We are often told to chase opportunities when it comes to our careers.
But I don’t believe success necessarily lies in simply taking the next step, instead, the next step should come by design.
For women especially, treating your professional path as a deliberate choice isn’t just a career tactic – but a way to achieve genuine fulfilment without sacrificing the personal balance that keeps us whole.
Why it matters
A couple of weeks ago, on a flight back home to Ireland, I read an article that said the average person will spend more than 92,000 hours at work over their lifetime.
If we spend more time at work than with our families, friends, or loved ones, the alignment of work with our core values, principles, and strengths becomes incredibly important.
And even more so when you consider the impact that work has on our broader wellbeing. Job dissatisfaction early in our careers – specifically in your 20s and 30s – has been shown to have measurable negative health effects by age 40, including higher rates of depression, sleep problems, and excessive worry.
Intention is imperative for women
This intentional approach is especially crucial for women, who often navigate unique challenges in career development. We are frequently balancing professional ambitions with complex personal goals and responsibilities. Statistically, women are seven times more likely than men to leave the workforce to take on caring responsibilities.
It’s really common for us, as women, to have non-linear journeys through our careers with periods of time spent out of work for a raft of reasons. This means the choices we make must be structurally sound. We must try and build careers that are resilient and flexible enough to adapt when life happens.
Funding your life
By proactively shaping your future, you can build a fulfilling career while also making space for the other essential parts of your life.I love to find balance in moments away from technology – the very thing that encompasses my day-to-day professional life. A lot of the conversations I have each day, with my colleagues, with clients, focus on how we can harness rapidly advancing technology to enhance people’s experiences, but importantly ensuring that human connection remains central.
I’ve realised that I apply this principle to my own life. Connection with other people or my surroundings are things I highly value. For me, that means cold-water swimming or walking in the Irish countryside without my phone.
These moments of disconnection are possible because I have been intentional about how my work fits into my world.
Setting career intention
It’s easy to talk about building a career with intent, but how do you start? These are some of things that I have done through my career to make my next moves intentional, and build a career that aligns with my aspirations:
- Craft your “perfect” job description: Think about your passions, your strengths, and the market opportunity. Craft what your ideal role looks like, and importantly, how it feels.
- Identify gaps and non-negotiables: Review your current reality against that ideal description. What are the gaps? What are the non-negotiables you need to protect your wellbeing?
- Review the options: Consider how your ideal vision fits with your current role. Can you fulfil those passions where you are? What flexibility can be negotiated? Sometimes the “perfect” role is one you can build within your current organisation by being clear about your value.
- Take intentional action: Take steps today rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity to arrive in your lap. Be intentional by seeking out projects that help you close the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Ask for the support you need, volunteer for work that aligns with your ambitions, and put your hand up.
Success isn’t about the speed at which you move, but the direction you choose. When you design your path, you ensure that those 92,000 hours aren’t just spent – they are invested in a life you truly want to lead.
