His comment made me laugh – and startled me out of the frame that was still shaping my thoughts, even after my unpredictable career moves, development of coaching skills, insights from the world of NLP into the impact of limiting beliefs… yes even after all that one powerful metaphor still had a hold on me, namely that a career can only go one of two ways, up, or down. 

How about a new, and more resourceful frame, that frees us to make career choices based on what we love, what we’re good at, the way we want to live, the contribution we want to make, the patterns we discern about our purpose in life, rather than bumping up and down in a metaphorical elevator created by other people. 

A different narrative that frees us to discover what happens when you step out of the lift and set off on a different
path, taking a spiral staircase maybe, or a flying carpet to adventures new…

It’s not everyone that wants or is able to change their career or move job.  There are lots of other things that individuals can do to change the ‘relationship’ that they have with their job, work, career, ‘the office’.  And lots of things that enlightened employers can do to keep their employees satisfied and motivated in the ‘second half’ of their working lives – rather than risk them walking out the door.  Working with a coach can help you work out what those ‘magic’ ingredients are for you – and how to make them happen in your place of work.

Some examples:

Add some ‘giving’ into your job.  Over 25% of people in the zenployment survey wanted their current employers to provide them with the opportunity to do unrelated charity, or pro bono work in their field. 

Figure out what you’re working for.  This isn’t necessarily what your employer tells you it’s about, but rather what your job is doing for you.  Maybe it’s financial freedom, security for your family, enough time to pursue other interests outside of work, a good social network.  Try focusing on what the job gives you that you wouldn’t otherwise have – rather than expecting to find all the ‘meaning’ in the job itself

Change the way you work.  That might be around doing less of it – what would a better work life balance do for you?  Or changing the things that you make time for when you’re there: a phone conversation rather than e-mail?  a sandwich away from  your desk rather than over your pc?  time to chat to friends, colleagues, peers, your team?  What are the things that would help shift your state from "dissatisfied" to "satisfied"?

Redefine what you do.  If there is nothing  you can do to change the material circumstances how about changing the way you think about the job, how you describe it to yourself and others.  What job title would make you feel better about yourself?  What would make it seem like fun again?

Anyway that’s just some quick ideas in response to the thought that’s been bubbling round my head today (‘yes but not everyone wants the upheaval of changing their jobs’).  Any other tried and tested suggestions and solutions out there that have brought your work and career back to life?

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?!