Building a Career Path That Fits Your Life

Do you have a career long-term vision? Do you know what that really looks like?

or,

Do you prefer to live your career one day at a time?

or,

Do you feel a career plan is not useful for you? Because you are too young or too old…

I was overwhelmed sometimes at the beginning of my career, trying to figure out where I should be in five or ten years from that moment. Thankfully, nowadays I consider career planning a fundamental tool to gain peace of mind no matter the stage of life, and it is a core part of my coaching practice.

Therefore, today, I want to share a guideline with three steps to change your mindset about career planning that you could use to write down yours.

Please consider that this exercise takes time, energy, and the willingness to share it with people to explore options.

The first step is: Where do you want to be positioned in X years?

Setting a timeline and a goal. This timeline can vary according to your age, situation, or willingness to set a direction for a specific amount of time.

With the timeline and the goal, you could explore the following:

a) The feasibility: Is it really feasible to positionate my self as CEO (example) in 10 years (example)? If you’re not sure, please ask someone with similar experience, a talent manager in your company, or a career coach.

b) The Ego check: is this my honest, true desire? Or is it coming from a search for external validation, recognition, or meeting expectations?

c) Describe a typical day you would have when achieving that role and a typical weekend. It is important to understand, for that role, what could be the boundaries (if any exist) between work and life outside work. Feel free to talk to people in similar roles or with comparable responsibilities to get a clearer picture of the kind of life that this path could lead to.

d) What is the legacy you want to build during the timeline “X” for your plan? What is the better person you will become? What will the people you interacted with in the “X” journey say about you?

Congrats! You have a clear direction now: In 10 years, I will be the next Sales Director for the Energy Sector. You feel confident and honest about your direction.

Now you’re ready for the Second steps:

Setting Intermediary Steps!

a) What roles or career steps help you build the expertise and skill portfolio needed to perform that role effectively?

b) What is the optimal duration for each step? And what level of expertise is required at each stage on the path toward your ultimate goal?

c) What are the boundaries (if any) for work that would allow you to live your desired life outside work? How do the career steps align with those?

Now you should have: In 10 years, I will be the next Sales Director for the Energy Sector following the steps (examples):

a) Data Center Project Engineer - 3 years

b) Project Engineer or Program Manager of Data Centers - 2 years

c) Regional Sales for Data Center Solutions - 5 years

Tip: Leave the door open for any opportunity outside of your career plan that presents itself and still helps you grow toward your career journey.

Now you are ready for the last step: Make it real! Work for it!

a) For each career step, identify the key development areas (skills, knowledge, and strategic capabilities) and outline the action plan that will help you achieve tangible results.

b) Who needs to be aware of my plan, and who can support it? Mentors will help you to develop the areas of development, and Sponsors will help you to stay visible and connected for opportunities.

c) Your next step is critical but also the most certain; define it well, be sure of what you want, prepare a clear action plan, and ensure that you’re visible to opportunities.

There you go! You now have the skeleton of your Career‑Life Plan.

A plan that is honest, committed, and flexible enough to adapt to the stage of life you’ll move through over the next ‘X’ years.

This isn’t for anyone else; it’s yours.

It evolves with you, keeps you grounded in the reality that work is part of life, and reminds you that you are leading it with intention.

May this article give you the clarity and confidence to lead your career with purpose.

Paola,

Career and Leadership Coach - Lead with passion, enthusiasm, and humanity.