How to Make a Successful Career Change

I received this message from a lady in the US today in response to my Are You Happy at Work Survey:

“Besides my boss, I very much like and respect the people I work with. I’m challenged by the environment but mostly get off a bit on that challenge. However, I find myself deeply resentful of my status. To experience more happiness, I’d need a change in status: from contractor to FTE. Which would result in better compensation, more security, and room to grow. In addition, I do a great deal of reporting which I can do but don’t have either aptitude nor enjoyment in. Finally, I feel like little I do has a positive impact and I’d like to better be involved with making a positive impact.”

Feeling “deeply resentful” exerts a toxic toll on anyone’s well-being, but it can provide a silver-lining. The seeds of this lady’s Career Rescue are in her comments. To make the negative positive and to gain clarity in the process about your next best step, list the things you want less of, and those you want more of.

Using the example above:

She wants less: reporting, less insecure work, less low pay

She wants more: security, more room to grow, more enjoyment, and to make a positive impact

Drilling down further to make these ‘wants’ more concrete will enable you to begin to identify and manifest your best-fit career toward you. For example, asking and exploring your answers to open-ended generative questions such as: what does a positive impact look like? What kind of positive impact? For who? 

Turning negatives into positives
I’ve used a similar strategy in my career, and professionally with my clients. I took my hate of working in an open-plan office, commuting, and being directed by a boss I didn’t respect, and changed it into, working from home, and starting my own business.

Similarly, I’ve quit paid employment jobs that sucked my soul and gone in search of salaried jobs that gave me joy and a deep sense of working with passion and purpose.

So take heart – if you’re not ready to make the leap into self-employment, where there’s pain there is a cure. You just have to name it, and claim it! A willingness to stop banging on about what you don’t like, and a commitment to focusing on what you do want will make all the difference – as will faith, hope and courage.

As Napoleon Hill made famous in his iconic book, “Think and Grow Rich”, ‘Success begins with a person’s will – it’s all in the state of mind.’ The lady who contacted me has already began the first step – she’s started reading books like my, Find Your Passion and Purpose: Four Easy Steps to Discover A Job You Want And Live the Life You Love. 

You’ll find more tips to help you keep a positive state of mind and clarify what makes you happy in, Mid-Life Career Rescue: What Makes You Happy. Available for immediate download less than the price of a cup of coffee – getBook.at/MakeYouHappy.

And all of my other books – to see the full catalogue simply scroll to my author page here Author.to/CassandraGaisford

For my US friends – liberate yourself from a job you hate this fall! 

#Happy #careerrescue #CareerChange #CareerCounseling

Posted in: Achieving goals, Blog, Career & Happiness, Career Change

Tags: change careers, Changing careers, mid-life career change, success