With so many options beyond a job, how do you know which direction fits you?

It's not solved by thinking in your head

Perhaps...

A friend is teaching part-time at a university.

A colleague is a freelance photographer.

Your sibling runs a YouTube channel.

Some do this alongside their leadership jobs. Some worked in corporate and switched.

It seems there are so many more possibilities right now; if you can think of it, you can do it.

Sensing, not thinking

You've listened to podcasts, watched videos, and read books about alternative work options. There are so many to choose from.

And as a leader, you've accomplished countless projects and overcome complex challenges. You believe once you choose, you can make it work. Yet how do you know which one is right for you?

Photo by CarrieArtsy

You've been trying to work out in your head something you can only feel through experience.

At this stage, it's not about knowing the right direction. It's about sensing the direction.

Sensing the direction means having real experience and knowing how you feel about it. So you make choices not with your head only but with your heart too.

To sense your direction, pick one option and stay open to learning more. Just imagine you were a newly promoted manager and needed to hire a teammate.

You don't have much experience with hiring, but you need to try with one candidate. It may or may not be the right fit, but you'll learn to hire better and better.

That's the mindset you need to explore your direction too.

'HIRE' A DIRECTION

Write down your list of options on a piece of paper. Choose FIVE that you feel the strongest about: the five you find fun to try. You'll enjoy them anyway. Nothing to lose.

Then pick ONE from the FIVE. Use joy as a GPS.

Remember, it's an experiment, not permanent.

Choose one. It's ok.

Take 3 months. Like a probation. Test it.

Record what excites you and what doesn't. Break down the activities when you evaluate, so they become data points for finding your direction.

A direction, like a goal, is not definite. It's not fixed. You simply need one to act on consciously.

This is the third article about exploring while staying in your job. I'll talk about how to test what you pick later. Follow on so you don't miss it.

Hope this article inspires you. If it does, do share with others because

~ WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS ~