The First 3 Steps to Jump Start Your Career Change

1 – Make Career Change a Priority
In order to change your career you must make career change a priority. The first step is to clear the deck. By clearing the deck, I mean that you must get rid of extra tasks and responsibilities that are getting in the way of you achieving what you want.

Many times we fill much of our day with trivial tasks that monopolize our time. Determine where you are losing time throughout your day. Maybe it’s watching television or shopping on the internet in the evening.

2 – Take Stock of Your Abilities and Desires
Make two lists. One that details your transferrable skills (i.e. leadership, communication, planning). The second list should identify your passion. What would you do for free if you could do anything you love? Allow yourself to dream a little.

Many times the things that we love to do are passions that take us back to our younger days, before we got caught up in making a living. Combine both lists to see where they intersect. This also gives you a sense of what you do well and what you enjoy.

3 – Bridge the Gap
After you’ve taken stock of your abilities and desires now is the time to bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Get clear on what it is that you want to do. Spend some quiet time really paying attention to your thoughts and inner voice. Meditation helps you really get focused on your intention. Your inner voice will tell you what it is you really want to do.

Once you gain clarity the next step to bridging the gap may require taking some courses, getting a new degree or becoming certified in a new area. It is now preparation time as you are getting yourself ready for the next phase.

In my next post I’ll share the remaining 4 of the 7 Steps to Jump Start your Career Change.