In preparing to launch my new summer Career Change teleseminar program – Change Your Career—Change Your Life!, I’ve been thinking about why it’s so hard for many midlife women to find — and maintain — a joyful and successful career, and why it’s so challenging to shift out of one career into another, to a more fulfilling path.
In my personal experience, there were some very heavy blocks that kept me from realizing with clarity and confidence that I wanted out of my corporate marketing career, and from taking forward-moving action to get out.
My blocks were:
1) Time – I had invested so much time in building a marketing career (18 years, in fact), that it seemed ludicrous to “throw it all away.”
2) Ego – My ego told me that I had worked so hard to achieve a powerful position in the corporate hierarchy (in my last corporate position, I was a Vice President), that I didn’t want to step back and be a beginner again, and lose so much ground
3) Confusion – If I were to chuck this professional identity, what would I do instead? Despite years of trying to answer this question, I couldn’t figure out. Sure, I fantasized about being in the film industry or doing something exciting and glamorous – but what did I really want to do? What would I do if I won the lottery? I couldn’t find a new path that made sense.
4) Money – I earned a lot, and believed I needed every cent of that to provide myself and my family the living we needed and wanted.
5) Going against the pack – Most people in our lives want us to do the safe, reasonable and secure thing. They don’t want us to suffer, or to lose everything. So they tell us – strongly and loudly – to play it safe.
6) The unknown – finally, I didn’t want to change because I wanted what I had to work out for me, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Truthfully, I was scared to death to leap into the unknown.
Now, eight years into my career reinvention, I see things differently. I can say that none of the reasons above are sufficient to keep you stuck in a career you hate. Loosen the vice-like grip these fears have on your life, your soul, your mind, and your livelihood, and you’ll find the courage and energy to begin to change your career, and change your life.
So here’s a new way to look at the challenges above:
TIME:
Every minute you DON’T make the changes you long for, is a minute you spend holding yourself back from the growth and expansion that you know – deep down – that you need and want. Also, after revising your career to something you like better, you’ll find that you will use fully and joyfully each and every heart-felt talent and skill that you worked so hard to develop in the past.
EGO:
Achievements are – in the end — meaningless if they don’t resonate with your heart and soul. Don’t let your ego lead you around by the nose. If it does, you’ll find that your hard-won recognition and achievement will leave you feeling empty and sad.
CONFUSION:
Yes, it’s hard to sort out the “sounds-great!” career change ideas from those that will really make you happy. It’s hard, but not impossible. Find some great coaching and mentoring help today to do it. Get unconfused.
MONEY:
We all want and need money. The question is – how much do you truly need to make to be happy, fulfilled, and enjoy your life? And what is your relationship with money – is it healthy and balanced, or are you a slave to it, addicted to having “things” surround you, because in fact, you feel depleted and joyless?
THE PACK:
The pack mentality is a fear-based, group think that doesn’t support innovation, individuality, and risk. So which type of person do you want to be– a pack-like follower, or a cutting-edge thinker and leader?
THE UNKNOWN:
Here’s a fascinating truth– it’s ALL unknown, folks. If you think you’ve got it figured out, and that what you carved out for yourself is going to be constant and unchanging, please do think again. Life is change. The universe WILL deliver to you continual opportunities for you to experience your own adaptability and resilience. So, what would you rather do – embrace your resilience and proactively find a new path now that brings you joy, or do nothing, and let life foist change on you?
If you truly want a career change, I hope you’ll begin on a path today to making it happen. Help is all around you!
I’d love to know what holds you back MOST from taking action to change your career, and what you need specifically to help you move forward?
Please share your comments below – I LOVE your input (and it will help me deliver a fantastically powerful career-change program this summer)!
Thank you!
