One Door Closes, Another One Won’t Open

You knock and knock,

No one answers,

So you decide to wait.

Do so at your own risk, I say.

For more than a decade, I’ve been watching more and more clients struggle with their industries changing drastically, shrinking and in some cases, disappearing completely.  People’s natural instinct, it seems, is to either try harder to get back in or wait until things get better so they can try again.

Is this you?

You’ve exhausted all your contacts.

You’ve sent out dozens and dozens of resumes.

You’ve attended industry events to find opportunities.

You’ve started to run out of ways to fill your days.

You’re wondering if something’s wrong with you.

You’re blaming the economy or the darned industry you’re in.

From my vantage point, the closing of doors followed by more closing of doors signifies,  it’s time to try a window.  In other words, it’s a nudge to go in a different direction.

What is most surprising is that many people have a slight inkling as to what that direction might be, but they ignore it in the name of waiting for the familiar door to suddenly open.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but if that old door is supposed to open, it likely won’t do so until you’ve started going in a different direction.  Just like the romantic partner who loves you the most once you’ve broken up and are starting to date other people.  At that point, you don’t necessarily want them back.

That pestering little nudge that says to try something else is your way out of this dilemma.  I know it sounds crazy. I know you’ve already decided it won’t make you any money so you can’t even dream of going that direction  I know you’ve buried it so deep it may not even make its way into your dreams anymore, but DIG IT OUT!!

Here’s the key.  The crazy idea to go back to something you used to do or to turn a hobby into a business or to do that long forgotten thing you always wanted to do is not necessarily a destination.

The $500K a year finance executive won’t be able to sustain her current  lifestyle as a yoga instructor, but it was yoga that opened her up to see that her next job needed to be satisfying, lucrative and meaningful.

The real estate attorney needed to revisit the reason he went into law (justice and fighting for what’s right) through his volunteer work while he was unemployed.  His volunteer stint made him realize that he needed to turn his career ship into a form of law that was more in tune with his values.

The yoga and non-profit volunteering did not become ‘next steps’ in terms of a career destination, but they were the means by which clarity came about.  THAT is the value of acting on your intuitive inklings.

Some of you may know that I followed my own advice, as I often do, and 3 years ago, when feeling a little stymied, I dove back into my first love of performing by doing my first musical theatre show in 17.5 years!  It was so much fun and surprisingly, it led to the creation of Life Coach Lurlene.  The venture into the ‘crazy’ idea of ‘wasting’ my time doing a musical just for fun became a new revenue stream in 2 short years.

If knocking on doors has become banging your head against the wall, then turn your weary head to the window that has a little glimmer of light.  It may not be your final destination, but it is the glint of what will ease your way to clarity and new horizons.

Let us know if you need help.  We’re here to work with you.