What is your story?
As I have come to believe by now, when you truly take a fresh direction that fits you, it vibrates bit by bit into your life. Gives renewed energy in little moments. A sense of challenge. New adventure.
First, it bubbles up gently from an underlying recognition of what matters to you now. Even if you don’t have it wholly formed in words or vision. You sense it. It’s the little nugget you observe and note instead of ignore.
I’m learning*(see notes) to read comic strips through L.E. Mullin who publishes The Flight of the Condor each Sunday on Substack. He recently posted about his process: That’s how some stories begin, not just this one. You come up with a simple idea, and then you start adding elements that feel right for the atmosphere. And before you know it, you have a story.
Maybe in fact, that’s not so different than finding a fresh direction. You have the idea – and you simply go with it a while. See where the story takes you.
Now, I know you may tell me it is not such a logical or rational way to plan your career. I challenge you here, as I have myself: did your path go in a logical way so far? Did it open up exactly as you imagined when you were 20? When the horizon widened, did you always encounter the predicted landscape? Did your career story ever have a turning point?
I wish someone had described professional choices to me as an unfolding story, back when I started. Expect crossroads, forks and turning points as often as smooth sailing. When the best choice is not clear. Make it anyway. Take it as an adventure. Pay attention to the little moments telling you who you are.
With this in mind, I have also asked myself how many fresh directions a person can really handle?
Well. Lifetimes are getting longer and so I guess we will take more fresh directions than previously. We already see that in Baby Boomers as they retire: they feel well and are active – and often getting bored. Or they’re worried about financing their lives for a longer time than predicted. And so, they are still out exploring.
The rewards of new stories
What I wish for us all professionally is that at every age and life stage, you have the great pleasure of doing work that feels fulfilling. That it vibrates with the rest of your life as it evolves.
That someone around you recognizes the way you are doing it, what it contributes and how it shows your personality, your strengths. Including your eccentricity and occasional mistakes.
That your fresh directions honor your persistence and value you exactly for being who you are over a whole lifetime.
And that starts, in no small measure, with noticing an idea and having the curiosity – not to mention the courage – to follow it. Let’s see how this unfolds!
Notes
* Two languages I never thought I would learn: German and comic strip. 🙂 Thank you to L.E. Mullin. Deeply felt illustrations explained with a wry smile and more than a few surprises. I start to understand. (You can find my growing collection of visual storytellers on the Modern Careers Substack page titled Stuff on the side. )
