Changing careers requires a conscious choice- acting on what we
want rather than acting on what others say, value, or expect. Some
are fortunate in that they recognize this early on and model their
schooling and career path accordingly. It takes others a little while
longer, but remember it is never too late.
In the groundbreaking book Do what You Love and the Money will
Follow, Marsha Sinetar states that, “turning our lives around
is the beginning of maturity- since it means correcting choices
made unconsciously without deliberation or thought. ”
Debra, a refugee from the ‘entrepreneurial frenzy’ in
L.A. during the eighties, is now working towards a Masters in Public
Policy form the University of Washington that will enable her to
have “ a wide- ranging positive effect on the environment.’
Laura is an x-RN with a passion for horticultural therapy. Currently
she is taking courses so that she can qualify for Professional registration.
Both women are doing what they love: the money will certainly follow.
Making Choices
The first step in re-careering is knowledge - the knowledge
that work is a choice not a prison sentence.
Ask yourself: What would my life look like if I were doing
what I loved? Some people draw a complete blank; others
know but assume that loving your work is impossible.
Then, make the choice to be true to yourself.
Debra agrees, “I had an epiphany, and it came to
me that if the world's living systems were in decline and
many scientists feel they are dying, the only thing that
really makes sense to do is to try to help turn that tide...
put my shoulder to the wheel and do whatever is possible
to do as one person.”
Each choice we make consciously adds more positively to
our to our sense of self and allows us to trust ourselves
more because we learn to live up to our inner standards
and goals.
Laura also agrees, “I needed to get out of the hospital
setting, ignite that connection with nature which had been
with me my whole life. I wanted to do it for myself as well
as for the people I work with.
Laura chose to leave the hospital setting - after 26 years
she had reached “a point of frustration, saturation,
and maturation.”
Choosing our work allows us to enter into that work
willingly enthusiastically and mindfully.
Mindfulness and Commitment
The next step is to make a commitment to yourself - a commitment
that you will do whatever it takes to make the choice a reality.
For Debra it meant going from top salesperson at a software
company to “descending on ropes on a harness into a 300 foot
deep vertical cave, then sliding down from there along a glacier
and at the bottom going into the 'cave” in Romania as member
of the peace corps”. Sounds extreme? Well sure, but so is changing
your life.
During her stint in Romania, Debra used her experience
in sales to develop an Ecological Education project. “ I
proposed the project, got it funded and then researched
lesson plans, pulled together
a team, networked throughout the educational system for resources
and assistance, wrote a training program, and then personally
did teacher's trainings for almost 700 teachers.
I structured the project
as a model and then promoted it to other Peace Corps volunteers,
and the teachers, so the program is still continuing.
I proved that I
could manage and develop a program.”
Laura embarked on a journey
into cyberspace and landed on a site of an organization,
in England, called Thrive. Through
links, she traveled to Providence Farm in Duncan on Vancouver
Island. “There
it was! Providence Farm offered a course in “Horticultural
Therapy”.
Both Laura and Debra exhibited a certain mindfulness and
commitment that is essential when re-careering. They acted
on what Marsha Sinetar calls, ”the sense or feeling
that they deserve to have a life - including work - that
makes them happy. ”
Three Important Questions
If these stories inspire you to re-career but you have no idea where to begin
Marsha suggests asking yourself the following questions:
i. What is my real life’s purpose?
ii. What do I want to have accomplished when I
look back upon my life in old age?
iii. How specifically would I have to think speak
and act in order to bring that choice into being?
Dealing with the big R - Resistance
Marsha defines resistance as “the subtle inner
mechanism that urges us to back away from life’s
difficulties and demands”.
Resistance is sure to rear its ugly head when change
is on the horizon. If you find yourself experiencing
the big R, take baby steps such as an online search,
a trip to the library, or talking to people who are
doing what you want to do and finding out what they
did to get there. You’d be surprised at how
easy it is. Not everyone has to get on a plane bound
for Romania.
Marsha also suggests you can start by making a list
of goals and then list 20 activities that will help
you reach that goal. Goals aren’t doable, whereas
actions or activity is. Listing the actions takes
us through the steps, which will take us toward our
desired objective.
This helps us move through the ‘shoulds’ and ‘shouldn’ts.’ The
list forces our minds to grapple with how we want
to get to our goals.”
Vision
Once you are on your distinctive path, hold onto
that vision, the original inspiration that challenged
you to change careers. Take steps every day, no matter
how small and significant they may be, every step
is significant and will impact on what choices you
make tomorrow. The good news is that as a mature
person, you are a few steps ahead in the game.
Debra says, “I feel, in a way, that I have
some resources that younger people don't have. For
example, having been through ups and downs and not
panicking quite as much, and just about all of life
experiences I can relate to the material that I am
learning”.
Laura agrees,” I really feel that if an individual
finds their present work is no longer satisfying
then they should make every attempt to switch careers.
This is your life. You are only here for a short
time so why waste precious moments?
|
