What if the most recent career shift was a blessing in disguise?  What if you were on the path to an unfulfilling and meaningless career outcome?  No matter how difficult the transition emotionally and financially challenging was it all for the best?

You have two choices:

a.       Return to work in a similar position – no better or no worse than your last position.

b.      Return to work in the position you want or on the career path you want most that will bring you financial and career fulfillment.

The time we have to be productive and achieve success in a career is limited regardless how long you work at a company or how many years you dedicated to your trade.  Once you retire it is all over and your accomplishments are soon forgotten.  The place you left has already forgotten you; you are no longer a value to that company in any way shape or form. 

Now you face new opportunity where everything you do will have significant value to you and to the people who will pay you to do what you do.  Be wise and choose carefully.  Make it your decision where you work and take full responsibility for the success you will achieve.  Make this next step in your life the turning point that takes you where you want to be.

Too often when people are faced with adversity they forget all the blessings in their life.  In my estimation blessings have more to do with family and good health than worldly positions.  We are also blessed to live in a country where you can accomplish just about anything you set out to do if you are willing to work hard enough.  When you look back on your life you will see you are blessed by the people who are with us today and also those are no longer with us.  If you don’t feel blessings in your life than you have lost contact with those who love you.  It is never too late to re-connect; family love is never lost or forgotten.

There is no success without failure or adversity.  A job loss or extended career transition make some doubt their abilities and causes them to lose focus.  Count all the successes in your life as you plan to move forward.  Success is the foundation of what you offer.  Your ability to overcome obstacles, to achieve outstanding results and be the best at what you do is your value proposition. 

Who you are is far more important than what you do for a living.

Make your own luck
  - Keeping an open mind and positive outlook could help you nab that dream job or promotion.
  - Take positive action in everything you do.
  - Look for opportunities to be in the right place at the right time.
Pump up your resume
  - Emphasize achievements that make you stand out.
  - Lead with the best results of your work.
  - Write a perfect cover letter.
Compete to win
  - Be the best and set your goals high.
  - Pay attention to what your peers are not doing and do it better.
  - Second or third place is not an option.
Learn
  - Be the expert in your field.
  - Be a life-long learner.
  - Success is in the details.
Unleash your creative genius
  - Apply problem solving and reasoning skills.
  - Look for ways to improve without starting over.
  - Write a business plan and execute the plan.
Eliminate negative influences
  - If you don't have good to say than don't.
  - Avoid negative people.
  - Stay away from discussions involving political issues.
Be visible
  - Make your success visible, be the last one standing.
  - Look for ways to stand out with out being pompous or arrogant.
  - Tell other people about how you plen to succeed.

  

 

You are the foundation of your Professional Career Network (PCN).  You are the CEO of your PCN.   The success or failure of your PCN is totally your responsibility.   A successful PCN will have these elements:

·         Unique to you focused on your professional goals.

·         Filled with people who know you, people who matter.

·         Trusted associates and mentors who want you to succeed or share in your success.

These people have limited or no value in building a PCN.  Do not waste your time with people who don’t matter.

·         People that have no interest in you, who could care less about your success or failure.

·         People that would never remember your name and would never take time to talk to you.

·         People that want to sell you something.

It may make you feel better to meet so called “important people” and it might make for a great photo but it has no value in building the PCN.  The standard in developing a highly effective PCN is your ability to connect with the people that will help you achieve your goals. 

Networks are swimming with predators who want you to buy something from them, they want your money.  They usually disguise themselves as experts in field they represent offering free services or advice.  Beware these people only have two objectives, one, to sell you a product or service, or two, to use you as a lead source or referral point.  In either case they have no business in being a part of your PCN.  Here are some benchmarks of a highly effective PCN.

·         Positive information flow.

·         Two way communication.

·         Trusted advice and second opinions.

·         Focus on your goals and objectives.

·         Mutually assured success for each other.

Too often when people are thrust into unwanted change they view it has a failure.  In the situation where a job is lost it can be as devastating as a death in the family.  Emotions overtake reason and career perspective is lost.  As a result people can suffer a career- disability that may render them un-employable.  The work place is all about the future, our age and experience prepare us for the challenges we will today and tomorrow until we retire.

Your life is a body of work.  The failures you have encountered have taught you to be successful.  The truth is that without the experience of failure you would have never achieved success.  As you face the challenge of establishing a new career path or seeking a new opportunity you must catalog and journal your lifetime of success.  This is the platform that new opportunity and success is built on.

You may feel like you are a victim and you have been treated unfairly, which to some extent it may be true.  If you let these feelings overcome you it will make matters worse.  It is time to move on!  It is time focus on what you want! It is time continue on with the successful life you have built.

 

I used to think that change was the secret to a successful career transition.  I’m having second thoughts.  I now think the ability to adapt is far more important than the ability to change.  Change is almost impossible to avoid or control especially in the workplace.  You can change jobs but it is almost impossible to change who you are and professional you have become. 

If you are the best at your job and love what you do why on earth would you let someone take that away? 

Successful people demonstrate an ability to adapt to change.

Next week there will be meetings in Appleton and Green Bay.  The topic is "Your Career Value Proposition."  Most resumes are lists of qualifications and chronological work history.  What the resumes don't define is a value proposition.  Companies are searching for talent that will add value to their organization.  I have developed a training session which I believe will guide you to developing and implementing a personal career value proposition.  I hope you can join one of the two sessions next week.

This is a quote from Thomas Edison.   We don't work in our Fathers work place, there is no reward for the work you did in the past. It is all about results today and results to come.  If you aren't ready to roll-up your sleeves and get your hands dirty then you aren't ready to keep your job.  The youth populating the workforce does not accept the concept of seniority, they will not respect your years of service and experience unless you demonstrate expertise that directly relates to the business of today.  Your greatest opportunity will come when you are prepared to make the people around you successful.

This is a quote from the the late John Wooden.   If you are in a career transition right now you are reeling from the effects of change, you may even feel like you failed.  The only way you can really fail is if you quit!  If you are not ready to quit then be prepared to change, to adapt and to prevail.  Your greatest opportunity doesn't await in the world "used to be," but rather in the world of "what can be."

When a boss tells you, "I got your back,"  at work here are some likely realities.
1. He has afixed a traget to your back and knows exactly where to deliver the fatal blow.
2. You are oblivious to the fact that you have a blindside and he knows exactly how to manipuliate you.
3. Start looking for a new job because your boss is already looking for your replacement.
4. If you think he really is going to look out for you be prepared to have tread marks running up your backside because you'll never see it coming and you will have no idea what hits you.
5. The only person you can trust to take care of you is you, implement a 360 approach to your career.