Business &amp; Branding

Business &amp; Branding Archives

Stay ahead in business: strategies and insights for success

Professional Growth

Professional Growth Archives

Professional Growth | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

Switching from one career to another can be scary, but it also can be a thrilling experience. Look at it as an opportunity to go after what you want to accomplish in life and make a difference in the world. The key is to take small, conscious steps and prepare yourself for a successful transition. It can be that you go back to school or re-train in a new field to gain specific knowledge and skill sets. It can mean networking in an entirely new way and putting yourself out there in the world so people can see and hear you. 



Transitions can take time, patience, and a willingness to endure a whole new set of challenges. If you are hoping to start your own business, for example, you may need to work up the capital necessary and take a “day job” to make ends meet and avoid serious debt.



We started by answering the most common questions about career transitions and <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/5-ways-to-pursue-the-job-you-want/">finding the job you want</a>.



<h2 id="h-how-do-i-transition-from-career-a-to-plan-b">How do I transition from Career A to Plan B?</h2>



A common mistake people make when they embark on such a transition is jumping too quickly into something else without really thinking it all through or even stopping to ask, 



<ul><li>What do I want? </li><li>What are my dreams? </li></ul>



Your answer should reflect your passions and your talents. It should not sound like a random stab in the dark. Once you decide what you want, set some goals that will move you toward fulfilling that. Take your time and be patient with yourself in the process. No one becomes an expert in a new career overnight, even if you are coming from another career where you were established and experienced. 



Remember, as soon as you commit to a big dream and really go after it, your creative mind will come up with big ideas to make it happen. You’ll start attracting the people you need into your life to make your dream come true.



<h2 id="h-how-do-i-figure-out-what-plan-b-should-be">How do I figure out what Plan B should be? </h2>



Simply start by creating a list. Pull out a notebook or open a new Google Doc and list out ideas. You can create different columns for different categories of lists. For example, one column can list specific jobs you already have in mind. Another can list inherent strengths or talents. Another can list hobbies.



See what emerges. Is there a pattern among the lists? Is there a job that’s reflected across all three? I also encourage people to open the conversation up with friends and family members. People who know you well can often offer ideas and insights that you may overlook.



Focus on what I call your core genius. Think about the things you love to do and that you do well. Yes, these may include hobbies or volunteer jobs that could be transformed into careers. For me, my core genius lies in the area of teaching and motivating. I love to do it, I do it well and people report that they get great value from it. Another core genius is compiling and writing books. Along with my co-author Mark Victor Hansen and others, I have written, co-authored, compiled and edited more than 200 books.



Don’t overlook the power of frustration. What do you see as missing from the market that you can fill? One tip I like to give people when they are figuring out what to do next is to think about how they can be of service to others. When your dreams include service to others—accomplishing something that contributes to others—it also accelerates the accomplishment of that goal. People want to be part of something that contributes and makes a difference.



<h2 id="h-i-m-having-a-hard-time-staying-positive-what-can-i-do">I’m having a hard time staying positive. What can I do?</h2>



Researchers have found that the average person thinks as many as 50,000 thoughts a day. Sadly, many of those thoughts are negative—I’m not management material…. I’ll never get a new job…. It doesn’t matter what I do, nothing ever works out for me. This is what psychologists call victim language. Victim language actually keeps you in a victim state of mind. It is a form of self-hypnosis that lulls you into a belief that you are unlovable and incompetent. In order to live your dreams, you need to give up this victim language and start talking to yourself like a winner—I can do it…. I know there is a solution…. I am smart enough and strong enough to figure this out…. I will find satisfaction and success in my life.



One of the most powerful tools for <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/7-mental-hacks-to-be-more-confident-in-yourself/">building worthiness and self-confidence</a> is the repetition of positive statements until they become a natural part of the way you think. These affirmations act to crowd out and replace the negative orders you have been sending your subconscious mind. Create a list of 10 to 20 statements that affirm your belief in your worthiness and your ability to create the life of your dreams. Here are some examples of affirmations that have worked for others in the past:



<ul><li>I am worthy of love, joy and success.</li><li>I am smart.</li><li>I am loveable and capable.</li><li>I can create anything I want.</li><li>I am able to solve any problem that comes my way.</li><li>I can handle anything that life hands me.</li><li>I have all the energy I need to do everything I want to do.</li><li>I am attracting all the right people into my life.</li></ul>



<h2 id="h-i-keep-thinking-about-everything-that-went-wrong-how-can-i-focus-on-the-future">I keep thinking about everything that went wrong. How can I focus on the future? </h2>



Ruminating about the past can lead to tremendous dissatisfaction that impedes forward movement. Many people under-appreciate the little things they accomplish every day. And yet they can recall in detail all the times they have failed or made mistakes. That’s because the brain remembers events more easily when they are accompanied by strong emotions.



Take time to write your achievements down. Start when you were very young and think of all your achievements since then. Don’t just pick the big things, write down all the things you take for granted. You can also create a log of success every day and review it when you are faced with a new challenge.



Try to avoid seeing your last career as something that “went wrong.” Maybe it didn’t go wrong at all. Maybe in the grand scheme of things you are being called to do something bigger with your life and have a greater impact in the world. Your last career was a stepping stone in this new direction, and everything you’ve learned up to this point has groomed you to make this transition and welcome future successes.



People like to be around those who have a healthy self-esteem and are achieving their goals. Commit to acknowledging your achievements and your brain will begin to tell you the truth: you can do anything.



This article was originally published in June 2009 and has been updated. Photo by Rido/Shutterstock

Transitions from dream job to Plan B can take time, patience, and a willingness to endure a whole new set of challenges.

Transitions from dream job to Plan B can take time, patience, and a willingness to endure a whole new set of challenges. | SUCCESS

My Dream Job Didn't Work Out—What Now?

My Dream Job Didn&#8217;t Work Out—What Now?

Comment

My Dream Job Didn't Work Out—What Now? | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/My-Dream-Job-Didnt-Work-Out-What-Now.jpg

Home

SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/success_opengraph_image.png

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/31bd916b84444e1b9873c39302ee4af7cc9fba8a6af5a8e003e3894d0d7e8863?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Jack Canfield

Commit to Constant and Never-Ending Improvement

Personal Development

Personal Development Archives

Personal Development | SUCCESS | What Achievers Read

<a href="https://amzn.to/3tA5tWj" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Success Principles</a> are more than a collection of good ideas. They are principles used by successful people throughout history. I have studied these success principles for more than 30 years and have applied them to my own life. The success I now enjoy is the result of applying these principles day in and day out since I began to learn them in 1968. Today I’d like to share with you one of them in particular—one that will help you along your own personal road to success: making a commitment to constant and never-ending improvement.



In Japan, the word for constant and never-ending improvement is kaizen. Not only is this an operating philosophy for modern Japanese businesses, it is also the age-old philosophy of warriors, too—and it’s becoming the personal mantra of millions of successful people. Achievers—whether in business, sports or the arts—are committed to continual improvement. If you <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/34-things-you-need-to-know-about-becoming-successful/">want to be more successful</a>, you need to learn to ask yourself:



<ul id="block-b851292e-d3e9-4b17-8c55-e70a3bb8995f">
<li>How can I make this better?</li>



<li>How can I do it more efficiently?</li>



<li>How can I do this more profitably?</li>



<li>How can we do this with greater love?</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-0cbdabba-d619-489a-8e55-33ccfc8a7921">The Mind-Numbing Pace of Change</h2>



In today’s world, a certain amount of improvement is necessary just to keep up with the rapid pace of change. New technologies are announced nearly every month. New manufacturing techniques are discovered even more often. New words come into use anytime a trend or fad catches on. And what we learn about ourselves, about our health and about our capacity for human thought, continues unabated.



Improving is necessary simply to survive. But to thrive, as successful people do, a more dedicated approach to improvement in small increments. Whenever you set out to improve your skills, change your behavior or better your family life or business, beginning in small, manageable steps gives you a greater chance of long-term success.



Doing too much too fast not only overwhelms you (or anyone else involved in the improvement), it can doom the effort to failure—thereby reinforcing the belief that it’s difficult, if not impossible, to succeed. When you start with small, achievable steps you can easily master, it reinforces your belief that you can easily improve.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-f501b799-71e2-4af3-9c7f-4082de1e7e31">Decide What to Improve On</h2>



At work, your goal might be for your company to improve the quality of your product or service, your customer service program or your advertising. Professionally, you might want to improve your computer skills, your typing speed, your sales skills or your negotiating skills. At home, you might want to improve your parenting skills, communication skills or cooking skills. You could also focus on improving your health and fitness, your knowledge of investing and money management or your piano playing. Or perhaps you want to develop greater inner peace through meditation, yoga and prayer.



Whatever your goal, <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/rohn-4-tips-for-setting-powerful-goals/">decide where you want to improve</a> and what steps you’ll need to take to achieve that improvement. Is it learning a new skill? Perhaps you can find that in a night class at the local community college. If it’s improving your service to the community, perhaps you can find a way to spend an extra hour per week volunteering. 



To keep yourself focused on constant and never-ending improvement, ask yourself every day: 



<ul>
<li>How can I improve today? </li>



<li>What can I do better than before? </li>



<li>Where can I learn a new skill or develop a new competency?</li>
</ul>



If you do, you'll embark on a lifelong journey of improvement that will ensure your success. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="block-a3855f3f-0736-4831-823b-1a3a29f11949">You Can’t Skip Steps</h2>



One of life’s realities is that major improvements take time. They don’t happen overnight. But because so many of today’s products and services promise overnight perfection, we’ve come to expect instant gratification—and we become discouraged when it doesn’t happen. However, if you make a commitment to learn something new every day, getting just a little bit better every day, then eventually—over time—you will reach your goals.



Becoming a master takes time. You have to practice, practice, practice! You have to <a href="https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/43-ways-to-improve-yourself-in-just-10-minutes/">hone your skills</a> through constant use and refinement. It takes years to have the depth and breadth of experience that produces expertise, insight and wisdom. Every book you read, every class you take, every experience you have is another building block in your career and your life.&nbsp;Don’t shortchange yourself by not being ready when your big break appears.



Make sure you have done your homework and honed your craft. Actors usually have to do a lot of preparation—acting classes, community theater, off-Broadway plays, bit parts in movies and television, more acting classes, voice lessons, accent training, dancing lessons, martial arts training, learning to ride a horse, more bit parts—until one day they are ready for the dream part that is ready for them. Successful basketball players learn to shoot with their opposite hand, improve their free-throw shooting, and work on their three-point shots. Artists experiment with different media. Airline pilots train for every kind of emergency in a flight simulator. Doctors go back to school to learn more procedures and obtain advanced certifications. They are all engaged in a process of constant and never-ending improvement.



Make a commitment to keep getting better and better every day in every way. If you do, you’ll enjoy the feelings of increased self-esteem and self-confidence that come with self-improvement,&nbsp;as well as the ultimate success that will inevitably follow.



This article is taken from The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Copyright ©2005 Jack Canfield. All rights reserved. Published by HarperCollins. This article was originally published in 2008 and has since been updated for accuracy and freshness. Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

In Japan, the word for constant and never-ending improvement is kaizen.

In Japan, the word for constant and never-ending improvement is kaizen. | SUCCESS

Commit to Constant and Never-Ending Improvement | SUCCESS

https://successcom.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Commit-to-Constant-and-Never-Ending-Improvement.jpg

Jack Canfield

Latest Articles

My Dream Job Didn’t Work Out—What Now?

Commit to Constant and Never-Ending Improvement