Where do I start with finding a new career direction?
If you’re struggling with direction in your career right now, this reflection activity can be a great starting point to inspire your next chapter. By Jacqui Ooi.
I read an article in the Sydney Morning Herald recently that talked about the role of heroes in our careers, and it got me thinking about who my heroes are and how they’ve influenced my career choices.
When I was younger, my heroes were definitely in the musical arena. I wanted to be Janet Jackson (or one of her dancers would have sufficed!) and even went to a performing arts high school… but that dream fell by the wayside after school finished and I became a journalist instead.
Then in my 20s, I wanted to be Angelina Jolie, travelling the world with the UN supporting refugees. It might sound flippant but I had a genuine interest in that space (still do) and seeing her in that role really inspired me. I wanted an adventurous life and I wanted to help people, and so I did end up changing careers, from magazines to the international aid sector, and worked for a global children’s charity for nearly eight years (that’s me, pictured above, with some colleagues on a work trip to Uganda).
Now my heroes tend to be women in politics and women bravely speaking up for change, and also women who aren’t afraid to live their lives a little differently. This influenced my latest career shift to step away from office life and work for myself, and ultimately led me to start What She Did Next to support other women on their career change journeys.
Over to you…
So if you’re struggling with direction in your career right now, have a think about who your heroes are. It might just give you some clues about the choices, attributes and achievements in life that matter to you – which, in turn, can help you see who you want to be.
As the article says:
“A hero represents a possible self… They can foster hope and aspiration. They inspire us to action, and can be a touchstone or reference point when developing and pursuing our career goals.”
The best part is, we’re seeing women all around us now doing incredible things and choosing different ways to live and work. So ask yourself, who do you admire? It could be a friend, family member or someone else out there in the world. Go with your top-of-mind thoughts and be honest about why they inspire you, then consider how this could shape your next chapter.
Jacqui Ooi is the founder of What She Did Next and creator of the Career Change Kickstarter course, teaching proven strategies to help women navigate change and build careers they love.
