A new career will change who you are



Get Advice from Take our Word.com on take-our-word.com. A new career will change who you are topic will increase your understanding on Advice from Take our Word.com. We at take-our-word.com only provide news, articles, information in Advice from Take our Word.com. Advice from Take our Word.com at take-our-word.com provides the most up to date news and articles. If you have questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

I hear from many people who feel trapped in a career after fifteen or twenty happy, productive years. It's been a good ride, they say, but now it's time to jump off the train. They want to fulfill a creative dream, recover from burnout or just try something new. The old challenge is now a 'been there, done that.'

If you can relate to that description, you probably recognize that midlife career change is both easier and harder than starting out in the world of work. Change is easier because you have resources to grease the rails. You have savings, equity in your house, and a retirement fund. More important, you have acquired skills, contacts and networks. You may be able to use the resources of your current employer to develop new skills.

On the other hand, change is hard because you have invested in your career identity. In my relocation book, Making the Big Move (New Harbinger 1999), I emphasize that moving is stressful because identity is interrupted. The change is equally stressful when you relocate your career.

Often people focus on the skills and activities they want to incorporate into their new careers, but ignore the impact on identity. Yet I have seen people falter and give up on new careers because they were uncomfortable with the new way they had to define themselves. Just saying, 'I am…' creates a new reality.

At the same time, once you begin to acquire a new identity, you increase your risk. It will be more difficult to return to a former career or job once you have begun to enjoy a new identity. And your former colleagues will see you differently.

There are three components to identity: self-concept, social identity and paper identity.

Self concept is expressed when you fill out a series of 'I am' statements. You think of yourself as a father, country club member, and banker.

Social identity is the way others view you. People treat you differently if you're a bank manager or if you're starting a new e-business in a field they've never heard of. Think about how you feel when you're introduced at parties as, 'This is Mary. She is a…'

Paper identity is the way you're regarded by the businesses and professionals you deal with. When you have a job, it is easy to get credit and a premium checking out. When you change careers, especially if you start your own business, you may be on shakier ground.

Your response to a new identity will be unique: 'After being on my own, I went back to a corporate job. When we got the United Way forms, it hit me. I was now an employee. It didn't feel good.' Others will find the same world liberating: 'No more chasing after clients -- and I love the pension contributions!'

I encourage career changers to include a plan for identity change, as a way to help smooth the journey.



Quality Header Templates Collection. - Instantly change the look of your web site with a quality web header.
Betting Exchange Secrets. - Discover the secrets of how you can make regular profits from the biggest revolution in online betting - Betting Exchanges.


Article Index: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57


Advice
Home Business
Technology
Online Advertising
Motivational
Internet Marketing
SEO Help
Online Games
Science Articles
Happiness

More Articles:


1. My Washer Does Not Spin
Today was one of those days. Yes, the kind that makes you want to throw in the towel. After spending a day dealing with various and sundry technical problems, pesky tasks and surly customer service people, I decided to do just that--literally. Late this afternoon, I tore myself away from my sadly, yet aptly, described 'non-billable' work day to do some laundry--a nice housekeeping task that has an easy enough beginning and a tidy ending that resu…

2. Be A Leader In Life Not A Follower
Most people in life are happy to follow the lead of other people, to sit on the fence in a debate or have the attitude of hiding at the back of the class. The most successful people are leaders and make things happen for themselves by taking a positive attitude and through working very hard to reach their goals. We are all able to become leaders and this article may help you to achieve this status. I grew up as a very nervous person, who had very…

3. I Had a Dream
'Are you blind?' she screamed, 'World War III has started andyou're acting as if everything's just peachy'!, referring ofcourse to the current state of the world.The subject in my dream several nights ago I am very close toin real life. I recall replying something to the effect that'I can understand why you think this, but the world was notthat great a place *before* 9/11 and the terrorist attackshave only served as the catalyst for the positive,…

4. Tricks of the Trade - Applying Make-up Like a Professional
There are a number of different tricks and techniques that we have developed to make applying make-up easier, as well as more appealing. Let's start with the basics. Always start your make-up with your foundation. This will even out your complexion and give you a good base to start with. Now for the trick. Use a make-up sponge to apply your foundation. This way your foundation will not change colors due to the oils on your fingers, and you will n…