You may have come to the conclusion that you’re in the wrong career; that your talent is being wasted in your current business or job and that if you make the right move you’ll be much happier than you are today. Does that sound crazy? I don’t think so. And chances are that you’re probably right.
I really believe that deep down people know what their talents or skills are. The problem is that most of the time we are not able translate such talent into a career.
And for that reason changing careers is not a simple thing and can be considered a high risk process. The chances of you falling flat on your face might be high, and probably you might have to take not one but MANY steps back. Are you willing to do it? If so, here are some tips that might come in handy.
The first thing to do is to find out if this new profession that appeals so much to you is really and exactly what you think it is, because no profession in the world is a bed of roses all the time. So try to find out all details about the career you want to embrace. Try talking to professionals in the area; understand how they manage their careers and what are the profession’s difficulties and benefits.
If you already have professional experience, before applying for a degree in the profession you seek, search for information online, blogs, read specialized literature such as magazines or other publications in the field. The reason is because a degree is usually expensive and time-consuming. Besides, academic programs tend to focus on theoretical and technical concepts and this might discourage you from changing careers.
Another important thing is that—most of the time—you might be able to use something from your current or previous profession in your new adventure. Knowledge is never too much; it’s always adaptable.
After that, if you still think that the profession you chose is really what you want, prepare for the change. So, the second thing to do is to prepare to make the transition, which may include some financial planning. That’s right, saving some money, and maybe lowering your standard of living. You don’t expect to make the same amount of money you make today in your already established profession when transitioning to a new career, do you? And this is a success factor, because starting anew without any savings may throw your career change dream out the window.
The third thing to do is to build experience in the area. Initially you might have to work weekends and hours in addition to your current job. You may also have to work as an intern with an experienced professional in the area you want to embrace, helping them and building knowledge in exchange.
Also try to engage with the professionals in your new activity. This way you’ll discover “short cuts” to make your career change transition smoother.
There are several triumphant stories of professionals who have followed this path successfully—lawyers who have become teachers, pilots who are now top executives in major companies, nutritionists who have become musicians, and even more unusual stories such as those by some of the cast members of Cirque du Soleil.
The most important thing is that you don’t want to feel sad or anxious on Sunday nights because you have to go back to work on Monday.
GOOD LUCK!!!
1/19/11
Everyone has a price
This sentence can sound harsh sometimes, right? And there are even those who state with conviction that they “aren’t for sale.”
However, I believe that all of us indeed have a price. When I say price in the professional context I’m referring to the conditions and premises we take into account when we accept or not the offers we come across in our professional lives.
The more or less open we are to such conditions and premises define the “price” each one of us has.
Price doesn’t necessarily have to be financial. Many professionals come to me saying that they would accept less in order to be able to spend more time with their families. Others don’t mind working more than 12 hours and even on weekends for a higher compensation. These are examples of “prices” that professionals can determine for themselves.
All of us have a price. However, not all professionals know that. And for not knowing that, they are open to negotiations or accept proposals without “calculating” all the implications that will result from such decision.
Higher hierarchical positions, promises of accelerated growth or even differentiated compensation packages are reasons that can drive us to consider a new job “without even blinking.”
But many times a decision made without blinking can end up costing a lot.
The reason behind this is that our "price” is also composed of things that are not financial. You can even think that a salary 3 times bigger than yours would help you buy happiness. But if in order to receive such salary you had to do something that made you unhappy, then this extra amount is actually paying for your unhappiness. Like an exchange. And thus the higher salary becomes nothing but a currency in exchange for your unhappiness.
No business can buy you happiness with money, only unhappiness. If you’re in a job you don’t like but you stay because they pay you well, the company is actually paying for your unhappiness. And the unhappier we are at a job the more we tend to think we make little money. Because happiness costs a lot.
The high “price" of happiness includes many other things that are not necessarily financial, think about that. And each one has their own.
What about you? What’s your price?
However, I believe that all of us indeed have a price. When I say price in the professional context I’m referring to the conditions and premises we take into account when we accept or not the offers we come across in our professional lives.
The more or less open we are to such conditions and premises define the “price” each one of us has.
Price doesn’t necessarily have to be financial. Many professionals come to me saying that they would accept less in order to be able to spend more time with their families. Others don’t mind working more than 12 hours and even on weekends for a higher compensation. These are examples of “prices” that professionals can determine for themselves.
All of us have a price. However, not all professionals know that. And for not knowing that, they are open to negotiations or accept proposals without “calculating” all the implications that will result from such decision.
Higher hierarchical positions, promises of accelerated growth or even differentiated compensation packages are reasons that can drive us to consider a new job “without even blinking.”
But many times a decision made without blinking can end up costing a lot.
The reason behind this is that our "price” is also composed of things that are not financial. You can even think that a salary 3 times bigger than yours would help you buy happiness. But if in order to receive such salary you had to do something that made you unhappy, then this extra amount is actually paying for your unhappiness. Like an exchange. And thus the higher salary becomes nothing but a currency in exchange for your unhappiness.
No business can buy you happiness with money, only unhappiness. If you’re in a job you don’t like but you stay because they pay you well, the company is actually paying for your unhappiness. And the unhappier we are at a job the more we tend to think we make little money. Because happiness costs a lot.
The high “price" of happiness includes many other things that are not necessarily financial, think about that. And each one has their own.
What about you? What’s your price?
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