You have three potential career paths...

If you’re in an active job search, you may be trying to find that one perfect path or that one perfect role to jump into. And you're all up in your head about making this super important decision. It's a life-changing decision.

I see you and I know you’re frustrated. Let's release that pressure valve just a wee bit.

Let me be clear: There is no one perfect path for you. There is not one right next step.

You have a lot of options. There are many paths, many roles that could work. And it will take getting into action around these options to figure out which will be the best fit.

In my own career transition, I tried three different paths before I landed on coaching. All at once, I experimented with digital marketing consulting (the safe path), a baby registry startup called Rock That Registry (I even had the coolest logo) and Coaching (which felt scary, but also like a calling).

I started heading down all of these paths at one time and within months I realized I had the most momentum and drive on the coaching path. I let the other two fade away and doubled down on my coach training and business building.

As a coach, I later read the book Designing Your Life, by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, which offers up an approach that marries design thinking and career pathing. I was stunned to see this strategy of choosing three paths was one they recommend as part of their process.

Well, hey, I just did that instinctively which reinforced for me that I'm pretty good at all this career transition stuff. Another clue that helped me decide to work with women making similar transitions.

Many of my clients feel guilty about leaving a career path they've been on for quite awhile. So, I encourage them to choose the safe path, a similar role to what they have now as one of their three paths. Their bodies always let them know if they want to continue down this path.

On my safe path, I would look down at the digital marketing proposals I was writing and say...I don't want to do this work! I felt dread in my bones before sharing it with the client. I listened to my body on this one.

If we work together, I will help you identify your three paths that may change over time.

One may fade and a new one may enter as you continue to have conversations and explore.

I love this approach because it feels broad enough that you can experiment and play in your search and structured enough that you don’t feel untethered and overwhelmed by too many options.

Feel free to write back to let me know what you’re thinking about for your three paths and if you’d like to get some support in expanding your mind to go beyond the safe things you’ve always done - you can also book a complimentary Clarity Call to discuss at rachelbgarrett.com/clarity.