Reflector Career Confusion

So, what do you do for work?

Ugh. That question is such a loaded one. It assumes that you have one specific job with a title and description that's easy to understand. It also implies that you have a career history in that line of work and you'll continue with it until you retire.

It should come as no surprise to Reflectors that since we're different from the other 99% our career path will also be different than theirs. And yet one of the most common forms of disappointment Reflectors come to me with is around their career or business. Tempted by secure paycheques and traditional status markers like titles, so many Reflectors go the route of choosing their career path based on what everyone else views as a smart choice.

However, fast forward a few years (or weeks in my case) into the job, you realize that you've lost interest, feel no fulfilment, or have your sights on a totally different industry. Sound familiar?

I'll never forget my first job out of school.

I hadn't even finished my Master's degree when I was offered a prime position in my field of study. It had all the bells and whistled I could've asked for, especially in 2008 when the economy was bottoming out and people were really struggling. But just a few weeks into the job I sat staring at my computer wondering if this was it.

"There's gotta be more to life than this" I said under my breath.

On paper I had it all, yet something was missing:

• Real impact from my efforts
• Opportunities to learn and explore
• Ways to apply my curious and strategic brain

Ok, a lot of things were missing. This wasn't your average job dissatisfaction though, it was something much bigger. Something that's unique to Reflectors.

The problem was that I tried to fulfil all my intellectual needs through ONE job in a specific career field that I'd presumably stay in for a long time. But guess what? Reflectors aren't built for that.

Shocking, I know! Yet so many of us find ourselves in similar situations and point fingers back at ourselves for not being happy with what we've got. Forget for a minute all the unique qualities in your HD chart that have something to say about how you work and what your purpose is.

At the core of who we are as Reflectors is a being that's meant to change on the daily, sense deeply, and show others their true selves. I don't know about you but I've never read a job description that fits those criteria.

No wonder we're so confused about what we should be doing for work and feel so much pressure to just pick one thing.

If this is the case for you and you've ever wondered what kind of job you should get, I have a few suggestions:

1. Start asking yourself some tough questions: Are you ready to let go of the traditional job expectations? So much of what's holding Reflectors back is the desire to fit into what society says is the right way to have a career. This is a classic case of conditioning, and it can only be undone if you're willing to consider these kinds of questions. 
2. Get used to answering questions: Your choices, if they're different than the traditional ones, will come with their own set of questions from others that only you can answer. This is a time to stand up for what makes you feel fulfilled, and preparing yourself to answer the same questions over and over will make it a little less jarring.
3. You probably need to carve your own path based on what feels right for you in this stage of life: Our Reflector gifts aren't valued the way other skills are in a capitalist society. You might have a few business ventures on the go at the same time plus a job with a steady income to help pay the bills. Whatever works for you.

For Reflectors, the path you take throughout your paid work experience (and life in general, for that matter) may seem disjointed and totally scattered at first but it all happens for a reason. Hindsight really is 20/20. And honestly, the sooner you realize how valuable ALL your experiences are in building a life of purpose, the sooner you get to reap the ultimate reward of fulfillment.

When I look back on the various jobs and side hustles I had going on before realizing I'm a Reflector, it looks like a mixed bag of unrelated nonsense. But each one served a purpose and let me get closer to the alignment I'm privileged to feel today.

If you're feeling boxed in with your job, career, or business and want to learn more about how to make the shift to meaningful work that's right for you as a Reflector, I encourage you to book a strategic reading session so we can dive into ways to make it happen.