Are you in your career field because your parents told you to do that kind of work, or because that’s all you knew about when you started working, or because you heard that it paid well? Does it feel unsatisfying to you now, as if life is passing you by, and you have to do something about it before it is too late?
Let me guess. You’re afraid. What if you don’t make as much money? What happens if people laugh at you? What happens if you fail? Perhaps you will only make a change if you are more afraid of doing what you do not enjoy for the rest of your life.
It is okay to be afraid. Fear is a normal part of being a human being. But the only way to get past fear is by going through it.
Many people I work with have gotten tied to the money, the retirement fund, or the prestige. Their careers define who they are, so the uncertainty of not doing what they are doing today makes them wonder who they will be next.
So ask yourself this. Are you in a career you love? Or, did you get so good at what you have been doing that you believe you can’t start over? If you are dissatisfied in your career, maybe you are in the wrong one.
So how do you find your ideal career?
1. Believe That You Can Have Your Ideal Career
People argue me when I tell them that it is possible to be in their ideal career. They tell me they have tried and it did not work, so they gave up. Believing is the first place to start.
2. Stop Waiting For Your Ideal Career To Be Handed To You
Those who are happy and in their ideal career knew they were tired of being unhappy and decided to do something about it. They took responsibility and made a decision to change it. They knew that their ideal career would not happen by accident.
3. Decide What You Want
What do you want your next career to look like? Will it be in the same industry or in a different one? Will you have your own business? Decide what you want and put it on paper. If you don’t decide, someone or something else will decide for you. You have the most chance of being happy, effective, and successful in the future if you made the choice to be there. Sometimes the choices and the decision are the hardest part.
4. Research And Research More
Use this time to explore the possibilities you see for yourself. Spend time learning about different careers on the internet, in books, industry journals, and by talking with people. Act as if there are no obstacles and no way you can fail.
5. Tell Those Who Are Close To You
Telling others about your ideal career will keep the idea fresh in your mind and will make it more real. Plus, they may have suggestions or connections to help you reach your goals.
6. Create Attainable Goals
What are your immediate goals, both short term and long-term? Creating a list of your goals will motivate you, keep you focused, and give you perspective. By having your priorities and your plan in place, you can focus on the task at hand.
7. Set A Date
When will you be in your new career? Having a specific date gives you something to shoot for. You can make plans and arrangements and visualize yourself being there. You say when you will have your new career, and you put the actions in place to make it happen.
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By: Rose Opengart, Interviews That Work
© 2018, Rose Opengart, Interviews That Work