While biological completeness occurs at puberty, the mind has more to do to catch up. Sometime in the mid twenties, the mind has achieved a level of values, knowledge and insight for one to launch an independent lifestyle. Schooling is complete, vocational skills acquired, and solid relationships all create one's foundation for living.

For me, it arrived when I realized I loved technology, but had no desire to manage. I had been working as an engineer at a large aerospace company for a year when I received a memo that I was being promoted to engineering manager, a job I did not want. They said I could not refuse, that the decision was final. I quit. A search firm had guided me to a scientific computer manufacturer who hired me as a sales engineer. Onward!

When I speak about this, many say it happened to them, too, that they experienced a personal epiphany, had an insight about what they wanted to do next. Not all, of course, but enough to verify the idea that there is a time for many when the body and mind have reached an accord which sparks one's launching a focused career.

How about you? Was there a pivotal period in your mid twenties where you realized a change was needed and your career took an important turn? If so, savor it.

Leading to Stage 3: Adulthood