This week's question comes from conversations I had with my family over Thanksgiving. With the economy in a strange mood, and with job security more precarious than before, people were curious about the practicality of launching a new venture or changing industries now. So here we go on that topic:
Dear Ask Remabulous,
I would love to start my own business, or at least change out of the line of work I am currently employed in. But is this a good idea when I am enjoying reasonable job security where I am? It seems like a huge risk to make a change in the current climate.
Should I leap or should I stay on solid ground?
Thanks,
Hesitant Leaper
Thank you so much for your question, hesitant leaper. I think lots of people are dealing with this issue at the moment so I am delighted to address the topic. Read on for my reply.
This image, "dive," is by blindseeing.
Dear Hesitant Leaper,
First of all, I must commend you on even asking the question of whether or not you want to make a change. I think this is always a positive impulse no matter whether you leap or stay where you are.
Why is that? Because asking questions allows you to feel more sure of your current position. If you ask yourself if you want to go and it feels better to stay than congratulations, you get to be happier in your current work. And if you decide to go, you know it was time.
The worst thing we can do to ourselves in uncertain times is to stop allowing ourselves to ask questions about what we truly want. There is always a way to achieve goals, even if the current climate has the power to make things trickier.
So, in the interest of questioning, here is a list of questions I think you NEED to answer before deciding to leave a current situation for a new one:
- Is this new idea something I can pursue on the side while staying at my current job? If so, how much time do I need to devote to it to feel I am moving ahead? (then schedule said time into your calendar like unbreakable appointments)
- How much money do I need to live/meet my financial obligations? Is this new idea one that can cover that expense right away, or do I need time to get it up and running? How much time? How much money?
- How long would I have to stay at my current job to save the money I need to cover the gap between current and new work? Am I willing to stay in this situation to put that in place?
- Am I the sort of person who suffers more without a steady paycheck or without total control of my time and schedule?
- For the on who suffers without a paycheck, see the questions above about saving. For the one who suffers under someone else's control: Could I go to part time at my current job? Is there a job that would feel less restrictive that I could take as I build my new business that would cover my expenses? Or- could I change my circumstances (move/cut expenses/get creative) in order to make up the difference while I am building my new work?
These questions are a good head start to see if you are really ready to make the leap to something new. This economy is scary to people and it is a reality that bills need to be paid. Giving the above some serious thought will help you see how you can best meet those goals.
Now, on to your idea/career change. Seeing if your new plan is viable and a good fit for you is the bulk of the work I do with clients. It is essential that you know if your idea is going to fly and if this new industry is actually one you enjoy. No point in leaving a job to take another one that you don't love either. To be sure about your shift, complete the following steps to see if you are headed in the right direction:
- Make sure you have some kind of experience working in your new field before job hunting or accepting a position. Good ideas: volunteer in your new field, take a temp job, or take a lot of people who work in this position out to coffee and ask them what it's really like to work doing what they do.
- Do lots of market research. Check out the 4 hour work week by Timothy Ferriss, as well as his website www.4hourworkweek.com for lots of great tips and tools to test a target market before launching. Even if YOU lov your idea, you have to make sure the world is interested, too.
- Really sit with the idea of a transition and your reasons for making it. A wise teacher of mine said I'd know I was going the right way once I was heading towards something I wanted more, rather than running away from something I didn't like. It is more powerful to move towards a dream than just to jump out of a job that's a yukcy fit with no new direction.
- Make a list of all the tasks you enjoy doing. They may be silly or mundane as well as professional (examples: talking on the phone, shopping, making lists, organizing a project budget, giving talks, etc). Do this over several days- jot things down as you think of them.
- Once you have your list, look at the job dscription of what you are looking to do. Do you find a lot of your enjoyable tasks on the list? Are there tasks you hate on there (there will always be some for every job, even -especially- if you're the one in charge) ? Does the good outweigh the bad OR will you be in a position to delegate those things you don't enjoy?
Our dreams about a job or a life are often just that: dreams. It's really important to get clear about the change we are actually going to make.
With that said, it is a great time to think about changing your career and your life. In an uncertain time there is increased flexibility and opportunity to break out of old belief patterns and methods. Also, many people are offering discounted services now, so starting up with that in mind is a benefit.
But what it all really boils down to at the end of the day is how comfortable you are with the uncertainty of something new. I like to ask myself if I'll be happier about who I am as a person if I make a leap or not. I picture myself at 85 looking back and wonder if I would be happy or not with the decisions I made.
In the end, it all comes down the question poet Mary Oliver asks in "The Summer Day": "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Only you know the answer to that question.
Please do share your replies and other suggestions below. And give yourself the gift of asking quesions this holiday.
Much love,
Caroline
Recent Comments