My Career Choices Have Been Poor Since I've Graduated Five Years Ago
Dear Nikki,
I graduated almost 5 years ago from a good university but since then I feel like my career choices have been poor. After graduating, my brother and I want to establish an online business and we were really passionate about it even though we didn’t have the capital to set it up.
As I needed a job to pay the bills I started working in a call centre and stayed there for 2 years. Then I went ahead to work as an admin assistant for a charity.
Up until last year, I didn’t care too much about the job I was doing or any other 9-5 because I was convinced our business will soon begin to make money. However, we had to close it at the beginning of 2019 because we realised it was going nowhere. Now I work as an admin assistant for another company but I feel very unfulfilled in my role and the pay isn’t great either. I’m at a point where I’m not sure which career path to take and I feel very pressured to achieve something as I’m approaching 30 in a few years. All my friends in corporate jobs are getting trained and earn good money.
How do I redirect my career?
-An Assistant in London
Dear Lost in London,
Breathe.
I feel your anxiety and I understand it.
Taking the entrepreneurial leap is a great idea and has plenty of rewards but you have to be patient. Unless you and your brother have an ironclad business plan in place, earning income while sustaining your business will take time. Especially when you're starting from scratch. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you've got to have a PLAN.
Working while side hustling to create your dream is also a great idea! And, it's completely rational. Because you're not doing what you ultimately want to be doing, your main job will most likely feel like you're out of place.
Do you know what it is you want to do?
Are you able to start working in that field and learn skills you can use in your side hustle? I think that's where you need to start. Find out what's really in your heart to do and start doing that.
Also, you've got to stop comparing yourself to your friends. Their journey is their journey and you may not know every piece of heartache and disappointment they have to endure for their paychecks.
Find what YOUR path is and come up with a plan to get you on YOUR way. Once you get this part out of the way is when you'll start feeling fulfilled because you've found what's right for YOU.
Keep your head up. All is NOT lost! You've still got plenty of time to turn things around, but stop wasting time. No more looking back. Now is the time to get really intentional about what's next for you. You've got to get tunnel vision about your life. Remove distractions and just take one step at a time.
You've got this!
Nikki Davis
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NIKKI
Your curly girl manager, just trying to live her happiest life!
Wife, new mom, member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. with 11 years industry experience, 6 years of management experience. Manager a team of men in a male dominant industry, while being the only woman on the team. DIY fashion blogger, a self taught seamstress. Owner/Creator of a monthly subscription service, SewConscious.com.
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