​Once you completed your gruelling professional exams, did you vow never again to read another textbook, do another practice test, or attend another tutorial?! That's completely natural.

The challenge, however, comes if, after taking a well-deserved break, we really do behave like our qualification is final, and rest on our laurels. These days, it's not enough to simply atrophy for the rest of our multi-decade careers. I prefer to think of those letters after our names as designations, rather than destinations. 

But, I'm not saying we should shrug off the incredible accomplishment, and immediately get back into the ring to be beaten up again. Please do celebrate your hard-won success - there are few moments in life that are as sweet as achieving your professional designation.

And, you deserve a rest too, after the years of sacrifice. The added benefit of such a pause is that the memory of the pain and trauma fades somewhat, perhaps to the point that you think: 'Surely it wasn't THAT bad?' Some even then take on further study formally, perhaps a Masters or another professional qualification. Diversification and a broader skillset are worthwhile if you can face the hours of dedication again.

As we get older too, we tend to have more commitments to juggle, whether a partner, children, aging parents of our own, or a demanding senior job managing teams. I salute those who study with all that on the go at the same time!

The big challenge with lifelong learning - which most agree is becoming increasingly critical as our skills decay faster and faster - is finding the time (and the energy) to keep learning decade after decade. Curiosity and a growth mindset help, yes, but aren't sufficient.

So, I'm keen to hear your tips please! 
What have you found helps you most to keep learning and developing as you progress along your professional career path? Mindsets, tools, techniques, shortcuts, support, processes, anything that helps you.

​Aree Bly is an alignment coach for analytical minds, having spent much of her career as a health insurance consulting actuary in the United States. She has a great love for the outdoors – spending time in nature, and she lived for a few years in Brazil! These days, Aree is a regular podcast guest and speaker (including a TEDx talk in New York City, where she spoke about resetting in a new direction). She helps individuals and teams to identify and navigate their values, strengths and skills to create the success they really desire. In this article, ‘alignment ally’ Aree describes her ‘alignment landscape’ model, drawing on her own analytical experiences: 

"I have both said and heard 'I am too analytical to fully follow the voice within'. Sometimes it comes out as 'I am too analytical to clearly hear the voice within'. In either case, there is another way to navigate into and through a successful career. One in which the success you create is also sustainable. 

Navigating your own career and the challenges that you meet along the way implies that there is a map that you can follow. That map is called your alignment landscape. 

Alignment, Learning, Proficiency & more
You operate best and contribute most effectively when your work is aligned with both your current skills and your values. In your alignment zone, with everything falling into place, you can perform every time.

When you know that you have the skills and talents at hand to tackle an upcoming project or solve the problem that a client is facing, you can approach the job confidently. All you need to do is reach into your toolbox and - voila - a hammer in hand ready for the nail. You don’t even need to think about it. The skills are there, honed and ready to be used. Read more to continue exploring the features of the alignment landscape with me, including this map’s particular orientation and contours.

Like me, a number of our mentors have benefited from rotation programmes during their careers i.e. changing roles every few years. And, the main purpose behind these changes is broader development as a professional, including building new skills from fresh experiences. In my own career, I’ve moved roles both within companies and outside, including shifting countries and responsibilities for different experiences, especially as learning something new greatly appeals to me – I find it a fantastic way to ride the learning curve.

Read more on my career experiences (as an example of rotation) in this next article, which concludes with suggestions on how to create your own growth opportunities by rotating during your career. It follows on from the first rotation-themed article which concentrated on the corporate and managerial perspectives.