I suggest that you review this "Top Ten" list that addresses this issue:
1. Decide what it is that makes you uneasy, restless, or itching to move on.
- Sometimes, the simple difficulty of a situation can convince you that you're in the wrong place and that you need to get out. That's not always the case. It may be that you've got work to do, right where you are and, until you do it, you won't be able to move on!
2. Consider whether what's bothering you is an occasional itch or an
underlying message.
- This is a kin to point #1 above. Occasional itches are those little proddings that don't seem really significant to pay attention to, yet they can be irritating. Real "messages" are usually more frequent and intense. They tell you that they won't go away, and they clamor for resolution. For example, if one colleague bothers you, that may be an occasional itch, a problem you need to resolve on the spot. If, on the other hand, everyone in the company bothers you, it's a good prospect that there's a serious message there, for YOU.
3. Be sure that you're doing your very best where you are now.
- So many people, when they become disenchanted with their situations, slack off, do less than they are capable, and just mark time waiting for something better to come along. In so doing, they miss the point: you are tested by what you do and how well you do it on a moment-by-moment basis, regardless of the situation. If you don't want to repeat the mistakes that led to your present dilemma, it only makes good sense to do your best, now.
4. Decide whether you want to row your own boat, or just become part of a different crew.
- Disenchantment with one's present position, company, etc. can easily lead to the assumption that, "I need to be in business for myself". It's a nice sentiment, but one that is not always true. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely place, one in which immediate satisfaction must be sacrificed for long term gains, and one in which there is no where to pass the buck. Making a wrong turn in this direction can be a costly detour indeed. If you're thinking of going off on your own, talk to others who have, consider whether you have the financial and personal stamina to sustain yourself and your family until your ship comes in. And consider the downside: if it doesn't work, what then? If it's a different crew you're after, ask yourself what you want in that crew, what kind of ship you want to sail in (type of business, mission, values, and goals), and what you need to know to help sail that ship.
5. Consider how important steady income is for you.
- Being self-employed means that you're also self-rewarded. There isn't anyone else to write the checks, or to make sure there's money in the bank to honor them! Timing and the extent to which you are comfortable with uncertainty are two allied issues to consider. You may move through several companies in a new career until you find the one that fits for you. Income may not be steady or up to your usual rate of pay.
6. Ask yourself: Am I running from or moving toward?
- This is a tough one, only because the answer is often: "a little bit of both". It's dissatisfaction with your present situation, the way things are currently being done, or the quality of the product or service you offer that can cause you to want to consider other alternatives. But, beyond that, there's got to be a positive charge, something that you want to do or accomplish that makes the long hours and high risk all worth it. If you're running away from a bad situation, constantly looking over your shoulder, chances are you'll trip on your shoe laces. If, however, you're being pulled by a vision of the future, the perception is that there's a lot less energy required.
7. Take stock of what you really like to do, as opposed to what you're good at.
- Corporate America is filled with people who are doing what they're good at, and hate it! You can develop skills, knowledge, and abilities easier than you can drum up and sustain motivation for something you really don't like doing. Following your "preferences", the things that really turn you on, is a good way to begin thinking about what you need to change in your life.
8. Pick a direction and begin to explore it.
- A career advisor colleague of mine was counseling a man who wanted to get in business for himself. Just as he asked the man what ideas he had about a choice of careers, a trash truck went by outside. The man looked out at the truck and shouted, "Waste disposal. That's what I want to do. There's real money there!" Don't make career choices based on one glance out the window. Do a reconnaissance of what it really takes to make it in the field(s) you're considering. What are the risks and benefits What is the need? How crowded is the field already? Who are the big players, and how long will you have to stay in the game before you can begin to win? Lots of questions. Ask them before, not after.
9. Don't jump from your canoe into cold water unless you can swim.
- "Don't give up your day job." That applies across the board. Generally, take your most pessimistic estimate of how long it will take to bring your new business in the black or learn what you need to know for your new career and add a year. It may not take that long, but the added time frame will cause you to consider whether you should quit your job before you get the new enterprise up and rolling or while you are learning new skills.
10. Be prepared for the long haul.
- This isn't just about money. If you come from one of the big firms, you may have to give up your notions about clear job descriptions and firm lines of authority and responsibility if you are choosing entrepreneurship. If you choose a new career, it may take time to get your pay back up to your current rate and the learning curve may be frustrating. Of one thing you can be sure: chaos will reign, at least for a while! Relax and enjoy the adventure. Remember, adventure is always more fun than dissatisfaction!!!
Adapted from Coach Shale Paul who can be reached at shale@shalecoach.com or visited on the Web at www.shalecoach.com. Copyright 1997, 98, 99, by Coach U, all rights reserved.
FYI on quoting Shale Paul "This content my be forwarded in full, with copyright/contact/creation information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format."