I almost didn’t take the plunge.
My corporate job was too comfortable.
How many things do we fail to do because of our comfort zone?
From comfort zone to satisfaction: 4 steps to reinvent your career plan without risking everything.
Photo by Victor Rodriguez on Unsplash
1/ To run away or to go towards something?
It’s not the same. In the first case, we react.
But we’re likely to find the same things in our next experience.
- I didn’t get the job, I quit.
- My new company: I really like it. They’ve just offered me a promotion after less than 2 years.
- 1 year on: new strategy, new management. And once again, I wasn’t chosen. First reaction: I’m off again…
Resigning may not be the solution (running away from something). You need to understand what happened and what you can change.
And if you decide to resign anyway.
The most important thing to keep in your baggage is what you’ve learned when things didn’t work out. Have you found ways of doing things differently? (Proactive: moving towards something)
2/ Find satisfaction in what you do.
I hear “I don’t like X anymore” (replace X with finance, sales…)
We often have a tunnel view.
Sales, for example, involve dozens of sub-modalities. Psychology, negotiation, emotional intelligence, communication, leadership, habits…
Before you leave, try to understand what you like and don’t like anymore, what you can still learn.
3/ Don’t risk everything on a whim…
Build on what makes you tick.
Our first reflex is either/or.
Either I concentrate on what I still like about my job and become better at it, or I quit everything and change careers…
Why not and/and
I discover a new, unexplored submodality in my current job and get as close as possible to my next dream to test it.
“Try it, then say whether you like it or not.”
What parents tell their children can also be applied when we want to change.
Starting your own business as a consultant means not only working on the technical side (your specialty), but also creating a brand image, prospecting, marketing, administration…
The best way to see if you like it.
- Connect with people who do. LinkedIn is an excellent tool for reaching people in your network and suggesting a digital coffee.
- Offer your services free of charge to a few friends.
- Go to events where consultants meet
Two advantages. First, you’ll get a better idea of whether you might like it. Secondly, you will become better at what you do.
While still in my job, I started writing anonymously on the blog. I quickly developed new skills (copywriting, clarity in my thinking…) that helped me in my mission.
4/ Develop a safety net.
Like any exciting project, changing industry or company or starting your own business involves risks. Minimize them by creating a safety net.
Save money to get through a difficult period.
There’s nothing worse than having to stop your business for lack of liquidity when you feel it could take off.
I developed my financial independence in a spirit of freedom.
It helped accelerate my corporate career (read the last paragraph of this blog to understand how). I accepted and took more risks because I wasn’t entirely dependent on my job.
Financial freedom helped me launch my coaching career. Giving myself time to choose and removing the need to make the business profitable from the outset.
And today, my business provides me with a safety net. I’m not just dependent on the financial markets.🙂
But don’t wait until you’re financially independent. A mattress that covers you for two years allows you to explore one of your projects in depth.
And who knows where that might lead…
My most loyal customer, Siyah, is often with me in the office.
October 2022. I had a vague idea.
October 2023, one year after officially launching my practice.
- I have delivered almost 400 hours of coaching. (and I still love it so much 🙂 )
- Learned a lot. Read over 30 technical books on coaching and went back to school to get two certifications.
- Meet fascinating people.
- Achieved a first year with a 6-figure order intake.
- Plan to double next year while continuing to work 6 hours a day.
Above all, I’ve found a new career that brings me satisfaction and meaning. I can see myself continuing with no end in mind.
Conclusion
What I really want to do is a question to keep close.
It allows us to regain interest in what we’re doing or to embark on a new project. And this process contributes to our satisfaction.
What could you experiment to improve your work and perhaps prepare for your next project?
**
If you liked this article, you’ll love my newsletter in English and French. Join a community of ambitious readers who want to succeed in their careers while enjoying their lives. Sign up here and receive it every Wednesday morning directly in your mailbox.
**
PS: Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 more ways I can help you accelerate your growth through coaching:
- You’re ambitious: you’ve already achieved a lot. And you intend to continue. But this time, you want to do it while enjoying the important things in your life. Curious? Click here.
- You lead a team: you know that a slight improvement in your leadership can significantly impact the team’s results and, therefore, your career. I was trained and certified by the world’s first executive coach, Marshall Goldsmith. I accompany you in your project and guarantee the result. You only pay me if you succeed. Curious? Let’s connect for a free call and see if we can work together
Join a community of ambitious readers who want to succeed in their careers.👇
Leave a Reply