Landing the Career Plane

June 1 2019.  That's the day I start a new career.

I did not choose to make a career shift at age 60, but there I was.  I am generally quite positive and hopeful; a dreamer by nature, but quite frankly I found the prospect of finding a job at my age intimidating.  Ageism is out there and I had no idea if I would encounter it as I searched for employment.  Something else I encountered out there (or should I say 'in there'), are the limiting beliefs about age that you allow to rent space in your head.

Let me start off by stating that my age and experience were actually to my advantage in the role I just acquired. They honoured that and in fact it was part of their search parameters.  I am a fortunate man. 

During this process I discovered some things about myself and making a career decision at this age. 

First, I had to deal with the competing internal narratives of what I knew I could bring to the table because of accumulated life experience and knowledge VS. insecurities about my age.  This competing discourse was loudest when I sought roles outside my career field but within the scope of my experience.  At times I felt less confident than a new graduate (at least they have naivete on their side!).  In the end the answer was inside of me.  I had to put on my big boy pants and get out there. 

Secondly, this thing about finding 'passion' and excitement in your career, while it rang true in my earlier career shifts, wasn't factoring prominently in this decision making process.  People I involved in the process would sometimes ask me: "Harv - are you excited about this potential role"?  My honest response was: "I'm not sure yet".  This lack of excitement actually had me worried that perhaps this wasn't the job for me after all.  Yet everything I knew & learned about the role and its' possibilities made it an excellent fit.  My mentors and advisors strongly affirmed me.  My mind was 100% there.  So, where was my heart? Where was this 'passion' thing?

I liken the experience of career decision making at this age vs. earlier decades as the difference between an aircraft take-off and landing.  In your earlier years, you are the pilot of your own career.  When you take off (numerous times for most of us) you have a wide open sky in front of you.  The possibilities, while not endless are exciting. Yes, you have a flight plan, but as conditions change you can shift.  There is time in your life and space in your career trajectory for course corrections.  However, now at age 60 I was thinking more like this:

"I'm about to land this plane. There's one runway.  Is this the runway where I want to land my life experience?"

The reality of your 'career age' changes the way you make decisions.  Sure, passion is a part of it, but now you are more contemplative, reflective and wise precisely because of your age.  Decisions are less about self-fulfillment and more about legacy, succession and finding a place where you can build into the best system or foundation for whomever comes next behind you.

A final word on this thing about 'passion' & finding self-fulfillment in our careers.  That is a luxury the majority of this world cannot afford.  For most, work is a function of survival, not fulfillment.  That I have work at all is a blessing.  That I get to do something I love and that will contribute is a profound privilege.