I recently spent a few days by the Atlantic Ocean in Fuerteventura, an island famous for its strong winds and a paradise for surfers.

I have always been fascinated by the ocean. The endless movement of the water, the waves rising and falling, sometimes small and gentle, sometimes powerful and wild. And when the sun comes out, the surface of the ocean turns into a sea of glitter. Simply beautiful.

My hotel was close to a surfing spot, and I spent quite some time watching the surfers. Day after day, they came with their boards, paddled out into the ocean and waited for the right wave. When it arrived, they tried to catch it, stand up and enjoy the ride. Some succeeded, others lost their balance and fell into the water. But the wave eventually came to an end, and they paddled out again, ready for the next one.

It looked fascinating, but certainly not easy. The ocean doesn't follow anyone's plan. The waves change constantly, shaped by the wind and the conditions of the sea. Sometimes the right wave comes along. Sometimes it doesn't. And despite all the effort, things don't always work out.

Yet the surfers kept going, again and again. Watching them reminded me of something I have long been interested in: grit.

The power of passion and perseverance

I have always appreciated the research of psychologist Angela Duckworth, author of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

Duckworth defines grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals.”

Passion, in her understanding, is not simply about loving something or feeling excited about it every day. It is about developing an enduring interest in something that matters to us, something meaningful enough to keep us engaged over time.

Perseverance is the other part. It means continuing to make an effort, even when progress is slow, when we experience setbacks or when things become difficult. It is about learning, practising, adapting and trying again.

Looking at the surfers, I imagined that many of them were passionate about their sport. Perhaps it was the challenge, the excitement or the wonderful feeling of finally riding a wave that kept them coming back. Whatever their motivation, watching their patience and determination made me think of these two qualities.

And from there, my thoughts turned to career transitions.

When our career direction changes

The world of work is changing rapidly. New technologies, shifting business needs and changing expectations are reshaping careers. What has worked for years may no longer offer the same opportunities.

For some, career transition is a personal choice. For others, change arrives unexpectedly. Either way, finding a new direction can be challenging, especially when we have invested years in building our professional experience and identity.

We may find ourselves questioning what comes next. Should we continue pursuing the same path, even when opportunities seem limited? Or is it time to reconsider our direction?

This brings me to another aspect of Duckworth's work that I find particularly valuable.

Grit does not mean holding on at any cost.

Duckworth makes an important distinction between our deeper, long-term purpose and the individual goals or strategies we pursue along the way. We can remain committed to what matters to us while changing how we get there.

And I believe this is particularly relevant to career transitions today.

It takes courage to recognise when a familiar path may no longer be the right one. To question our assumptions, consider possibilities we may have overlooked and perhaps explore a direction we had never imagined for ourselves.

Changing direction does not necessarily mean giving up. It may be the very thing that allows us to move forward.

What if you don't know what your passion is?

Let's be realistic. Not everyone has a great passion for their work, at least not in the way we often understand passion: something we absolutely love doing.

And that is perfectly fine.

What matters is discovering what interests us, what we care about, what gives our work meaning and where we feel we can make a contribution. It might be solving problems, working with people, creating something useful or simply continuing to learn and grow.

During a career transition, we may need to rediscover these interests and look at ourselves with fresh eyes, beyond our job titles, professional history and familiar roles.

What matters to me today? What would I like to contribute in the years ahead? And what possibilities have I perhaps not considered yet?

Finding answers takes reflection, openness and courage. But it also takes perseverance. Because a new professional direction rarely becomes clear overnight. We need to explore, learn, connect with people and test ideas. Some may lead nowhere, while others open doors we had not expected.

This, too, is grit.

The courage to move forward

Thinking back to the surfers in Fuerteventura, what stayed with me was not the perfect ride. It was their willingness to keep going.

Surfers learn to read the waves, recognise their limits and adapt to changing conditions. They cannot control the ocean, but they can develop their ability to navigate it.

In many ways, the same applies to our careers.

We cannot control the job market or the changes happening around us. But we can choose how we respond, what we learn and which possibilities we explore.

And moving forward often takes more than perseverance alone.

Grit helps us stay committed to what matters. Courage helps us question familiar paths and explore new ones. And believing in ourselves gives us the confidence to take the next step, even when the outcome is uncertain.

Perhaps this is one of the most important lessons for career transitions today: We don't always need to hold on to the path we know. We need to find the determination and courage to discover where we might go next.

And if you are currently facing a career transition and are unsure how to find your next direction, let's talk.

Take the courage to move forward.

#courageforward  #executivecoaching  #careercoaching  #careertransition  #grit