Outgrowing your career happens to the best of us. Different than career burnout, it is what happens when you’ve reached just about every goal pertaining to your career. When we begin our careers, we do so with stars in our eyes. But sometimes, we go beyond those stars while hitting benchmarks we’ve never dreamed of. So what comes next? What can you do to continue in your career, even when it seems like there’s nothing else to achieve? I’ve got six things that you can do to revitalize and reinvigorate your career when you’ve outgrown it. Peep my list and see if any of the items on it meet your needs:
Write a Book
Writing a book just isn’t for known authors these days. With the help of social media and self publishing, anyone can write a book. And if you write one on your own that does well, it can be picked up by a major publishing house, which can create a book deal for you (see Fifty Shades of Grey author E.L. James). You can write a book about your career while giving a bird’s eye view to the reader. Share your experience, case studies, and knowledge about your job and do so in a way that is thought provoking and enjoyable for the reader. This can open up a bevy of additional opportunities for you in your career field while possibly creating an additional income.
Become an Expert
Since you are good at what it is you do, you can become an expert in your field. In addition to writing a book, you can join the speaking circuit as an expert in that genre, sharing the wealth of information you’ve learned over the years. This especially comes in handy at trade shows and conferences, organizational meetings, associations, and so much more. You can do so locally by approaching local chamber of commerce and businesses, or on a wide scale nationally or even globally. Hiring a PR person can also assist you in booking speaking gigs and such.
Change the Game
I am huge on changing the game. This can be done by creating new practices and ways to do things in your field. For instance, when I was a HR Manager in my former corporate life, I was huge on Personal Development and working with my employees on a one-on-one basis to make sure they met their personal as well as professional goals. That is how I became a proponent of Work Life Balance, something I talk about at length on this website. Look within your profession to adopt new strategies that can help change the game. This can also bring the passion back into your career.
Share Your Knowledge
Use social media to share your knowledge. Create social channels that will allow you to communicate and reach others who are in your field or interested in making a career in your genre. Create videos to share on You Tube to help and inspire others. Perhaps develop a mailing list to share tips and tools. Doing all of this will help you become a sought out expert in your career and will also help you give back to others since you are paying it forward.
Mentor
Mentoring always helps you personally and professionally. It can also give you a sense of accomplishment while perhaps revitalizing your career efforts.
Start Consulting
I always say the more income streams, the better. Now that you are an expert in your career field, you can use that to your advantage as a consultant. And you can do so while still working your 9-5. Consulting others in your career field will not only earn you additional dollars, but help you put to use those years of experience. And who knows? This could grow into an opportunity that will allow you to expand and go out on your own if you so desire. There comes a time where we all feel we’ve outgrown our careers.
I hope these six things to do when you’ve outgrown your career give spark some new ideas for you.
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