Build on What You’ve Started
“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King
In Career ToolBox #56 we covered your self-audit. Next, let’s move on to Step 2.
Next: 6-9 Months — Build On What You’ve Started.
Knowing where you stand, what you want and discovering the gap between is a critical and necessary realization in the career transitioning process. Working with what you already have and building on what you now know, get out that same journal and write down the answers to these questions:
1. How are you feeling about things now? Have you changed your mind to what you thought you wanted to do or are you further convinced to make the leap?
2. Based on the desired role and key skills needed to succeed, is there a class you can take to learn what’s most new in that industry?
3. Have you updated your Resume and LinkedIn to highlight most relevant experiences and accomplishments?
4. What trade publications should you start reading to be on pulse with your desired industry?
5. Is there someone you know who is doing the thing you want to do, that you can call or email and ask for a meeting to learn more?
6. Will you be willing to work on a project, internship or apprenticeship, with no or little pay, that can get your foot through the door?
7. How much weekly time are you really willing to allocate to pursue your professional goal?
8. How much time will you give yourself on your new opportunity cost?
9. How will know that you have succeeded in your career transition? What will be YOUR success measurement?
10. How much are you willing to give up initially, in terms of salary and other benefits to enter a new career path? This of course can also result in the opposite — you could very well be just as determined to transition into a more lucrative industry, whether it’s something you’re passionate about or not, as the fiscal security is your priority.
The best way to succeed in this process is to break it up into small, manageable and measurable steps, to lay out the calendar and plan out what will be viable on a daily basis. Even if it’s a 20-30 minute disciplined commitment, you’ll surprise yourself where you’ll be three months from now. This will mean shutting off other life noise, saying no to other people (who may or may not understand — change is a great social filtering mechanism) and cognitively and intentionally making yourself a priority.
Who else will?
We’ll cover Part 3, Later: 12+ Months – Lessons Learned. Adjustments Made, in Career ToolBox #59.
Alexsandra (Alex) Sukhoy. I’m a writer, marketer and career coach at Creative Cadence LLC, and teach business students at CSU. You can find my first business book, Date Your Career: The Longest Relationship of Your Life, on Amazon. I’m currently writing a film noir screenplay called Cleveland City.
Twitter: @creativecadence. #letstalk