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Your Career – Who Is In Charge?
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While changes in life are inevitable, somehow many of us have a difficult time embracing change. Of course, if change is imposed on us, that really requires courage, faith, perseverance and adjustment. If, on the other hand, we choose to make a change, we are in control. While the second development is an easier adjustment than the first, one still has to accept full responsibility for success or failure.
Plan for the Journey When I left a 12 year run as a middle school teacher to follow an entrepreneurial journey, I planned ahead of time. The resources I had – time, financial backing, training, spousal support and determination all served me well. I would never suggest leaving one career or job to seek another without a well thought out plan. Will you have family and friend support? Do you have a financial reserve to get through the transitional phase? Have you done your homework? Is your decision to ‘strike out on your own’? If it is, planning is even more critical. Michael Gerber, author/business consultant, wrote an awesome book around this very topic: The E Myth. Its basic premise is – just because you know how to garden, cook, do home decorating, create websites, etc., doesn’t mean you know how to run a floral shop, cater, offer interior design, or a website development business. Having a hobby and running a business are not the same thing. A friend of mine is an internist and the managing partner of a medical practice. She admits she never had one business class in all of her medical training. Overseeing a profitable office of internal medicine has been a financial nightmare. She had no formal instruction on insurance issues, Medicare, HR or inventory. On the job training when building a practice is a challenging journey. The Best Laid Plans... For some reason and maybe it’s to test one’s resolve and drive, even the best laid plans never seem to evolve the way one anticipates. You think you have put away enough money and then move into panic when the well is close to drying up. You think your best friend is 100% in your corner and then questions your success because the evidence is still hidden. You think you’ve done a comprehensive job with your business plan and then need to adjust it dramatically for a variety of reasons. Unrealistic goals and outcomes can kill even the best idea. Then, the current economy simply doesn’t support what you want to do even though you believed it would. People you depend on lose interest or are quick to point out the shortcomings of your plan after the fact. While career change is healthy and affords opportunity for growth and challenge, it still requires that you engage in proper planning. If you are going to work for someone else, do your homework. Get your questions answered. Talk to current employees. Uncover the track record of the business’s success. Be sure your responsibilities, compensation and benefits are clearly defined up front. The internet is a great resource as well – even current payroll trends for certain positions can be researched on line. Being eager when desperate is not an excuse for jumping in without knowing exactly what to expect or what is being expected of you. While I personally have not taken one, there are interest inventory tests available to evaluate your skills measured against job descriptions. There is no point in taking a job that doesn’t match your personality, strengths and experience. If you love people, get energy from selling, surely a desk job no matter what the pay is not going to make you a happy employee. If working for someone else suffocates your creativity and drive, maybe having your own business is the answer. Whatever you decide – whatever direction you choose to pursue, make the best possible choice for you and plan. No one can do this for you. You’re the one that has to make a livelihood. You’re the one that has to feel great, excited and valuable. We are all here for a purpose. Determine yours. If you’re ready to make a change, do it. Sometimes the best thing to come out of job loss is the motivation to finally do what you were destined to do. I wish you the best. Is this helpful? Please let us know in the comments your thoughts on this as well as other ways we can help you with your career and training.  Authored by: Bonnie Ross-Parker, The Joy of ConnectingYou can contact Bonnie at bootgirl@TheJOYofConnecting.com or 770.333.7923 blog comments powered by Disqus |
