|
The toughest career
decision:
Get out or get going!
Many of us are influenced by
the sports ethic: Never give up! When a basketball team is down
by 20 with 30 seconds on the clock, the players never stop working.
The spectators might be filing out, and the winning team might
be playing the reserves, but the game goes on.
If your game is a business or a job,you won't hear a whistle
to signal the end of the game. If you keep going and win, you
may gain a lifelong prize. If you keep throwing good money and
energy into a losing cause, the whistle can blow for unemployment
or bankruptcy.
"Should
I keep going?" is one
of the most difficult questions for anyone, including career
counselors and coaches. There is no single answer, but here are
some ways to focus the question.
1. How did you
get into the situation? Were
you encouraged by a spouse, parent, friend or mentor? You have
a better chance of fulfilling your own dream than someone else's.
2. Is there a
little voice in your head that
whispers, "Maybe you should be doing X instead?" Listen
up, as the sports coaches say, especially if you can put a name
on "X" ,and if you've been playing this game awhile.
That "little voice" may be speaking.
3. Does your
new venture refuse to go away?
If you try to leave your job, do you find yourself getting caught
up in a new project or rewarded with a new promotion?
One speaker, accepting a local "Entrepreneur of the Year"
award, told the audience, "I hated this business. I tried
to sell it but nobody would buy me out. I was forced to fix it
up and, in the process, found success."
4. What is the
universe telling you?
Are you getting customers?
Is your progress considerably faster or slower than your peers
and competitors?
Has anything clicked into place for you, seemingly without effort?
To interpret these messages, .
5. What is your
own historical trend?
Do you tend to give up too easily or hang on too long? Often
can help you identify career
patterns and decide if you want to make changes.
6. Are you still
having fun?
A loss of enthusiasm can
be temporary, especially if you're fatigued or have just experienced
a setback. Long-term discouragement will create negative energy
and ultimately destroy your career or business.
7. Must your
decision be either-or?
Can you continue a business part-time with a manager? Can you
look for a new job but also start a business? Multi-tasking can
fragment energies but also offer unparalleled opportunities.
It's a key Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Author, Career Consultant, Speaker
*Fast Track to Career Freedom*
http://www.movinglady.com
cathy@movinglady.com 505-534-4294 ALIGN=LEFT>
If you are struggling with our
own Tough Career Decision, you may need an objective perspective
and a new process to make decisions. People say that, after a
single hour of coaching, they can often start sleeping again!
The best way to evaluate this option is to sign up for a .
Test the waters with a .
Read .
get articles delivered to their email inbox every week.
--------------------------------------------------------------
You may forward, reprint
or post this article anywhere, if you include the resource box
below. If you do not usually pay authors, there is no charge.
However, if you do pay authors, I expect to be paid.
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. is an author,
career coach, and speaker. She works with midlife, mid-career
professionals and business owners who want to get on the fast
track to career freedom. Visit her site http://www.movinglady.com
or call 505-534-4294.
For her free weekly newsletter, visit http://www.movinglady.com/subscribe.htmlCathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Author, Career Consultant, Speaker
*Fast Track to Career Freedom*
http://www.movinglady.com
cathy@movinglady.com 505-534-4294 ALIGN=LEFT>
|
