Best Reinvention Advice
As we venture into 2020 you may be pondering a career change as I did in 2019. For me, it was daunting moving away from the career I loved and found immensely rewarding for 20 years into something brand new. I came across a lot of great advice and inspiring words in my journey that I hope may help you on yours. Read on.
Turning Your Side Hustle Into A Full Time Gig
Monique Greenwood’s success story is one of my favorites. She had achieved her dream job, editor in chief of Essence Magazine, when she decided to follow a new path. She and her husband had a side business of running a bed-and-breakfast in Brooklyn while she was still working at Essence. The BandB continued to grow and became so popular and profitable, Ms. Greenwood decided to resign as editor of Essence. Today she operates 5 inns and says she has no regrets!
Let the world be the editor of your life story.
Tim Herrera, Editor of NYT Smarter Living Newsletter, interviewed Art Markman, Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin and author of the book “Bring Your Brain to Work” for this recent NYT article, “Thinking About a Job or Career Change?” Here’s an excerpt of that article:
Our work identities are so wrapped up with our personal identities that we sometimes fail to differentiate between the two, and that’s a trap that can keep people in careers that don’t make them happy. Certain job titles come with certain connotations and assumptions, and leaving one role for another can shake a person’s identity and confidence to their core.
But instead of tying those connotations to the person, Mr. Markman suggests looking at job titles a different way: as verbs, rather than nouns.
“When you go to a party, one of the first things you ask someone is, ‘What do you do?’ because of that belief that it tells us something deep about who they are,” he said. “One of the things we have to do is to really try to treat our career more like a verb than a noun. There’s a lot of research on nouns that shows that as soon as you give a label to something, you come to believe that somebody or some object has essence of that thing…Your job title doesn’t define you. It’s just one slice of your identity, and swapping out one for another doesn’t change the core of who you are.
“Doing something you feel is satisfying can actually increase that level of happiness in ways that no amount of money will,” Mr. Markman said.
And that pursuit of happiness, all things considered, can sometimes lead you down surprising paths. “I’m a big believer that we shouldn’t be the ones who edit our life story. We should allow the world to edit our life story,” Mr. Markman said. “So take advantage of opportunities, try things, give a job a shot. There’s very little cost to putting yourself out there.”
4 Must-Dos When Changing Gigs
by The Everygirl (theeverygirl.com)
1. Face Reality
Changing careers means hard work and compromise like a possible pay cut. Keep your eyes on the big picture…you’ll get to where you want to go eventually, but it’s going to require some commitment.
2. Get Informed
Make it your goal to become as informed as possible. Read relevant articles, listen to podcasts, pick up some books…look for professionals who already work in that role.
3. Make a Plan
Do you need to go back to school? Get certified? Save more money? Should you start building a side hustle now while you’re still employed at your current job? Create a roadmap of sorts…and you’ll be able to make progress with a detailed plan in place.
4. Refine Your Presence
How can you property position yourself for a gig in this new field when you feel like you have almost zero related experience? The first thing you should do is focus on any of your skills that are transferrable. Your focus should be on where you’re going, rather than where you’ve been. Next, focus on what sets you apart…your untraditional background can actually be an asset to you!
Team You!
Wendy Braitman, Career Coach says its crucial that when making a career change, you have a good support team in place. Braitman says, “in order to maintain the stamina for career change, you’ll need to BELIEVE that it’s possible…You’ll have a better chance for success if there are people in your orbit to support your new endeavor and hold you accountable.” Hallelujah. Amen!
I could not have made my own career change without the undying support of my small but mighty support team. My sister especially. She’s the one I call when I’m in the “what have I done with my life” abyss and always inspires me right out of that big black hole.
Here’s what I know now:
Starting a new career is a job in and of itself. I’ve had to learn an entirely new industry and the language in which it’s spoken. I’m having to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and making peace with the idea of not feeling stable or completely grounded. I’ve had to make friends with fear. Money’s a biggee. You have to be willing to invest in yourself monetarily and trust that the seeds your planting today will pay off tomorrow.
After taking my own career leap of faith, I see why people stay in jobs they don’t like and in relationships that don’t make them happy. There’s a lot to be said for the comfort of the familiar and the safety of old habits. I just know for me, when I’m on my last foot, I want to look back and say I had the courage to step into the unknown and the nerve to take a chance…on me.