Career goals are often associated with promotions, pay rises and climbing the corporate ladder. But according to financial adviser and business owner Carla Brown, the most meaningful goals start with a much simpler question: what really matters to you?
As CEO of Oakmere Wealth and President of the Personal Finance Society, Carla has spent years helping clients align their financial decisions with their long-term ambitions. She believes the same principles can help people make more confident career decisions.
Whether you're considering a return to work, career change, or simply feel ready for something different, reflecting on your goals could be the first step towards a more fulfilling future.
Start with where you want to be
Many people focus on what they do today rather than where they want to be tomorrow.
For Carla, setting goals starts with having a clear vision of what success looks like and then creating a plan to achieve it.
Speaking on The Switch podcast, she explains that having a goal gives you direction, while a plan helps you understand the steps needed to get there. Without one, it's easy to feel stuck or unsure whether you're making progress.
Perhaps you're looking for greater flexibility around family life. Maybe you want more autonomy, a stronger sense of purpose, or the opportunity to build something of your own. Defining those aspirations can make it easier to identify which opportunities genuinely align with your future goals.
Understanding those motivations can provide valuable clarity when considering a career move. As Carla puts it, if you're not clear on what matters to you, you're just drifting.
Understand what drives you
One of the most important parts of goal setting isn't deciding what you want. It's understanding why you want it.
Carla believes that people often focus on surface-level ambitions without exploring the deeper motivations behind them. When working with clients, she encourages them to think about their values and what matters most to them.
For some people, that might be financial independence. For others, it could be helping people, achieving a better work-life balance, or creating greater flexibility for their family.
Focus on progress, not perfection
Making a significant career change can feel overwhelming.
Carla's advice is to focus on the next step rather than the entire journey. She advocates breaking larger goals into smaller milestones and regularly reviewing your progress.
What do you think you bring to the role as an adviser?
My career hasn’t followed a straight line, and I think that’s actually been a strength. I’ve worked in different environments and met lots of people, which has helped me understand how varied people’s needs and priorities are.
She encourages people to spend less time focusing on how far they still have to go and more time recognising how far they've already come.
This mindset can be particularly valuable for people returning to work or moving into a new profession. The skills, resilience and perspective gained along the way can often become strengths in a new role.
Don't let "no" be the end of the story Creating a career with purpose
Throughout her own career, Carla has learnt the importance of persistence.
One piece of advice she shares is simple: don't take no for an answer. Instead, seek feedback and work out what needs to change to move forward.
She recalls applying multiple times for a professional industry award before eventually succeeding. The experience reinforced the value of perseverance and continuous improvement.
For anyone considering a career change, that lesson can be particularly powerful. New opportunities often require learning new skills, building confidence and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Creating a career with purpose
The right career isn't necessarily the one that offers the highest salary or most prestigious title. Instead, it's the one that aligns with your goals, values and the life you want to build.
For many people, a career in financial advice offers a combination of purpose, flexibility and personal growth. Advisers help people make important decisions about their future while building a career that reflects their own ambitions.
For anyone wondering what their next chapter could look like, Carla's message is clear: start by defining where you want to go, create a plan, and take the first step.
If you're rethinking what you want from your career, financial advice could offer the sense of purpose, flexibility and progression you're looking for. Discover how the St. James's Place Financial Adviser Academy can help you make the switch here.