It's Week 11 of the first quarter and we're almost! done! gathering the data that makes you, you! After this week, we’re about to start crafting a clear and exciting plan for your new career! All the work we’ve done together up until now has prepared you for this next phase, so trust the process and get ready to dream (and plan) big.

Last week, we focused on identifying your foundation of risk and stability. By understanding what makes you feel secure, you can create a structure that supports a career aligned with your unique needs. That work set the stage for what's coming the rest of the year. Don't forget the work you did last week, it was important and will continue to be important to have in the back of your mind as you continue planning!

This week, we're continuing our foundational work by meeting you exactly where you are right now so we can decide how to move forward. The goal is to assess what’s the most realistic, attainable path forward for you. Maybe you’re in survival mode not in a position to make a huge shift, so we’ll work towards a more aligned version of what you already have. Or maybe you’re financially stable (or a risk lover like me) and ready to hurl yourself into thrival mode (not a word but I won't stop)!

This is all to begin crafting a career plan that matches your current reality while moving you closer to your definition of success!

What you’re doing this week (pausing to reflect on your current reality) is one of the most important steps in the process. By taking the time to understand where you are right now, you’re acknowledging the place from where you'll start this process so we can create a more realistic plan ahead. It allows us to not bite off more than we can chew and create a career path forward that is most attainable!

The Traditional Work Mindset

For generations the societal narrative around careers has been dramatically simple: work is hard, work is miserable, work is...work! But, money? Money is everything! You can't have a life without money! Money gets you everything and probably joy too! So, don't worry about feeling joy right now! You can feel that later! Put your head down, grind through decades of labor focused on financial stability, get that bread, and hope to enjoy brief moments of joy during weekends, vacations (if you’re lucky), or retirement (if you’re lucky).

Most of us were raised on the constant drumbeat of hustle culture. It tells us that “financial success” must come at the cost of misery and endurance. Maybe you've experienced this yourself, feeling pressured to sacrifice joy and creativity for a career that prioritizes money above all else. And for plenty of people just trying to survive, slogging through misery for a paycheck might not feel like a choice, it’s a necessity.

And this is why the popular phrase “Do what you love!” can sound grimey! How can you prioritize passion when survival is your focus? That’s more than valid and in this program we're doing it realistically. We're acknowledging where you are now and helping guide you where you want to go! It's not about quitting your minimum wage job and flinging yourself into entrepreneurship. It's about understanding where you are, what you uniquely need, and how we can best get you fulfilled while also safe, secure, and more aligned.

Thrival doesn't have to feel distant and unattainable. In this program we're going to get you there in the most realistic, achievable way possible.