I don’t know about you… but I’m pretty tired of hearing about
how you can “follow your dream” in three or four easy steps.
I’ve seen plenty of people leap before they sufficiently looked
--and end up dissatisfied or broke, or both. I’ve also had
clients come to me after reading a hot, new book or attending a
workshop. And they still can’t figure out what it is they want
to do for a living.
Of course not! You can’t think your way to a new career – or, at
least you can’t 99% of the time.
The truth is that career change is no walk in the park. It takes
focus, a smart strategy and guts.
Focus Anyone can start their career change effort with vigor.
But keeping your fires burning for the duration of your journey
is another story. Given the roadblocks and the absence of any
hard deadlines, it’s just the kind of “priority” that can fall
through the cracks of your busy life.
The key is to create an environment of accountability. Here are
four ways to do this:
1.Schedule your career change activities into your weekly
calendar. As Steven Covey would say, make it a “big rock”
priority. 2.Register for a class or workshop that keeps you
engaged and focused for an extended period of time. 3.Career
change can’t be done in a vacuum. Work with a mentor or coach
who has a good business head and market perspective. 4.Know
exactly what you hope to gain from your career change. A clear
and compelling personal benefit is your secret weapon to hanging
in there for the duration of your journey.
A Smart Strategy The old adage “look before you leap” is perfect
advice for prospective career-changers. Keep your day job and
let your paycheck enable you to take all the time you need to
discover new work options and test them out. Once you are clear
that a particular path is right for you – craft a good plan to
get there. At a minimum, your plan will include new training
requirements and timing, building a new network, and a
communications strategy for leaving your current employer.
Guts Successful career-changers know two things: First, how
critical the courage factor is to their ultimate success; and,
second, that it’s not possible to feel courageous 100% of the
time. By its very nature, the career-change journey is a wiggly
road. When your courage is on the wane, try these approaches:
1.Don’t confuse uncertainty with disaster. Avoid the mental
“drama” that takes you to the worst possible outcome. These
projections are not your present reality. 2.Focus on your gifts
and talents. Acknowledge yourself – deeply, and at the feeling
level -- for the experience and skills you have gained. Write
them down as a reminder of your abundance. 3.Trust in Divine
Presence. As long as you continue to pursue your career change
smartly, and take solid, active steps (i.e., do your part!),
providence will support you as well.
Finally, remember that we are indeed, a ‘free agent’ nation.
Safe, smart career change is possible and thousands of people
just like you have successfully re-invented their working lives.
Without question, you can, too
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