In a coaching call today, a quick ad libbed phrase really landed with my client, so in case it’s helpful, I thought I’d share it with you.

My client wanted to explore what was more important for him at this point in his career: making more money or exploring fresh opportunities.

While it’s not my place as a coach to tell clients what’s best for them, luckily, along the way I’ve picked up a few things that can be helpful nonetheless.

My client, C, knows his current role / situation isn’t making him happy and can clearly list the reasons why for him it’s not a great fit. But, when he reached out for coaching, he was feeling unclear about the daunting question of What Next? . Thinking about the really really big picture, with alllll the options, felt overwhelming and confusing. He was frustrated by approaches to put all the pieces together into where that would land him in 10 years.

But, C’s been in conversations and interviews about a new role that sounds compelling, but it’s a bit of a pivot into a new direction for him. The pay would be the same as he’s making now. In our conversation, he asked for advice, and while I can’t tell him, or anyone else for that matter, what’s the right choice for him, I was able to pass along some insights I’ve collected along the way:

• According to research on happiness: once your bills are paid and you have a little discretionary income, happiness is not meaningfully increased by additional pay.
  There’s no right or wrong choices here. We’re all figuring it out as we go.
• Figuring it all out, how the next 3 or 5 or 10 years will look, might not be realistic. Better yet, it probably isn’t necessary.
• Comparing where we’re at now to the wide expanse of everything else doesn’t quite work. It’s hard to compare apples to the Universe. Instead, try to look at this vs that, how does your current situation compare to the other option you’re considering?
• The best, most realistic option may be to: Make your best choice, based on currently available knowledge in real time.

These tidbits were helpful to C in gaining clarity on his circumstances and path. Putting some parameters on things gave him clarity and helped him hone in on his next moves. Hopefully there’s insight to be gleaned here for you–

A few quick tips in summary:

• Bite-size or right-size your question to something solvable. No need to tackle everything all at once.
• Don’t look for the right answer. Find what makes sense for you, today.
• It’s ok to Just Try Stuff. We learn by doing.
• Get help when you need it. Coaching is a great way to help focus your inquiry, gain clarity, and find your path forward.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the options or needing more clarity? Get in touch to explore how coaching can help you clear the fog and find the path forward that’s right for you.