Tag: Career

Leadership: Giving Your Best

Some people have fame thrust upon them. Very few have excellence thrust upon them.

Leaders pursue excellence. They lead their organizations, their families, their businesses, their countries, and, in fact, their very lives striving for their best.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

We are witnessing a nation, a leader, committed to excellence. A people that are giving their very best. Less than our best is inadequate, considering the fact that we have examples of others who have given us their very best.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, Whatever our role, our position, our organization, or lot in life, we should strive for the best. The measure of our success should not be attached to our particular career or what we earn but on our character and what we give.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Excellence does not mean being the best but being your best, understanding that variation makes all the difference in the world. It makes a difference in the world. Excellence is being better than you were yesterday. Excellence means matching your practice with your potential.

The past may not change as it’s being reflected upon, but a future that begins with today can certainly be changed by continually striving to be our best selves. It’s exactly that focus on the future, on being better, striving for excellence, that makes a leader.

If you want to help Ukraine below are a list of resources

(source: Washington Post)

Here’s how you can help:

  • Click on the website for Care, the international humanitarian juggernaut, and a pop-up window appears. “UKRAINE EMERGENCY,” the alert says, with a photo of a woman holding a child. “Families in Ukraine are fleeing violence and urgently need emergency aid. CARE is providing food, water, and more,” the homepage says. The group has partnered with People in Need and hopes to build a fund that can reach 4 million people, especially women, girls and the elderly. Donations for Care can be made here.
  • Doctors Without Borders, which works in conflict zones, is partnering with volunteers in Ukraine to help people travel to health-care facilities and working to ensure that people have access to health care and medicine. To support Doctors Without Borders’ Ukraine work, click here.
  • GlobalGiving, a U.S.-based nonprofit crowdfunding platform for grass-roots charitable projects, launched its Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund page, stating that all donations to the fund will support humanitarian assistance in affected communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled. You can donate here.
  • The International Rescue Committee, founded in 1933, helps those affected by humanitarian crises and works in more than 40 affected countries, as well as communities in Europe and the Americas. According to its website, the IRC is on the ground in Poland and working to help displaced families. The site offers suggestions on how you can assist Ukraine, such as welcoming refugees and social media activism. You can donate here.
  • Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross provides assistance for victims of armed conflict and has been working in Ukraine since 2014 to supply emergency assistance and support hospitals with medical equipment. To support the ICRC’s efforts in Ukraine, you can donate here.
  • Journalists with the Kyiv Independent have done tremendous work covering the war, offering the world constant updates as they fear for themselves, their families and their homes. The Independent has started a GoFundMe asking for support, but they’ve also promoted a separate GoFundMe — “Keep Ukraine’s media going” — for journalists around the country who have received less international attention. “[Ukraine’s reporters] have shown extraordinary courage, but the reality on the ground is that most operations cannot continue from Ukraine alone,” one organizer wrote. “This fundraiser is aimed at helping media relocate, set-up back offices and continue their operations from neighboring countries.”
  • Project Hope, an international health-care organization founded in the United States in 1958, works to empower health-care workers facing health crises, according to its website. For the Ukraine invasion, the organization says its emergency teams in Europe are sending medical supplies and standing by to provide health screening and care for refugees. You can donate here.
  • Razom for Ukraine was founded in 2014 and has since launched efforts to build a stronger democracy in the country. Now, according to its website, the nonprofit is “focused on purchasing medical supplies for critical situations like blood loss and other tactical medicine items. We have a large procurement team of volunteers that tracks down and purchases supplies and a logistics team that then gets them to Ukraine.” Razom — which means “together” in Ukrainian — posted a list of the lifesaving supplies it has already purchased and is asking for more support here.
  • Save the Children, founded more than a century ago, is blunt about the grueling nature of its work: “We work in the hardest-to-reach places, where it’s toughest to be a child,” its homepage says. The organization says it is “gravely concerned” for the children of Ukraine and Afghanistan. Its donation page says that $50 can prevent three children from going hungry for a month, $150 can provide warm blankets for 30 children, and $300 can furnish masks to refugee health workers on the front lines.
  • Sunflower of Peace is a small nonprofit with ambitions to help Ukrainian orphans and internally displaced people. A post on its Facebook page in mid-February said it had launched a fundraiser for first-aid medical tactical backpacks. Each backpack, it says, can save up to 10 people. They’re packed with bandages and anti-hemorrhagic medicines, among other critical items. The group has worked mostly off its Facebook page, where it’s accepting donations.
  • The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs oversees U.N. Crisis Relief, with donations going toward U.N. efforts to fund work in humanitarian crises. Primary goals include supporting lifesaving activities, filling funding gaps and expanding assistance in hard-to-reach areas, according to its website. You can donate here.
  • The World Food Programme, the U.N.’s anti-hunger humanitarian organization, has launched emergency relief operations in Ukraine and surrounding border countries. WFP says it is scaling up to provide food assistance to 3.1 million Ukrainians affected by the conflict and has deployed 400 tons of food to the Ukrainian border this week. To support their efforts, click here.
  • Voices of Children, a charitable foundation based in Ukraine, has been serving the psychological needs of children affected by the war in the country’s east since 2015, according to its website. The group’s psychologists specialize in art therapy and provide general psychosocial support with group classes or individual sessions. Many of its psychologists are based in the regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, areas that have long been controlled by Russian-backed separatists and that are on the front lines of the current, wider conflict. Now, Voices of Children is providing assistance to children and families all over Ukraine, even helping with evacuations. You can donate here.

Will Your Comfort Zone Be Holding You Back in 22′?

We start hearing a lot about stepping out of our comfort zones at the beginning of every new year. Have you ever considered why you should? After all, it’s in our comfort zone that we feel in charge and stable. It’s where we can easily envision what will happen and how we will feel in the future. It’s the spot where there won’t be any unexpected events that we won’t be able to handle.

So, why would you feel driven to leave your comfort zone, or even want to? You must do it because stepping outside of your comfort zone is essential for personal development and fulfillment. Getting out of your comfort zone can help you boost your self-esteem and improve your self-image.

Is your comfort zone preventing you from living your best life and progressing in your career?

Yes, it is. You are preventing yourself from realizing and achieving your goals by remaining in your comfort zone. You won’t be pushed if you stay in your comfort zone, and you won’t have to rise to new challenges. There’s a typical self-delusion that when faced with a problem, we’ll instinctively believe we’ll be able to rise to the occasion; yet, studies show that we’ll default to our highest level of training. Getting out of your comfort zone accomplishes just that; it’s the training that prepares you to meet challenges that arise. 

Here are three ways that being in your comfort zone is preventing you from developing.

1. It prevents you from developing as a person. When you’re afraid of something, staying in your comfort zone allows you to avoid confronting it. Then you suffer for the rest of your life, or until you finally confront it. You avoid circumstances that force you to confront your fear in order to conquer it.

For example, despite the fact that it is a step up on your professional ladder, your fear of public speaking prevents you from embracing the challenge of conducting meetings among your peers.

2. You are unable to be happy because you are trapped in your comfort zone. Perhaps you have challenges with self-esteem and self-image. These issues will only become worse until you take measures outside of your comfort zone to solve them. Getting out of your comfort zone can help you gain self-confidence and see yourself in a new light.

You will be happy if you are confident and have a positive self-image. If you’re not confident in your talents, for example, you’re more likely to stay in your comfort zone rather than attempt anything new. This lowers your self-esteem, makes you feel inept, and makes you powerless.

3. Remaining in your comfort zone can make you feel trapped and cause you to become more stressed. Fear keeps us in harmful behaviors while we’re in our comfort zone. You may want to become more active, run a marathon, experience fewer aches and pains, and embark on new adventures. To achieve any of these things, though, you must go outside of your comfort zone.

4. Let’s say you want to run a 5k race. You’ve always wanted to do it, but you put it off and create reasons for why you can’t. You’re not in good enough shape. You are pressed for time. You’re past your prime. But the true reason is that you’re hesitant to go out of your comfort zone and start working with a personal trainer. As a result, you continue to eat unhealthy foods, gain weight, lose muscle mass, and put your dream on hold until your health becomes a serious issue.

When we stay in our comfort zones, we prevent ourselves from experiencing greater joy, happiness, and growth. We eventually succumb to our worries and settle for mediocrity.

Are your negotiations rooted in myth? Here’s a dose of reality!

Photo by Sebastian Herrmann 

We’ve all been there — the dreaded negotiation with your most difficult customer at some point in our careers. Every year, he beats you to the ground on pricing and everything else you have to offer! Every discussion becomes a war very fast, and your self-confidence plummets.

There are several fallacies about negotiating that aren’t helpful if you’re dealing with a difficult scenario for the first time. However, like with many myths, the reality is generally quite different.

Myth: It may be a harrowing experience.

You tell a trustworthy colleague or coworker that you’re heading to negotiate next year’s large deal. What do they have to say? “Best of luck!” The majority of people consider negotiations to be an unpleasant and a difficult task, yet it is a necessary measure.

Reality: Not if you plan ahead of time.

As with all things in life, we fear the unknown, especially if we are unprepared. The reality of negotiating is that with adequate preparation comes confidence. Before your meeting sit down and ask yourself the following questions:

  1. What do you want out of this negotiation?
  2. What is your lowest, acceptable and best price?
  3. What are you prepared to ‘give away’ if necessary?
  4. What do you know about the other company’s position in the deal?
  5. If you don’t know much, what questions can you ask to improve your understanding?
  6. Thorough preparation is a great confidence booster. See the negotiation as a presentation and plan your approach and questions before hand.

Myth: Successful negotiators are born.

Most people believe that you either have it or you don’t when it comes to negotiating and if you’ve got, you must have been born with the abilty.

Reality: You can learn to be a good negotiator.

Like any skill in business, negotiation skills can be learned and put into practice. There are lots of books, youtube videos and seminars you can attend on this subject. Negotiation is a structured process and once you understand how it all works the task becomes easier. But as with any new skill you have to practice, practice, practice and this is where most people take short cuts. Once you’ve got the basics put in the reps to get highly skilled.

Myth: To strike a deal you have to concede on price

The perception is that many negotiations end up with one of the parties always having to concede on price just to secure the deal.

Reality: There are other items you can concede on

The reality in any negotiation is that price is not always the deciding factor. There is usually something else that the other party wants in addition to, or instead of, a lower price. It could be that they need the product or service quickly and may be prepared to pay a premium for a fast delivery. They may want the product changed slightly to meet their specifications. They may like some on-site support for implementation.

In your research and needs-analysis it’s up to you to find out what they really want. Dig deep and find it because every part of the deal is negotiable, not just the price. Once you have hit upon it, before conceding on price, bring it into the discussion. Remember, this could be something which means very little to you but a lot to them.

Myth: If their first offer is what you want, say yes

After your sales pitch your client comes back and immediately offers exactly what you wanted. Wow, what a great outcome! He’s got what he wants and so do you. Deal done!

Reality: Always counter the first offer

If you accept immediately there are two problems:

  1. Your customer will think he’s accepted bad deal, “I accepted straight away! I could have had a much better deal. I’m sure I went in too high.” With these thoughts going through his mind he won’t feel totally happy with the deal and the chance of cancellation or no future business is higher.
  2. It’s likely that this is your customer’s opening budget. Opening budgets are usually on the low side and used as a starting point. Accepting now, even if it’s what you were looking for, could mean you throwing away margin.

There are instances where the customer will say “I don’t negotiate. This is the price I’m prepared to pay.” He has set the rules, so as long as you are happy with the price, go for it!

Myth: Negotiations have only one winner

If you have a competitive streak this is how you will see a negotiation – something to win or lose. Non-competitive people who believe this myth automatically lower their defences and quickly cave in to the ‘stronger’ player.

Reality: Successful negotiations have two winners

Negotiation is not a competition. The ideal outcome should be win-win, where both sides feel they’ve achieved something out of the whole process – one got a sale at a price he wanted and the other got a purchase at a price he wanted.

Win-win outcomes leave the door open for building strong relationships which will lead to more business in the future. Win-lose outcomes mean that one side will be reluctant to deal again. If, by your very nature, you are a competitive person, temper this and accept the reality that the negotiation process has to have two winners, not just you! 

Myth: If you walk away, that’s it

You have found the perfect customer but you don’t get the agreement on price or any concessions and the deal never materializes. However, you are afraid about loosing the opportunity so you decide to go for it anyway, at any price.

Reality: Opportunities often come around again especially when you’ve got a full pipeline of potential customers

Accepting a deal through fear is not a position you want to be in. You will always have a nagging doubt that you didn’t hold the margins necessary to make the living you want and you gave away something which you should not have. Be strong enough to walk away from a deal if it’s not what’s best for you or your company.

You have to learn to detach yourself from the underlying deal and avoid getting emotionally involved with the product or service. Just concentrate on getting the best result. Being emotionally detached means you can walk away with no doubts. You may find that a few days later the seller will be back engaging you in conversation with another offer. Remember that opportunities always pop up and walking away is not a failure!

So take a fresh look at negotiating. Are you clinging onto old myths about how negotiating should be done? Accept that the reality can be very different!

Ace Your Interview by Listening Like a Sales Pro!

When interviewing for a sales position, the most important sales presentation you can give is the one of yourself and your experience. Much like a sales presentation your interview should follow a few of the core fundamentals of selling. One of those fundamentals being active listening. Active listening skills are a subtle but effective way to perform better during job interviews. Half of all communication is listening but few of us get any training on doing it well. Fortunately, listening well is relatively simple, and will become automatic the more experience and practice you have.

Here are some techniques that will help you acquire more knowledge and make a better impression on your prospective employer.

How to Use Active Listening for Your Job Interview

1. Recognize your limitations. Many studies confirm that we only take in half of what we hear and we forget half of that by the next day. Becoming more attentive often takes some deliberate effort. Prepare for the basics by researching as much as you can about the company and the role. This allows you to recognize aspects that couldn’t be found in basic research.

2. Relax your mind. Most people feel anxious about applying for a new job. Take time to quiet your mind and reduce distracting thoughts. Meditate, get a massage, or listen to instrumental music.

3. Stay alert. Prevent fatigue from sabotaging your interview. Get a good night’s sleep and squeeze in some aerobic exercise beforehand. Sit up straight and dress in layers. If interviewing virtually the same applies.

4. Show your enthusiasm. Successful people often enjoy talking about their work, especially when they have an appreciative audience. Make eye contact and lean toward your interviewer. Let your positive feelings shine through when you describe your past accomplishments and how they relate to the position you’re seeking. In sales an old cliché still applies, past success is a good predictor of future success. Should you not have an impressive list of accomplishments be prepared to discussed what you learned and how that experience has positioned you for future accomplishments.

5. Position yourself as a good fit. Use the information your interviewer provides to home in on the type of candidate they’re after. Listen and then recap what you’ve heard to get confirmation on what you understand is correct. Explain how your background and skills enable you to contribute and become a valued team member.

6. Take notes. People listen much faster than they speak. Take advantage of that gap to take notes and collect your thoughts. Some people may feel that by taking notes the interviewer may feel they are not listening intently. Have you ever had a waiter or waitress try to memorize your order just to bring food to your table that is wrong? Most interviewers will be delighted that you are taking notes. Jot down keywords and main themes rather than recording every word.

7. Keep an open mind. It pays to be flexible. Remain neutral to avoid rejecting a new viewpoint or job opportunity before you have a chance to consider it from all angles. While you responded to a specific position, note at the end that the company is what impresses you, or the culture, and you would be open to visiting other opportunities should they be a better fit.

8. Put yourself in your interviewer’s shoes. Your interviewer may feel under pressure and stressed with the amount of candidates they’ve had to review. Empathize with their responsibility to find the right person for the job.

9. Restate key points. Summarize and paraphrase the most important messages. This will help reinforce their thoughts in your mind and show your interviewer that you are on the same page.

10. Seek clarification. Avoid misunderstandings by clarifying anything that’s unclear. A good employer will appreciate your efforts to fully comprehend their expectations.

11. Ask thoughtful questions. Use open-ended questions to elicit more information. Incisiveness also helps show that you’re a strong candidate. There are basic questions that when in doubt every candidate will ask an interviewer. Don’t ask those. Stand out by asking more thought-provoking questions.

Meeting the Staff

1. Get to know your supervisor. Your manager will likely play a big role in your job satisfaction. Talk about the daily routine and responsibilities. Learn about their work style and how they establish priorities.

2. Pick up valuable information from your co-workers. Try to meet some of your future associates. They can clue you in on the work environment and organizational culture. Plus, it’s usually a good sign if employees are involved in the hiring process.

3. Learn about the big picture from leadership. You may also get the opportunity to talk with some of the organization’s senior executives. Even if the time is brief, use those meetings to help get a better sense of the organization’s strategic plans and future direction.

Go to your next job interview better prepared to listen. The session will probably be more productive for both you and the people you interview with. And even if you don’t get this job, if you’ve kept your ears open, you may have positioned yourself for a different one. Active listening is one way to open up new career opportunities and build a better future.

Great reminder!

7 Strategies to Embrace Change at Work

Learning to accept change at work is critical to being successful in your career. Dealing with alterations to your normal work procedures can be frustrating, unwanted, and even scary, but change can bring many positive elements to an environment that has become stagnant.

What can you do to welcome change at your job with confidence?

Consider these suggestions to guide you towards embracing workplace changes with optimism:

  1. Why do you feel negatively about the change? Ask yourself what scares you or makes you angry about a recent change at work. Explore all the possibilities.
  • List your concerns. Maybe you think your job or paycheck is threatened. Perhaps you think that certain positions may be cut because of the change. Think through these concerns.
  • If you find that your concerns are legitimate, create a Plan B that you can implement in your worst-case scenarios.
  • Once you make an action plan, let go of anxieties about situations you can’t control and optimistically expect the best results that could happen from the change.

2. Remind yourself those in charge have good reasons for the change. You must trust that the people running the company are making the choice to change for a reason that will benefit the company.

  • Recognize that people in power have a picture of the entire situation. They have information that you might not have.

3. Help reduce workplace negativity about the change. Avoid lengthy discussions with co-workers about changes in the workplace, especially if your peers are focusing on negativity related to the changes.

  •  Some co-workers might be especially antagonistic about upcoming changes due to their own fears and insecurities. Realizing their less-than-positive comments spring from fear will help you refrain from participating in such conversations.
  • Make an effort to be understanding, but decline to share any thoughts that might be interpreted as negative about the changes.
  • Share thoughts about the positive results the change may bring.

4. Accept the change as part of your job. Recognize that an important aspect of your work is to support the management and carry out directives.

  • Simplify the situation for yourself by pledging to respect the changes and perform your duties as required.

5. Consider the new plans a challenge. Make a decision to face the change head-on and do whatever it takes to glean positive results from the new plans.

  • Show yourself that you can roll with the punches. The changes may even result in your adding some very important career experiences to your resume for the future.

6. Have confidence that you can handle any change. Remind yourself that you strive for excellence in your work, regardless of the situation.

7. Embrace the positive possibilities. Your work situation might actually improve because of the new changes. Even though it might take some time to experience, you’ll most likely see some positive results emerge from the adjustments in your work environment.

  • This could be a time of rejuvenation, renewal and newfound efficiency.
  • Be patient throughout the implementation process.
  • Allow yourself to expect your work situation to improve because of the changes.

Although changes at work might be scary and unwanted, open your mind to the possibilities of change. Put some of these strategies into practice if changes occur where you work. Yes, you can embrace change at work with positivity, confidence, and patience!

5 Surefire Ways to Nail That Next Promotion!

What’s your goal for achievement on a professional level? Is it a promotion to a high level manager, vice-president, or even CEO? Getting selected for that dream position would completely make your day, wouldn’t it? The job market has never been better for leveraging your skills to get the promotion you want.

How can you put yourself into a position to be chosen to fill that coveted role? You’re likely doubtful about whether you have all the qualities that upper management is looking for, but honestly speaking, you probably already do!

What you’re perhaps missing is the know-how to get your abilities and skillsets noticed so you get chosen for the promotion.

Five Surefire Ways To Get That Job Promotion

In order to be selected over the best competition in your office, make these actions priorities:

1. Excel at current job. Ok, that’s an obvious one. In any organization, employers look at a prospect’s current competencies to determine suitability for a promotion. If you have what it takes now, you’ll probably have what it takes in the new position. Some roles however, the skills that make you a great individual contributor are vastly different than the skills that will make you successful in a role with more responsibility. So, your game plan is simply:

  • Perform your current tasks to the best of your ability.
  • Stand out among your peers who are on the same level as you.
  • Show versatility and drive by performing an unassigned task from time to time.

2. Achieve recognition. Some may feel that being recognized among peers puts an uncomfortable spotlight their work, but that may be a justification for simply not putting in the extra effort. Doing well at your current job is great, but being recognized is how you’ll really stand out. That’s not to say that your aim is always to be recognized, but it’s certainly not going to hurt leading up to the company’s decision about a promotion!

3. Achieve efficiency. If you’re going for a promotion, you’ll be receiving increased responsibilities. What that means for you is that you’ll have to be able to achieve more in the same amount of time. That’s where efficiency comes in, and if you display it now in your current job, that’s a plus on your record. Efficiency is not a superpower. Ask yourself if there’s a way that you can leverage technology, company resources, or people to accomplish more with the time that you have.

  • Start thinking about how you can accomplish the same tasks with the same quality, but more efficiently.

4. Adhere to company policies. By showing your support of company policies, you’ll show your employer that you have the maturity and responsibility to handle a more senior position. It’s time to start thinking like a leader, and not a follower.

5. Learn about the job. While upper management is doing its own assessment of potential candidates for the promotion, it would be a great idea for you to do what you can to learn more about the job you’re shooting for.

  • Ask others in that department or in a similar capacity about what it’s like being at that level.
  • Do research online to gain an understanding of the responsibilities you’ll probably have in your new position.
  • Spend some time talking to the person who’s currently in that position to find out what the challenges are and try to figure out how you would approach them.

Only you can secure the professional future you want. The decision you make to stand up and be counted is yours and yours alone. Embrace the opportunity to shine and go for it; your future self just may thank you for it!

8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Career

You can make great strides in your career without spending long days and nights at the office. Advancing your career is the result of several small strategies. While none of these is likely to make a significant difference by itself, when combined, the results can be impressive.

Boost your career and increase your paycheck with these strategies:

Be reliable. We’ve all worked with the employee that couldn’t be trusted to deliver results. He was the one person that you knew wouldn’t be able to keep his promises. Avoid establishing a similar reputation. If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Be 100% reliable at all times.

Be on time. Whether it’s for work or a meeting, always be on time. Do you control your time or allow it to control you? Avoid being too early for meetings. You’ll appear to have too much free time. Five minutes early is perfect. Always have your work done on time. Give yourself the opportunity to impress. If you can have something done by Wednesday, tell your boss it will be done on Friday and turn it in early. Consider that most people do the opposite and get themselves in trouble.

Dress for success. Many promotions are given to the candidate that looks the part. Always dress up one level from your peers. Dress for the role you want not the one you have. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes.

Keep your resume up to date. Keep your resume current. Spend a few minutes each month to add any new, relevant information to your resume. When a good opportunity comes along, you’ll be prepared!

Reach out to recruiters. Most recruiters are paid on commission. If you let them know you exist, you can be certain they’ll call you when something suitable hits their radar. Many recruiters find potential job candidates via LinkedIn. Ensure you’re registered.

Enhance your public speaking abilities. Few of us enjoy public speaking, but those with good presentation skills are in high demand. Since so few people have the courage to build their skills, it isn’t too challenging to become an effective public speaker. There isn’t a lot of competition. If you’re looking for a training program, check with your local community college for a night course.

Be indispensable. Some employees are so indispensable that the company goes out of its way to make them happy. Be sure your employer needs you. Find an important task and master it. Is your company looking for volunteers to learn a new software program? Are they looking for someone to manage their social media? Is there an opportunity to take on additional responsibilities? Be sure any extra work is relevant. Is a long-time employee leaving? Maybe you can fill some of the gaps that are created by their departure.

Find a mentor. The right mentor will take pride in helping you advance your career. A mentor can provide invaluable advice and introduce you to others who can be very beneficial to you. Many of the most successful corporate employees enjoyed the benefit of one or more mentors along the way.

Avoid following the herd at work. The average employee decides to do the minimal amount of work to keep their paycheck. It isn’t difficult to stand out from the pack by being a little more conscientious. Are you ready to take your career to the next level? Boost your career by excelling at the little things. Find a mentor, too. You’ll be glad you did!

10 Tips to Successfully Changing Careers

Are you ready for a career change? It’s never too late to try a new career on for size. But, changing careers can be a significant challenge, depending on your career of choice. Over the past year the construction industry has experienced a boom. While many businesses experienced closings during the pandemic, construction was deemed an essential business across many states. Both the new construction and remodeling segments are in demand. This trend is expected for the foreseeable future. Due to the demand, many people have reached out to me for advice on getting into a new career. Here are a few of my tips that apply to any industry that you may be considering for a career change.

If you’re committed, there’s no reason you can’t find a new line of work that fulfills you and does more than just pays the bills. Think hard before you leap. You may have quite a bit of work ahead.

Try these activities to successfully make a career change and do the work you were meant to do:

1. Make a list of what you don’t like about your current position. If you’re considering a change, there must be something that’s rubbing you the wrong way. It might be your company, the people, or your position. Maybe you just weren’t cut out to be an accountant. Consider the things you don’t want to see in your next career.

2. Make a list of what you do like about your current position. It can’t all be bad! What are things about your current company and position that you enjoy? What would you like to see in your next position?

3. Consider your values. Perhaps your most important value is helping people, but you spend your days driving a beer delivery truck. A position helping others directly might be more to your liking. List your values and consider careers that dovetail with them.

4. Brainstorm a list of career possibilities that take into account your likes, dislikes, and values. Now that you’ve given some thought to what you like, don’t like, and your values, think of careers that can satisfy all of those requirements.

5. What else do you need? If you’re planning a significant change, you’ll probably need to learn a few new skills. You might even need to go back to school. Consider what you need to add to your resume and make a plan to make it happen.

6. Set a goal. Know what you want and put your vision to paper. Read your goal each day. Develop a reasonable plan to reach your goal in the near future. Create a goal that inspires you.

7. Network. Applying for an existing opening that is known to the public is like trying to win the lottery. Your best bet is to leverage the people you know. Try to get the inside scoop on your dream job. Let everyone know you’re looking to make a change. Be careful not to burn any bridges at your current job until you’re ready to move on.

8. Contact headhunters. A reputable headhunter only gets paid when they find you a job, and they are paid by the employer. You’re also likely to get a lot of good advice. After all, they know what companies are looking for right now. Just know that in this current economy a headhunter will be working with many candidates, and depending on your experience you may not be the highest priority.

9. Be willing to take a step back. You might have to take a demotion or a pay cut in order to change careers. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a small step back to eventually take a greater step forward.

10. Be patient. Finding a new position is usually challenging. Finding a new position in a new field is considerably more difficult. You must be patient and persistent. Expect that it will take some time, but keep working hard toward realizing your dream.

Few things will change your life more than a change of career. It’s worth the effort to find a job that you love. After all, you spend 40-plus hours each week doing it. Take the time to make a wise decision and then put a plan in place. It might be the beginning of a new adventure.