articles: Overcoming The Hurdles When Changing Career.

Ok, so you’ve made the decision about what you wish to do, the career change you want to make. The plan of action is sorted and you’ve set out along the path towards your dream job. What happens next? Well, one scenario could be that it is all plain sailing. It goes to plan and you reach your goal punching the air with joy. The other however, is that you meet a few hurdles along the way. Don’t despair, this does not mean that you’ve taken a wrong turn, made a wrong decision or messed up. It simply means that you need to adjust your sails. For a boat to arrive at a destination it constantly has to make small adjustments. It is not a simple of matter of setting course and that’s that, waves often push the boat off course. But that’s not bad, simply part of the journey, you just need to reset the sails and get back on the right heading.

These waves are the hurdles can occur along your career shift journey and so lets take a look at a few of the common ones that can arise and how you might deal with them.

Fear
Fear often arises because of a lack of knowledge. It holds us hostage when we do not know what will happen, what to do next or how it will work out. Fear stops us because our basic survival need kicks in and we tell ourselves that it better to be safe than sorry. No, it’s not, and fear can be reduced in a few different ways:

• Shine a headlight on it, look it full in the face and really see it for what it is. Does it truly relate to now or is it an old belief that is no longer relevant?
• Check in and see if there is any real basis for the fear. Do you need to reassess some part of your plan? If so do it. If not then:
• Feel the fear and do it anyway (great book by Susan Jeffers). Literally what it says the cover. Fear is part of our lives, allow it to be there and get on with the job in hand.
• Get informed. Fear is often a lack of knowledge – the ‘I don’t know how to”. Fill the gaps and see then if it still in charge.
• Talk about it with trusted friends. Often a fear will reduce when put into perspective through talking.
• Address it. Is there something can do that will actually remove the fear? This might be a conversation with someone, practising a skill till you feel comfortable, getting better training, anything that meets the fear and answers it.

1. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths and just begin by being with yourself.
2. Begin to feel where this fear is in your body and without judgement or resistance simply name your fear
3. Breath deeply into this space and feel the energy associated with the fear and simply allow it to be there, feel it totally.
4. Keeping your focus on this space and watch and see if begins to change, if it does just let it. Fear is an energy just like any other energy and often when focused upon it can dissipate.
5. By simply allowing your fear you stop resisting it and it can shift and change. After a while shift your focus onto your heart and feel this moment as it is, with no need to change it.
6. Ask yourself, how do I feel now? Often the smallest shift can make way for you to move past your fear.

Finance
I am a great believer that as we make changes in our lives the last thing we need is financial stress. Part of your original plan will have included the finances of making this caeeershift. And, if you are reading this whilst in the planning stage be generous with your budgeting. Often when looking at making a change or setting up a new business the saying is to do your budget, then double it. In other words give yourself some leeway. However we sometimes find that the timing isn’t quite what we thought or it takes more money to complete. To address financial hurdles the following can help:

• Be real, keep a regular check and as soon as you see things going awry stop and address them.
• If you feel you need a boost then consider your different options, e.g. part-time job, a loan – could be business or personal, partnership, double income strands, anything that relieves the stress.
• Restructure your timetable. Are you trying to push the change through in detriment to your finances?
• Look at your budget? How tight is it? How much are you prepared to give up to make the dream come true? Often we have a lot of extras in our budgets that may have to be put to one side for a while.
• Ask for help; never be too proud to ask an expert for help. Often there are people with solutions that we wouldn’t think of.

1. Start by keeping a finance book. In it write down all your monthly expenses.
2. Keep a daily diary of every penny you spend, do this for two weeks.
3. Take a look at the diary – what surprises are there? Nice ones, nasty ones? What expenses could you live without?
4. With this information see if you can see now make adjustments to make your budget less stressful and more in line with your earnings.
5. Don’t forget to allow a little slack, if we tie the reins too tight we will rebel, make it your new budget realistic

Lack of support and guidance
Change of any kind needs support, that’s a given. Who we choose as our supporters is very important. We need people who will encourage us, stand by us and believe in us. When you begin this journey take some time to identify your supporters:

• Beware of soft enemies. These are the friends who say they want you to have your dream job, but then when things get tough turn round and say “well never mind, it was a big dream anyway and why do you want to change anyway?” They actually don’t want you to change at all.
• Only talk to true champions. The ones who say ”Yes”, “Go for it” and keep on reminding you why you decided to go for it when things get tough
• See if there is any business networking groups local to you. Go along to their meetings and see if there is support for you there.
• Consider working with a coach, someone who can be an unbiased support.
• You don’t need lots, just one good supporter is enough, cultivate that support if possible.
• Do you know other people who have done the same thing or similar? Go and ask them if they would be your mentor. People love being asked and what have you got to lose?
• If you need professional guidance go to the professionals, pay if necessary.
• Remember your family can sometimes feel overwhelmed by your change. As you change they too by definition must change in relationship to you. Allow them their reactions and if necessary don’t talk in too much detail until you feel ready to.
• If possible explain to your family why you want this change, help them to see that this is a positive move for you. Most families only wish you to be happy and have a negative reaction to change because they fear for you. Allay those fears and the family support will grow.

EXERCISE being your own supporter. Setting up a support system is important but we can also be our own supporter too:

1. Create a visual representation of your goal. This can be pictures cut out of magazine, inspirational sayings typed up, contracts written with your name and details in, anything that reminds you of what job you want. Stick this up somewhere you’ll see it everyday, could be your bedroom wall
2. Spend some time each day in a quiet place visualising your dream job, really start to feel it, how exciting it will be. See yourself going in on your first day, meeting everyone. Hear them introduce you with your new role and position and responsibilities. How does that feel?
3. Keep a flow chart of achievements next to this vision wall, applications sent, interviews offered, agencies contacted. This is so you can see that you are making progress.
4. Create markers along your plan and put little rewards when you achieve them. In this way you acknowledge each success. You can do this!

Procrasination
We all have an element of the procrastinator in us: the dreamer, the worrier, the perfectionist, the crisis maker, the over-doer, the rebel. Whatever the reason for our procrastination we need to find a way to move past it so we can get moving.

• Keep your goal uppermost. Create a treasure map - of pictures, inspirational sayings, things you’ll have when you reach your goal. Stick it on your wall to remind yourself and add to it daily.
• Plan each part of your journey and add a timeline. Tell your supporters so they can help you be accountable.
• Reward yourself for doing something you don’t like.
• Give yourself permission to procrastinate today only. Often if we fight it head on it fights back. Don’t paint yourself into the ‘naughty’ corner.
• Ask yourself why you are procrastinating, are you fearful? If so address the fear.
• Replace “musts” with ‘choose tos” and your “shoulds” to “want tos”. If you are procrastinator by nature you will rebel against the “musts”.
• Start small, just do one inspired thing and see where it takes you.
• Create an intention of what you’d like to see happen. They are powerful statements of intent and can start to draw opportunity towards you.

EXERCISE to get you past a real stickler!

1. Take a piece of paper and write down the thing you don't want to do but know you have to do.
2. Now write what the underlying fear is eg. 'I don't want to call the supplier because I'm afraid they'll say 'no'.
3. Next to this fear write: 'this fear is not reality, it is made up in my head, it is an assumption’
4. Now write down a positive assumption, eg. ‘The supplier could be delighted and say no problem’
5. Now write down at what time you will start the task that needs to be done and at what time you will finish it.
6. Now that you have allocated time to the task put it in your diary. If you use a mobile phone or have a reminder alarm on your computer, put in an alarm reminder for it.
7. Give yourself a reward once you have completed the task you've been procrastinating over.

If you'd like any help with motivation, goals you'd like to achieve, or any other changes you'd like to make, then please call me for a free introductory life coaching consultation on +34 958 639 593

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Relationships:

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• Overcoming The Hurdles When Changing Career

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• Keeping a Positive Focus