Purposeful Pause: Recharge and Redirect

We’re back for Week 3 of our month of purposeful mini-pauses. Hopefully, you took the time last week for some deep introspection. Maybe it confirmed things you always knew to be true. Maybe you learned something new and surprising about yourself.

Either way, this week is all about RECHARGING ourselves and REDIRECTING our energy. To do that, you need to take everything you discovered last week and put it all together into a starting point for the changes you’re ready to make.

Just like they teach you in journalism, we’re looking for the facts:

WHAT changes do you want to make? It might be that you’ve realized you’re exactly where you belong. On the other hand, you may be looking at the next steps from your current role (a promotion or moving into management), a new industry, or entrepreneurship.

WHY are those changes important to you? Your purpose is your compass. If you remain true to who you are and what you believe, you’ll follow the right path.

WHEN do you want those changes to take place? You might be looking for a promotion at your current company within the next 3 months or gathering data for a loan application to launch your brand-new business next year…

I want to acknowledge that it’s not always simple to figure out exactly where you want to go in your career. If you’ve put time into self-reflection and still have more questions than answers, it might be time to contact a career coach.

But if you have had some inspiration and some revelations, now is the time to start preparing for what lies ahead. There are no shortcuts, so once you know the goal, the planning begins. And that’s the fun part!

“Within us lies the incredible power to redirect our energy, transforming dreams into reality and aspirations into achievements.”

Here are some steps to take once you’ve decided where your redirect is heading:

Upskill: If there are any gaps between your current skill set and the skills you need to be successful in reaching your goals, find a class – online, at your local community college, or through a trade association. There are more ways than ever to find the education you need. So be proactive and get that training under your belt.

Test and Learn: If you’re dreaming of a big leap, some in-between steps might be wise. Before following your passions full-time, try doing it on the side for a little while. Build up a portfolio, win over some clients, and see if you really love doing it for work as much as you imagine you will. It’s as close to a safety net as you can get. And you’ll gain valuable insight for a stronger foundation when you’re ready to finally hang that shingle on your door!

Do the Practical Things: I encourage my clients to dream big! But I’m also a financial coach, so you need to get both your career and your money right. That means really thinking things through. Where is the funding coming from to launch your business and what will the income stream look like? If you switch industries, are you taking a pay cut and have you budgeted accordingly? Are you prioritizing an investment in your future – through classes, technology, etc. – over luxury items that detract from your new goals?

Conclusion

Making a big change is a big deal. Along with the excitement, there may be fear and uncertainty, so take it as slow as you need to find your footing. Proceed with a healthy blend of caution and optimism and always have a contingency plan.

Our purposeful month of mini-pauses isn’t over yet – next week, we’ll be talking about what happens when the caterpillar turns into the beautiful butterfly as we REEMERGE!