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Keep Your Career Options Open to Be a Success

Written on October 11, 2011 by George Krueger & Mary-Lynn Foster in Work

BIGG success is life on your own terms. But sometimes life throws you a curve ball.

How can you deal with it?

The best way is to prepare for it in advance.

How can you prepare for the unexpected in advance?

By keeping your options open.

Then, if it occurs, you can face the challenge with confidence. So today, we’ll share four keys to keeping your options open.

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Visibility

Keep your options open by insuring that people see you doing what you do best.

Is your job “outbound” so you’re clearly visible to customers? If so, capitalize on that relationship. Ask them for a brief note about working with you. It will come in handy at your next evaluation or if you need to look for other work.

If your job doesn’t expose you to anyone outside your company, then work on your visibility. Get involved in your industry. Look for conferences you can attend. Participate in forums and comment on blog posts about your industry. You might even consider starting your own blog to show off your expertise. Volunteer to work for your favorite non-profit.

Networking

It’s amazing how many people who land a new job found it through a referral. It’s also amazing how much business results from our networks.

So why do so many of us pay so little attention to our network until we really need it?

Spend a little time every single day building and maintaining your network.

Going beyond the activities mentioned above to be more visible, do you participate in local opportunities?

Is your company a member of your local Chamber of Commerce? If so, do you attend Chamber functions?

Have you registered on Meetup to find out about local events of interest to you?

Are you on LinkedIn?
What about Facebook?
Have you joined any social networking groups specific to your industry?

The contacts you make through these sites will be valuable now. But they may prove invaluable should you be forced to make a change.

Marketing

What makes you unique? How can you communicate that? What opportunities play to your core strengths?

Is your resume up-to-date? If not, there’s no time like the present! For sample cover letters, resumes, job search and interviewing tips, check out Resume Help.

Bridge Plan

Develop a plan of what you would do if you were forced to change jobs.

How will you pay your bills?

Where will you look for a new job?

Who will you contact for referrals?

For what services would you pay (e.g. career coach)?

As you prepare this plan, keep a couple of things in mind:

You may spot some problems. That’s why you’re doing this now. For example, at what point would you need to find some part-time work or freelance work to pay the bills?

Plan some recovery time should a change be required. You’re human. It will be emotional. But you’ll feel much more confident having thought it through in advance. And you’ll be able to keep your options open to find the right opportunity for you!

Thanks so much for checking in with us today. Until next time, here’s to your BIGG success!

Direct link to The Bigg Success Show audio file | podcast:
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Image in this post from mzacha

Tags: audioblog, bigg success, career, career change, chamber of commerce, george krueger, job, life, maintaining your network, mary-lynn foster, podcast, Preparation, the bigg success show

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How to Change Your Career

Written on August 23, 2011 by George Krueger & Mary-Lynn Foster in Life Changes

It’s time for another edition of Tutors on TV.

On the season finale of Men of a Certain Age, Terry (played by Scott Bakula) is on a test drive with a customer. Terry is an actor turned car salesman.

He and the customer are sitting at a stoplight. The customer says he can’t pull the trigger right now.

Terry says, “Decisions are hard.” Amen, brother!

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Birds of a feather

Terry noticed a bunch of birds sitting on a utility line. He says, “Do you think they worry like we do?”

He continues, “One bird flies away. They all follow. He has wings. He can just go.”

The light turns green. Terry and the customer just sit there, watching the birds. Nothing is happening.

The person behind them honks their horn. All the birds fly off. Terry and the customer laugh. Terry makes the sale. He’s now the #1 car salesman at the dealership where he works.

Flying away

But in spite of his success, he isn’t happy. He had directed a commercial on the fly for the car dealership. It was a BIGG success.

In the next scene, Terry is talking to Owen, whose family owns the dealership. Owen is both Terry’s boss and one of his best friends.

Terry tells Owen he wants to quit. Owen tells Terry that he has a good thing going. He’s making good money. He’s getting comfortable. But he’s been uncomfortable for so long that it feels wrong.

But Terry says he felt like himself again. He was doing what he loved, only now behind the camera. Terry resigns. There was just one problem…

Terry hasn’t told his girlfriend yet. He’s notorious for not making commitments. But he’s committed to her. Or at least that’s what she thought…

He hadn’t told her he was going to quit. He told her he had quit. She doesn’t take it well.

Later, they meet up. He says, “Give me a year. If it doesn’t work, I’ll go back to selling cars.” She agrees.

6 lessons for changing your career

You have to lead

Decisions are hard. But sometimes you just know it’s time to fly away.

You can’t wait for others. You have to lead. It’s your life.
Communication is critical

It’s your life but you affect others. So it’s important to communicate with those closest to you.

You want them to feel good about flying away with you.
Stick to your convictions

Your friends may not fully understand at first. They may try to talk you out of it. You have to hold your convictions. You have to do what’s right for you.
Your flight may be a short one

Don’t think you have to fly too far away. Sometimes, your ideal career may be in the same field. You’re just suited for a different role.
Your job

Almost nothing in life is all or nothing. Few things are permanent.

Your life is a laboratory. No matter what your job is, your job is to conduct experiments. To test out new things.
Actdapt!