Did you have a pivotal moment of "committing" to your career?

[Anonymous]

If so - how old were you, what were you doing, and what difference did committing make?

[Anonymous]

I'm 38 and it's happening right now. I've changed career paths slightly, but to something similar so no need to go back to school or anything like that. It's too soon to know the total difference it has made but I already feel better about work than I have in a long time. It's like everything I was doing before was a collection of experiences I needed to have so I'd know what my ideal career really was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 38 and it's happening right now. I've changed career paths slightly, but to something similar so no need to go back to school or anything like that. It's too soon to know the total difference it has made but I already feel better about work than I have in a long time. It's like everything I was doing before was a collection of experiences I needed to have so I'd know what my ideal career really was.

Did you just start a new job? Or did you commit mid-job? Can you share what industry you're in, and any other specifics? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 38 and it's happening right now. I've changed career paths slightly, but to something similar so no need to go back to school or anything like that. It's too soon to know the total difference it has made but I already feel better about work than I have in a long time. It's like everything I was doing before was a collection of experiences I needed to have so I'd know what my ideal career really was.

Did you just start a new job? Or did you commit mid-job? Can you share what industry you're in, and any other specifics? Thanks!

Yes, Just started a new job! Went from consulting to doing similar work but on the client side. For a long time I had been mad at myself for not being "happy" when nothing was objectively wrong with my career but for some reason I never felt committed to what I was doing and didn't want to grow there. Now I do and I'm realizing that I just needed some tweaks to get to a better place, but I never would've known what needed tweaking without having had my prior experiences if that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

PP here, I should add that I had a brief break between these jobs. That was instrumental for me in gathering myself together and reflecting and deciding to make a move and a real change, not just doing more of the same. Not everyone needs that but I did.

[Anonymous]

I feel like I'm going through this now and trying to figure it out. I am a lawyer buy t I do policy/government relations, and I'm trying to find a new position but I'm having a lot of trouble figuring the right fit. I'm in my early 30s.

[Anonymous]

No, but I had an Office Space moment recently and have been calling in sick since.

[Anonymous]

I feel a bit on the brink of this. I'm 36 and was recently promoted to a more senior position which both is engaging me with more interesting work and challenging me to demonstrate my value at high levels. I'm a 'rise to the challenge' type person, and now that the challenge is there, I'm happily digging in. It's been fun, and I hope I can keep up the momentum.

Prior to this point I was a valued employee performing high quality work, but I was bored and largely coasting, challenging neither myself or the status quo at my organization (which was fine, as I had babies and toddlers on my hands and was a bit of a sleep-deprived mess).

[Anonymous]

When I received tenure at 36 yrs old. I hope to teach until I'm 70.

[Anonymous]

I had a few times where I prioritized family (or "work/life balance") over my career, but last year, at 47, I got a chance to move into a new area leading a team of fairly senior people. Less time with the family, more time working after hours, but the kids are older and it's an interesting position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel a bit on the brink of this. I'm 36 and was recently promoted to a more senior position which both is engaging me with more interesting work and challenging me to demonstrate my value at high levels. I'm a 'rise to the challenge' type person, and now that the challenge is there, I'm happily digging in. It's been fun, and I hope I can keep up the momentum.

Prior to this point I was a valued employee performing high quality work, but I was bored and largely coasting, challenging neither myself or the status quo at my organization (which was fine, as I had babies and toddlers on my hands and was a bit of a sleep-deprived mess).

Are you me? I'm also 36 and also experiencing the same.

[Anonymous]

I'm in a medical career. I've always loved the science and challenge. Sometimes there's frustration dealing with a few patients. I think statistics say half of the people with whom I graduated moved to other careers.

When I realized I was doing for a living what I had elaborately coerced my friends into playing with me for years, I felt renewed and committed, besides feeling that the work itself is rewarding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but I had an Office Space moment recently and have been calling in sick since.

I feel this so hard. It's happened to me after committing and getting stomped on.