As we edge close to Halloween I’m diving into your fears, and in this episode will be sharing the secrets to freeing yourself from your Gilded Career Cage. If you’ve been holding yourself back from changing to a career specialism or business you are passionate about because it seems crazy to let go of what you have already achieved, or are fearful of what will happen if you do take the leap from what you know, then this episode is for you!
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A gilded or golden cage is when you are in a situation that is comfortable, safe and secure but that holds you back or constrains you from fully living the life you were born to live, from fulfilling your potential and purpose.
For some of us your job or career can be that gilded cage. You spend years building a reputation and standing in your specialism, you’re comfortable and confident in your job, there is potential for progression if you stick to the path. You have a good salary and potentially extra bonus or contractual benefits. To others it looks like you have a great career and you are told how well you’ve done.
You are proud of what you have achieved but it’s no longer enough. But you have lost your passion for it, if you ever had one in the first place. Whatever the reason it’s no longer enough, it’s trapping you and constraining you from what you would really love to be doing.
Does any of this sound familiar? Do you think that you should be happy because you have done well in your career path, and have the income status and a place in the world that comes with it? Have you done what everyone else expects, pick a ‘proper job or a real career’ and stick at it until retirement? Do you earn enough that you can pay for the things you want and need, and snatch a few hours here and there to do the things you feel passionate about and that mean something to you?
A career that is a gilded cage can sometimes be harder to move on from than if you hate your job or are on a low income which are strong factors driving people towards something new . But what if you have a lot that pulls you ‘stay put’. Potentially risking what you have achieved can be a huge barrier to making a career leap. You crave another path but all you can see is what you will give up, or have to risk. Some of this can be really challenging. Finances in particular can be a real issue if you are living just within your current income level and or if you have dependents.
There will always be things holding you back, particularly in regards to comfort and security. It can seem impossible to ever escape that cage. Yes, practical matters do need to be addressed and planned for, but you have to watch out that you are not using those things as an excuse not to go for what you really want. Often they can be a more tangible disguise for deeper emotional and mental barriers and beliefs. For example:
- You may worry what other people will think if you ‘give up’ on your current path and try something new. Potentially your colleagues, people you know in the corporate world or family members.
- You are afraid to leave the comfort of what you know, the routines and normalcy of your current career and life.
- You don’t believe it's possible, how can you start on a new career path now?
- You are scared - of letting people down, of losing everything, and the big one ...fear of failure.
The solution to freeing yourself from your golden cage can seem straightforward but like anything that is worth it, you will need to work at it. As the old adage says, if it were easy everyone would do it. But neither is it difficult, it just needs courage and a bit of daring to make it happen.
Before I give you the secrets of freeing yourself from your gilded cage, I want to talk about the foundation of your escape; which is the 4 P’s: passion, purpose, planning and preparation! As regular listeners will know I believe it all begins with passion. You have to be clear on what you love, you want to be doing and how you will do it. Find that and you will be engaged, energised and motivated as you move towards pushing that door open.
Knowing what your purpose is, in other words why you want to escape from the cage, will give you the drive and focus to work on your plans to free yourself. You need that purpose, a reason why you have to put the work in, on days when that door seems far away.
Then having a detailed plan on how you are going to make it happen for you is essential. Otherwise, you will leave the safety of your gilded cage and have no clue how you will reach your sanctuary and the freedom, fulfilment and happiness that brings. This is not about leaping into the unknown, you will know exactly where you will be going and how to get there and have supplies for the journey as you step through the door.
Then it’s all about preparation, making sure you have done everything possible to ensure that you are ready to open the cage door and fly through. That could be sorting out your finances by saving or reorganising, it could mean experimenting with different ideas, or training and studying to learn all you can about the new career field. It will include networking and getting to know all about the new sphere you will be joining. This is where the work happens and you need to put in the most effort, for your own peace of mind and to show those who care about you that you are serious and you are ready to go!
As I said, the 4 p’s are the foundation but but the real secrets to escaping the gilded cage are: Self Belief and Self Value
- Self-belief is your confidence and inner steel that tells you that you have the talent, skills and experience to make this new plan work, to reach your goals. Judging yourself to be capable of success increases your chances of actual success. You have to believe in yourself enough to drown out the naysayers and focus on what you want. You have to trust in yourself.
To remember that you have succeeded this far in your career and you can do it again. You are the same person with the same talents as when you started out on your current career path, plus you have gained so much more knowledge and skills than you had then. You have a wealth of experience of work and life that you will take on this next adventure.
- Self Value is about valuing your life, and your purpose. Just as much as anyone else you have the right to make your plans reality. That doesn't mean you're being selfish, valuing yourself is really accepting you deserve to have that happiness and fulfilment that comes with knowing you are living your passion and purpose. You have that right just as much as those you love do. We can be inclined to sacrifice our dreams to make those of others happen, but you don’t have to give up on your plans to make others thrive. Sometimes by showing what you can do you can inspire others to do the same. You deserve to fly. So ask yourself…
Do I value myself and my right to go for my dreams?
The bottom line is …
The door to your gilded cage is not locked. No one is keeping you in that career or life! There is a way out, but no one is going to push you from the cage.
When you uncover your passion, get clear on your purpose, come up with a detailed plan, and prepare, you have everything you need to get to that door….but stepping through it and learning to fly a new way will only come with your belief and trust in yourself and your abilities, the value you place on your life and your dreams, and just how daring you are to make that ideal career and life happen.
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Join me in the next episode and remember, everyone deserves to live their passion, so get started this is your time!
