Crossroads - At the Intersection of Prestige and Fulfillment (Part Deux)

Crossroads - At the Intersection of Prestige and Fulfillment (Part Deux)

I HAVE LOTS of young girlfriends who tell me they love their pressure-packed jobs despite the stress it puts on them and their marriages. And that’s not all bad. It’s important that you embrace every life stage and each experience. I’m not advising my young girlfriends to put their professional drive in neutral. If you’re on the way up the corporate ladder, my suggestion is that you enjoy the climb.

But when you arrive, if the view is not all it was cracked up to be and you decide to turn around—before you shimmy back down, let me share this with you:

Even though Terry, Debbie, and I found success after leaving the corporate world, many women regret leaving their security for a new adventure. When I speak to professional women, the topic of this crossroads often surfaces, and women ask for my counsel. These are the first five questions I tell them to answer before turning onto Fulfillment:

1. Do you have savings or another source of income to float you for twelve months? (It’s harder, and usually takes longer than you ever forecast, to spin up a new business venture.)

2. Do you have a large network in which you are highly regarded? (The bigger and stronger your professional network, the better your chances for success.)

3. Are you leaving at the top of your game? (Here’s where timing is critical. If you plan to continue working in your same industry, you must leave your current employer on an extremely high note.)

4. Are you determined you will not fail? (This probably doesn’t need explanation, but determination and grit are keys to success.)

5. Will you be content if you earn less than you do today? (Not always, but sometimes, fulfillment comes with a price tag.)

As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. (Micah 7:7)

If you can answer yes to all five questions, the lights might be timed about right; only then, with a sound business plan in hand, should you proceed to Fulfillment—with eyes wide open and two hands on the wheel.