Are you tapping into all the resources you have available to you in your career change journey? It takes a group of people, resources, colleagues, customers, supporters, mentors and teachers to make a viable business. So who do you know, right now that can help you by providing information and partnerships.

One of the best ways to find job openings is through networking. Statistics prove that the majority of positions and the best jobs are never advertised. Estimates are upwards of 85% are filled by word of mouth and connections.

Who are your connections? Every person you know could be your connection and I can guaranty you know a lot of people! The average person knows or is in contact with at least 250 other people. If those 250 others know another 250 people, that immediately gives you approximately 62,500 contacts! This means that the probability for you being able to gain a connection to the right person, at the right time is very good. Provided you do your part. Your part is to go out and speak with these people, find out what they need and let them know what you need. Through the creation of these relationships it is easy to connect to new business links.

In order to tap into this vast resource, put together a list of people you know. Just grab pen and paper and start writing your list of everyone who comes to mind. Let the names flow, you can look up contact information later. Don’t rule out anyone because you think they don’t have information about an open position. Even grandma knows a lot of people and her neighbor’s cousin may be just the person you need to meet. This gives you an idea of how far reaching networking quickly becomes.

Some important things to remember when networking are to first, know what you want. By this point you should a clear understanding of present skills, the kind of environment which is best and what type of work is truly right.

Speak up constantly to everyone you meet so you don’t become “out of sight, out of mind.” Leverage every possibility to tell people what you are looking for, you just never know what connection will come your way.

It is important that you not expect the people in your network to find and secure a position for you. Your network is merely providing you with information of available positions. It is up to you to arrange meetings with the appropriate people within the organization, interview, negotiate and secure the position. The key point here is that you have better information about what is required for the position and how you will be a good fit.

Don’t overlook social networks online. Post your resume and set up your pages with your job search in mind.

Your network is your connection with the world. Stretch your thinking and don’t be afraid to ask questions, soon you be receiving amazing answers!

Sometimes, people ask me if I should not be promoting career change in this economy. After all, it’s risky. I must admit, career change is risky, but it doesn’t matter whether it is in a good economy or poor. Most of life is about risk, it’s merely a matter of the importance you attach to it.

Think about it, you are taking a risk even when you go to the movies. You are risking your $20, or so, that you will enjoy the movie and be entertained for a few hours. It doesn’t always add up, especially when the movie is a flop, but you are risking your cash against the reward of entertainment.

You also risk a lot when you get into your car and drive down the road. You are risking your well being on the trust that your car will function properly and you won’t veer off the road or have someone else hit you. That’s a pretty great risk when you think about it, and yet, most people do this every single day. Is it really any better, or worse to risk a career transition?

By the time someone is seriously considering job change, a lot of damage has already been done in their lives. They have suffered through numerous hours of frustration, boredom, and anxiety. The stress caused from a position that is making you unhappy doesn’t stop because you walk out the door at the end of your shift. Coming home is sometimes not a happy thing either because so much aggravation is built up inside, and believe me, your family notices. The wrong job can also cause you to question your own abilities, despite experience to the contrary, because of the tangled web that is created trying to justify why you stay and continue to muddle through each workday.

When you recognize that you can let go of some circumstances and move forward to something better, the thoughts surrounding the risk of making change start to shift. Inner turmoil is caused by the desire for something different. When the turmoil becomes too strong to deny, change is imminent. This is usually when I meet clients. At this point, neither the economy, time of year, nor year of life is enough to hold them back. It is more important to break out of the situation and thrive than the strength of the fear of any risks involved.

Think of the rewards when you make decisions, that’s what you risk doing things for – the reward. A rewarding career, which you enjoy and is meaningful, always shows itself to be well worth the risk.

I welcome your thoughts and comments on these articles.

As clients are going through career change, many ideas and opportunities present themselves.   Having choices, without solid information, can make decision making difficult.  Here are some suggestion to help make the process easier.  There are several ways to research a career:

-   Start by speaking with people who are presently working doing the type of job you desire. If you wish to become an electrician, speak with an electrician.  If you want to become a store manager, seek out someone who is successful in this line of work.  People are usually very willing to share their experiences – don’t be afraid to ask them to share!  Who knows, this might be the right connection to get you started in your new career!

-   Go to a library or bookstore and read books on the subject. Look at magazine racks in the bookstores and find those that are specific to the field of work you are researching.

-   Go online and contact associations which are relevant.

-   Seek information from universities or schools which provide training for your choice career

-   Profiler.com – uses survey questions to match you to a career choice.  There is a fee, but it may give you more insights and ideas.

-   Vocationvacations.com – for a fee, you can arrange to spend a few days with someone who is doing the work you would like to do.  Want to become an actor or a cattle rancher?  This may be a great option for you.

-   Volunteer – you can learn a lot about different positions, make good connections and give back all at the same time

- Temporary Assignment - Utilizing a Temp Agency may give you the experience and inside information you need about a particular sector

-   Find a mentor. Someone who is successful in your newly chosen career who will guide you and give you practical information about working in that specific field.

Sometimes, clients think that a specific career is right for them, until they get further information about it, and then discover it may not be all it’s cracked up to be.  Other times, after getting some first hand information, a career that they had not considered seriously, takes on a different appeal.  Gaining as much information as possible, will help you to be sure of the best options for your situation.

As with any big decision, it is important for you to take the time to gain knowledge and make educated choices.  This will lead to a much happier career and one that grows with you.

How big is the role you play in your own success? As you set your goals and make your plans to achieve them, holding yourself to be resolute of character means you have boldness and firmness of purpose. How wonderful to move forward boldly! Also, how necessary.

Necessary? Yes. Keep in mind, that once a plan is put into place and you start making changes, the next thing you know everything seems to be going wrong. I’m sure it has happened to you. You’ve started to happily progress, then the car suddenly breaks and needs repairs, an unexpected bill arrives, you come down with the flu, your computer crashes, you can’t find an important paper, dinner burnt and the dog vomited on the carpet! Feeling stuck in the mire, you begin to think that the universe is conspiring against you.

Truth be told, however, the universe is conspiring with you, but your resolve to succeed is being tested. When you prove that you truly hold a strong desire to succeed, things will start to fall into place. Those who choose to succeed work through the problems that arise, side step what is unnecessary, and boldly continue forward on their way.

As you set your goals, it helps to brainstorm a little about the things that might crop up. For instance, I am making the goal to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. What might happen to sabotage my goal plan? Probably a thousand things, but a few might be: a meeting that is scheduled early, a comfortable bed, an ache or pain, a poor night’s sleep, etc. As I look at this list, I realize that the majority of them are within me and relate to my mindset. The meeting, is something that I may, or may not have control over. What I do have control over is how I can work around this appointment. Keeping in mind that I am always in the driver’s seat, I can hold onto my resolution to meet my new goal easier, recognizing the types of events I will have to work around.

Are you determined to succeed? Then hold firm to your purpose no matter what is thrown in your path! In time, you will see fruits of your labor and feel satisfaction of your triumphs – self back-patting is always acceptable!

For more information on how make a career change and enjoy more of your life, please email us at: info@clearpathway.com

Do you have a secret that you keep from everyone? If you do, you are in the same boat with the majority of people. What kind of secret am I referring to? I mean the one about something you’ve always wanted to do or be and have just never told anyone about it. Sometimes we keep our dreams quiet because we are afraid of what others will think or say. We may be concerned about actually succeeding, because that could mean all kinds of other changes to our lives. Other times, we are fearful that if we pursue our dreams and fail, we will have to give up all hope. These are not exactly small thoughts and feelings to deal with.

Those secret desires do come out at times though. It’s when we say, “I always wanted to be a dancer.” or “When I was young, all I wanted to do was play professional football.” These admissions are usually followed by, “Isn’t that crazy?” No, it is by no means crazy.

There is a reason why you were given that desire and thought. It is because you are, well, you. Let me explain. The thoughts and ideas that come into the mind of say, Stephen Hawking, the theorist physicist, are not the same thoughts and ideas that would ever come into my mind. You see, Mr. Hawking is uniquely suited to a life lived in the world of scientific theories and mathematical deliberations. His personality, traits, styles of thought and learning make that so. My personality, traits and gifts would never be happy pursuing his line of work. Just as he would likely be unhappy following my pursuits of coaching, training and patiently guiding others to their own gifts. You are suited to those ideas that come into your mind, that’s why they came into your mind and did not come into someone else’s.

Your dreams are matched to your personality and innate abilities. How to step into ownership of your secret desires and own your dreams is where you need to begin your work.

Now, as some of us are well past the point of pursuing certain careers, and it may be physically impossible. It is highly unlikely that you will get on the first draft for the NFL when you are 40, or that you will be a dance diva if you haven’t made a move on the dance floor in eight years. But, this does not mean that you must give up your dream. Think for a moment of what putting on a dance performance entails. Ponder what goes into setting up of one football game.

These talented, highly trained performers don’t walk out and just begin. Prior to the actual game or performance, a myriad of people have worked to assist with writing, training, marketing, purchasing, designing, programming, and all other sorts of jobs to make a few hours of show time possible. Why not look at joining into the whole tribe of those who make it happen. Adjustments are allowed and can even be more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Stop hiding who you are, seek out the way for you to pursue those secret dreams. Remember, your personal gifts are necessary for everyone.

Some clients work with me and decide that this is not the right time for them to change careers.  I just want to say, that is okay!  Please understand that making the decision to stay in your present situation is just as important as determining it is time to leave. We are talking about major decisions here that affect, not only your bottom line, but your attitude, health, family, and everything else you do.  So do not take any choice you make lightly or feel the need to justify your decision.  What is right for you, is right for you.

That said, at some point, you were discouraged and frustrated enough that you began searching for something else,  and started working your way through the decision process.  You may find that although you feel this is not the right time to change your career, the compulsion that made you start to look elsewhere is very likely to come up again.  Once you hear the calling for change, it isn’t likely to go away soon.

However, you may need a little assistance to make the most of this option to stay in your current position.  Here are some tools to give you a fresh perspective and with this, possibly find fulfillment.

Staying where you are means that, especially if you are unhappy there, you will have to adopt a different attitude toward your work.  Simply changing how you view something will work wonders in changing how that thing affects you, how you respond to it, and how you manage your emotions.  This is called reframing. By reframing the way you are looking at a situation, you immediately begin to react to it differently.  So your goal here, is to look at the specific things that you dislike about the job you are in now, especially how you describe the situation, and then find words and descriptors that will help you keep a more positive attitude about it.

For example:  Let’s say you work in a retail clothing store.  You like to stock and create displays, but dislike having to work at the register.  What, specifically, do you like about stock the shelves and create displays?    You might respond that it is the creativity involved and you also like making sure everything is neat and looks nice.  But when you work at the register, it’s boring to scan items, bag them and take the payment.

Another example might be if you work in an office environment.  Perhaps you deal with  a clique of coworkers who are backbiters and negative.  While you try to maintain a good attitude, work hard and accomplish your tasks, someone either undermines your efforts or you are left on your own with no support.

“Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.” ~ John N. Mitchell

Your attitude is really your expression of towards life.  Developing the right attitude can be learned.  It’s easy to say, “Just change your attitude,” but how do you go about doing this?  If everyone could change their attitude at the snap of a finger, we’d all be happier people.

Changing your attitude can be quite easy, but it does take attention and consistency over time.  You see, a big portion of your current attitude is there because it is a habit.  When you hear someone say, “I can’t stand waiting in line!”  They have already set their mind so that whenever they must wait in a line, they will be irritable.  This is how your mindset can cause the outcome of your desire.

Here are some ways to work through making an attitude mindset change:

• Think of the outcome you would like.  Set you intention to having a good day at work and recognize what things do make you happy.  If you do not acknowledge when you are having a good day, how will you know when you do?
• Smile and laugh.  When we laugh, our respiratory system gets a workout, the brain’s limbic system secretes a hormone which reduces stress and the good feeling laughter creates can last up to 30-minutes.  You can help yourself through the day physically and psychologically with the good effects of laughter.
• Fill your mind and attention with uplifting and positive information.  While I understand there is a reality in life that is not always positive, there is no reason to dwell in the negative.  Many greats have stated that “What we think about, we become.”  If you wish to become a person with a more positive outlook, then read about things that will help you adopt this new attitude.  Watch television shows and listen to music that is in alignment with who you wish to become.  Associate with people who inspire you and encourage you to change.
• Do things differently.  We are such creatures of habit, that we can get ourselves into a rut and not even realize it.  The more we take the same action, think the same thoughts and behave in the same way, the neuro-connections in our brains become stronger and stronger.  This is why it is difficult to break a habit.  Try doing something in a new way to create a new connection.  Something as simple as driving a new route to work, or walking to your office from a different entrance is enough to cause your brain to process in a different manner.  This can be the catalyst to an entirely new way of thinking and responding for you.
• Get a role model.  Find someone who already has the attitude you wish to have. You can learn from their example and follow their lead.
• Help others.  One of the fastest ways to change a poor attitude is to take the focus off yourself and help others.   Fully recognizing how many others are going through far more difficulties than you are, can be a big help to look at your world through a different perspective.

These may be signs that you are ready to leave the place you work and find a new career that is right for you.  You know, one that will respond to that incessant voice in your head saying you should be doing something ‘else’.  Many people know they are in the wrong job, but really don’t know what else to do.  Are you one of these people?

I refer to this as “cognizant ignorance.”  You are keenly aware of a calling inside of you, but you are not quite sure what it is.   You have no clear definition of what you are supposed to be doing, although you are quite certain you are not doing it, whatever that ‘it’ is.

The secret to successful change is awareness.  We are always  receiving messages and information letting us know when things are not right.  Disagree?  Have you ever had something happen and afterward exclaimed:  “I knew that was going to happen!”  How, exactly, did you know?  You knew because your entire being, mind, body and soul, is taking in information incessantly.  However, all of those billions of pieces of information are being filtered by your non-conscious mind so your conscious mind is able to function.  If you had to consciously sort through and determine what to do with all those bits of information, you would go mad.

When change is something that will be to our benefit, we begin to get a sense or signs of what that change should be.  This is information coming up from our non-conscious stash of intelligence.  We are able to tap into the filtered information through focus and awareness.  When you get a “feeling” or something comes up frequently that is telling you it’s time, start to focus on that.  You will find more information, support and opportunities will start to come your way.  You will indeed get the answers you need.

Don’t let your job make you sick.  Recognize this as an intellectual ‘tap’ to become aware of what you need to do to get on the right path to your job success and personal transformation.

I welcome your comments on this and my other blogs.  If you would like more information about making a career change, visit my website:  www.clearpathway.com and opt in for my weekly e-zine “Path Light”

Remember that job you really enjoyed?

One of the first statements from a new client is that they would love to do something different, if they only knew what it was.  I assure them, deep inside, they really do know what they want, but we have to excavate for it.

It has been shown that the average working American will have three to five careers and between 10 to 12 jobs during his or her lifetime.  Some of these jobs will obviously be more memorable than others. A powerful exercise we do to bring out their best is to walk down memory lane. Think back over your jobs and remember which was your favorite.

I, personally, held ten different jobs prior to opening Clear Pathway, but my favorite contract, prior to coaching full time, was a big construction project here in Connecticut.  I managed an office for the developers’ representatives on the project.  The purpose of this office was to act as liaison and oversee the construction contractor, while watching out for the owner’s interests.

This was my favorite job because I was free to use my best skills, shine in the workplace and be with some amazing people!  Because I was working in an environment, I loved, doing work I was good at and enjoying every minute of it, my self esteem grew, my ideas exploded and overall I was a happier person.

Now, I can draw upon that experience and use it as a guideline for how I work now and in the future. Also, the experience shows me what things I will avoid.  This is what you will gain from taking notes about your favorite job.

List your favorite job and details about why you loved working there, what you did and what you gained from the experience.  Really capture every aspect the experience, the type of people you worked with and around; what the work environment looked like; what sounds did you hear; how did you feel? Look at the keys and ideas you discover as clues to lead to your true potential.

I welcome your comments on this and my other blogs.  If you would like more information about making a career change, visit my website:  www.clearpathway.com and opt in for my weekly e-zine “Path Light”

Have you ever said:  “I’ve got to get out of this job and do something else!” Many people stay locked in jobs that bring them no joy, no fulfillment, but they stay because they feel they must.  Perhaps they are waiting for the children to finish college, the economy to change, or chance to show its hand. The time to plot your escape is NOW!

Start by getting the framework into place so that as you go through the process of changing your career, you have support to keep you going.

Frustrations and loosing your motivation while you are going through a career change are typical emotions, and  it is definitely something that will have to be acknowledged and worked through.  If you do not honor your natural feelings about change, eventually you will hold yourself back.

As you are going through this unsettled time of career change, it is important to develop a good support system.  While sometimes it may seem like it, you are not alone.  Many of the people you know will be part of your systems.  Additionally there are professionals, such as coaches and consultants, as well as agencies in your area.

Create a support matrix for yourself.  Not every person or agency will be a good advocate for your every need.  Let’s face it, sometimes it’s easier to talk to your buddy about a frustration than it is with your close partner.  Likewise, you will probably get better career advice from a professional than you would from your teenage daughter.

Make a list of those around you who advocate your efforts.  List spouses/partners, friends, colleagues, former employers, etc.  Also look at some professional support.  These may include, your coach, a counselor, your doctor, and others.

Now we will identify where you believe each will supply the best support to you and make note of this next to their name.  For instance, your brother works as a department head of his company and often interview people.  He would be a good resource to support you and give advice when you are meeting people and interviewing.  Your significant other believes that you can do anything and wants you to be happy.  This would be an appropriate person to help motivate you and give you overall encouragement.

You can then use this list to let those around you know what type of encouragement you will be needing from them.  People are always willing to help, and both you and others will benefit when they know what you expect from them.

Finally, be sure you appreciate their support and let them know it!

As always, your comments on this blog are appreciated!  For more thoughts and insights, sign up for my weekly e-zine “Path Light” by visiting: www.clearpathway.com and opt in.