Are you changing careers? I have some questions for you. Please think carefully.  I am not trying to intimidate you, I am trying to help you be effective. These questions may challenge you to do your best.

First, do you have a destination in mind? Your new career location should be clear in your mind. Think about what is your ideal new career and clearly imagine the midpoints that will take you there. If your destination is not clear, please work on your vision further – otherwise other people may define it for you! Put yourself in charge of your life by developing your vision well. A vision does take work, mental energy best clarified in writing.

Secondly, look at your circle of connections. I have several questions about your network: Who should you be talking to? Who do you need to meet? We advance in our life journey with help from other people. During a time of important change, other people are vital to creating your journey. How can you renew your connections without pleading, “I need your help?” What is the special benefit you will bring to your network now that you are redefining your life?

Thirdly, do you have a learning plan? I applaud you for getting started on your career, and I recognize that you do not need to know everything when you start. You will expect to learn more. Have you decided what you must learn, and where you will learn these lessons? Are you willing to pay the costs in order to build your knowledge? Get started with your learning plan, and you will be able to see the way to your career change with greater clarity. Reinvest in your knowledge, and update your resume.

Fourth, how you will renew your energy? Career change is demanding work; it can pull on your spirit. Your body and your mind will grow fatigued.  There will be times when you will wonder if the change is worth it. Decide to be resilient.  Discover the activities that restore your strength. Make your workout time, meditation and yoga time a priority for your renewal. Don’t let the urgency of a life change crowd out your connection to the energy you will need.

Fifth, do you have specific goals? You have a vision of your life after the career change, can you express the steps that will take you there? Make your goals measurable. Give yourself a clear definition of an achieved goal. Be clear and stay flexible, you may need to change your goals as you get closer to your career victory. However, don’t change your vision. Let your goals be flexible enough to take you to the endpoint that you have created for yourself.