Planning Your Career Road Trip
Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash
If you're like me, you like the idea of going on a road trip. The actual planning for the trip is a little less exciting. Whenever I think about a road trip, I think of driving on the open road, singing my favorite songs at or near the top of my lungs, the windows down – breathing fresh air, and stopping at all of the wonderful pit stops along the way. Thinking about previous journeys fills me with nostalgia – even the ones where nearly everything went wrong. What I never seem to want to do, however, is sit down and map out the trip's details. Typically, I'm more of a "Let's just figure it out along the way" type person. In retrospect, it rarely works out well if I don't put a modicum of effort into preparing for the upcoming adventure. Having little desire to plan for a trip that I want to go on made me reflect on our career journeys. Many people I connect with treat their career trips with the figure-it-out-along-the-way mentality – which may prevent them from getting where they want to go in their careers.
I thought about putting a list together of the top 3 ways to plan your career journey, but in the ultimate irony, I decided to play it by ear and see how it goes!
First, just like planning vacations, so many people get stuck thinking of all the places their careers can go. And in today's world, there are truly many options. Covid, in part, has helped to facilitate The Great Resignation, where droves of people are leaving their current jobs to start new careers, retire, take a break, or follow their life's passion. All of this means that, to quote Shakespeare, "The world is your oyster." The career possibilities are endless, and those options can be paralyzing. So when I'm talking to people about their final career destinations, I encourage them to think differently. What if, whatever end destination you chose, you were going to be 100% wrong on how you got there, and there was a 50% chance you'd even get there? Now, don't get me wrong, some of you may want to do exactly what you're doing, which means that there's a good chance you know how to get there. However, the point I try to make is that, in many ways, it doesn't matter what you choose because there will be detours, roadblocks, bad weather, and scenic bypasses along the way that may point you in a completely different direction than you had initially planned. What's important is that you make a decision. You need to decide out of the multitude of options the few roads you want to travel down. The choice is essential because you have to get out of your head and onto the street at some point.
Second, you've decided where you want to go, now what are the steps you need to take to get there? For the road trip, you'd likely determine where you want to spend the nights – at hotels, in an RV, at a bed & breakfast, or a vacation rental. You'd also ensure you had enough money for the journey. You would pack clothes that were appropriate for the weather. You might call some friends to let them know you were going to be near them so that you could meet up for dinner, etc. This seems logical when we think about going on road trips, but when I'm having career discussions, rarely has the person put the same efforts into their career trip. For your career trip, you might need a navigator – e.g., a mentor that can help you prepare for some of the potholes in the road. You might need the appropriate clothes – i.e., additional training or certifications to demonstrate appropriate knowledge and expertise in a particular area. You might need a travel companion – e.g., a coach that can give you a pep talk when you're sitting in rush hour traffic and no one seems to be moving. You may need engine coolant – to cool down the engine when things are running hot, or maybe you just need to know where the rest stops are along the way so that you can pull over and regain your bearings. The point is, you need to take a moment, even if it's a brief one, to map out the journey and even determine potential contingency plans.
Third, you've decided where you want to go, you've planned for the trip, and now it's time to start the journey. You'd be surprised how many people get in the car and throw the directions out the window. After all that work! Some people do it, and it works out just fine. Others end up needing to turn around a few miles down the road, and pick them up again and restart the journey. While a few others, keep the directions right by their side and follow them step by step. I'm not here to tell you one is more right than the other, only that you do have options. But I am telling you to determine a path and go.
So what final advice would I give you before you go?
I find that it's good to have a Plan, but it's better to have a Plan B.
It's good to have plans that can flex, but it's better if you're flexible.
Plan for sunny weather, hope for light traffic, but pack for a rain and standstill traffic.
Wherever you decide to go, there will be obstacles – I can almost guarantee it. But, if you get into the car knowing there will be bad weather somewhere along the way, somehow, it prepares you for it. That preparation gives you a mental edge. But don't forget the navigator. Rely on your travel companion. Wear the appropriate clothes – you can wear shorts in the freezing show, but I'd recommend a coat – and a shovel!
I guess it did end up being three ways to plan for your journey! How fortuitous!
Coach Ha-Keem
You're Worth It!
For more tips, check out my book, “You’re Worth It! Navigating Your Career in Corporate America,” or go to my website, CoachHa-Keem.com.
