powerful. And I hope these ideas give you valuable insight into how you can be intentional in your career planning. After all, who wouldn’t want to be in control of their own career satisfaction? Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
At a recent Women in Mining event I attended, an interesting question was asked of the panel. It related to an observation that men and women differ in the level of clarity they have around career goals - that men can generally state their goals explicitly whereas women are less likely to be able to. The question was "how can a mentor best assist a mentee who isn't clear on their goals?" I’ve heard similar statements before in the context of job interviews, especially regarding salary aspirations. We know that women can be just as ambitious as men, so what is it that stops them from defining what they want the way men do? Here are some suggestions of the powers at play here. Progression is expected of men Just as society holds an image of the expected role of women, men are also subjected to certain expectations. Social norms dictate that men are expected to progress in their careers, t o get promoted and ultimately be the provider for their families. It is natural, therefore, for men to think about what that next step is to meet the will of the society around them. For women, such planning requires deliberate, mindful effort against the tide. The double bind Women are also subjected to the "double-bind", a term which describes the negative correlation between a woman's level of success and her likeability. Simply put, women may risk losing friends by being ambitious so it's hardly surprising if they hesitate in committing to a lofty goal. Lack of confidence Hesitantly, I also suggest that lack of confidence is a factor. I hesitate because I dislike highlighting this issue given the negative connotation of women being somehow weaker. I also believe, however, that confidence it is not a fixed attribute and varies with circumstance. Lacking confidence when you work in an industry which is dominated by the opposite sex is natural (I have heard numerous senior men admit to being nervous speaking in front of a crowd of women) and, whether unconscious or conscious, it could be holding women back. Women may have a more complex view of their options A final suggestion is that perhaps women have a more complex notion of ambition. For women, wanting to progress may not necessarily mean rising through the ranks in the conventional way. Women's salaries are more often the secondary income and with this can come the relative luxury of lower pressure on their earnings to provide for themselves and their family*. This can afford women greater freedom to pursue their interests and more meaningful or satisfying work but in the process, may allow so many options making choosing a path more difficult. * This is obviously not always the case and I acknowledge that some women are the primary provider for their families. But let's return to the question. "In the context of mentoring, how can a mentor assist mentees who are unsure of their goals?" The short answer is that it’s simply not part of the mentor’s job description. Sponsorship, mentoring, career coaching and career counselling are all different functions and for help figuring out what you want, you should be turning to a career counsellor. A career counsellor helps you figure out what you want, A career coach helps you get what you want, A mentor helps you get what you want with the added bonus of relevant knowledge and experience, and A sponsor puts your name forward for opportunities and vouches for you. So if you find yourself in the position of feeling like you don't have a clue what you want, don't despair! There are plenty of resources you can turn to (drop me a line, I am happy to point you to some) - but also don’t be afraid to seek assistance from a career counsellor. It’s no different to seeking the help of a coach, mentor or sponsor, which we know can all be incredibly effective, and it could save yourself a LOT of time by getting your goals right before you set about achieving them. A final thought for organisations out there, perhaps it's time to consider investing in career counselling for your employees. Your mentoring programs may not be effective without it. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
People don’t like change. We are hard-wired to prefer the predictable and avoid risk where possible. This is one reason why people tend to put up with jobs they dislike, sometimes for years (I explore other reasons why people do this in my previous article ' The FIVE reasons people stay in jobs they hate ') But, re-aligning your career to be more enjoyable rarely requires the drastic action we fear. Relatively small shifts can make a big difference and, for many people, changing just one aspect fixes their problem. Take one of my recent clients. She completed my signature program, Define Your Future, to do a complete review and re-plan of her career because she was so unhappy in her current situation. We went through the full process and over the course of just a few weeks she realised that her current job was actually her perfect job (for now, anyhow), it was just in the wrong company. Fast forward a couple more weeks (and a few job applications) and she has accepted a new, very similar, role but with a company more aligned with her values and preferences. She couldn't be happier or more relieved to have resolved the problem. So the moral of the story is that without analysing your current challenges and preferences (interests, skills, environment and motivation) in a structured way, you wont pinpoint the core issue, and you will stay unhappy longer than you need to. Simply assessing your situation is nothing to fear, and the solution to your problem may be far simpler than you think. Anna is a Career Counsellor, Program Creator and ex-Geophysicist. She spent 14 years in the corporate mining world before doing a U-turn towards the work she finds most meaningful. After completing a Master of Career Development, earning her stripes in the university environment, she built her private practice. Now Anna now guides other mid-career professionals through the process of self-discovery to find a career which lights them up. She offers a free Zoom call to help professionals who are feeling stuck and confused about their career path to take the next step. She also has a free online webinar where you can learn more about her process and client stories, "How to discover, with 100% confidence, the best career for you". Or you’re welcome to email me Anna anna@strategiccc.com.au for more information.
