How to Change Career Horses in Mid-Stream

You'll get wet but the reward just might be a more fulfilling ride!

In Survival is Not Enough, author Seth Godin says change is the "new normal." Rather than thinking of work as a series of stable times interrupted by moments of change, Godin says we "must now recognize work as constant change, with only occasional moments of stability."

For many of us this very thought stirs both a nervous anxiety and an enjoyable excitement. Even if we are fearful, we crave change: the opportunity to try something new, to build on what we know, to stretch our professional muscles.

So how do we deal with the fear, change that career horse in mid-stream and move down the career exploration path on a new stallion?

First we have to acknowledge our fears. They may not be rational even to us but we are not seeking our rational thoughts. We are in search of those underlying fears that operate whether or not we are fully aware of them.

Try this?take out a piece of paper and write down all the reasons you can't or won't make a career change or job move. Don't hold back. What are your fears, concerns, reservations etc? Are they related to a loss of income or the expectations of others? Fear of failure? Success? Don't get caught up in how you should feel or that you know a concern is not entirely valid. Just write them down. Think of yourself as a researcher looking for information in a non-judgmental way. We are simply observing ourselves, reserving our conclusions for later.

As you study your list you can easily see that underlying most of our fears is your reluctance to trust your ability to be capable, creative, and resourceful. But a close examination of your track record will reveal that this lack of trust is unfounded. After all, haven't you accomplished many professional and personal goals? Haven't your setbacks lead to a renewed determination? To an enriched experience? To a more well rounded professional outlook?

Now take a look at that list again. Read each fear or concern slowly and ask yourself, where am I in all or nothing, always or never, black or white thinking? Are your thoughts fraught with extreme terms like? If I change jobs I'll be broke. If I take less money my family will hate me. If I change careers my parents will go berserk. If I pursue a new career my education and experience will be for nothing. If I make the wrong choice I'll never recover.

Are these statements really true? Can you know for a fact that if you make a professional move something terrible will happen? While your worst fears could happen, how likely are they to occur if you trust your record of resourcefulness and creatively? You may have heard that FEAR is an acronym for False Expectations Appearing Real. Our fears are generally rooted in the perspective that the worst will definitely happen. After all if we really understand the true odds we would move forward with far less anxiety.

In short, coach yourself to be honest about your irrational thoughts. Name your fears. Review them and look for the misconceptions in them. Where are you in an all or nothing perspective? Don't judge yourself for having irrational thoughts. Acknowledge them when they happen and remind your self that such thoughts only trip us up when we pretend we don't have them!

Once we become aware of our fears we become more agile and willing to cross the proverbial stream with a new horse. The following seven steps will keep you astride that lively and spirited career steed even when things are bumpy and unpredictable.

1. Money isn't everything. Don't expect to take a pay cut, especially if you have transferable skills. But, if you do accept a lower salary, make sure it's a fair exchange for a more rewarding career. Be careful here. Sometimes we get caught up in how it will look to others if we take a pay cut and what does that say about us? Remember only you can assess whether a pay cut is worth it.

2. Know your passion. When you're true to your mission, you experience peace and stability. When you ignore the truth, you experience disharmony, indecision and doubt. Work at achieving goals that are compatible with your passion. Trust that your resourcefulness and creativity will make things happen.

3. It's your life. Close friends and family members may have trouble envisioning you in a different career. Expand your network; make an effort to meet new people. Attend professional events, join an industry association or meet other job seekers online. Remember, what do you want? If you know that answer, your personal power will help you achieve your goals.

4. Jump often. Risk taking gets easier with practice. Start with small risks in daily activities. Think of a risk you would like to take. What would you gain from taking it? What's frightening about it? What's the worst thing that could happen if it turned out badly? If the worst happened, what would you do? What could you do to minimize this? What information would make this less risky? If you broke the risk into small steps, what would the first step be? When could you take it?

5. Get creative. Become involved in activities, relationships, hobbies, and spiritual/community activities. With this new focus you may even discover you're enjoying that unsatisfying job now that you have a more balanced perspective.

6. Don't give up. The career path is not linear ? it's more like a spiral. On average, it takes four years to change careers, according to Herminia Ibarra, the author of Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. It's a process of trial and error ? you will likely face a few disappointments and failures.

7. Be a cheerleader. As you go through a career transition, enthusiasm can help you meet the challenges and overcome the obstacles. When you're networking or job hunting, your enthusiasm can often overcome the reservations potential employers may have about your career change.

About The Author

Merci Miglino is well qualified to help you take the next step to accomplish what you want in your professional and personal life. Merci was educated as a teacher and worked as a journalist, paralegal, communications director and campaign manager. She has also been on the front lines of the retail, hospitality and advertising industries. Armed with this background Merci is a noted speaker, trainer and career coach. She is also a facilitator of the Personal CatalystTM , a unique, web-based life and career design tool that inspires extraordinary achievement. As if that were not enough, she has written a book, From Doormat to DivaŠ Taking Center Stage in your life. This woman knows success, personally and professionally, and she knows how to help you find it too.

merci@matpounders.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Employment Law: Attendance Rewards - Legal Ramifications

If you were thinking of offering your employees special rewards... Read More

How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II

In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's... Read More

Integrity At Work - How Do You Show Up?

As the business sections of today's papers and magazines read... Read More

Counteroffers: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

If "resignation" is the word that strikes fear into all... Read More

Hey! - Are You Being Paid What You Are Worth?

Are you being paid what you are worth? Has anybody... Read More

Job Search: Time Management

There is an old adage that "Looking for a job... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Try, Try, Again

This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores... Read More

The Secrets to Interview Success

Many well qualified and extremely able candidates fail at job... Read More

3 Creative Job Search Tactics

It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition.... Read More

Writing Resumes

Use a resume as a foot in the doorWhen you... Read More

Giving Notice: 6 Things to Do To Prepare to Leave

After days, weeks, months or longer of interviewing, you have... Read More

How To Find A Job As A Copy Editor

Jobs for copy editors may seem like they are hard... Read More

Cover Letters

Cover Letters: Are you telling them what they want to... Read More

Evaluating Job Offers -- Eleven Warning Signs You Must Watch Out For

Moving into a new job always involves some degree of... Read More

De-Bunking The ?Follow Your Bliss? Myth

Hello Fellow Seekers!I don't know about you? but I'm pretty... Read More

Dynamic Interviewing Practices

The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. If you're reading... Read More

What is Mystery Shopping, and Can You Really Get Paid to Shop?

Mystery shoppers visit businesses "disguised as normal customers," and do... Read More

Don?t Be Too Passionate About Your Work

Of course, she then offered me a six-month process, costing... Read More

Update Your Resume Today

A friend was just promoted to a position of vice-president... Read More

How to Write a Scientific Resume

You're a scientist, you're very well educated, you're intelligent, and... Read More

How to Walk Away from an Opportunity thats Wrong for You

Q. I just finished a job interview. Everything went well.... Read More

The Global Work Marketplace - The Revolution Of How Work Gets Done

Will cubicles be a distant memory for today's workforce? Will... Read More

How to Think Like a Headhunter to Find Your Dream Job!

In this ever changing world, we need to think out... Read More

The Telecommuting Tightrope

For many of us, telecommuting seems like the ideal situation.... Read More

Ive Got the Big Bad B Word on My Job!

That "B" word---B O R E D O M.How did... Read More

How to Access Employers through Proposal Marketing

Use Proposal Marketing and you'll be your own hot spot,... Read More

Whiners Need Not Apply

Sometime last summer I decided to host a pity party... Read More

Stand Out From the Crowd with Simple Marketing Methods

Although today's job market can be very competitive, many job... Read More

Perceptions

How was your latest car wash experience?Did you take your... Read More

Seeking A New Job While Currently Employed : Tiptoeing Through the Minefield

So, you currently have a job but you are looking... Read More

Should You Join a Modeling School for Petite Modeling?

If you are thinking of breaking into the petite modeling... Read More

Have You Given Up On Yourself?

Have you given up on yourself? Have you decided to... Read More

3 Resume Secrets the Pros Use

You don't write a resume every day. Not even every... Read More