Time for a career change?

Time for a career change?

How do you know if it’s the right time for a career change?

Here’s a little True or False quiz:

It’s time to make a change, if you dread Monday mornings… and the feeling starts Sunday morning or Saturday morning or Friday…you get the idea.

It’s time to make a change, if you work for a business that cares more about the bottom line than the people it serves whether that means customers, students, employees or whomever.

It’s time to make a change, if you live for the next weekend, the next vacation or the next holiday.

It’s time to make a change, if you are experiencing health issues because of the stress that you experience at work.

It’s time to make a change, if you have little or no interest in what you do all day.  Your passions and interests lie elsewhere and you are often distracted by thinking about them while at work.

What is your score?  Are three out of five true for you?  Are five out of five true?  If it’s time to make a change you know it, don’t you? I probably haven’t told you anything you didn’t already know.

So what is holding you back?

Fear of the unknown? (What would I do instead?  Who would I be if I didn’t have this job? What other possibilities are out there anyway?)

Fear of the known? (How would I pay my bills? What about insurance? How would I support my family?)

Fear is a good thing

This may surprise you but I think fear is a good thing.  It is a survival skill that has served us well through the  ages.  If we didn’t have fear, we’d probably try every risky thing. We’d step in front of racing cars and swim with sharks. But fear that hasn’t been questioned about it’s validity is something else again.  It can keep you in a bad situation unnecessarily. It can stifle your creativity and productivity.  It can keep you on edge and miserable.  Here are my suggestions for challenging the fear that is keeping you stuck in a job or career that you have outgrown:

• Check out what message you are giving yourself that is causing the emotion–fear doesn’t take over like a bad cold or the flu.  Fear comes from messages that we give ourselves. Maybe you are telling yourself that you will end up as a bag lady on the street if you quit your job. Maybe the message is that you will disappoint your co-workers, family or friends.  It’s not always easy to discover the message but it’s there.  Give yourself some time to discover it.
• Now that you know the message, re-frame/restate it in a more realistic way–For instance, the chance that you will end up as a bag lady is unlikely if you plan and prepare for a change… people change jobs all the time and don’t end up homeless.  Or you might question if your friends will really be disappointed… didn’t they support you in the last difficult decision you made?
• Do your due diligence before you make the move–I talk to a lot of people who are finally so done with feeling upset, mad, overwhelmed or frustrated with a job that they finally set a date and quit. But they don’t put in the necessary time to make a plan ahead of time.  “I’m leaving at the end of the year… never again will I go through another tax season or holiday season!” they tell me.   It’s great to finally make a decision and draw a line in the sand but plan ahead.  What will you do instead?  Research the possibilities.  Determine your skills and strengths.  Try out other choices. Otherwise you are just trading one stressful situation for another and you may wind up taking the first thing that comes along.

If it’s the right time for you to make a change… I’m on your side.  Make sure that you make a plan before you make the change and you will have the benefit of conquering your fear at the same time.

Want help in making the change?  Need a plan?  Let’s talk:  Complimentary Coaching Clarity Call

Dream Achiever Coaching is well worth the time and money. Lynne is a wonderful coach!  She offers priceless advice, encouragement, and support. She has personally helped reel me in to focus my time and energy appropriately and has also helped me achieve my dream of having an enjoyable, fulfilling, and successful business.  Amy Molley,  www.sensiblesensoryspaces.com/