When you want to take a career risk: 5 pieces of advice

I suspect most of us are thinking about our careers today. Some of us may have made a job or career change in the last 18 months while some of us may be contemplating if we should. I wrote recently about when it is time to leave a job and how to evaluate a new role. The motivation for those decisions should be based on whether you feel aligned in your work, supported, can make an impact, among other factors.

I have known several people take a bigger risk lately. Some left corporate life for a non-profit organization; some left to join a consulting group; and some left to start their own business, which was a life-long dream.

It’s one thing to leave a job for another job, which is a big change, but what if you are contemplating a major career shift? Our current circumstances have certainly opened up our thinking to consider what matters to us and how we might think about our impact and even our legacy.

I have thought a lot about legacy lately. Through a goal-planning process that I follow every month, one of the most challenging exercises is to think about our impact. We are asked to become our 80-year-old selves and then answer some questions. When we are 80 and we look back on our life, what will we remember? What will we cherish? What will we feel about our lives and contributions?

I highly doubt when I am 80 that I will fondly look upon long hours at the office or endless meetings that consume my calendar. I will want to feel like I made a difference in people’s lives. This central theme can sometimes get lost in the busyness of our lives. I found through a Yoga Nidra session I participated in with some friends Friday night that I need to keep this theme front and center in my life to not lose focus.

I believe in mantras and post-it notes (my favorite way to remind myself of my big ideas). I believe in quotes and words that hang on my wall. I am putting this mantra on my wall this afternoon: “My legacy is to help others in their career journeys.” Through writing my blog and publishing my upcoming book, I want to help people have a great work-life.

I have spent wonderful years in my job, and I have spent some miserable ones too. Those years were miserable for many reasons, including bad bosses, unclear direction, misalignment to my values, no opportunity to grow and develop, and toxic environments.

I want to help others recognize what is important to them and then pursue activities to support that. So, when I hear people thinking about making a huge shift in their career, I ask them to determine if what they are shifting to will be that activity to support what matters to them. Does this major career shift frame and support their legacy?

If the answer is “yes”, then go forth and do good. I will be your biggest cheerleader. If the answer is “I am not sure”, I encourage you to do more introspection along with trying things out on the side and interviewing others who have made a big career leap.

I have made a couple of slight career shifts in my day. I have not made big leaps. That may change one day as I consider my legacy more seriously. I have a friend who went back to law school in her 30’s as she wanted to be a lawyer. I have a friend who left corporate life to become a nurse in her late 40’s. She felt called to this profession after her husband went through a very trying physical condition.

I have tremendous respect for these two women who made a change they felt aligned to their legacy and then made it happen. I am sure you have people who have leaped or maybe you have. I would love to hear about those leaps.

I normally have a list of ideas and tips in each of my blogs. I have some short words of advice I can offer when you are thinking about making a huge change.

1. Write down your legacy.

Before considering your major leap, take some time and reflect on your legacy. What do you want to be known for when you are 80? What will make you proud when you look back on your life? What will matter to you when you are 80? Take some time and journal about these items. Then, brainstorm what might help you fulfill these feelings.

2. Be comfortable with your finances.

I am the first one to say that money isn’t everything. However, (there is a “but” here) don’t leave yourself in a stressful situation if you want to quit your day job and open that florist shop or start your own freelance marketing business. Make sure you are comfortable not earning a ton of money to start. Make sure your spouse or partner is also okay with this plan. There is loads of advice out there as to how much you should have in the bank. I think this is personal. For me, I would want to know I could live for a year comfortably without breaking a sweat. Others have a lower risk set point. Decide what you are comfortable with and make sure your finances are in order.

3. Take a calculated risk but take the risk.

I am risk-averse. I think my husband would tell you that is an understatement. I do think good ideas and dreams that align with your legacy are worth the risk. Some of us (okay, me) can get stuck in analysis or “what-if” scenarios to a point where the decision is to do nothing. If you are committed and passionate, find a way to take a risk. I have shared this advice before but start your dream on the side. Offer your services pro bono as a way to start or take the leap if you have a decent business plan and savings in the bank. I think I am too conservative when it comes to risk-taking. Some are worth the risk; don’t get paralyzed by scenario spinning. Many of us are ready to cheer you on.

4. Get a support network.

Not everyone is a fan of support groups. I am not suggesting we have a Corporate Workers Anonymous (CWA) group, although I would be willing to start one if others would join! Find others who are trying to do similar things you are and connect with them. Talk on the phone, have a virtual coffee, or get a group together. I love MeetUp as a connection tool or Facebook Groups as a mechanism to pull people together. If you want to leave your corporate job and be a consultant, find others who are doing that. If you want to be a freelance writer, find other freelance writers. If you want to open an animal rescue, find those kindred spirits. Connecting with others can give you advice but also needed validation that everything will be okay.

5. Live your legacy.

Regardless if you take a risk and make a major career change, find ways to journal about your legacy and live it. Even if your job doesn’t feed your legacy, maybe your volunteer work, side hustle or family life can. The important thing to remember is not everyone’s “job” is their life and legacy. If you can marry your career to your legacy, fantastic. If not, live your legacy in other ways but let it sit on a page. Go for it.

Many people have decided now is the time to think about what matters. Oftentimes, a crisis will push us to take stock of our lives — a crisis or a milestone birthday! Any time is a great time to think about what matters. As we round into the last stretch of the year, I find this time of year is the best for me to take stock and think about my legacy and how I am living to create it. I wish everyone can find the headspace to discover their legacy and realize it.