Next step in a Career Pivot – Life Event Reflection

We have completed a career reflection but there is more to life than just work.

Every time we make a change in our lives, whether it be job change, marriage, divorce, births, deaths, medical emergencies, catastrophes, or any other life changing event — the filters come down and we have a moment of clarity.  Each time those filters come down we have the opportunity to learn something about ourselves.  We can learn what is really important to us at those times. The problem is those filters go back up quickly.

I have had multiple moments of clarity.

• I ruptured the L4/L5 disk in my back in December of 1992. I decided to take three months off on disability to recover and not get an operation.  I was an IBM employee and during the time off IBM was near bankruptcy. I came back to work in early April of 1993 with complete clarity. I had multiple epiphanies when I came back and decided to make a jump from training into a sales department.
• My bicycle accident which I chronicled earlier left me wondering why I was placed on this earth.  I then planned my career pivot to teaching high school math.
• The day my son was born.  The following year was amazing and I made multiple personal changes during that time.
• Getting married.  I have been married for 30 years to my lovely bride Lotus. The first year was difficult. I learned an immense amount about myself and what I wanted in life and relationship.

I encourage you to write down every major event in your life and then write what you learned from the experience.  Include these with your career reflection.  Do you see a pattern?  Did you repeat mistakes or have to learn the same lesson twice.

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Marc Miller Career Design Specialist