By: Joseph Goldy, CFP®, with guest writer Shauna Licciardi, PHR, SHRM-CP, CEC
Many people find themselves at a career crossroads in the aftermath of divorce. As a career coach specializing in helping women navigate this transition at her firm, Next Stage Career Success, Shauna Licciardi has seen the transformative power of rediscovering one's purpose.
From her experience as a human resources director and career coach, Shauna explains the importance of finding your "why" when charting your next career move post-divorce. Her informed advice can be applied to anyone experiencing a life-changing event that has brought them into the workforce, such as losing a spouse or just graduating from college.
She explores how identifying your core motivations and values can lead to more fulfilling professional choices, increased resilience, and a renewed sense of identity. Shauna describes how, by connecting with your authentic self and aligning your career with your deepest aspirations, you can turn a challenging life transition into an opportunity for growth and empowerment.
Shauna:
The Importance of Finding Your Why
In May, Joe released an incredibly valuable article through HIGHLAND's Learning Center discussing Arnold Schwarzenegger's philosophy on finding your "why" and its significance in financial planning. As a career coach who helps women of divorce find their "why" and understand the value it offers in terms of career direction, job search strategy, and overall well-being, I wanted to reiterate the critical importance of discovering your "why."
Embracing this concept can lead to tangible benefits such as achieving financial goals, gaining career clarity, building a strong personal brand, and securing a fulfilling career. Although discovering your "why" may be challenging, the right guidance can help you unlock your full potential and support you in achieving your goals. Aligning your "why" with your career and financial planning creates a holistic strategy that supports personal, professional, and financial success.
Why Finding Your "Why" is So Valuable for Your Career and Overall Well-Being
What is Your Purpose? Finding your "why" can be incredibly valuable in the career planning and job search process, especially for women navigating life transitions such as divorce. Understanding your core motivations, values, passions, and purpose can significantly impact your career planning, job search strategy, and overall well-being. Here's why it matters: search process, especially for women navigating life transitions such as divorce. Understanding your core motivations, values, passions, and purpose can significantly impact your career planning, job search strategy, and overall well-being. Here's why it matters:
Increased Motivation and Satisfaction: Discovering your "why" can help guide you to careers and jobs that align with your strengths and purpose, leading to greater job satisfaction and overall happiness. When your daily tasks play to your strengths, achievements become easier to attain, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment that can help keep you motivated to pursue your next goal. When your daily tasks play to your strengths, achievements become easier to attain, instilling a sense of pride and accomplishment that can help keep you motivated to pursue your next goal.
Clear Direction and Confidence: Just like a GPS, a clear purpose provides direction to help you make personal, career, and financial decisions with confidence, aligning with your long-term goals and values.
Resilience in Challenges: Knowing your "why" can help you stay resilient during challenging times, as it reminds you of the bigger picture and your ultimate goals. Gaining resilience extends beyond professional hurdles to personal challenges, fostering a stronger, more determined mindset. Gaining resilience extends beyond professional hurdles to personal challenges, fostering a stronger, more determined mindset.
Effective Goal Setting – Personal, Career, & Financial: Setting short and long-term career and financial goals that align with your "why" ensures a focused and strategic approach to your personal growth. It also helps set individual goals that enhance your overall well-being and life satisfaction.
How My Services Can Help You Discover Your "Why" and Your Career Strategy
As a career coach, I specialize in helping women of divorce uncover their "why" and then translate it into actionable career plans. Whether you need assistance—getting back into the workforce, exploring new career options, or you already know the job or career you want but aren't getting interviews or landing the job, I can help. Through assessments, exercises, and one-on-one coaching, I will help you understand your current position in the market, develop a solid personal brand, and enhance your job search strategy. Here's how I can assist you:
Career Clarity: We'll explore your passions, skills, and market opportunities to identify a clear career direction.
Effective Goal Setting: We'll set meaningful short- and long-term career goals that resonate with your values and long-term aspirations.
Building Confidence and Identifying Skills: Through personalized coaching, we'll build your confidence by helping you recognize and articulate your unique strengths and skills, making you more marketable and self-assured.
Personal Branding: I'll help you develop a strong personal brand, which includes:
Crafting an impactful resume
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile
Creating a compelling narrative to help you confidently articulate your unique skills and experiences in networking events, job interviews, and casual conversations.
Tailored Job Search Strategies: We'll develop job search strategies that align with your strengths, achievements, and goals.
Addressing Imposter Syndrome and Limiting Beliefs: We'll work together to identify and overcome any imposter syndrome or limiting beliefs holding you back from reaching your full potential.
A clear "why" and purpose can significantly enhance financial and career planning. Highland has highlighted the importance of finding your "why" in financial planning. Similarly, understanding your "why" is equally valuable in career development and turning the page for your next great chapter!
As a career coach specializing in helping women of divorce find their purpose and direction, I can help you achieve clarity in your career path, set meaningful goals, and develop strategies for reaching your goals.
If you're interested in a free 30-minute consultation with Shauna, please click here to book a meeting today and start your journey towards self-discovery and a more fulfilling professional life. For more information, visit www.nextstagecareersuccess.com
HIGHLAND's professional network, cultivated over three decades, offers clients access to expertise and resources, including seasoned professionals like Shauna.
A big thank you to Shauna for sharing her valuable insights!
Joseph Goldy, CFP®, is a wealth advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Highland Financial Advisors, LLC, a fee-only fiduciary wealth advisory firm based in Wayne, New Jersey.
Joe specializes in working with newly independent women because of divorce or losing a spouse. He understands firsthand the value of having a clear financial picture pre- and post-divorce and a plan to restate goals as a single person. When he is not helping clients, Joe enjoys spending time with his two sons outdoors and volunteering to help raise money for Type 1 diabetes organizations.