By Mitchell Schuckman, PCC | Executive Coach + Founder, The Schuckman Group LLC
I was coaching a partner recently who, by almost any measure, has had a successful career. He's 49 years old, well respected, financially secure, and has built a reputation for delivering results.
But as we talked about his future, I sensed his anxiety. Approaching 50 seemed to be changing how he viewed his career. Would his firm's leaders continue offering interesting opportunities? Would he be considered for new leadership roles? Would he continue growing, or find himself protecting what he'd already accomplished?
He wasn't unhappy with his career. He still had ambition, but wondered whether his best professional years might be behind him. Nothing had changed about his capabilities. He was simply approaching a birthday that seemed to carry more significance than it deserved.
When did turning 50 become a reason to stop thinking about what we might become?
A Different Way to Think About Career Growth
I've been having similar conversations with successful professionals in their late 40s and early to mid-50s. They've accomplished a great deal but are beginning to wonder what's next. Some worry whether their organizations will continue investing in them. Others have pensions or deferred compensation that make changing direction difficult, leaving them feeling even more stuck.
Most firms and coaches encourage people to develop career plans. Where do you want to be in five years? What position do you want? There's nothing wrong with that. But plans are typically based on what we know today rather than what we’ll discover if we search more thoroughly.
It's something I discuss with younger professionals I coach, even my own children. Rather than becoming overly attached to a plan or specific goals, focus on collecting experiences. Take on challenges, work with different people, and put yourself in situations where you'll learn. Then pay attention. What energized you? What were your greatest strengths and what impact did they have? What would you like to do more of?
Why This Works Even Better at 50
At 25, we're discovering our strengths, learning how organizations work, and figuring out what makes us happy professionally. We have ambition and curiosity, but relatively little experience.
At 50, we know much more. We've navigated difficult situations, experienced success and failure, developed relationships, and gained a deeper understanding of the world. Most importantly, we've learned about ourselves.
We know what energizes us, what frustrates us, where our strengths lie, and the environments that bring out our best.
Imagine combining that knowledge with a willingness to experiment, learn, and take risks. Instead of protecting what we've accomplished, we could pursue work that's even more meaningful.
For some, that means new leadership opportunities within their organizations. For others, it could mean exploring another industry or having the courage to leave a firm where they've spent much of their careers.
The world is full of opportunities we may never discover if we limit our thinking to a short time horizon and only to our current organizations.
Think of Yourself as an Entity of One
I spent nearly four decades at a large professional services firm. I had opportunities to reinvent myself, take on leadership responsibilities, and work with extraordinary people. I'm grateful for those experiences.
But my career was never the same thing as my firm. The firm provided a platform for learning, developing relationships, and building capabilities. But the experience, judgment, and relationships I accumulated belonged to me.
That's what I mean when I encourage people to think of themselves as an entity of one.
Thinking this way doesn't mean becoming less committed to your organization. Developing yourself may make you more valuable to it. But your opportunities aren't limited only to those your current employer offers.
Your Next Chapter Is Yours to Build
I keep thinking about that 49-year-old partner. He's accomplished a great deal, yet worries whether his firm's leaders will continue giving him opportunities.
What if he stopped thinking primarily about what his firm might offer and considered what he wants to do with the next 20 or 25 years?
Perhaps he'll find opportunities within his firm. Perhaps he'll discover interests he hasn't explored. Or perhaps he'll find the courage to leave and pursue something that gives him more energy and fulfillment.
What if 50 isn't the beginning of the end of your career, but the beginning of its most fulfilling chapter?
Mitchell Schuckman is the Founder and CEO of The Schuckman Group LLC. He is a Professional Certified Coach credentialed by the International Coaching Federation and the author of I'll Tell You a Great Story. theschuckmangroup.com
Note on privacy: Names and identifying details have been changed. The experiences described are drawn from multiple client engagements and do not represent any single individual.