Desiring to change jobs and do something new takes real GUTS!It is difficult because of fear of the unknown and inability to shift your inertia from the daily routines.Maybe you have heard your colleagues comment on how much they hate it at work and you are thinking the same thing.Perhaps you are wondering if there is more to life than what you are presently doing.You feel unfulfilled, unappreciated, and unable to quit since you have a family to feed.Join the club!Many people are in the same boat.
Some people find it easier to switch jobs.True entrepreneurs may elect to start a new business.Others individuals try countless interviews seeking a different place to work.However, significant change may be needed for you to find that excitement and joy that is missing.
Change always has associated risks, but so does staying where you are.Your objective must be to find that opportunity where the rewards outweigh the risks.You may want excitement and fun to be part of your new opportunity.Things you seek are different from what others look for.You must decide what makes you want to get up and be excited about going to work.Consider the following steps as a process to help decide and make a switch.
- Think: You have decided you cannot take it anymore. You may not know what you want to do next, but you know it is not in the direction you are going. It is time to think over options and even consider areas far different from your current path. As you give it thought, consider the excitement factor: i.e., what would make you want to get up in the morning and tackle the day’s work with enthusiasm? Select a few areas that may be interesting and take the next step.
- Talk: Business planning and market assessments are important part of business. You are considering a new direction that may change your life. Why would you think it less important to gain as much intelligence about that space? Talking to friends, family, and key people in your network can help you learn more about the new field. Continued networking in a focused manner helps you find new contacts in that field and engage them in conversation.
- Stop: You will want to speak extensively when you meet new people and relay your thoughts. Your excitement will take over and you may forget to take a breath. Developing a network requires you to allow others to communicate their ideas and LISTEN. This is even more important when you wish to learn more about the new field. Remember to stop and allow the information to flow in your direction.
- Listen: The information coming from others requires that you LISTEN. It is so easy to shut down and not pay full attention; especially, if you are hearing things you did not want to hear. There are always negatives about every field. You need the bad information as well as the good. You cannot properly evaluate the new endeavor if you have only half the information. Why end up in a new opportunity only to find out it is as bad as the one you just left?
- Repeat as needed: The process is iterative. This means you may cycle among different ideas and directions. You may even end up with more than one area to consider and need more extensive thinking and discussion to decide. There are always risks in changing directions. Make sure you understand the ones related to your new area(s). Do not feel forced to make a change, and only make the change because you really want to do it.
- Decide and do: Once you make decisions, the most difficult step is to get off the path and go in the new direction. It may feel like “Mr. Toads Wild Ride” but you must decide and force yourself to take action. Otherwise, you will always look back and wonder why you are still stuck in that same old crappy job you have been doing for years!
You can follow Taffy Williams on Twitter by @twilli2861 and you can email him with questions at twilli2861@aol.com or contact him via company contact info in the website. More Startup information is contained in his personal blog.
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