5 Facts You Must Know When Chaning Careers
Copyright © 2005 Theresa Castro, MBA
Discover Your Dream Job
http://www.HealingandEnlightenment.com
Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals
to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Instead, we fail
because we set our dreams too low and we achieve them. If we
achieve what we set out to do then how is this considered to be
a failure? Failure occurs when we are not fulfilling our highest
aspirations. Theresa Castro, executive career coach and author
of The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery,
provides insight on what anyone can do while they are in the
midst of wanting to change careers.
ADOPT THE INNONENCE OF A CHILD
We begin our lives as children with lofty goals. For example, a
child might decide that they would like to grow up and become an
astronaut and travel to the moon. This child doesn't have the
ability to place any limitations on themselves. They don't
think about what degree they need to possess in order to be an
astronaut. They don't become worried about all of the details
that are necessary to achieve this dream. Instead, the child
just knows that they are passionate about space exploration. When
you are in the midst of a career change, think and dream like a
child. Let your passions lead you in a direction that is right
for you.
ELIMINATE ANY LIMITATIONS
Society, friends and/or family members can put a damper on your
hopes and tell you that you are incapable of achieving your
highest vision. You may be told that you are too old, not smart
enough, don't have enough money, don't have the right education
or experience or just simply are the wrong race or sex. The
reality of these limitations exists only in the mind. You have
the choice to either believe or doubt the limitations. That's
right, you have a choice. You can choose to be like the great
composer, Beethoven, who was once told by his music teacher that
as a composer he was hopeless. Beethoven recognized that he
would not be stopped by the label that his music teacher placed
on him even despite the fact that he was deaf.
GET RID OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT YOU
When you are changing careers, you may find that you struggle
with your own bouts of self-doubt. The last thing that you need
is for other people to tell you what you should and shouldn't
be doing especially when you recognize that they are not fully
supporting your efforts. With these people (and we all have
them in our lives), you will need to advise them that you love
and care for them but you would appreciate if they kept their
comments about your ambitions to themselves. If you don't
eliminate outer sources of negativity, you will find your
passions getting buried deep inside yourself.
RECOGNIZE THAT MONEY IS AS PLENTIFUL AS THE AIR
People sometimes don't pursue a particular career path because
they believe that they won't make the same or more money than
what they are currently earning. Again, recognize that this
belief is a limitation. Work towards eliminating these thought
patterns. Instead, realize that with any and every job, you have
the potential to make as much money as you desire. That's right.
You can make as much money as you desire. Even though Henry Ford
was poor and uneducated, he dreamed of a horseless carriage
and his dream became a reality of what we know today as the
automobile. Thus, you must have the mindset that money is just
as plentiful as air.
Do you ever find yourself concerned that you might not have
enough air? Do you keep track of the number of breaths that you
are taking within the day so that you don't run out? The answer
is no and in fact someone would think that you are crazy if you
thought that you were going to experience an air shortage. The
same is true for money. The mindset of plenty is the first step
in creating the wealth that accompanies your passions.
LOOK AHEAD
The best way to squelch your fears is to keep your eyes focused
on the dream that you desire. Stephen Covey says that you should
have the end in mind. Ask yourself, what do you ultimately want
to become? What do you want people to say about you when you
die? When you stay focused on your dream, it becomes easier to
attain since you can then develop the necessary steps that will
take you from where you are today to where you want to be.
Making a career change then becomes less daunting and more
systematic.
Keep in mind that if you work 40 hours per week then you will
work about 2000 hours per year. Even if you are five years away
from retirement, could you fathom doing your job for another
10,000 more hours? If not, make a change in your career. Your
future and happiness are waiting for you!
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Theresa Castro, MBA, dedicates her life to assist others to stop
dreading the workday and to discover a passionate and fulfilling
career. She is a career coach and author of The Dark Before the
Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery and The Secrets to Discovering
Your Dream Job. Visit http://www.HealingandEnlightenment.com
for more information and to sign up for a free 3 day mini-course.
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