Yesterday I spoke to Ingrid in our fourth coaching session. When I met her the first time, she said: “I’m not at all that much of a career woman who always wants to climb higher”. And I often hear that in my practice.
Career women are only after money and status
“What is the image you have of career woman,” I asked.
‘Well, one of those women who will do anything to rise higher, at the expense of her family. Starting early, working hard and coming home late. Who is out for money and status and wants manager behind her name.’
That came out heartily then.
Learning new things and being challenged
I don’t have this negative image of a career woman at all. As I saw Ingrid, she was a woman who wanted to develop, learn new things and be challenged. And that was no longer the case when she was senior in her position. She realised very well that the only thing that could give her challenge and what could make it fun again was the next career move.
Where the only thing she knew was what she didn’t want, not what she did want.
Tap into your motherhood
“Yes, but then I lose the work-life balance”. Upon some further questioning, she had to admit that she has become much more efficient in performing her work since having children. More often than not, she balanced between a sick child and her full work schedule and that she could then still continue to perform well at work. It was not easy, but she could do it.
She also takes to work the way she runs her family and how she trusts her children. These are all skills she learned precisely because she has a family. That was an eye-opener for her.
Why choose between career and family
Meanwhile, Ingrid knows that her world does not only consist of being a mother. She already knew that, but now she feels it too. Ingrid chooses to be both a mother and to take the next step in her career. Because she has something extra to offer.
Now that she is back on track to get the work she goes to and comes home from with a smile on her face, she feels much better already. She notices this in contact with her children, with her partner. Her short fuse has lengthened again and her energy is starting to flow again.
She chooses for herself and starts realising her career goals, because she wants to get more satisfaction from and enjoy her work.
She is a more fun mother
Looking back, she sees that she had been stagnant in her development for a while and had pretty much dormant at work. Now she feels she is starting to matter again, alongside her motherhood!
Soon, in her new job, she will no longer drag herself grumbling through her working day and be challenged again. She will no longer come home cranky and have energy left over for quality-time with her family.
As she says herself, this is going to make her a nicer mother to her children. And she herself is going to do what she always tells her children: do what makes you happy.
Win-win so
Would you also like to know how to get the work you love most without sacrificing your family? Then request a free career session here.
I will give you personal advice and show you what you can do right away to get that job and be a great mother.