It is now 12 months since I left my last job to regain some control in my life. I never thought that I would lose a basic grasp of the situation and allow matters to overtake me. After all, I have lots of experience and I am suitably qualified, but have moved across 3 career-paths. Though these last few years I have held some self-doubt on my own choice not to continually update my skill-set. Shall I do this course, should I have taken an MBA etc? Education shouldn’t be taken lightly, but it is a gamble, as is changing careers instead of becoming and expert in one field, there are no guarantees of success.
As with many jobs, my last job did not have a company pension and we as family had little opportunity to save, using our monies to live now, pay the mortgage and support our kids through university.
Today, I received another job application rejection, perhaps I am punching above my weight, as it was for a CEO position with a community volunteer organisation. I have lots to offer and my friends all believe in me, telling me I philanthropic ideas. But none of this can be impressed on a selection-board if they do not get the chance to meet you first-hand. Hey, I am no more important than the next guy, but it would be nice to know someone sees that this guy has some of what we looking for.
So I am over 50, I am qualified and experienced in many facets of business yet moving forward is difficult. Perhaps the only choice is start my own small operation. But being an entrepreneur is a young persons world isn’t ? So what do I like? Well that’s a good question, and so the circular voices inside my head begin ie open a Cafe, sell antiques, start making craft gin …..and so on. All of which maybe sound ideas, but you have to be brave to step forward and take a risk. Combined with thoughts of everyday life of managing bills and supporting family………
Therefore, I seek the solace of securing a paid work position, but no one is recognising me at this time. So I resort to the daily trudge of searching websites, maybe too frequently. Then make the fatal mistake of checking how X and Y might be doing – on the social media profile or internet search – drops into despondency! So don’t compare, as it doesn’t help! We all make our life choices, and yes, not all goes to plan in our minds, but that is life for us all. So I am left looking for that next lucky break/excitement, in the interim volunteering work gives me positive feedback where my skill-set is recognised and rewarded with lasting impressions.
The Grey Chameleon 