Nov 3

Nov 3 Five questions to ask to find out if you're ready for a career pivot

advice, business, Career, how to, insights

Hi! A huge welcome to you from wherever you're watching in the world.

I'm Bec Sands. I help you pivot to a successful career that transforms your life, your community and the world, either in a career you love or a business you own. Because starting a business isn’t for everyone – but neither is a job!

Whether you’re working for yourself or someone else, you need entrepreneurial skills in today’s world. Having had a corporate career and now as a business owner, I will teach you both.

Today I am discussing five questions to ask yourself to find out whether you’re ready to pivot your career. Because so often, we wait, thinking that we’ll take action when it’s the ‘right time’… After the next bonus, when the kids are older, when we get the promotion… But the ‘right time’ doesn’t come because there will ALWAYS be something happening in your life or work. It’s kind of like waiting for the right time to start exercising. You either MAKE it the right time or you wait until things blow up and things get to the point where it becomes more uncomfortable to stay where you are… THEN you take action.

If that’s you, that’s cool – I’ve waited for that point so many times as well. Sometimes, we need things to fall out from underneath us to get us out of our comfort zones so that we’re pushed towards what it is that we really want to do.

However, if you would rather not get to that point and would prefer to take smaller steps NOW towards where it is that you want to go, here’s five questions to know whether it’s your time to pivot. This doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your job straight away and starting a business or anything like that. In fact, PLEASE don’t do that!

What I’m talking about is making small shifts that will lead you towards the path that you truly want to be on.

1. Do you feel challenged – in a good way?

Like you’re learning, stretching and growing? If not, it may be time to look at where you can get out of your comfort zone. If you’re not sure what that is, don’t worry – it’s actually quite rare for people to have one thing that they love to do and just go for that. For most of us, we need to test something out, see if we like it and then move towards that. For example, I had no idea that I wanted to be a career pivot coach and if you had asked me that five or maybe years ago I probably would have laughed. Instead, I took one step in that direction, tested it out and moved towards the feelings of fulfilment and purpose. Think about what you could try out, on the side first.

2. Do you wake up looking forward to the day ahead?

I think we’ve all felt that morning dread at some stage of our lives. There’s always going to be days that we don’t look forward to as much as others (tax time, anyone?) but if this is a more common occurrence than not, it’s time to look at what you can change. Life is way too short to stay stuck doing something that you dread every day.

What’s worse, is that the longer you stay doing this you actually start to become numb to it – put simply, you get used to life sucking. Then you want to keep it sucking because that becomes your comfort zone. This is NOT a good thing and it’s a difficult mindset to break free from. In this instance, you have two options: a) change your mind about what you’re doing and find ways to enjoy it or b) change your circumstances. I recommend starting with a) and then reverting to b).

3. Do you feel purposeful in the work that you do – that your work has a purpose outside of a weekly or monthly income?

If you are doing something that isn’t fulfilling just for the money, I get it and we’ve all been there at some stage! However, you can change this – it doesn’t have to be your reality forever.

It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it and it provides you with a sense of fulfilment. For example, my hairdresser freaking LOVES what she does and wouldn’t change it for the world! Same as my financial advisor.

There is always meaning and purpose in what you’re doing, no matter what that is; it’s just whether it’s the right meaning and purpose for YOU.

Sometimes, all that’s needed is a pivot to create the right niche for yourself. For example, becoming a coach in your field rather than a practitioner. Or becoming a freelancer or consultant rather than working for someone else. This tweak honours all of your training, study and hard work but could actually change your entire life.

4. Do you flex your strengths regularly and do tasks that you enjoy?

When I finished high school, I moved out of home pretty much straight away and looked for a short-term full-time job with the goal of buying a car so that I could drive myself to university.

I was pretty good at typing and saw a contract data entry role that I thought I’d go for. I went to see the recruiter and she was a pretty smart lady. She recognised that I was a people person, very bubbly and outgoing, and that I would freaking HATE sitting at a computer typing in data – even if it was only for a few weeks or months. Instead, she recommended a receptionist contract role. I am SO glad she recognised that because I didn’t even see it in myself! By the way, I bought that car and it was a Daihatsu Charade and cost me about $2,500. I had it for years!

No one loves every aspect of their jobs but there needs to be some elements that play to your strengths. If you’re in the wrong role or industry for you, you’ll feel it because everything will feel HARD. Work should feel, for the most part, like you’re in a state of flow if you’re playing to your strengths.

5. Have you forgotten what you really enjoy doing, feel numb or are afraid to be alone or sit in silence with yourself?

As mentioned in point two, if you’ve been dreading your days for a long time you’ve probably switched off your emotions to the point where you can’t quite remember what it is that you actually ENJOY doing.

I call this ‘numbing out’ and it can be a tough place to come back from, because it actually starts to become a seemingly safe place that we stick to in order to remain in our comfort zones.

However, feeling numb is definitely a sign that it’s time to bring more joy back into your life!

If you answered yes to any of these questions, pick one thing that you can do this week towards doing what you love. This could be going to an inspiring event; taking an art class; signing up for an online program; or simply getting outdoors and spending some time with yourself in nature.

Also, make sure you’ve subscribed to my free weekly emails for more tips on how to pivot your career, find clarity and make a great income doing what you love at becsands.com. Thanks for watching, and have a great day!