5 Widely Held - and Totally False! - Career Beliefs - When I Grow Up

5 Widely Held - and Totally False! - Career Beliefs - When I Grow Up I wanted to build on last weeks post about one of my biggest false beliefs, and do some more expectation-busting. Humor me while I step on my soapbox and reveal the truth around 5  widely-held career beliefs: What everyone thinks: That your career will be a linear path. What the reality is:  Ohgoodgodlordylord, that is never the case. Never! OK, maybe not  never, but Ive yet to talk to  anyone who has that story and lets be honest, I talk to everyone.  So if you expect to not have your own dips, twists, and wrong turns, youre gonna be super disappointed. Instead, view your career as an experiment and act as the detective. That way, nothing is a failure and everything is a learning experience! What everyone thinks: That nobodys hiring. What the reality is:  CNN reported that 257K jobs were added in the States this January, and last year was the best year for job growth since 1999. And have you  read my Recession is Bullhonkey blog series? There has been almost 40 posts since early 2012 because (a) I know its still important to hear these stories and (b) I keep getting em submitted! People are getting hired and/or leaving jobs to start businesses all.the.time. Case in point: my 64 year old Mom just got recruited by a headhunter and got a new job this month. Shes been at her current company for about 20 years, and was convinced she was too old to go anywhere new. I love that she was proved wrong! Go Mom! What everyone thinks: That work is called work because its not play. What the reality is: Let me just say this: Tiff, Erin and I were planning our upcoming webinar and I found myself asking, So when youre doing that visualization, I can play my ukulele under you, right? I mean,  Im The When I Grow Up Coach. For my grown-up career. And Ive made more money last year than I ever have before. And while its certainly not a freakin party all the time,  its not even on the same spectrum as any job Ive had before. Its on the Way, Way, Way, WAY More Amazeballs Spectrum. What everyone thinks: That you cant make a living from being any sort of artist and/or entrepreneur. What the reality is: I cant even with this. Just go to my Grown Up Gigs archives (and get ready for the podcast to debut next week!) and pick any one to read, watch, or listen to. All the people interviewed are  there because theyre making a grown-up living in a creative field. The end. What everyone thinks: That your dream career will fall from the sky/feel right/come with angels singing. What the reality is: There wont be trumpets, thats for sure. Do you have a career belief that might not be reality? Leave it in the comments and Ill expectation-bust away!