Your Exit Strategy
Last week we talked about your job, which includes the hours you invest to do it, the salary you receive and whether the position brings you joy. In answering some simple questions about your work, maybe you felt the need to consider making changes. Well change is hard. You’re in a routine. You know where you’re going five days a week and what you’re expected to do. You’ve grown accustomed to the foolishness at your current workplace. However, there are risk-free actions that you can take as you evaluate your work life.
1. Accept that you have choices. Perhaps you have not refreshed your skills or you can’t imagine looking for another job. Whatever your situation, you have choices, and you must constantly remind yourself of that fact. For example, if you are an attorney, but you’ve always dreamed of owning a restaurant, you have the choice to consult with restaurant owners or you can get a part time job working at a restaurant to sample your idea.
2. What are you good at doing? What do you love doing? That intersection is the sweet spot. Maybe you’re really good with children and you love taking care of children. Perhaps you are an efficient administrative assistant, and you are delighted when your work makes your boss look great. This is a good time to do a spiritual gifts inventory. Visit http://www.lifeway.com/Article/Women-Leadership-Spiritual-gifts-growth-service for a free test. It takes about 45 minutes to thoughtfully complete the assessment. More than likely your results will confirm what you already know.
3. Know what you don’t know. Maybe you think that the only way to earn a living is by going and punching a clock five days a week. I challenge you to learn about other options. I recommend that you read The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. There are strategies and case studies in this book that will show you that the 9-5 model is only one way to get paid. Even if you have no interest in entrepreneurship, this book will show you several methods to be a more valuable employee.
I’m listening to the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. When I first heard about this book, I thought it would teach me how to produce more work. I’m about three quarters of the way through this book, and it is actually teaching me how to relentlessly choose the great things in life over the good or average. After listening to this book in the car for a few days, I realized that I needed to be more diligent about taking care of my temple and taking time to sit and do nothing.
4. Sit and do nothing. Begin this habit on a day when you don’t have to go to work. Choose a quiet place to just sit and think for 30 minutes. This means no reading, listening to music or urging offspring to do homework. Perhaps you will need to sit in the parking lot at work before or after your business day. When your brain is bombarded with billboards, the radio, and other background noise, it is not as effective at tackling the more important issues. When you sit and do nothing, you are giving your brain the opportunity to be creative and to solve problems.
5. Seek validation. If you don’t receive professional validation in your current position, you need to seek it from other sources. Chair a committee at your church. Volunteer in your community. Everyone needs an external pat on the back. I also recommend Toastmasters, which is an organization that helps individuals to improve their speaking and leadership skills. Most cities have several clubs that meet before work, midday, after work and on weekends. I tried several clubs before I joined one. Visit www.Toastmasters.org for additional information. Membership fees are about $70 a year depending on the club. If you’re in the Jacksonville, Florida area, I would welcome the opportunity to have you as my guest at a meeting. Email me or message me on Facebook, and we’ll set up a time.
There are dozens of things to do to prepare for a job change. These five steps prepare you to obtain a better job, tolerate your current position a little longer or consider starting your own business.
