how to believe it's really possible

What Is Fulfilment – And How Do You Find Yours? Four Approaches You Can Use From People Who've Discovered Theirs

Natasha Stanley — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:13:27 +0000

Aristotle, Buddha, the Stoics… the greatest minds in history struggled with the idea of fulfilment. And now, somehow, you're supposed to find it. Where is it? What does it look like? How will you know you have it? Natasha shares four strategies (and four special stories) for creating fulfilment in your life right now – and in your future career.

The word 'fulfilment' is everywhere.

It's become the Holy Grail of the past decade. We all want to be fulfilled.

Fulfilling relationships, fulfilling internal lives, and fulfilling work.

But do we really know what it means?

We're told to find it, seek it out, live a life of it, and yet for most of us it's an external goal to chase – a 'one day' dream, a not-there-yet.

We're not even sure how we'd know once we were there.

Full-filled.

To feel full. Satiated, gratified. In French, a word for 'full' is 'complet'. Complete. Whole.

3 Things To Remember When You Feel You're Not Where You Should Be

Natasha Stanley — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 10:06:18 +0000

You should be further along in your shift. You should have done more. You're not where you wanted to be by now. Sound familiar? Natasha shares three lessons to get you focused, freed up, and having fun with your career change.

Career change is widely discussed as though it's a technical challenge.

To find out what you'd love to do, you simply need to find the right tools, the right personality test, the right person who can tell you what's available to you given your experience. And to make the shift, you need to get the right qualifications, shine up your CV or résumé, talk to the right people.

But for most of us who embark on a journey to find work we love, it's so much more than that. It's not all that technical. It's ethereal, intangible, terrifying, and deeply human.

How To Make A Career Change In Later Life

Sab — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 10:35:23 +0000

In your 40s, 50s or 60s and thinking about making a move into something new? Worried you’ve run out of time, or that ageism will keep you trapped where you are? There are some unique challenges to making a latter-stage shift, but it’s absolutely possible. Here, Natasha shares where to start.

“I’ve plateaued in my career, and I know I have more to give – it’s just not available where I am.” – Annie (workshop participant)
“I did my time doing what I do for other people. Now it’s time for me.” – Greg (Launch Pad Alumnus)

4 Unexpected Things That Might Happen When You Make A Career Change

Natasha Stanley — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 08:21:25 +0000

They're scary. They're exhilarating. And if you're not prepared to deal with them, you might as well stay in your current career. Here, Natasha shares four curveball side effects of shifting careers you probably haven't considered. How many are you ready for?

Shifting into fulfilling work isn't just about moving into a new job.

You already know that. You've already experienced how emotional and challenging career change can be, no matter what stage of the game you're at.

But there are also a few things that happen when you embark on a journey like this that you'd never have predicted.

And before you get too far into the thick of it, these curveballs are worth knowing about. Because not everyone is willing to take them on...

“You’re Allowed To Ask For More.” Arianna's Real-life Career Change Lessons

Anonymous — Tue, 14 May 2019 08:50:53 +0000

Ever find yourself 'putting off' your career change for later? You're not alone. Here's how Launch Pad graduate Arianna found a hidden career idea in her procrastination, and started getting paid for something she says she'd happily do for free.

My career history is a complete patchwork.

Until now, I've never found something I really liked and clicked with.

I studied International Relations at university. I was a therapeutic horse riding instructor for a while, and then, when I moved house, I started working at a food company in customer care. From there, I moved up to a contract manager role, and then project management, and eventually to quality assurance.

“The Lessons We Didn’t See Coming”: 3 Unexpected Insights From 3 Of Our Audience Who’ve Made Successful Shifts

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 08:31:51 +0000

You think you know where you need help when it comes to your career change. But sometimes, the lessons you need are the ones you least expect. Here are three stories from people we've worked with recently and the surprising mindset shifts that helped them get the clarity they were looking for.

Judith, Indre and Nina joined our Career Change Launch Pad looking for help to make a shift.

And they got it.

But the ideas that made the most difference for them weren't the ones they thought they were there for.

Here's how they found fulfilment – and the tough, but ultimately liberating lessons they learned along the way.

“Say Yes To The Butterflies.” Alex's Real-life Career Change Lessons

Natasha Stanley — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 08:03:28 +0000

When Alex Brooks joined the Career Change Launch Pad, she thought she’d end up with a new job. Instead, she overhauled her entire life. Here, she shares the shift in perspective that put her back in the driver’s seat and doing what she loves.

I was working as an Operations Manager at a charity, and to say that I didn't like my job was a huge understatement.

I was so miserable, unhappy, and desperate for a change. And I had no idea how to make it happen.

“Be Open And Inquisitive.” Alison's Real-life Career Change Lessons

Anonymous — Tue, 30 May 2017 07:06:44 +0000

If you're stuck in your shift, the first thing you need to change is probably not your career. It's your mindset. Here, Launch Pad graduate Alison shares how her new perspective helped her leave a well-respected but unfulfilling career for something that feels just right.

For 12 years, I was a lawyer in private practice.

To be honest, I was getting along fine, but I certainly didn't feel like I was put on this planet to be a commercial lawyer, and I wasn't fulfilling my potential.

That was beginning to grind me down.

I could see my husband was getting a lot more out of his work than I was. He was really busy, but he was finding it energising. I was also really busy, and I really wasn't enjoying it. I had a complete lack of energy, and trying to juggle our two kids, my career and my husband with his work… it was just too much.

“Make Them An Offer They Can’t Refuse.” Lee's Real-life Career Change Lessons

Anonymous — Tue, 23 May 2017 08:28:33 +0000

Looking for jobs as a career changer can be a soul-sucking experience. In this story, Launch Pad graduate Lee shares how he turned the job-hunting process upside down, and combined commitment, tenacity and creativity to land his dream role.

If I rewind to five years ago and think about where I was then… I was frustrated and bored.

I'd been a picture editor for magazines and newspapers for about 15 years.

It had been fun when I started, but the fun was wearing off. And in truth, I wasn't a picture editor at heart.

I was a frustrated writer.

I'd always wanted to write, and I started doing it around the day job of freelance picture editing, after being made redundant from a job, but I couldn't seem to make it work consistently.

Why 'Hard Work' Could Be Holding You Back In Your Career Change

Marianne Cantwell — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 09:27:57 +0000

Fact: Successful people focus on their strengths. Marianne Cantwell takes a closer look at why the concept of 'hard work' could be holding you back from finding your perfect career.

The Most Important Lessons From My Career Change (Part 2)

Natasha Stanley — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 03:19:05 +0000

It's been 18 months since our Community Manager Natasha kick-started her career change. While she's loving where she's reached, it's also been an up-and-down journey to get there. Here, she shares a second set of candid lessons from her shift.

The Most Important Lessons From My Career Change (Part 1)

Natasha Stanley — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:55:38 +0000

It's been 18 months since our community manager Natasha kick-started her career change. While she's loving where she's reached, it's also been an up-and-down journey to get there. Here, she shares the honest lessons from her shift.

How To Shift Away From A Career In Sales

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:45:46 +0000

Sick of relentless targets and constant pressure? Tired of your worth being determined only by your last sale? Let's get you out of that sales job, with some practical advice and exercises...