Are you looking to clarify your career purpose?

At some point in our working lives, most of us ask ourselves a deceptively simple question: “What am I here to do?” Not in a grandiose sense, but in a grounded, personal way. The truth is, career purpose isn’t a single destination, it evolves and matures with experience. And sometimes, it quietly waits for us to stop doing what we think we “should” do, so we can finally choose what we truly want to do.

After years of amassing skills, navigating roles, and collecting titles, it is easy to lose sight of your ‘why’. The career ladder turns into a treadmill, and you are achieving your objectives, but not feeling fulfilled. This is your signal, not of failure, but of readiness for a change. 

1️⃣Take time to stop and think: Knowing what you want to move away from is just as valuable as knowing where you want to go, and it creates space for fresh goals, value-aligned work, and a renewed sense of direction. 

2️⃣Understand your skills and values: Think beyond your job role and consider what you excel at, what energises you and what matters to you. These important elements are vital to fuel your next move and can be reshaped, refined and transformed into something more fulfilling than your current path.

3️⃣Set realistic but imperfect goals: There’s no such thing as a 'cast in stone' five-year plan due to situations, opportunities and the job market changing so fast. Instead, set short-term goals that are rooted in exploration, learning and growth. Whether it is venturing into a new industry, consulting, retraining, or pursuing a board role, progress doesn’t need to be linear, it just needs to be intentional and measurable. 

4️⃣Make one bold move: Purpose requires action. If you are waiting for clarity to arrive before you take your next step, consider this: it is often the step that brings clarity. Make new connections and have exploratory conversations, write that LinkedIn article, enrol in a new course or set up a new venture, as this will create the momentum needed to move forward. 

I did precisely this, stopping and deciding what gives me my sense of purpose, and it continues to evolve as I navigate the menopause, empty nest syndrome and the next fulfilling chapter of my career story, helping others to find their clarity. 

#careercoach #careercoaching #timeforachange #newrole