The Career Advice That Took Me 20 Years to Truly Understand

Years ago, a client asked me what’s the #1 thing you can do to grow your career? I responded with a list of Type A personality action items. My client shook his head and said – “No. The best thing you can do is take time off to pause and reflect.”

That advise has stuck with me since I first heard it over 20 years ago. I’m not saying I’ve always followed it, but when I did, I’ve noticed a shift. A shift in my energy. A shift in my approach to the work I do. And a shift in how I show up. 

Sometimes the shifts were significant and other times subtle. But as someone who’s always looking for ways to grow and move forward with purpose, I value the shifts. 

This is why each year; I spend time looking for not only activities to grow my skills but also opportunities to pause. Reflect. Recharge. 

Be open to possibilities

When you prioritize you, cool things happen. 

At the end of last summer, I was sitting on my deck, scrolling through Facebook, and came across a post about the Clarity Course. It seemed to jump off the screen, and I immediately began watching the videos and searching through the website to learn more. As I continued to read it was obvious this course was a perfect fit for me. 

The course wasn’t promising to teach you a specific set of skills. Nor was it designed for a particular occupation. Rather, the course was all about helping women get clarity on the next chapter of their life – whatever that looks like. 

I quickly signed up, not knowing any of the participants or even the curriculum. I said yes based solely on a gut reaction. 

Get out of your comfort zone

Reverting to my Type A roots, I was ready to tackle the course material with gusto. I set aside time to watch the videos and do the assignments. 

But unlike other courses, the core purpose was to be. Be with my thoughts. Be with the content provided. Just be. 

We were instructed to watch the week’s videos – then be. Go for a walk. Eat dinner. Just be. The reason – by just being instead of doing it allowed for much needed time to reflect on the material.  

This was a new concept for me. Instead of jumping in and getting to work, I was being tasked to pause, reflect, be. Just like my client had advised me all those years ago. 

Change comes where you least expect it

The Clarity Course ended with a one-week retreat at a chateau in the countryside of France. While France is a truly beautiful country, and I did have time to explore some incredible sites, the purpose of the week was to carve time out of our busy lives to once again – pause, reflect and be. 

As part of our retreat, we spent two full days workshopping through the material. As a workshop facilitator who helps people gain the skills they need to communicate with confidence, I often come armed with a power point, videos and activities. 

This course was much different. Our time in the workshops involved quiet contemplation, intimate chats and walks through the forest. The entire retreat was set up to take the daily demands off our plate so we could be present with ourselves and each other. 

The result. Some incredible aha moments that I’ve sat with many times since my return. Aha moments that wouldn’t have been possible in a state of busyness. Aha moments that have been the impetus for some significant shifts in not only the work I do and how I show up but also the direction I’m taking in my career. 

Pause, reflect, be

As a reformed Type A personality, it’s taken me awhile to truly appreciate and actualize my client’s sage advice. I admit, I started slowly, with baby steps, always wanting to speed up the process. 

This doesn’t mean I still don’t take traditional courses to improve my skill sets. But what it has done is given me the space and clarity to ensure the courses are aligned with the future I’m planning – on my own terms. 

Since returning from France, I’ve shifted my focus to growing my speaking business – ideally to full-time. I’ve signed up for a speakers’ master mind where I’m connecting with other professional speakers while learning how to better market myself to event organizers. 

While this was a step I’ve been pondering for the last year, stepping out of my daily grind to pause, reflect and be helped me have greater clarity on the steps I want and need to take to make this a reality. 

As a self-employed mom of two teenagers, over the years I’ve had many reasons why I couldn’t hit pause. But I also realized that if I wanted to change my path, I needed to take the time needed to reflect and regroup. 

I encourage you to look at ways you can pause, reflect and be. While it might not involve a couple of weeks in France (although it is an amazing experience), what are the baby steps you can take? Is it spending 30 minutes on your lunch break sitting outside with no agenda other than being? Or mediating for 2 minutes? Or even just giving yourself 5 minutes during a busy workday to pause and breathe?

It took me 20+ years to carve out a full two weeks for myself. Seeing the benefits of this commitment, I’m not planning to wait other 20 years to do it again. Who knows where my next adventure will take me and the positive benefits that result to my personal and professional life? I’m excited to see what’s next.