The Final 4 steps to Jump Start Your Career Change

In my prior post I listed the first 3 of 7 steps to jump start your career change. In this post I list the final 4 of 7 steps.

4) Plan your Plan
Decide what it is specifically that you want to accomplish? What will it take for you to reach your goal? List the steps required. Realize the process may change as you begin to move through it; however it is important to have a guideline in place to follow.

Determine the timeline for each step. List the dates and check the steps off as they are accomplished.

The key here is to be flexible. There will probably be obstacles that come up but you should keep adjusting your plan as you move forward.

5) Build your Support Network
It is imperative to have a network of family, friends and colleagues who support what you are doing. Seek out people who are supportive of your career change and who can also help you when your fear gets the best of you.

Some tactics that I’ve found extremely helpful are hiring a career coach and forming an advisory committee of individuals you know who can provide legal, accounting or strategic guidance as you come upon roadblocks.

Of course you won’t use them for serious issues that you would normally pay someone for, however they can provide you with basic advice as it pertains to making a career change.

6) Take Massive Action
Now that your plan is in place it’s so important to take action in a “BIG” way. I’ve found for myself that it’s easy for me to plan what I’m going to do. The hard part is to then do it.

It’s basic human nature for us to stay where we are and not step out of our comfort zone. This is when you have to find the courage to make the jump to the next level. You have the action steps in front of you. Use this time to fully implement your plan.

7) Network, Network, Network
Your network is an important aspect to moving quickly. Make a list of every person you know. I’ve found it helpful to notify everyone on my list of my new career intentions. Also the importance of joining a few networking groups can never be understated.

So now that the steps are listed what are you going to do to jump start your career change? How will you implement your first step?