Now What?® Coaching

from Laura Berman Fortgang

Now What? Q & A

Now What Q&A: Too Busy to Transition

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Today’s question comes from a member of our community who participated in a recent Community Call and is answered by Laura Berman Fortgang.

Question: Between working as a legal secretary and going to school to become a massage therapist, I’m  always busy.  What can I do to move my transition along when I’m so busy?  

Answer:

When trying to make the transition to a new field and also working a current job, be as patient as you can.  You’re doing a lot already and you’re working on the most important thing, which is acquiring the training you need.  There are also some things you can do to move into the new field, even before you actually make the move and without it having to feel like another big project to take on.  For instance, what places do you frequent that are related to the new field?  It might be a yoga class or even the massage school you attend.  Talk to people and tell them you’re looking for ways to begin your new work.  Look for a place to work that is aligned with what you want to do and where you could earn what you make at your current job.  Challenge yourself by looking around you right now.

Now What Q&A: Making The Right Decision

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Today’s question comes from one of our readers and is answered by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor

Question: When thinking about new career directions, how do I know if I’ll make the right decision? 

Answer:

 This is certainly a natural question to ask and yet it’s one that can also keep you in place.  Since there are no guarantees about how the change you’re considering will turn out, the challenge is to manage the fears that come up for you.  If you move through the process in a grounded way, paying attention not only to the information you uncover in your research (the pros and cons of a particular option) but also to your own truth and what feels right to you, that will guide you well.  Ask yourself:  Do I know enough to keep exploring?  If the answer is yes, then as we say in Now What?®, life will show you the rest.  Also ask:  Will I regret not trying?   If you decide to go for it, rather than worrying too much about making the right decision, entertain the idea: What if it works?

See Also: From Research Mode to Decision Made; Have You Found The Entry Point?

Now What Q&A-Is Quitting a Good Idea?

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Today’s question comes from a member of our community in Washington, DC who participated in a recent Community Call, and is answered by Laura.  

Question:

Is it a good idea to have a six-month goal to change jobs?  Should I quit so that I have more time to devote to  figuring out what I want to do next?

Answer:

While how long it takes to change careers varies for everyone,  setting a time frame for your goal can help get you moving.  As a guideline, the Now What?® program is designed to be completed in 90 days, at the end of which you’ll have clarity about the direction you want to pursue.   From there, you’ll execute an action plan to actually make the change.  In terms of whether quitting will help you in this process, of course it will depend on the specifics of your situation.  Sometimes it’s what needed if you’re really burned out but it’s also possible that after a few weeks of not working you might feel more tense than relaxed.  If you can, keeping your job is the strongest position to be in when interviewing for something else. 

The key thing is to take some action and start the process toward finding clarity.  It’s very likely that just starting the process will lift your spirits because you’ll see yourself doing something about it and making progress.  In fact, in the very first chapter of Now What?® you’ll identify the factors that are draining your energy or bothering you the most.  By beginning to work on solutions for these right away, you’ll feel more motivated and positive.  I also recommend doing what I call a “hobby by emergency” which is some tactical or physical activity that engages your senses.  This gets your creative mind in gear.

 

Now What Q&A-Unemployed and Interviewing

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Today’s question comes from a member of our community who participated in a recent Community Call, and is answered by Laura Berman Fortgang.  

Question:

My position as a Benefits Manager and HR generalist was eliminated last year.  When I’m on an interview, I need a   better way to answer the question:  What have you done in the last year? The caller then described some of the positions for which she had interviewed, yet did not convey enthusiasm for them.

Answer:

My immediate gut reaction is it sounds as if you don’t want a job in this field.  I get that you need money and it’s the path of least resistance.  In a new field there might be an initial salary reduction but with growth potential.  You might like to take a look at the life story exercise in Chapter 4 of Now What?®.  Interpreting your life story will help you pick up on themes and generate ideas about future roles to explore.                                                   

In terms of how to respond to interviewers who ask what you’ve done since becoming unemployed, the most important thing is to show that you’ve been using the time prudently, whether that includes researching certain fields or learning something new.  Focus on the positive and on how you’ve been productive with the time.

Now What? Q&A-Knowing When You’ve Found It

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Today’s question comes from a member of our community in Washington, DC who participated in a recent Community Call, and is answered by Laura.

Question:

During the last few months, I’ve been doing some soul searching.  Since graduating law school three years ago and working as an attorney, I realize that  I’m not sure I want to continue in this field.  Because I haven’t been at it that long, I figure if I’m going to make a change it’s a good time to do it.  I have a couple of ideas and am researching them.  How do you know when you’ve found the right field?  When I consider options, am I turning away because I know it in my gut or out of fear?  Sometimes, I’m interested in an option but I think to myself:  Am I really going to throw this away?

Answer:

Good for you, that you’ve been researching options proactively.  The sheer process of elimination will help.  It’s important to be able to tell the difference between fear and “this isn’t right for me”.  When I hear people say, “Am I really going to throw this away?” I know it’s about fear.  You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your legal career — be assured that none of it will be a waste.  From your description of the options you’re investigating (combining law and international education), it sounds like you haven’t yet exhausted the possibilities. 

Check out Chapter 2 in Now What?®, to help you see what you’re taking with you as you move from this role to the next.  And Chapter 7 will help you get specific with your values and needs so that you can starting matching them to the different careers you’re evaluating.  Don’t give up!  You’re doing all the right things and asking the right questions.

Now What? Q&A-The Journey of the Leap

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Today’s question comes from Seattle, Washington and is answered by Cassi Christiansen, Now What?® A-Team Leader.

Question:

I wonder about folks who have transitioned and followed their passion out of a ‘safe’ position into something others may deem risky.  How did they go about this?  How much preparation can one do?  How do they manage doubts?  How do they know they will succeed?

Answer:

 Thanks so much for your question and it’s one that every person I have ever worked with around igniting their purpose and following their dream has asked.  How do you take the leap from the safety of the known to the risky edges of the unknown?  I wish I could tell you it was easy peasy and no fear involved, but I would be lying.  It is scary.  And it is not easy.  Since you are asking the question, my guess is you’ve got at least one foot in the known and at least a few toes in the unknown and you are wondering how to make the leap, right? 

Leaping is really quite simple – notice I didn’t say easy…. 

Let Go:  Now What has an entire chapter on letting go because it’s such a huge part of the journey.  Think how much harder the leap will be if you are hanging onto things that no longer serve or fit you.  Things to think about letting go of:  Old identities, other people’s ideas of what you should do/be, your own limiting beliefs, etc.  If you’re going to leap, remember the lighter you are, the easier it will be, so start letting go now. 

Evaluate:  This is the practical side of leaping.  What do you need to be successful in your new venture?  Do you have the training, the information, the support, the financial reserves you need?  If not, make a plan to get it and don’t leap before you do.  Think of this as your safety net and who would want to leap without one? 

Acknowledge:  Acknowledge your fears, your limiting beliefs, all of the things that are currently getting in your way.  And then begin to work on them.  No one says you have to leap tomorrow.  Some leaps will take time.  I knew for 2 years I wanted to leave my old corporate life, but it took me 2 years to work through my “stuff” and gain the courage to do so.  Acknowledge where you are now and work towards where you want to be.  It’s a journey. 

Pray:  The logical side of me wants to use Plan as my p-word here, because who leaps without a plan.  But what I know to be true is that this journey is a spiritual journey.  A journey to where your heart wants to take you and a journey to why you have been placed on this earth, so prayer feels as important as a plan!  Pray for guidance.  Pray for knowing the right time to leap.  Pray for attracting what you need.  Pray for others on the journey.  Pray for acceptance to know that you are exactly where you need to be and pray for signs to know when you are ready to take the next steps.  Pray that if you stumble (and you will) that you have the courage to get back up.  Pray to enjoy the journey.  And lastly, say a prayer of gratitude for who you are and the gifts you are meant to share.  What would our world be missing out on if you chose not to leap? 

And my prayer for you is that you see that success is in the leaping, even if you have no idea where/how you may land.  Happy Leaping!