Top Ten Lessons Learned - #9: Chillax about your Career

Chillax - 1. To chill and relax simultaneously.2. To loosen or reduce the level of stress by employing a more relaxed and groovy outlook.

Career - 1. A chosen pursuit; a profession or occupation, 2. The general course or progression of one's working life or one's professional achievements

Nowadays there's too much pressure to make the "perfect" career choice. From your first job cutting your neighbor's lawn to picking your high school courses to choosing the "right" college to stressing over your first job, it seems we are overwhelmed with our decisions around our careers thoughtout our lives.

Here's a thought: even if you are 65 years old, you're still young in terms of career choices. With the wealth of experience and training you gained over your past 40-45 years, don't you think that is valuable in various areas? And what about your hobbies? Now you might have some concentrated time to become a celebrated Elvis string artist and sell your wares.

While you ought to show interest in your career before you are 65, give yourself plenty of time to chart your own course. After all, current studies show that adults will change careers (not jobs) 5 to 7 times in a lifetime. We all have multiple gifts and talents that need to be honored and expressed and most of the time we cannot express them all at once.

The choices you make today will grow and evolve over time, so don't worry. Think of your career as a long-term portfolio of jobs that will express the fullness of who you are. There are no perfect choices.