I recently delivered a new program I created as a platform off my upcoming book, Career Transition-make the shift: The 5 Steps to Successful Career Transition. I had a small, dedicated, brave group of baby boomers, who were from very diverse backgrounds. They all had one thing in common though: they were searching for the next career path they could get really excited about and feel like they were engaging in meaningful work for the first time in a long time or ever.
We spent two 3 hour sessions together going through their career story common threads, their skills, intangibles, passions, career possibilities they might now have thought of – and creating a career action plan for themselves. We were all transformed by the end of session two. It was awesome to see them awaken to themselves and the possibilities they actually have.
I have learned through my own career changes, but especially the one I am continuing in now, they usually begin way before they actually happen. Career change is nothing new, people have changed careers 5, sometimes 10 times in a lifetime. The difference is today the work and job environment is much more difficult to find a career or job quickly. The ‘find a job cycle” is much, much longer. Becoming discouraged, losing motivation, fear and lack of faith are surely the by products of that long cycle. I say persevere and stay your course, but have a course.
I opened and closed the two sessions with these 4 keys that have encouraged me and helped me to keep running the marathon.
1. Everything you need is already inside of you - go inside and trust the value of who you are and what you have done.
2. Transition is another beginning and a new adventure - your life is continuing and embrace it as an adventure.
3. Adapt and apply who you already are and what you do best to your NOW – be in this moment, own this moment, as today is your real life, not yesterday or tomorrow.
4. What it looks like is what it looks like today – there is no way to know what it looks like until you live it.
One of the best tools I used during my initial transition was staying in the moment and doing the most with it.
Action + Doing = Motion & Momentum
Make smart goals, plans and tasks everyday, and do them. Your doing will lead you, and will lead things to you.
As my friend Tory Johnson, Workplace Contributor for ABC’s Good Morning America, and founder of Women for Hire says, “Start today from exactly where you are.” Sage advice from a very successful career changer and seeker!
What are your action + doing daily things?
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About Deborah Shane
