Just Change Your Career
by: Pamela Petrich
If you are like many Americans since September 2001, the world
of work has taken on new dimensions. No longer can one assume
that their job will always be there, in fact, after September
2001 thousands of individuals lost their jobs. The economy of
the United States is still in the recovery phase four years later.
Many people decided back then to change their career goals searching
for some sense of meaning to their existence. So shaken were
we all by the events of 9/11, that some of us effectively were
forced to change our career paths.
Whether one is forced to accept change or readily and willing
embraces change, at times we all simply must forge new directions.
Being able to see opportunities in uncertain times has enabled
many individuals to begin anew. There is an old adage; "Life
begins when you get fired." This is certainly true for those
who can remain positive and can muster the four requirements for
success: "Creativity, Consistency, Confidence, and Courage."
Here is where I encourage the reader to take this simple exercise.
Get a pen and a piece of paper. Now taking a closer look at
the four C's and starting with Creativity think of
all the things you have done or thought of doing that required
a sense of creativity. Maybe you devised an easier way to do
something, or have a special knack for accomplishing a task, or
have an idea you believe is worth pursuing. The creative individual
is not afraid to have novel thoughts even when others try to discourage
them. When pondering the next topic of Consistency consider
the idea that the race is not always won by the swiftest, but
sometimes it is the consistent individual who accomplishes the
most. So much has been said about the next topic of Confidence
that if you can keep one thing in mind only, it should be to believe
in yourself and know you can do the impossible. As Henry James
said, "Until you try, you don't know what you can't do."
The last C may be the most important Courage. Like the
scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, you already possess the courage
you need to make a change, but you may need a reminder now and
then. Courage means taking risks. Anthony Robbins said, "There
are no real successes without rejection. The more rejection you
get, the better you are, the more you've learned, the closer you
are to your outcome."
Gather the information you need to make a change in your career.
Maybe you want to start your own business. There are a plethora
of books and help available at your local library, the Small Business
Association and the Internet. As stated in the Wall Street Journal
online, "Entrepreneurial activity increased to 11.9% of the
adult population in the U.S. in 2003, rising from 10.5% in 2002,
according to the annual Global Entrepreneurial Monitor survey
by Babson College, in Wellesley, Mass., and the Kauffman Foundation,
in Kansas City, Mo." This fact alone suggests that small
business start-ups are increasing in our current economy.
However, if you just want to change your current job to something
more satisfying, maybe you need to look at the possibility of
taking classes from your local community college, or technical
business school. You are never too old to take hold of your destiny.
Believe in yourself, your goals and dreams and make them a reality
now!
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