I love new beginnings, of years, relationships, creations, or carb-loaded family meals. They’re a good time to start fresh, but also to gather the experiences and lessons that have brought us to this point. Like when you start writing a new book and gather all your sources from past research, events and even entire existences…Or when you put together the ingredients to your favorite desserts from your old grand-mama’s recipes with a Pinterest twist here and there…
For me, this past year was no exception. 2018 was all about learning, transitions and work, on purpose. Here are 18 of them, as we close 2018 and jump into 2019:
Working on Purpose makes all the difference!
One of the biggest revelations I’ve had is that there is a difference between working to work, and working on purpose. That is, doing work that answers a calling, work that doesn’t let you wait until you snooze the alarm clock about 20 times before getting up, work that re-energizes you instead of depleting you. I could clearly see the difference between mornings when I dragged myself out of bed to make it to work before, and mornings now, when I look forward to starting my day. Days that no longer end with a draining sense of fatigue, but with a sense of being re-energized despite the fatigue (we’re human after all)…
We’re often taught that we must work to pay bills, take care of ourselves and others, buy nice stuff or just to keep a roof over our heads. What we’re not taught is that work is part of what makes us whole; that in order to leverage its power, we owe it to ourselves to not just partake in the process, but create and enjoy our own work process. It’s not just about loving what you do, but about tapping into your maximum potential, being as effective as you can be and becoming the best version of yourself in the process.
Your mindset is key
As I made the big leap from one career to entrepreneurship and to an entirely different career, I had the opportunity (and the shock) to realize how powerful our mindsets are. This is not just about implementing empowering mantras, or adopting some daily meditation practice, although these are powerful aids as well…
Rather, for me, it was about coming face-to-face with the full realization that I have been creating my reality all along. Through the sometimes negative words I spoke over myself and my work and life, through my lack of gratitude and less than optimistic outlook at times… I also realized that once you change the story you tell yourself about yourself, your work and your life in general, not only does your perspective shift positively, but your actual results do as well…
Do not resist closed doors
How many of us leave jobs without really leaving them, rehashing the negative aspects of past experiences we tend to take into new opportunities? How many times do we leave relationships only to hold on to the heavy baggage that came with it? Or hold on to past failures, only to weigh ourselves down as we start new ventures?
What I learnt this past year was to not resist some doors closing, but to release the baggage that came with it. For me, it meant releasing past jobs, business ventures and partnerships that weren’t for me, places and even schedules that didn’t allow me to tap into my peak performance level. For you, it may mean letting go of the old job, the failed business, the less-than-ideal relationships, the disastrous launches, so you can take the lessons and actually have a chance to start anew, in a better place…
No experience is wasted
Changing careers has taught me a powerful lesson about no wasted experiences. We often think that we run the risk of losing all the experiences and bonuses we’ve acquired over time by starting fresh. So many of us hesitate to jump ship into a new career, launch the business, write the book, start a family, for fear that we would have wasted all the effort and knowledge we’ve put in so far…
On the contrary, I found myself using skills I had acquired all along through my academic path, my prior jobs, and even in the course of my personal and professional relationships, as I started fresh in entirely new domains. Nothing is really wasted, everything serves a purpose, if only to point you in the direction not to go in…
Transitions are not as hard as you think
Transitions are not simple, in any area of work or life. Entire career transitions can actually be pretty complex. However, all in all, it’s never quite as bad as we picture them to be…
As a matter of fact, transitions are necessary, unless we force ourselves to stay still and not evolve or progress.
My own career transitions required quite some time and some serious dose of chocolate and caffeine, I’m not going to lie. However, what it was not was impossible or out of reach, as I had previously thought, and this even with not as much advance preparation as I would have liked. While you should plan a transition ahead of time, life sometimes happens and you may have to adjust. It’s in the adjusting that you learn the most and have the power to turn the game in your favor…
You’re allowed to start over
Speaking of transition, how many of you have dreamt of starting over, whether in a new job, a new business, relationship, or even environment? And how many have refrained from shaking the boat of convenience and comfort for fear of starting over?
I learnt that starting over, whether at work or in life, begins with giving yourself the permission to do so. The permission to make mistakes, get back up, risk losing a bit (or a lot), and create the life and work you really want for yourself…
Prune your network
You already know how important your network is to your success, whatever your definition of success may be. You also know how detrimental the wrong network can be for you. What may be more challenging, personally and professionally, is to revisit it every now and then and have the courage to prune it so it can be as effective as possible…
I learnt that it’s ok to feel pangs of guilt when it comes to shifting relationships and networks, it’s only human. However, it’s necessary to re-evaluate relationships as you grow, evolve, change and progress, in all areas of your work and life…
Support is overrated
One of the most sensitive questions I raised when going through my own personal and career transitions this past year was: “But who’s supporting me in my journey?” Thankfully, I’ve had precious family and friends to do so all along…
Yet, most importantly, what I’ve learnt is that the whole concept of support when it comes to our own personal and professional pursuits, is a bit overrated. That we are our best sources of support, and that what kills relationships is nothing more than excessive expectations. So what if your girlfriend doesn’t buy from you? Maybe your product is simply not up her alley, or maybe there are deeper issues to look into there…Whatever the case may be, none of us should allow the presence or absence of support to deter us from our purpose…
Network effectively
I wrote earlier about the importance of networks and networking. Even for the most independent among us, we need people along the journey as we accomplish our goals and objectives.
However, what I also realized as an entrepreneur, is that there is such a thing as ineffective networking. That answering to the call of every networking event or coffee break is a great way to scatter your energy and resources without producing any tangible results. As you consider your own networking efforts, ask yourself if they’re helping you to achieve your goals and objectives, and if there’s a mutual exchange happening. If the answer is no, you may want to reconsider…
Stop listening to everyone
While you need people along your journey of success, what you don’t need is to listen to people who have not walked the path you’re treading on. Don’t get me wrong, you can certainly learn something valuable from everyone.
Yet, what I’ve learnt is that I cannot afford to listen to everyone. If you’re called to create something new, walk your own path, and become the best version of yourself, your answer may not be in the Google or even in your sister’s best advice, for the simple reason that what you’re trying to do may not have been done yet…
Trust your gut feeling
Intuition is a super-power, and you already may know it. Yet have you been using and listening to yours? Or have you been instead relying on the Google, your girlfriends’, or your mama’s advice entirely, at the expense of the promptings of your own gut feeling?
What I’ve learnt, especially while transitioning careers and as an entrepreneur, is that your intuition will tell you things no one else can. That more than anyone else, you know what is right for you, your career and/or your business. And that inner voice is part of your competitive advantage, and should not be ignored…
Do what feels good
This may seem paradoxical advice, especially for us working women, who already start the day with a full to-do list and a heap of obligations to attend to. Yet, when we’re faced with a pile of things to do that don’t inspire us, we tend to proceed out of sense of obligation rather than celebration.
I’ve learnt that in order to celebrate and enjoy my work, as well as my life, it has to feel good. Not easy, but good. Not served on a silver platter with a mojito on the side, but good. Not handed to me as a free token of appreciation, but good. It has to spark interest and joy, along with a sense of fulfillment that keeps me going. And if it doesn’t, then I may have to find what does…
Watch your environment
It’s challenging to thrive in an environment that is not ready to receive what you have to say, who you are and how you present yourself. So many of us complain that we’re not able to realize our full potential, yet do not take a second look at what we’re surrounded with…
I’ve learnt that sometimes, changing your environment changes your life. That stepping out of a toxic workspace, negative setting or abusive environment, can mean the difference between day and night when it comes to your progress and evolution as a person.
Self-care is an investment
There’s another seemingly paradoxical piece of advice. Self-care is often neglected and put to the side at the expense of “more important” obligations. Yet, what we don’t realize is that without it, our productivity, creativity and entire sense of being sink altogether. As a matter of fact, it’s an investment in our growth, well-being and wholeness. It can make the difference between being simply busy, and actually being productive and effective.
I’ve learnt to make self-care a priority, rather than an option relegated to the bottom of my to-do list. For me, it means making appointments with me, myself and I at the gym, at the brow lady, and on my favorite chair with a good book, as often as I can. Even if it means sliding down the bed at the crack of dawn in the morning, or missing my favorite show to make it to bed early enough. Not as a luxury, or even an indulgence, but as an effort to invest in the woman I’m becoming.
Do not separate work and life, integrate them!
You know what they say” “Leave your work at work!” In the era of smartphones and laptops, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate work and life, especially for working moms juggling all kinds of responsibilities around the clock. For entrepreneurs, work is actually a lifestyle more than an activity with time boundaries.
Instead, what I’ve learnt to do is to integrate the two. As in fitting in some work during the kids’ naps while working from home, or getting up earlier to get a good head start before heading to a doctor’s appointment. While it can be challenging, it’s also the answer for many of us…
Reframe failure
When transitioning careers, and through my entrepreneurial journey, I was tempted to believe that every mistake or mishap was a negative. Instead of taking failure as an opportunity to learn, I would allow it to stop my progress while I loaded up on chocolate and re-runs of Sex and the City.
I’ve learnt that failure is a necessary step in achieving success. If you don’t fail, you don’t progress. If you don’t fail, you don’t learn. Once I reframed it as an opportunity to learn and move forward, I was finally able to stop stalling and move forward. As a mom, it also taught me to be more accepting of and patient with myself.
Invest in yourself
I’ve had to learn that in order to reap results, I have to invest in myself. There were times when I didn’t think I could afford to buy the course, hire the coach or even putting the time and energy to update my skills.
Yet, making a conscious effort to periodically and regularly make an investment of time, energy and money made all the difference. For me, it means regular self-care, as well as investing in books and courses that help me acquire new skills.
Focus on the process of becoming
Last but not least, I’ve learnt to ask myself: “Is this getting me closer to the person I want to be?”, to guide my decisions in life and at work. Answering this question has allowed me to make the right decisions for my career, business and personal life, rather than focusing on other factors such as money for instance.
Now your turn: What work and life lessons have you gathered in 2018?
The holidays are a happy time. At least , judging by the highlight reel that is social media, it’s supposed to be. Yet, for many, it’s also a time of dealing more than usual with their dysfunctional families, laced with interludes of gift-giving and awkward sideways hugs. As a disclaimer, most, if not all families, include some element of dysfunctionality. If they didn’t, we’d all be bored out of our minds, and would be way too sane for our own good.
From the crazy uncle who always has something not-so-funny to say (especially after a couple of drinks), to your great-aunt asking why you’re not married (or not having another kid soon), not to mention your two aunties ready to jump at each other’s throat, there can be many ticking human bombs threatening to turn otherwise fun festivities into sheer tests of patience. Thankfully, there are also many positive ways to deal with normal (and abnormal) dysfunction in families without losing your mind (and your cool):
Mentally prepare yourself
I’ve learnt over time that potentially stressful situations require adequate prior mental preparation. Rather than buying your head in the sand and pretending all is well, start ahead of time by creating your own mental and spiritual shield.
First, think about and identify what and who triggers you during family events over the holidays. Is it a certain type of remarks? A particular individual? A specific topic of discussion? Knowing this will help you address any difficult situation before and as they arise.
If necessary, think of ways to answer to and even confront these situations. You may even have to rehearse these ahead of time. Before you start laughing, consider how better equipped you’ll be afterwards.
Strengthen yourself mentally and spiritually. It could be through positive affirmations, motivational messages, or simply by taking some time out to truly appreciate who you are and all that you’ve done. The more you appreciate yourself, the less room there will be for someone else’s negative opinion of or comment about you to take root…
You don’t have to avoid confrontation…
One of the biggest obstacles we may face over the holidays when dealing with dysfunctional families is due to our fear of confronting tough situations. This is especially true when dealing with family members. Unfortunately, it’s often those who are closer to us who can hurt us the most, and not facing them can bring about a lifetime of suffering and resentment.
The god news is, you don’t have to avoid confrontation at all costs. As long as you keep your interaction respectful, it’s ok to address situations that may make you uncomfortable. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of pointing out the hurt certain remarks or attitudes may cause you. While you may not be able to control others’ behavior, you owe it to yourself to stand up for yourself, with all due respect, including to yourself.
But prioritize your peace
I’ve learnt that there is no price too small to pay for peace. As much as you owe it to yourself to confront certain situations as necessary, prioritizing your peace is key. This may also mean avoiding an unnecessary argument, not participating in certain conversations, or even staying away altogether. It may also mean seeking closure and reconciling with a family member, or finally putting a long-lasting feud to rest.
What does peace mean to you over the holidays? Depending on your unique family situation, you may have to determine it for yourself.
Let it go!
Last but not least, while the holidays may at times be trying in dysfunctional families, it’s important to not carry the resulting baggage with you. We’re all different people with various sensitivities, feelings and experiences. Sour words may be exchanged, hurtful remarks made, or offensive behaviors had. At the end of the day, we must learn to let it go and move on.
Many, if not most families, have one or many dysfunctional elements, from interesting family members to painful pasts. Dealing with it can be challenging, but not impossible. As a matter of fact, it may be a wonderful opportunity to learn, strengthen yourself and come out on the other side as a wiser, stronger and more compassionate human being.
You may have heard this saying before: ” The average millionaire has seven streams of income“. This means that most high-worth people do not rely on one single source of income to survive, and even better, thrive. As a matter of fact, most individuals who are well-established financially tend to have varied and diversified sources of income.
The concept of multiple streams of income has always fascinated me. Raised in a middle-class, single-parent family in Senegal, West Africa, I was always concerned about financial security. As I progressed in life, this concern turned into a growing interest for the many ways in which people can establish and set their financial security and legacy in the long-term. I’ve always looked at high net worth individuals, the likes of the Oprah Winfreys and the Warren Buffett’s of this world as examples and indirect mentors I could look up to. I’ve always admired people, whether of celebrity status or not, who could make wonders out of scraps, especially in the financial arena. As I evolved in the corporate world, and started dabbling in the business world with a side hustle at first, and growing a business later on, I got increasingly interested in answering the question: “How can you diversify your income?”
As I found out and am still learning, there are many ways in which people like you and I can identify and implement various streams of income. Here are seven of them to begin with:
Get a job!
Although there seems to be a cult of entrepreneurship all throughout social media and in popular opinion as well, getting a job is still a pretty effective way to establish financial security. As tempting as the images of yacht cruises and work lunches in fancy restaurant patios outside may be. being an entrepreneur is not all there is to personal and financial success.
Many people have established their own as well as their children’s financial security and legacy through regular 9-to-5’s. The trick here is to remember to allow your job to work for your financial security, and not the other way around. This means setting up automatic systems and processes to save and invest, while working to boost your career in ways that are both personally, professionally and financially fulfilling to you. I like to think of it as using your job to fund your life dreams.
Start a side hustle!
Side hustles are the new job security. They are also great ways to add an additional source of income to your existing 9-to-5 or business. Side hustles are basically jobs that you can tackle on a part-time (or less) basis, in addition to regular employment or business. It could be as easy as freelancing on the side, consulting a few clients on your free time, or even working as an Uber or Lyft driver to supplement your income.
In the age of social media and technology, it’s become even easier to start and grow your side hustle. You can easily market your products and services on free platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Snapchat. It’s also easier to monetize your side gigs, as a majority of business activities are conducted virtually and online.
One profitable way that you can use your regular 9-to-5, business or side hustle, to fund your dreams is through investments. Setting some money aside every pay period to invest in stocks and bonds, or other financial instruments of your choice, is a powerful vehicle to multiply your earnings.
One of the main limitations that keeps many people, especially women, from investing their money, is lack of financial education. There is a widespread perception that one must be financially savvy in order to start investing profitably. However, hiring the right financial experts and getting informed on your best financial options can go a long way towards helping you grow your confidence as an investor.
Start Freelancing!
Freelancing may very well be one of the oldest side hustles ever. I didn’t start thinking about starting my own business until after I had been freelancing for a while. Freelancing allows you to use your natural talents, abilities, and/or acquired skills to render services or create products for profit.
As an example, I have been freelance writing for a while. You could freelance around providing IT services, legal or accounting services, depending on your area of expertise or particular talents.
Get Into Affiliate Marketing!
Affiliate marketing is all about marketing products or services created by other businesses or individuals. Basically, you promote a product or service someone else created and get compensated for it. You may get a certain percentage of the sales price of the item you’re promoting or a fixed commission according to the agreement you entered into.
This is a great way to diversify your income as it doesn’t require you to create anything yourself. As a blogger, I have promoted many products and services that I believe, which has allowed me to create passive income as well.
Create your own products!
This may require more time and work. However, it’s also a great way create an additional stream of income. This can be as easy as printing out T-shirts or branded merchandise. It can also involve manufacturing products from scratch, such as greeting cards for instance. It can also be creating digital products such as web applications or e-books.
Today’s technology allows you to create your own products without too much hassle. With the existence of online and virtual services such as Fiverr, and the ease to use social media, it has become increasingly convenient and cost-effective to make your own products.
Start a blog!
Blogging is also a profitable way to diversify your income, while catering to your passions and interests through your blog. From advertising revenue to affiliate marketing, and promoting your own products and services, as well as your expertise, blogging offers various opportunities to earn additional revenue.
Setting up a blog is also a cost-effective and simple process. While it may take some time to ramp up your blogging earnings, consistency and hard work do pay off in the long run.
All in all, there are many ways for you to diversify your income. You don’t have to limit yourself to a monthly salary or periodic revenue. Instead, you can enlarge your financial landscape by expanding your sources of revenue and securing your financial future.
Now your turn: what are your favorite way diversify your income?
Faith and religion are some of the few topics that are considered taboo at work, along with politics. In general, we simply avoid talking about faith at work. In most, if not many instances, we also don’t see how faith can integrated with our work, or how it could impact it in any way. We tend to separate our faith with our careers, believing that they are two entirely different areas of our lives.
I used to do the same, until I realized that if my faith is an integral part of who I am, then it also impacts my career and the work I do. Whatever is part of your experience, mindset or worldview, does influence your career as well.
It took me a long time to find a way to accept and integrate my faith and career in a way that didn’t deny either. If you’re wondering how you can also do it for yourself, here are 5 lessons I learnt:
Acknowledge where you stand
One of the most important aspects of integrating your faith and your work is to acknowledge where you stand. Being realistic about where you’re at in terms of your personal and professional growth, as well as in your career, will help you assess the best ways to integrate your faith and work.
Use your faith as motivation to excel
My faith has always been behind my motivation to genuinely and authentically succeed. It’s also been the substance of my hope and resilience, even as I faced professional obstacles and roadblocks. Having faith allowed me to believe in a higher purpose for my existence, which in turn translated into doing the best work I could in whatever capacity I was in.
It’s less about religion than about how you do your work and live your life
When we talk about faith and work, many people often think that it’s about religious expression, which can be perceived negatively in the workplace. However, I’ve found that it’s more about how you choose to live your life than about your actual beliefs. Your ethical values, as well as the way you treat your work and the people around you, say more about what you believe in than any religious symbol would.
Preserve your authenticity
In my instances, I’ve found myself considering whether I should wear a mask at work when it came to my faith. However, I realized that what we believe in is nothing we can really, or should, hide. Part of being authentic, in and outside of the workplace, is preserving who we truly are by not denying our beliefs. This doesn’t equate imposing our beliefs on others. However, it also doesn’t require being inauthentic in that aspect.
Take advantage of what your organization offers
Many organizations and businesses offer places of worship catering to various faiths and beliefs, which is a wonderful sign of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. I have taken advantage of these, and have found that it’s brought a certain level of peace and serenity in my day. It’s ok to integrate your work and your faith in this way as well, and honoring your organization’s efforts and commitment to the diversity of their employees.
All in all, integrating your faith and work is not as complex as it may seem. It can actually help you bring more motivation, peace and serenity in your work, while keeping your authenticity intact.
Now your turn: How do you integrate your faith and work?
I still remember my first day starting a new career in education, in my late thirties. It felt surreal. Growing up in a conservative household where my mother held the same job for decades, I was terrified at the prospect of starting over, possibly at the bottom of this particular professional food chain. I was so nervous at the prospect of beginning anew. As the newbie, I still had to earn the trust and respect of my colleagues. I had left a career I was familiar with, and was now entering a field in which I had to begin again.After accumulating degrees, a certification and a network in another career, having to learn and re-learn new ways of working seemed daunting.
Starting a new career is very much like changing schools. You integrate a brand-new environment, with its own set of rules, new people and a whole new mindset. It can be quite intimidating. As a matter of fact, it may feel like an insurmountable challenge for you. This is the reason why so many hesitate to tread new professional paths. You may feel like you have already invested so much in your education and current career. You may also be fearful that you may be wasting all the knowledge, credential and abilities you’ve gathered over time. You may even be scared of failing publicly and monumentally. At times, our pride can also prevent us from starting at the bottom. We may be too concerned with what others may think of us, how a new start may impact our finances, or if we will even succeed at all.
I experienced every single one of these feelings, repeatedly wondering if I was making the right decision. Yet, as I learned you don’t really find out until you actually take the leap. Here are a few of the truths and mistakes I uncovered when starting a new career:
Act as if you’re starting at the bottom
Every time I drop off my kids at the beginning of a new school year, it feels like the very first time, for both myself and them. There’s still the anticipation, anxiety, and excitement of new beginnings. There’s still the trepidation of meeting new teachers, reuniting with old students, making new friends, and using freshly bought, overpriced school supplies. Starting a new career is pretty much the same.
No matter how much experience you already have, how many credentials you have following your name, or how much of a network you’ve already managed to build for yourself, you’re still the newbie. You’re still on brand-new, unchartered territory. You still have to learn, re-learn, and unlearn the many principles, rules, and concepts that are specific to your new field. There are still some rites of passage that are particular to your new career that you have to go through. In a way, you’re kinda starting at the bottom again even if you’re transitioning careers after accumulating a lot of experience and credentials.
Even so, act as if you’re starting at the bottom! This is not to reduce what you have already accomplished to nothing. Neither is it to discredit your past journey. The point is to begin with a fresh sense of newness, which comes with the anticipation of having the opportunity to succeed even more wildly than you could’ve ever thought or imagined. It’s also to afford you the humility and the hunger to go after this new career with as much energy and rigor or more, than you did your old one.
I found myself absorbing every ounce of information, content and learning that I could, not just in the first few weeks of starting a new career, but throughout the length of it. The sense that I was starting at the bottom gave me a thirst for knowledge and an excitement I didn’t anticipate. Did I doubt myself in the process? Did I feel frustrated at the prospect of beginning again? Did I worry about whether or not I had wasted time in my prior life? I certainly did. I believe everyone does. However garnering the strength and commitment to start at the bottom will help you learn as much as you can, show a dedication and a commitment to your new path, while still enjoying the journey.
Use and re-purpose what you already know.
Starting at the bottom in your new career doesn’t necessarily mean forgetting about all the knowledge and experience you’ve accumulated over the years. As a matter-of-fact, a new career should emphasize and make use of everything you’re bringing to the table of your work. This includes not just your professional credentials, knowledge and experience; but also your personal history, your personality as well as everything that makes you truly unique. Think of it as recycling yourself and not wasting an ounce of what you have gained in your prior life.
The trick here, is to repurpose what you already possess. Was your prior life spent in an audit capacity? Why not re-purpose all of the accounting, investigative and procedural skills you have developed before into the arsenal you need to make it as a marketing executive? Was your prior experience in human resource management? Then you are in a perfect position to start a consulting firm or become a professor at a university. Did you dabble in psychology before? Why not repurpose everything you know in a book, a consulting business or as a marketing executive with a knack for human psychology?
As I switched careers, whether in the corporate, business or educational world, I found myself making an inventory of the skills, talents and abilities I had acquired in prior lives and connecting them with what I was doing at the moment. What I realized, to my happy surprise, was that I had more in my hand than I ever thought I would. You may be more equipped than you think you are. As a stay-at-home mom, how many organizational, educational and pedagogical skills have you already acquired? Countless. This makes you a perfect candidate for any enterpreneurial venture, the education world or as a brilliant executive. Think about all the skills that you already have and can easily repurpose as your switching careers.
Show up as you are
One of the biggest obstacles many if not most of us face in our careers is showing up as authentically and genuinely as we are. This is even more acute when starting a new career. We tend to be so anxious and apprehensive about new professional beginnings that we end up blending into the background, adopting unauthentic masks, and ultimately not being our true, authentic selves. I have done it. You may have as well. The truth is, most of us have because it is truly challenging to start fresh at work.
However, I found that the earlier you can set up the foundation of your authentic self in your professional journey, the better it is for you. As you’re starting on a new professional path, commit to understanding and being your true self. Whether it’s in your own unique style, your personality, or the way you work and deliver results. Don’t be ashamed of being who you really. While you may face some obstacles and roadblocks, especially if you are in a position of minority, whether as a woman or person of color, think of presenting yourself as your true authentic self in your new career as an investment in your future. It is also setting the basis for a competitive advantage that is uniquely yours.” No one is you and that is your power“, as Dr. Seuss says it so well.
Take an entrepreneurial approach to your career
Starting a new career is also a wonderful opportunity to correct the mistakes you have made in prior lives and begin fresh. This is why it’s so important that you take an entrepreneurial approach to your new professional path in a way that is uniquely yours. I had made the mistake in prior lives to allow others, whether my family and well-meaning friends, bosses, coworkers, or peers to dictate the direction of my career. I’ve taken jobs to make my family happy. I’ve made career choices to accommodate those around me. I’ve also taken or missed opportunities based on the recommendations of well-meaning bosses and coworkers. While some of these were welcome and served me well, many detracted me from my goals.
One of the best lessons I learnt from being an entrepreneur is to own your career. As you switch paths or transition to a new career, make it uniquely yours. Set your own goals, processes, and challenge yourself to overcome the obstacles in your way. Commit to constantly re-inventing yourself, and to be flexible and adaptable in your journey.
Seek Guidance
When starting on brand-new, unchartered territory, taking the counsel and advice of those who have already been in your shoes is key. Although you may already have garnered significant knowledge and credentials in your prior careers, consider seeking the wisdom of others in the new field you’re entering. There’s something about tapping into others’ experiences and journeys that will allow you to avoid costly mistakes and have more leverage as you begin.
Don’t limit yourself to higher-ups and management in your new field either. Instead, seek to gather as many perspectives as possible to widen your knowledge and insights. It takes humility to begin again and ask for advice. Don’t be the person who missed out on great opportunities for lack of seeking support.
Join the tribe.
You may already know how critical networking is to any career. As you start a new career, identify the new tribe you’re entering, or the new networks you may be called to be part of. These are the circles that will empower, guide and help you on your new professional path.
As intimidated as you may feel, don’t shy away from joining these tribes or networks. It can be as simple as talking to new colleagues and learning more about them, your new field and their respective experiences. It’s also about joining networking associations and circles which will add to your experience and knowledge. Whatever you choose to do, refrain from isolating yourself. Instead, expand and widen your network and offer your good will to serve.
Enjoy the journey.
The point of it all, in my humble opinion, is to enjoy the journey. New beginnings are exciting and challenging. I had to remind myself of this many times, as I was tempted to cave in under the pressure or shy away from making new connections. Experiencing new environments and dynamics, meeting new people, exercising various parts of your abilities, all this is part of constructing a rich and powerful life and legacy! Enjoy it!
Now your turn: Have you ever started a new career? How did you manage beginning fresh?
