In the hustle of our day-to-day routines, it’s easy to let our careers fall into predictable patterns, to become “comfortable” in roles that don’t truly inspire us. But what if there’s more to our potential than the familiar paths we see around us? What if, in the words of poet Mary Oliver, you stopped to ask, “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” This question nudges us toward introspection and serves as a reminder that our career choices should not only provide financial stability but also give our lives purpose, excitement, and meaning.
At Finding Next, we believe that true career fulfillment comes from uncovering the opportunities that others often overlook. By helping clients see through a fresh lens, we invite them to reimagine their paths and unlock their full potential. Our proprietary process, Deciphering You: A 3-Step Journey to Finding Next, takes you on a transformative journey of discovery, one that leads to a career aligned with your unique strengths and values. So, if you’re ready to turn the page to a new chapter in your career story, let’s dive in and explore how shifting your perspective can lead to powerful opportunities.
A Fresh Perspective on Career Choices
The key to a meaningful career shift often lies in seeing opportunities where others don’t. Most of us are conditioned to view career change through a lens of limitations—thinking about the skills we lack, the job security we’re giving up, or the age bias we may encounter. But imagine reframing these “limitations” as doors waiting to be opened. At Finding Next, we’ve seen firsthand how this shift in mindset can turn perceived obstacles into stepping stones. By helping clients view their experiences, passions, and aspirations from a new angle, we enable them to find career paths that are rich with possibilities.
Consider this: if every person has a unique set of talents, interests, and life experiences, why should career paths look the same for everyone? Our approach at Finding Next is about revealing those distinctive patterns within you that can lead to career fulfillment. Through our three-step journey—Helix, Prism, and Constellation—we guide you in defining what matters most, clarifying where you are now, and illuminating a career path that is both practical and deeply meaningful.
Deciphering You: A Journey to Career Fulfillment
Our Deciphering You process is designed to help you break free from conventional career molds and uncover new ways of thinking about your professional life. Each step is an invitation to look at your career from a fresh, insightful perspective.
Step 1: Discover Your Essence with Helix
In the Helix phase, we help you dive into the essence of what makes you uniquely you. Like the DNA helix that holds the blueprint of each person, this phase unearths the personal qualities, values, and experiences that shape who you are. By understanding these core elements, you’re able to see not only what you excel at but also what brings you joy and purpose. When you recognize that your career doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s, it frees you to explore paths that might initially seem unconventional but align with your true self.
Many of our clients who come into the Helix phase are grappling with a fear of change or a lack of clarity about their direction. But through this introspective journey, they begin to understand that their unique strengths are precisely what make them valuable in ways others might not see. The Helix phase is about empowering you to think beyond the limits of traditional career advice and uncover opportunities that reflect your individuality.
Step 2: Evaluate Your Position with Prism
The Prism phase centers on examining your current position in life and career. Just as light passing through a prism reveals a spectrum of colors, this phase helps you gain a multi-dimensional view of where you are now. By looking at your current skills, relationships, and aspirations, we help you gain clarity about how these elements align (or don’t align) with your goals. Here, we identify gaps, recognize strengths you may have overlooked, and explore how these can serve as the building blocks of your next step.
In Prism, you’ll start to see new possibilities in your present situation. Rather than viewing your career as a series of fixed choices, you’ll learn to appreciate it as a dynamic journey with multiple paths forward. This phase also addresses practical concerns, like financial stability or the need for new skills, providing a clear picture of the resources you have and those you need. With this clarity, career pivots, reboots, and even reinventions feel less like leaps of faith and more like deliberate, exciting choices.
Step 3: Illuminate Your Path with Constellation
Finally, we move to Constellation, a phase that symbolizes where you’re meant to be. Here, we bring together the insights from Helix and Prism to map out your future career direction. Much like stars connecting to form patterns in the night sky, this stage helps you align your values, skills, and aspirations into a career path that’s uniquely yours. The Constellation phase isn’t just about plotting your next job; it’s about designing a career that aligns with your “one wild and precious life.”
Clients in this phase often experience an identity shift. As they see the bigger picture of their career potential, they begin to let go of self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and fears of rejection. This phase emphasizes confidence, resilience, and the joy of moving toward a purpose-driven career. Whether you’re embracing a career change at 40 or exploring how to reboot your career after 50, Constellation offers the clarity and direction to make it happen
How Will You Fill the Pages of Your Life’s Story?
Thinking about your career as part of your life’s story encourages a long-term, purpose-driven perspective. Instead of seeing your career as a list of jobs or titles, imagine it as a narrative that reflects who you are, what you’ve overcome, and what you’re passionate about achieving. Finding Next encourages you to ask not only What can I do to make a living?butHow can I fill the pages of my life’s story with purpose and fulfillment?
Through this approach, our clients find that their career paths aren’t just about personal success but about contributing something valuable to the world. By discovering new ways to see their potential, they become open to careers they might never have considered—careers that allow them to make a meaningful impact.
Seeing the Unseen: A New Way Forward
The process of changing careers, especially mid-life, requires more than just updating your resume or brushing up on new skills. It calls for a transformation in how you see yourself and your possibilities. At Finding Next, we’re dedicated to giving you a fresh perspective on your career journey. Our blog is here to provide insights, tools, and success stories that illuminate unconventional strategies for seeing and seizing the opportunities that are often hidden in plain sight.
Embrace Your Journey with Finding Next
The journey to career fulfillment is one of self-discovery, resilience, and vision. By looking at your career through a new lens—one that reveals unseen opportunities—you can unlock a path that’s not only successful but also deeply meaningful. So, ask yourself: What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? At Finding Next, we’re here to help you answer that question in a way that feels true to you. Whether it’s through a career pivot, a complete reboot, or finding new ways to grow where you are, the possibilities are limitless. Let us guide you toward seeing, achieving, and thriving like never before.