Evaluating your Plan for the future

Continuing our discussion that we started a few days back:

Are you into a career that you find is not living up to your expectations? Have you made choice(s) that have not worked out like you thought they should?

This is a difficult position to be in; but let’s try to get the most from a less than suitable situation. At least, let’s hope what you are doing is at least putting the bread on the table.

Ask yourself a few more in-depth questions.

How long can you survive in the position you currently hold? The current economy can not last forever. The ramp-up could be just around the corner. Plan you next move(s) now and be well positioned for the future. It will come; just like tomorrow morning. Be ready to execute.

I’m not sure I believe the situation, but are you burning out—to use an all to frequently used cliché, in a career path that initially challenged you, but no longer does?

Is this a real problem or a matter of interpretation? Might it just possibly be some sort of mid-career slump?

How would you go about rejuvenating the ole career if this is the situation?

Consider discussing this with your management. They might just have the answer you are looking for. Maybe the direction is a tangent to your current duties and responsibilities. Maybe there is room for additional responsibilities that can be added to your existing load that would tend to breathe new life into the somewhat routine day you find yourself facing. Sometimes what is needed is some sort of refresher training or just some cutting edge approaches to the current routine.

If there aren’t other avenues open due to size or maturity of the organization; your situation could be a hard nut to swallow.

Tough decisions might have to be made. Pulling up the stakes, dislodging the roots and moving elsewhere at mid-career is a real tough decision; especially in the market we are currently in.

If this avenue is not an option at the present; look at taking up a new outside interest. Search for one that requires somewhat great effort and considerable attention to detail. The burn has to be stroked no matter where the fire source comes from.

Evaluating your Plan for the future

Continuing our discussion that we started a few days back:

Are you into a career that you find is not living up to your expectations? Have you made choice(s) that have not worked out like you thought they should?

This is a difficult position to be in; but let’s try to get the most from a less than suitable situation. At least, let’s hope what you are doing is at least putting the bread on the table.

Ask yourself a few more in-depth questions.

How long can you survive in the position you currently hold? The current economy can not last forever. The ramp-up could be just around the corner. Plan you next move(s) now and be well positioned for the future. It will come; just like tomorrow morning. Be ready to execute.

I’m not sure I believe the situation, but are you burning out—to use an all to frequently used cliché, in a career path that initially challenged you, but no longer does?

Is this a real problem or a matter of interpretation? Might it just possibly be some sort of mid-career slump?

How would you go about rejuvenating the ole career if this is the situation?

Consider discussing this with your management. They might just have the answer you are looking for. Maybe the direction is a tangent to your current duties and responsibilities. Maybe there is room for additional responsibilities that can be added to your existing load that would tend to breathe new life into the somewhat routine day you find yourself facing. Sometimes what is needed is some sort of refresher training or just some cutting edge approaches to the current routine.

If there aren’t other avenues open due to size or maturity of the organization; your situation could be a hard nut to swallow.

Tough decisions might have to be made. Pulling up the stakes, dislodging the roots and moving elsewhere at mid-career is a real tough decision; especially in the market we are currently in.

If this avenue is not an option at the present; look at taking up a new outside interest. Search for one that requires somewhat great effort and considerable attention to detail. The burn has to be stroked no matter where the fire source comes from.

What’s Important to You?

How long have you been doing what you do?

Are you enjoying yourself; not necessarily every day and every little bit of the day. But, in general; do you like what it is that you do?

Do you get up every morning with a burn that can’t wait until you get to work because there is something you just gotta get at? This may not be your routine, but ask yourself if it should be.

Here’s another question you might ask yourself: Are you doing what you really want to do? I don’t mean “are you on permanent vacation?” Of course, we all would like to be in that rare air that allows us to get up every day and fish a different hole; but no, that’s not what I’m getting’ at.

 

Good catch!

 Proper fishin' technique

Does what you do allow you to do what you want to do when you are not at work? There is just so much leisure time available to any of us. You have to bank it and spend it wisely. They will not let you buy anymore than your scheduled allotment.

While you are at it; here’s just one more question you need to consider: Is what you do going to get you wherever it is that you want to go professionally? If the answer to this is no; buddy, you need to start thinking and planning right now. There isn’t enough time on this earth to spend any of it where you don’t really want to be. Oh, I know this may not be the time to walk away from a paying gig; but it is always the time to think and plan to be able to walk away from a paying gig that isn’t getting you where you want to go.

Get started now!