By Guest Blogger Deborah Shane
Writing my book in 2010, ¡§Career Transition: Make the Shift (Your 5 Steps to Career Reinvention),¡¨ was a reflective and cathartic process.
I got to see more clearly that career transition is actually always in motion, even if you are in the same industry and company for a long time. When things outside of us change, we are really changing, too ¡X or we should be. Most times we are not even aware, unless it¡¦s some tumultuous turn of events. I spent almost 24 years in broadcast radio sales and management until 2006, and most of those years were great years for our industry, company and market.
Subtly though, things started to shift internally and externally. Commissions, procedures, cut backs, smaller budgets, management, the economy, and technology all stated to impact things. They affected all of us, but we trudged on.
Transition to where it was all going was already in motion. Why don¡¦t we pay more attention to these early signs and shift with them?
I could feel the ¡§winds of change¡¨ pick up . Gusts of wind started blowing through our company. I sensed impending industry change. I wanted to ignore it, but it was hard to ignore that the ¡§cheese was moving.¡¨ My instincts and intuition have always been a strong part of my career success.
Who was I? Sniff, Scurry, Hem, or Haw from Who Moved My Cheese?
At first I was Sniff-Hem. I was investigating other opportunities, but pining over that I was investigating. Then, I became Sniff and Scurry and was eager to go out on my terms and not worry about Who Moved My Cheese, but finding new cheese. I knew it was time to move on. I was ready for the next adventure in my life.
¡§Why can¡¦t things stay the same,¡¨ I thought?
Because they can¡¦t and they don¡¦t.
I have learned to pay attention to and trust my instincts. When I announced I was leaving in 2006, people told me I was ¡§out of my mind.¡¨ I smiled and answered them, ¡§Maybe, but it¡¦s going to change anyway¡¨ ¡X and it did.
In looking back on my professional transitions, I have learned 4 truths and principles that have helped me keep the faith, keep going, and move forward despite conditions.
1. Have a vision.
It¡¦s never too early or late to transition.
2. Be courageous.
Don¡¦t be afraid of change; embrace it with a spirit of adventure and curiosity.
3. Bolster your self-esteem and self-respect.
Believe in the value of who you are and what you have done and do.
4. Always be relevant and persevere when you believe.
Set yourself up to be successful by doing whatever it takes and keep going.
If we look back on our job and work history, we can see that we have consistently been transitioning.
Make your shift by starting to shift.
Sniff and Scurry went out and started looking for new cheese instead of
wasting time pining over that there was less of it and then gone!
Guest blogger Deborah Shane is the author of the book ¡§Career Transition: Make the Shift,¡¨ as well as a branding strategist, nationally published writer, speaker, and media host.
Get more tips on changing careers in ¡§Jump-Start Your Career Change.¡¨
