by Taylor J. Kovar – CEO/Founder, Kovar Wealth Management

 

–Hey Taylor – I’m starting to feel a little bit like I’ve stalled out, career-wise. I work for a non-profit and I enjoy the work, but I’m not sure how to make more money or where I might be in 5-10 years. I’m worried if I get a new job I’ll just be starting over, but maybe that’s what it takes?

 

–Hey Noah – I think everyone hits this roadblock at some point in their career. I know I’ve had a handful of “What am I doing?” and “What’s next?” moments. I suggest you take a minute to write down some short- and long-term goals; those will help you start taking action in the near future without feeling like you’re forced to make one giant, life-changing decision.

 

  1. Short term. From what you wrote, it sounds like you enjoy your work but probably need to start making more money. Oftentimes, the solution is just to ask for a raise. If you’ve had the same salary for a few years, you deserve a pay bump. That said, you know your non-profit better than I do and money might be pretty tight. If you don’t feel like the funds are there for an immediate raise, can you think of ways to bring in more revenue? I think you should make two lists: one with all the things you like about your job, and a second with ways you can generate more income. Combined, these two lists can illustrate both what you bring to the company already and what you can do to make more money for everyone.
  2. Long term. This is the question that can be a little paralyzing. If you think too hard about where you want to be in 10 years, you might start sweating about where you are now. Don’t fall into the trap of worrying and second-guessing—just think about what you want. Do you want to run your current company someday? Do you want to start your own business? Do you want to work less and travel the world? Are your primary goals more about having a family and less about the job you have? These are all important questions and there are no wrong answers. Try not to be too rational or pessimistic and think about what you really want.
  3. Get excited. It’s so hard to take a big risk, but that’s exactly how we get the biggest rewards. Maybe the risk is looking for a new job, maybe it’s asking for a pay raise, maybe it’s going back to school and trying something completely new. Whatever it is, don’t panic about startin over. Everything you’ve done to this point still matters, and the next leg of your journey is informed by your past. It’s a change in direction, not a reset. With the right frame of mind, that can be really exciting.

 

We all feel stuck from time to time. That just means it’s time to invest in yourself and make some moves, big or small. Good luck, Noah!