Does Your Career Change Itch -- or Burn?Written by Patricia Soldati
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1. You can no longer compartmentalize work vs. life. 2. You find it almost impossible (maybe even terrifying) to drag yourself out of bed on Monday mornings. 3. You go through motions at work – your feelings are completely disconnected from your work activities. 4. Your energy hits skids; you get sick a lot or have difficulty shaking a common cold. 5. You may feel hopeless or a little (or a lot) depressed. It’s a significant difference, don’t you agree? Itchers have a quite a few avenues for regaining their balance – setting firmer workplace boundaries, finding a fulfilling outlet outside of work, engaging in physical and emotional self-care that allows you to better shrug things off. Burners – you can do these things, too, but it’s probably not your ultimate fix. A value system pulled apart is only mended when there is a re-alignment between body, mind and spirit. For burners, career change is not an option – it’s a requirement. Take some time off to re-gain your energy and perspective. In this more relaxed state, figure out how to get some help. Your Employee Assistance Plan? Mentor or understanding colleague? Initially, don’t try to solve entire problem – just map out a few next steps and give yourself a timetable. Your world will brighten simply as a result of putting yourself in choice and action.
Patricia Soldati is a former President & COO of a national finance organization who re-invented her working life in 1999. As a career change specialist, she uses business savvy, coaching skills and “possibility thinking” to guide burned out corporate professionals into soul-satisfying work, safely and smartly. For 5 complimentary Career Change Lessons, visit www.findworkyouloveandthrive.com/catlibrary/5lessonslandpage.html
| | Career Change: A Glittering Invitation To The Emotional StalkersWritten by Patricia Soldati
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Car? Mortgage? Health insurance? All of these are completely valid issues. But as long as you are still drawing a paycheck, worrying about financial ruin is completely self-defeating. Spend your energy constructively, working math in a deliberate way and letting results dictate your path – not your fear. Once I “got” this wisdom, I scratched out budgets like a miser obsessed. The results weren’t ideal, but they weren’t devastating either. After chopping expenses and eliminating debt, my savings would support me for 11 months. I wanted a minimum of 24 months of cushion to cover a ramp up period to get my coaching business off ground. Closing gap meant staying put until next year’s bonus was paid -– 10 months away! This placed my escape squarely at 20 months from start to finish, longer than I had anticipated, but at least I had a solid target in my gun site. My exit had become a question of “when” not “if”. Stalker #4: The Mush Factor. Lack of confidence is subtlest form of exit sabotage, but just as lethal as its three stalker-friends. It creeps up, scores, and then evaporates like soft mist. Just when you’re ready to take on world, it attacks again, melting you into a puddle of doubts about your ability to even come close to career change. When you feel vulnerable, think about bounty you’ve gained from your corporate run -– sharp-as-a-tack analytical skills, business acumen, process know-how, leadership, and solid technical expertise -– law, accounting, finance, organizational and human development, marketing, sales – list is as long and as rich as Rapunzel’s hair. These attributes fueled your corporate career; they will do no less for you now. That said, perfect confidence all time is not realistic either. Emotional wobbles go with territory. To steady yourself, remember that your journey is one of choice, not force. You control it from beginning to end –- pace, how it unfolds and when. When level of uncertainty feels too great, accept it. It will pass. When it does, pick up reins again. Work with your flow of energy, not against it. Before you know it, you will have conceived a plan and a financial strategy that will feed your confidence -- not suck it dry. Mastering your fate means rolling up your oxford sleeves and plowing through lots of rocky terrain. It means caging four stalkers into submission -- once, twice –- as often as it takes to open space for thoughtful career-change work. In fact, get to know these stalkers well. Even thank them for their guidance -- and remind them that you’re boss now -- and you’re getting ready to take on decisions around your future.
Patricia Soldati is a former President & COO of a national finance organization who re-invented her working life in 1999. As a career change specialist, she uses business savvy, coaching skills and “possibility thinking” to guide burned out corporate professionals into soul-satisfying work, safely and smartly. For 5 complimentary Career Change Lessons, visit www.findworkyouloveandthrive.com/catlibrary/5lessonslandpage.html
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