If you ONLY had five talks left in your life to give to an audience, what would you talk about and why?
Do you ever find yourself unsure of the next step in your work, a role that is so crucial and integral?
Do you enjoy your work less than you would like to?
Could a new plan or change bring a renewed sense of happiness and joy to your work, making it more fulfilling than ever?
Here is one idea to jumpstart a change in your life and work.
Imagine you could only give five more talks to an audience; that’s it. This exercise is designed to help you reflect on what truly matters to you and what you want to leave as your legacy.
What would you talk about and why? Perhaps about leadership, personal growth, or a passion project that you believe can make a difference.
Imagine in these talks, you want to impart ideas that would make a difference in others; what would you discuss?
World peace? (maybe), your recipe to make Chili? (probably not) although some would appreciate this 🙂
Would you talk about how to live a healthy life (maybe) or how to make the most sales calls in a day (probably not)
What is the importance of family (maybe), or how can we get more done with less sleep (probably not)?? If you ONLY had five more talks left in your life, you would probably talk about things that were important to you and wanted others to know.
So, if you had only five talks left to share your wisdom and experiences with others, what would you talk about?
The content of these talks will likely focus on the areas you should pursue right NOW in your work. You will need to be creative and invest time in deep thinking, which you will use to interpret your five talks into meaningful work, but it might be the most critical thing you do NOW.
Your work is you
Well, maybe not in your early years of working.
Our first experience with work is a job, something to support ourselves and pay the bills. But eventually, and the sooner, the better, we start to understand that work is more than a job. It represents who we are and what we choose to contribute to the world.
For many, the mid-career phase, typically between 35 and 45, is a pivotal period. It’s a time when we often face significant life events-a job layoff, an illness, a health scare, a relationship break-up, or, as my research suggests, a sense of unease or depression. We find ourselves lying awake at night, despite the busyness of our days, pondering if this is all there is to life.
This is the best time to take control of our lives, reflect on our past choices, and chart a course for the next chapter of this adventure we call life.
It’s a journey that demands courage, determination, and a willingness to take risks. It often involves adopting a new persona to showcase your evolving self and your evolving values. But in this process, you’ll not only experience change, but also personal growth and a deeper sense of fulfillment.
When the next chapter of your life is written, you might re-read it a bit, making a few changes, but feeling good that you took the plunge to further develop your work and life so that they better represent you.
It would be good if a person made needed changes in their work without a crisis, but often, it is easier to stay on the treadmill of life because it is known and feels safer. But when that challenge comes, you will seize the opportunity to write a new chapter of your life so that your work and you become the same. As a result, life will open up to a new horizon of opportunities and positive changes.
I’m here to cheer you on every step of your journey, offering my unwavering support and encouragement. Your journey is significant, and I’m committed to helping you navigate it.
What kind of work would truly resonate with you when you wake up?
Would you like to start your day with a focus on sales calls to meet your quota? Or would you prefer a day filled with meetings and interactions? Perhaps you’d rather spend the day in peaceful solitude, working at your own pace?
Do you want to wake up to a day of working at home, outside, in a large building with many people, or in a small building with a few people?
Do you want to wake up to a day of constant travel from one place to the next?
Of course, what is most essential is what you want to do when you wake up. What does the content look like?
Are you working with children, the elderly, college students, engineers?
When you wake up, do you want to be designing, planning, monitoring, thinking deeply, or communicating with others all day?
How does the day you wake up connect to the rest of your life, family, and future goals?
Remember, the day you wake up will shape your work and significantly impact your health, happiness, and mental state. Striving for your ideal vocational day is a step towards a more fulfilling life.
Take a moment to visualize the perfect vocational day you’d love to wake up to.
Remember, your mind has the power to bridge the gap between your dreams and reality. So, dream big. You deserve to wake up to amazing days.
Dr Craig Nathanson