Yes, it is true. Career coaches can feel lost too at times.
As I am coming up on my first full year of self-employment, I'm noticing that the last few months have felt overwhelming. As a solopreneur, I wear a lot of hats in my business. Not only do I have to deliver my services as the coach but I also have to run and market my business as the business owner.
This juggling act feels stressful. My attention is being pulled in many different directions at the same time and I don't feel like I am making meaningful progress in any one direction.
My clients often share this same feeling of stress, distraction, and overwhelm trying to navigate career growth while keeping up with the "busyness" of life.
I'm feeling so overwhelmed that I forget why I started this job search process in the first place. I forget what I want.
Does this sound familiar to you? Are you at that moment in your career where you are wondering what you want to do next? Do you feel distracted by all the options? Do you feel like you aren't making the progress you want to be making in your career? Are you too busy to focus on your job and your career?
It is in moments like these when I have to stop and ask the important questions like "What am I doing?", "What is my goal here?", and "Why am I doing this in the first place?" These clarifying questions serve as my North Star. They help me get back on track. They help me reconnect to my mission of helping people create fulfilling careers. They help me focus my attention on what is truly important so I can let go of distracting and disempowering thoughts.
What Is Your North Star?
The significance of the North Star metaphor is that the star is a fixed point in the sky that sailors historically used to help them navigate the ocean. By looking up and finding the North Star they could reorient themselves and get back on course. It helped them realign their ship to their desired destination.
If you are feeling a little lost as you try and navigate to your desired career destination then now is a good time to hit pause and reflect on your North Star.
To help you identify your North Star I have created a list of questions I use with clients to help them remember what they want and why they want it. Their answers serve as guideposts to help them make career decisions aligned with what they truly want.
What is motivating you to succeed?
Why do you do what you do?
Why is your work important to you?
What impact do you want to have on the world?
What difference do you want to make for people?
What example do you want to set for others?
What do you enjoy doing?
What parts of your work energize you?
What do you want to be known for?
These questions should serve as a good starting point to help you reconnect with what you want, why you want it, and the person you want to be moving forward. The next step will be to take the actions you need to take to create the career you want.
CALL TO ACTION
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If you are interested in working with me to create a more fulfilling career then schedule a free consultation at MGC Coaching.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mo Chanmugham, Esq., CPCC, ACC is a former entertainment lawyer turned executive career coach and the founder of MGC Coaching. He helps ambitious professionals who are feeling stuck gain the clarity and confidence they need to create more fulfilling careers.