You know the type.
She hates her job, so she nips online and types into Google ‘I hate my job’ or ‘how can I change my career‘, hoping the Internet Goddess will return a new life.
She searches for roles she can do (same shitz, different wallpaper), those she used to do (and left because they didn’t fit!), and ones that she would like to do.
Some days she searches for work and roles in the countries where she took a three-day cheap flight break but gives that up because she would need to learn the lingo first (too much like hard work!) and she’s not sure if the doglet would like to move.
Click, click, click.
She’s soon back on Facebook or Twitter, she retweets and ‘likes’ all the positive images others have posted such as:
‘it’s never too late to be what you might’ve been’
written in big bold fancy text over the image of a woman leaping across a beach dragging taffeta behind her.
Obviously enjoying life to the max!
She wants to be her. She wants to launch herself into a Grand Jete or Sodacha across empty sands.
She types beside the picture on Facebook: ‘So true! Yesh! Waa (#the-most-annoying-word-ever) WooHoo . I Love It!‘ and yet deep down she believes it is too late for her.
(In traditional Blue Peter Style. Here’s one I made earlier, just for you!)
Who can help her?
She’s so miserable, she wants the pain to stop, having to spend hours at doing tasks that shut her down and off.
She hasn’t got a clue where to begin, where to look, who to talk to, what she needs to do first.
Except the she here could actually be you. (And me at one point!)
And instead of really doing the work on you. You’ll do anything, a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g to get you out the current career reality and pain. The pain that comes with working in a career that no longer fits, suits or means anything.
People talk and deliver sermons ‘atcha (me!) about ‘paths’, ‘direction’, ‘roads’ but you have no idea what country you are in! How the hell can you put yourself on a path when you are lost without a map?
Of course, I’d recommend a completely different approach to the ‘Google Career Change ‘I’m Feeling Lucky’ Coaching Method’, like find what you love to do first.
But I know many peeps that stop here aren’t ready for that, or they can’t be fecked.
So…
If the above is YOU.
Here’s a jolly good idea. One of my best!
Figure Out Your Shortest Route. Then Take It.
How?
You need to ask yourself different questions, so you get different answers, which returns different results.
Answer this —> If you had to make a career move by the end of the week, what would you do first?
Would you write a CV, apply for posts online, or would you actually go 10 steps further and connect with the people who could help?
If you didn’t have to think about ‘is this the right time’, ‘what would others say’, or ‘do I have the confidence and ability’.
What would be the first thing that you would do?
Know what you would do first (if the shitz hit the fan) and do that, erm, 1st!
And I bet you cake and coffee your answer will be connections.
Would you announce to others your intentions?
Would you ask for people to introduce you to other people?
Would you know immediately what you need help and support with?
Leaping across beaches is great, but even taking that picture required help. So get yourself surrounded with people who could offer you suggestions, ideas and advice.
But. Another idea. Why wait? Why wait until you are in crisis mode to carry out the shortest path?
Do it now.
Ask for help.
There’s this belief that most people are too busy to help others. I swear to you that is not the case, people want to help people.
The shortest route, you see, is usually the path that’s already cleared for you. (Yes, you can commence slapping your forehead…1…2…3…Now.)
How can I help you? I mean it. (I’ve got time until my next photoshoot.)
I’ve been that person you described, but thankfully, I was able to pull myself out of that rut.
What finally did it for me? By asking myself this question: “If you have nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose, what do you want?”
Instead of trying to fit ourselves into some pre-determined career path based on our education or experience, we should be blazing our own trails. Scary, but much more satisfying!
Hey Jeanne!
Me too — 80% of the world has! What a GREAT question. If you have nothing to prove, nothing to hide, and nothing to lose, what do you want? May your trail always be alight. Congrats again on your new book. That’s FIRE! xxx
Dawn. I love it. My favorite part is the beach photo but I also like the perspective and advice. I’m a big fan of “shortest path”. A lot of the other stuff is often make-work so you feel productive but it barely moves the needle.
I ask myself, “what’s the shortest path?” or “Is this adding value?” constantly. Not because I’m so perfect but because like many I’m easily distracted and can find great reasons to delay anything. Another quesiton I ask is “why not do it now?” (or why wait?). Thanks for the great post!
Helllooo TT! It’s an all out screaming stunner that photo, huh? Someone once asked me ‘Where do you add most value?’…I couldn’t answer them Tom. It’s been the one BIGGY question that stuck. I thought I knew, but I didn’t. And totally agree ‘why not do it now’, why, not, indeed. Why wait for tomorrow when we had everything we need to do it yesterday? (Oh, that’s quite profound! Go me!) Thanks for commenting, much appreciated. Dawn xxx
Yes, sounds familiar … :)
The funny thing is that now that I have found my passion that I want to pursue, I actually started to appreciate my day job … go figure!
Maybe it’s the relief of knowing what I really want to do and knowing that I have a chance to get out (of my job) someday.
For me, this realization (of my passion) took some time (in fact, it took some years), but I’m happy I was able to follow that path.
Cheers,
Timo
Hey Timo! Sods law, huh? You find the thing, then start liking the thing you hated once you’ve found it. DI think you’re spot on, the knowing makes everything seem mighty brighter. :-)
Ok so I am still cracking up over the taffeta-blowing-in-the-wind-on-the-beach photo thing. LOL!
I think people get really tripped up on career stuff because it’s hard to separate what we truly want from what we think we’re supposed to want. Especially if what we’re supposed to want is the prestigious stuff.
Especially if you went to a “good” college, you get brainwashed into thinking that you’re supposed to be yearning for a certain kind of life, when in fact that life would make you miserable as hell.
It took me a long time to uncondition myself and sadly, I find that many of my friends still haven’t let that stuff go.
Hey Carmen (pleased to meet you!) — oh you nailed it ‘brainwashed’! Is it any wonder people fear questioning everything they have been taught? To step away from what’s consider ‘normal’ is a brave act. Took me a long tim too, and I get sucked back in every now and then (usually watching the news!). Speak soon. Dawn
Dawn, first time here, and what an introduction. I think you may have found a career as a comedic photo editing genius..what a crack up, It was almost a “coffee meet screen” moment lol.
Funny stuff aside though, There are far too many people in this world that allow their dreams to be shelved. It’s soul destroying. Sometimes I wish I could just shake people out of that trance of conformity.
This is one of my favorite questions to ask people who are stuggling:
If no-one told you who you should be…then who would you be?
It starts those the cogs turning, thats for sure.
Hey Jackie! Thank you for 1. visiting 2. commenting 3. not sueing me for coffee on screen manouver and 4. I visited your blog – love it. Thank you that question is a goody If no-one told you who you should be…then who would you be? oh, my, it’s one that makes you pause, huh? It’s a neuron slap that one. Thanks again (away to brush up editing skills, in case there is a furture in it!) Dawn
Dawn,
I really enjoy your writing style… Very interesting and engaging.
As to the content… What I took from this article and what I’d love to see you expand on even farther is the question of “If you had to change your job this week what would do?”
That’s a powerful question. It attacks both the core nature of the individual and deepest desire.
Very good.
Ryan H.
Hey Ryan, thanks for stopping through, pleased to meet you :-)
Sadly, I bet the answer for many would be ‘I don’t know’ — you used the words ‘deepest desire’, I do believe we all know that (even if it takes a little probing): it’s admitting it (them), declaring it (them), where most get stuck, hence the answer ‘I don’t know!’
Thanks for the food for thought.
Dawn
I’m really diggin’ your vibe, Dawn. Sounds like we do similar things. Very similar.
Similarity #1: Your passion-and-purpose course has echoes of my soon-to-launch flagship product Ryze’s How To ‘Be Real’ Blueprint :)
Similarity #2: I collect “pretty quotes” — which you made fun of, lol — here:
Similarity #3: I help people find their mission, vision, and sweet-spot: http://ryzeonline.com/how-to-have-fun-finding-your-life-purpose-with-pretty-pictures
Either way, I love the hints of sarcasm, your call to action, and your focus on asking great questions and helping people.
P.S. I didn’t know people actually did I Feel Lucky thing… hmm… but then, I’ve been an entrepreneur for 8 years.
Hey you!
Oh no 1st impressions! I LOVE quotes, I collect them too. Honest. Away to have a nosey at the pages you posted. Great to connect with you Jason.
Dawn
“If not now, then when?” There’s something so special and unique about living in the moment, and more specifically – acting in the moment.
There’s certainly no sense in waiting for a crisis or disaster to make a life changing or altering decision for yourself if you can gather the courage and strength to do it now. The hard part about that, and I’ve struggled with this myself in the past, is conquering your fears and doubts and getting beyond that tiny little voice in your head that says “you cant.” Great write up here, Dawn!!
Hey Jason, thanks for commenting.
Agreed that little (but BOOMING) voice (that has been well programmed/conditioned in what to say) is one of the big lions to tame.
Dawn
PS: loving your blog too!
I was just thinkin’ to myself tonight: here you are. All ready for the next part. I know what I want. Everything is in place. The actions have been taken, the energy put in. But I realize there is something else bothering me. I have to start asking people to pay me, I have to really start selling and I am scared to death. I am not scared of success. Just of asking people to buy. I get stuck a bit futher down the path..
Here you are indeed. Where? Are you scared of selling or scared no-one is going to buy? Only one of those is ‘true’. You could turn round and walk back up the path you’ve just come down. Think Dorothy, Wizard of Oz, she arrives at the Emerald City and can’t lift her hand to knock the door. What a crap ending that would be to a great movie, the audience would leave in disgust to the screams of old Dotty saying ‘oh, no, come back, I’ll knock’. Too late, they are on the bus home. And technically you don’t have to sell, if you don’t want to. You don’t. Knock! You don’t know who may answer :-)
Great post Dawn.
And wow, nice leaping beach shot. You almost pulled it off… :-)
You hit the nail on the head. Tons of people suffer in “job jail”. Basically, careers and jobs they flat-out loathe.
Time to break out of that mess. Seriously, we have one life here. Better not waste it…
Thanks for sharing Dawn… :-) Eric
Hey Eric!
Too kind, too kind ‘pulled it off’!!! ‘Ya think! I love that phrase ‘job jail’…career carnage???
Thanks for commenting, ps http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericwagner/2012/02/28/7-lessons-from-an-out-of-whack-entrepreneur-2/ <<