5 Things I learned during my career switch
5 Things I learned during my career switch
My former career was a large part of my identity, like it is for most people. Just think of the first question we usually ask when meeting a new person: “What do you do for work?”! How can it not be when we spent 8 or more hours a day for years at our jobs.
Eighty-five percent of workers worldwide admit to hating their jobs when surveyed anonymously, according to a Gallup poll released in August 2017. Fortunately for me, I was never part of that eighty-five percent. I have always loved my work and have found great accomplishment and opportunity for growth at each point in my career.
Changing careers from working in Operations and Compliance at Preventure to owning my own personal coaching business has highlighted some key practices that keep me motivated and joyful in my day-to-day tasks.
By switching careers, I’ve found that these are the most important things I can possibly do:
Focus on the positive impact I have on others. If I’m starting to feel frustrated with mundane, albeit necessary, tasks I read quotes and client testimonials, and remember the opportunity to help others is a GIFT. I can serve and witness the positive influence of fitness on others.
Tap into my purpose-driven direction. In everything I do, I focus my energy on my intention and purpose to impact the lives of each individual I work with.
Align myself with my passion and my mission. I found myself easily distracted by other potential opportunities in the first few months of developing my business. I promised myself I would stay focused and on track and “parking lot” all other ideas and opportunities until I fully launched ShipShape aligned to my mission.
Practice what I preach with self-care. When I start to feel stressed by the amount of items on my priority “to do list”, I make sure I prioritize my own meditation and fitness breaks to de-stress. It makes me feel more alert, focused, and 100% myself again so I can tackle what’s in front of me.
Remember to smile and have fun! This comes with learning new tools, like social media, web design and even blog writing. I could let myself get bogged down with all the new tasks I have to learn, or I could have fun with it. I choose fun!
Truly, these are elements of any great career. No matter how long you’ve been there, or if you’re just starting out, using these will help you feel connected to your own work.