Are you one of the many people who are looking for more fulfillment in your career? According to a new survey from Norwich Union almost 50% of all forty-somethings in the UK are planning for a more ‘compassionate’ career by the time they’re 45.
Two thirds of those interviewed said they were "unfulfilled", "miserable" or "drifting" in their jobs. (Even more in Scotland – 70% said they were dissatisfied.) And more than half said they’d happily earn less money in a job that made them feel better about themselves.
This trend, labelled ‘zenployment’ may also reflect our thoughts on a longer period of ‘retirement’, with people making different and more exciting plans for a second career rather than going to live in a cottage in the country.
Of course moving into a second career – especially stepping down financially – is less than totally easy and people acknowledged that financial commitments, lack of training and also fear of failure might be holding them back… at least temporarily. One of the most interesting findings (for me) was that people are taking this business seriously, with ‘the road to zenployment’ taking an average of 9 years. The researchers found that 36 was the typical age that people started to prepare for their second career, to plan for more fulfillment in the second half of their life.
That’s probably about right - I’d say 36 was about the time most of the ‘second career’ people I know (self included) started working towards their new future. Working with a life coach can make a huge difference as you work through that path to zenployment – helping you to explore your options, to identify what action you need to take and when, to work out the values that are most important to you and that you want to feature more importantly in the ‘second half’, to expand your map of the world and help you to realise just what might be possible…
If you are already on or just starting the path to zenployment do get in touch if you think a life coach could help – just e-mail me at joanna@coachingwizardry.com.
It would also be great to hear from other second career people out there. What age were you when you started to plan for the next chapter? How long did the path to zenployment take you? What’s it like now you’re there?!
Joanna,
I probably am one of those who fled the workforce to create more in my life.
To answer your question – “What’s it like now”, really, it’s the best decision I ever made. Probably, the most courageous as well because there were a lot of factors that went into finally making that decision. Also the reason why most people only think about it and never take the plunge. I always say “the best way to predict the future is to invent it”. We truly ARE the authors of our own life, or should I say we have been given the power to author our lives, if only we will recognise that power, and use it.
It’s all about growth. We are either growing, or ‘wasting’ and choosing to stay in an unfulfilled environment is ‘wasting’.
Everyday, I wake up I am grateful that I gathered that courage to ‘take the path less trodden’.
Margaret NTIFO
Thank you so much Margaret for this and your other comment – beautifully put.
“the best way to predict the future is to invent it” is a great mantra to hold on to. I think this is a theme we’ll keep on coming back to.
Joanna
I agree with both of you. I might have started this second career earlier than the norm but I’m so glad I’ve done it. More relaxed lifestyle, more freedom, doing a job that I love and growing and learning new things every day. I wouldn’t have it any other way. And like both of you, I’m so pleased I took the path less trodden.
I love ‘the best way to predict the future is to invent it’. It’s just inspired me to do a post on it.
Hi Emma
Margaret’s comment was inspiring wasn’t it? This is one of the things I love best about blogs, how the comments and ideas and interactions connect up and intertwine, helping us to tell our stories…
Joanna
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