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“I’m debating whether or not to make a career change. Part of the reason has to do with the economics of my industry, and another part is feeling stagnant. Another consideration is whether or not this is the right time to continue my education.
“When feeling like you are coming to a crossroads, where do you start? Do you have to have a “sign” or do you keep going as you are, until you feel you are backed up against a wall and must make a decision?”
G: Most of the time when I have had to make a decision, I did not come to it quickly or easily. But some of the time, it was a no-brainer. So, I cannot say that there is a hard, fast rule that I follow, other than I really consider that sometimes it might be best for me not to do anything right then.
That means you have to get comfortable with what I have come to describe as the “hanging in the dangle.” It’s that space where things are not yet buttoned down, where there is some uncertainty, but some clarity, though not enough of either to feel confident in making the final call. It’s the period of time that can feel like you are being timid or indecisive, but in actuality it can simply be that you need more information.
To feel a true sense of agency or empowerment requires that you have done the homework, so to speak, that you know you are willing to risk even things that you cannot know in advance. Making any of the big or semi-big changes, the ones that are going to matter most to you in the short or long term, are not always reversible. You’ve got to be honest about what category you are dealing with, ones that you can reverse course on, or those that are irreversible.
Take all the time, without pressure, to be able to examine your goals, and you may come to admit that you just could be in a certain time or phase of your life where it is not worth any risk, or only some. Figure out how much risk you are comfortable with. Any significant change can ultimately be too risky. That’s part of the general anxiety that change can stir up. No getting around it.
When it comes to making a career change, it’s important to speak with some professional recruiters, those who work directly in the industry or area of interest you are considering. It’s not enough to run things by your buddies or a family member alone. Sure, they can be a tremendous resource, even a mentor to you in a given field, but you’ve got to explore what the landscape is like, not what you hope it to be for you.
If it is possible to take a short period of time off, that is ideal. If it is a sabbatical or if it is using any vacation time to explore as much as you can about your other paths, go for it. But that doesn’t mean you have to come to a final decision after that period of time.
If you do not have that kind of luxury, then you can use what free time you do have to research all of the possibilities. This may end up being a slower process, but making the correct move is what ought to be the motivating factor, rather than what might be the length of time. That is, unless you are about to be facing a layoff or potential reduction in force. Then you have to quicken your pace and focus.
There are some professionals who choose to change career in mid-stream. I’ve worked with many of them. Typically, they have discovered it was way more exhausting, and expensive, than they had factored in their planning. Just think of this in the most realistic terms you can. Most often, things take longer than we’d like for them to take, or hope that they’ll take. Ask anyone who has built their own home, by themselves or using contractors. The idea sounded great at the time they committed to the plan, but it sure got unpleasant and more expensive as the process went along.
Life is a series of decisions. The ones that seemingly appear at first to be insignificant can be the make or break turn in our lives. Be aware that as much as we plan and think ahead, there are some things that may jump out at us and surprise us, for the good or not so good.
If you embrace the quest of change with a heart of adventure you may find that what you inevitably learn once on the other side of the decision is a priceless wisdom. That means that most every decision has the potential to be the best decision, so don’t live in fear of what you may have needed to learn.
Giselle is the author of “We are Here for a Purpose: HOW TO FIND YOURS.” Email Giselle with your question at [email protected] or send mail: Giselle Massi, P.O. Box 991, Evergreen, CO 80437. For more info and to read previous columns, go to www.gisellemassi.com.
Email Giselle with your question at [email protected] or send mail: Giselle Massi, P.O. Box 991, Evergreen, CO 80437. For more info and to read previous columns, go to www.gisellemassi.com.