What’s holding you back from career change?
How many of these questions can you identify with?
Are you worrying that you’ll have to start at the bottom and you don’t want to waste the effort you’ve already put into your career?
Are you afraid to rock the boat and put yourself in an unstable financial position?
Are you worried about what other people will say, how they might react or judge you?
Are you trying to have all the answers before you make a move?
Are you feeling unsure about whether it’s the right move, and worry about investing time and money only to find out you were wrong?
Change can feel scary and changing direction in our work can feel as though we are becoming a new version of ourselves, evolving part of our identity.
It can even seem selfish saying that we want something more or different, particularly when what we’ve already got seems pretty good.
It’s natural to feel unsure about learning something new and being a ‘beginner’ again, putting yourself in new situations that might be out of your comfort zone.
I get it because I’ve been there too and have felt those things, but here’s what I do know from navigating my own career changes, and helping lots of other people with theirs.
Taking a leap looks different for everyone. Some people need to take a huge leap, but for others it’s a slower more gradual transition.
Things will work out, and often in ways that we couldn’t imagine. We don’t need every step of a plan, just the first one.
Your existing skills, experience, knowle1dge, and network isn’t going anywhere. Whatever change you’re moving towards will be an evolution and an addition to what you’ve done in the past.
The thought of it is harder than doing it. We’re built for change, we adapt well but familiarity keeps us safe but the truth is that doing it will likely be way less dramatic than the picture our brains are painting.
Putting yourself first and listening to your desires is not selfish, it’s necessary. Friends and family are often incredibly supportive (envious even!) when you decide to make a change. if they want you to be happy, they will support you and your decision, even if they have reservations.
6. There’s a reason why you’re considering the change, and it’s important to listen to that voice. Be curious about it, seek out other people who’ve made a similar move and ask yourself why does this feel exciting, what’s driving this for me? and what is the absolute worst-case scenario? If I do nothing, will I regret it?
7. We can take ourselves seriously sometimes but one of the most humbling skills as a human being is the ability to be able to be comfortable being uncomfortable and not having all the answers.
Fear doesn’t have to stop us, there are things we can do to make the change feel less terrifying and practice getting things wrong in a low-stakes scenario.
If you identify with any of these - what’s the one small next step you might be able to take?