Caught in a Career Transition

By Jim Douglas

When you find yourself without a job or in a job that you need to get out of, too often transitioning professionals are caught flat-footed wondering, “How did I get here and how do I avoid this in the future?”

People often see a career as a smooth forward continuum. But research indicates today’s professionals will change jobs eight to 12 times over a 35-40 year career. A significant number of changes are imposed by employers, often with little notice, adapting to protect shareholder value and competitive position in our increasingly global economy.

A sobering note for managers and executives near the age of 50: if they lose a position, subsequent spans of employment are increasingly brief and time between meaningful positions increasingly lengthens.

Roughly one in seven employed Americans say they are “very satisfied” with their jobs. The most cited source of dissatisfaction, far exceeding pay, is rooted in leadership and workplace teams. For those who are currently satisfied, they may only be one new executive or one troublesome co-worker away from workplace disintegration.

Looking at this from afar, this is neither good nor bad news; it is simply the reality of the 21st Century. Knowing the rules will allows us to inoculate ourselves against the most severe impacts of change and adapt quickly when change is thrust upon us.

We live in the greatest country in history with enormous freedom, entrepreneurial spirit, and unlimited second chances. Our only real limits are those we consciously or unconsciously place on ourselves. We must seriously consider how we spend our time and trade our experience for our personal strategic advantage.

We are an information economy. To compete, we must adopt the habit of life-long learning and resolve to become a top 10% performer in our profession. Spend at least 30 minutes a day improving your expertise through books, professional CDs, and industry journals.

Making these steps habitual will ensure we will be prepared to quickly move on to our next opportunity when our environment changes, or, better yet, make our next opportunity happen.

A transition may be the only time you honestly ask yourself, “What really gets me out of bed in the morning?” “What are my specific career and financial goals?” “What have been my real accomplishments and shortfalls?” And the best question of all, “What is the one thing I would dare to do if I knew I could not fail?”

Find goals worthy of pursuing. Make a career “Bucket List.” Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone and accept that from this point forward you will be an agent of change in a world driven to change. Looking beyond your transition requires out-of-the-box thinking to develop a full understanding of the options available.

The easiest path is “looking for my next job.” This may be right for many, but you owe it to yourself to ask if it is right for you at this stage of your life and your career. Consider how the freedom of starting a business or owning a franchise could be more satisfying and stable, and a direct route to your goals versus just another job.

Jim Douglas, Partner in FranNet Franchise Advisors, can be reached at 407-401-8868 or jdouglas@frannet.com.