Three years ago, I received a beautiful gift from a client with the following message:
‘Thank you for helping me let go of the disappointments that have been weighing me down and for helping me feel excited about my future.’
She’d been feeling lost and alone. Self-doubt had been eating away at her. For years she’d felt that she hadn’t made a success of her career.
Every day she’d been going through the motions at work, constantly dreaming about doing something different.
There was no sudden crisis of confidence, no tears, no panic but a persistent feeling of frustration and disappointment.
She craved a lightbulb moment, a revelation that would tell her what direction to go in, a clear answer just coming to her in the middle of the night that would solve everything!
Here’s the thing. It’s easy to get stuck in your head when work no longer inspires you. Fear of failure can leave you feeling powerless and confused. Self-doubt can paralyse you and stop you moving into action.
You feel trapped, helpless and unable to see a way out. The questions that come up over and over again in your mind focus on all the obstacles in the way:
How can I afford to change career?
What will my family think?
How can I pursue a career in a new field without any qualifications?
Why can’t I work this out?
Am I just chasing a pipe dream?
If you’re feeling this, you’re not on your own. Any big change is hard, and a career change is particularly challenging because the work that you do has formed such an established part of your identity and reason for being.
Career change requires perseverance, resilience and belief in oneself. These are traits that you can create and grow for yourself by building confidence, courage and commitment.
It will take time and won’t happen in one fell swoop. Moving from a ‘stuck’ mindset to a ‘change’ mindset requires taking small steps – being patient with the process and impatient with taking the steps to build momentum.
Making a start is the hardest part but as soon as you begin to take action you will feel increasingly bold and able to build those traits you need to achieve what you want for your career.
Here’s 6 steps to get you started on your career change:
1. Reflection
Start by getting clear on what’s missing in your current role. Is it a lack of purpose, growth, or excitement? Write a list of everything that energises you and then a list of everything that deflates you. Identify the themes that emerge.
2. Reframe your doubts and fears
Instead of seeing obstacles as reasons to stay put, view them as challenges that can be solved step by step.
3. Experiment
Test out new career paths before making a full transition. Volunteer, take online courses, or start a side hustle. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
4. Network and seek advice
Connect with people in other fields you’re interested in. Look for opportunities to meet others for informational interviews about their work – you’ll gain insights and inspiration from what you learn.
5. Take small, consistent steps
Career changes don’t happen overnight. Set small, achievable goals each week like attending an industry event, or reaching out to a new contact.
6. Embrace the discomfort
Change is uncomfortable and pushes you outside of your comfort zone. But change is a catalyst for growth and as Steve Jobs once said, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.”
Every successful career transition starts with a single step. What small action will you take today?
As Nelson Mandela said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
