When I ask people about their job search, most start the discussion by telling me what they’re qualified to do. “My background is in X.” “I have certifications in Y and Z.”

And I smile, because that wasn’t my question.

When I ask, “What do you actually want to do next?” the tone often shifts. If someone truly loves their current field, the conversation flows easily. When they don’t, there’s usually a pause … followed by a quiet, almost apologetic confession that they’d really prefer to pursue something different.

Here’s the truth: That’s OK. More than OK — it’s normal.

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In my recent conversation with Arun Gupta — venture capitalist, educator, and co‑author of the national bestseller The Mission Generation — during our MOAA/TotalForce+ webinar, he talked about how common it is to outgrow a role or a field. It doesn’t mean you made a mistake. It doesn’t mean you should have figured it out sooner. It simply means you’re ready for something new.

It’s growth, not failure. (If you read my recent piece on failure, you know how strongly I believe this.)

So: If you believed nothing was “wrong” with wanting something different, what would you give yourself permission to pursue next?

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Yes, You Still Need to Be Qualified — But Start With What You Want

The title of this piece is a little tongue‑in‑cheek. I’m not suggesting passion replaces qualifications. You absolutely need to be qualified for whatever you pursue next.

But here’s what I am suggesting: Start with what you want to do, not what you’ve always done.

It’s amazing how relieved people feel when I invite them to flip the script. The list of things you’re qualified to do is probably long. The list of things you actually want to do is much shorter. So why not start with the shorter list?

Of course, there has to be a market for what you want — otherwise it’s a hobby. I’m not throwing reality out the window. I’m simply encouraging you to approach your next chapter from a place of alignment, not obligation.

A New Career Playbook

During the webinar, Gupta shared something that really stuck with me: People today will have multiple careers across their lifetime — not just different jobs, but different careers. That would have been unthinkable to members of previous generations who stayed at one company for 30-plus years.

But this is the new landscape. And it’s actually freeing.

If you’re feeling stale or stagnant, that’s often the nudge you need to explore something new. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic pivot. It might be an adjacent function, a different environment, or a new way of using the strengths you already have.

The point is simple: You’re allowed to want something different.

So Forget ‘Qualified’ (Kind Of) and Start With What Energizes You

Give yourself permission to approach the job market from the list of things that interest and excite you. Imagine the kind of work you’d love to do — the environment, the pace, the problems you want to solve — and then trust that it’s possible.

But you can’t pursue it until you name it.

So, what are you waiting for? Your next chapter starts with what you actually want — not just what you’re qualified for.

MOAA Premium and Life members who want to explore this issue further can watch my full conversation with Arun Gupta (MOAA.org login required). It’s part of MOAA’s extensive webinar archive; want full access to dozens of transition and career webinar recordings plus exclusive financial guidance and benefits updates? Join or upgrade today!