“The Question That Changed My Career (and My Life)”
“Do I want to be him when I’m fifty?”
It was the early 1960s when I had my first job as an apprentice grocer at William Low’s—a world devoid of prepackaged food. Items like butter and cheese came in 40-lb slabs, and bacon was cut fresh to order. It was a time before the rise of supermarkets, and everything was done by hand. I was close to completing my apprenticeship, looking forward to a raise and maybe, just maybe, a path to management if I improved my academics by attending night school.
On paper, my future seemed bright.
Then came the moment that stopped me in my tracks. I’ll never forget it. I was standing behind the counter, watching the assistant manager—a man who’d been in the trade for decades—leaning casually on the bacon slicer, chatting to a customer as she left the shop. There was nothing particularly unusual about the scene, but something inside me shifted.
I stared at him and thought, “Do I want to be him when I’m fifty?”
The answer came instantly: "No."
In that split second, I realised that staying on this path, even with the promise of stability and promotion, would not lead me to the life I wanted.
What life did I want? I had no idea then, but I knew then that this was not what I wanted.
Sometimes, life-changing moments happen when you least expect them. For me, it wasn’t a dramatic event—just an ordinary day, a simple realisation, and a question that changed everything.
What’s the question that could change your life?
Above all else, remember that it's never too late to ask yourself that all-important question:
"Is this who I want to be?"
#CareerTransition #PersonalGrowth #LifeLessons
Director-Auditing Physician Services at Conifer Health Solutions
3moInspiring!