What does your future look like?
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Trapped on the treadmill of billable hours, juggling the competing demands of clients, ominous threats that AI will reduce lawyers to button pushing monkeys, and limp sandwiches at networking events, may have led you to wake up and realise that you do not like your job, or be wondering exactly where your career is heading.
Such insecurities are not the preserve of young lawyers, most managing partners and CEO’S do not have a clear plan for what’s next when they have finished coaxing and cajoling their colleagues.
It’s no coincidence that recruitment agencies have a surge of C.Vs in January and February when discontents resolve to change firms in the hope of a better future. There is a strong risk however that moving to a new job without a clear focus on what you really want from your long term career will quickly result in a sinking feeling that you’ve simply swapped one treadmill for another.
So how can you align your efforts to move towards a fulfilling future? To stop the cycle of lunging from one overwhelmed and exhausting day to another here are some questions to consider?
1. What is it specifically that you want to change and why?
2. On a scale of 1 – 10, ( 1 low – 10 high) How important is it to you to make a change?
3. If not a 10, are you truly committed to the change you described in Q.1?
4. Is now the right time for you to make a real change?
5. Do you enjoy the type of work that you do? If not what kind of work do you want to do?
6. Do you like the clients that you work for, and feel that your work is appreciated by them?
7. If not, what kind of clients do you want to work with, and where will you find them?
8. How much time do you want to work?
9. How much time do you want to spend with your family and friends?
10. How much time do you need to pursue interests other than work?
11. Do you feel that your work is fulfilling and contributes to your happiness?
12. If not, what are you going to do about it and when ?
If you answer these questions honestly, they will help you to identify what is important to you and you can begin to focus on what you need to change in order to design the career you want.
Every day is a new opportunity for growth, you have the capacity to shape and reshape your life in any given moment. It is important to create space for thoughts and behaviours that will serve you better, and you are the only person responsible for developing the changes you need to lead a more fulfilling career.
Kimberley Williams
©Williams Wroe
