Ditch the Schedule

As a career and life coach, I often have people come to me – sometimes in tears – saying that their life isn’t on track because they haven’t achieved all they thought they should have by now.

• Often they’re comparing themselves to their own expectations: I am 28 and I thought that I would have graduated and secured a job and bought a house by now
• Often they’re comparing themselves to others: I am 35 and my friends have all worked out their careers and settled down and I should have too by now
• And often they’re comparing themselves to a general ‘out there’ narrative: I’m 42 and I should have created something, made lots of money and had some positive impact by now

Now I am a coach, and so of course I’m keen on identifying goals and setting dates for achievement.

But I also know that life doesn’t happen to a schedule: people work out how to do their taxes at 43; they build a house at 22 but really make a home at 65; they work out technology and start emailing at 84; they meet a great love at 73; they write their first novel at 28 and the next one 20 years later; they realise how really to care for their mind and body at 47; they start a career at 20 then shift direction at 52; they find a sense of true calm at 59; they foster children at 36; they start a business at 61; they learn how to cook at 40.

You get the idea.

So set goals and work towards them [of course!] But also know that there’s no template, no timeline for how it should go. Determining a direction on your own terms and according to your own schedule, is absolutely the most effective way to get to a place where you’re truly satisfied.

Tags: career-coaching, life-coaching, Melbourne