A few weeks back, I met my old colleagues from BlackRock.
And it was… bittersweet.
Most of them were still in the company, and they’ve made huge strides!
I couldn’t help but wonder: where would I be if I had stayed?
💭 Would I have been promoted to Director/Managing Director by now?
💭 How much money did I leave on the table?
💭 Why did I put myself through the uncertainties and struggles of entrepreneurship when I could have had a much easier life in the corporate world?
💭 Did I make the right career choice?
And I’m not going to lie - part of me spiralled and started second-guessing my career decisions.
And in one of those dark moments, I was even tempted to start applying for jobs again. 🙈
So how did I get out of it?
I focused on my WHY
→ Why did I do this in the first place?
→ Why did I leave in the first place?
And I reminded myself that everyone’s on their own journey
And to focus on competing with myself and not with others.
What works for them doesn’t have to work for me.
But the meetup also left me with some takeaways on relationships and careers:
1️⃣ Don’t let your colleagues hold you back from leaving
This is especially true if you’re miserable about every other aspect of work
I had awesome colleagues at BlackRock - heck, I’m still friends with many of them today.
Don’t make them an excuse to maintain the status quo
If you dig deeper, you’ll probably realize that your true reason for staying is fear.
2️⃣ You’re on YOUR career path
Ever felt as if your career is taking lots of twists and turns?
Believe me, I’ve been there.
It used to make me feel so lonely because I was taught to believe that career journeys are linear.
In BlackRock, I went from Analyst > Associate > VP
It was clear, safe, and familiar.
Since I got out, it was a lot more indirect because I forged my own path.
And it’s hard but it’s also SO liberating.
I’m my own CEO now, and there’s no need to go through the bureaucracy that drove me crazy.
The system worked for my friends, it certainly didn’t for me.
3️⃣ Follow YOUR career values, not what society tells you to value
When I was in BlackRock, I thought I could be happy because I ticked all the boxes: Money, Prestige, Status
But those weren’t MY boxes to tick.
My boxes were a lot less tangible, but they meant a LOT to ME.
And that’s why I felt at peace when I spoke with my BlackRock colleagues.
What works for them doesn’t have to work for me.
I’m on my perfect-for-me career path as a career coach who helps others find their dream careers.
I’ve helped people from KPMG, Shopee, Google, DBS Bank, Amazon, and more pivot from what they thought they loved to what they REALLY loved in a career.
Curious to know what I offer?
Check out my FREE webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gjzfSnB8
Just click on FREE TRAINING and you’re on your way!
