Career Transition-Our Comfort Zones are not that Comfortable after all!

I had the pleasure of the speakers at the John Molson Women in Business Conference a couple of weeks ago. The theme was "Looking Back, Moving Forward" and I spoke on Career Transition. But, it really came down to speaking and handling change-we have no choice but to change things up in 2017. We can look back but not hold ourselves back.

We are in a Job Shift Revolution and being and feeling comfortable will not help us reach our goals. Ask yourself this question:

If you felt so comfortable, why would you desire change?

It is only through leaps, risks, and change that we discover new things about ourselves; strengths we didn't even realize we had, and the opportunity to become more than what we thought was ever possible. Being a passive player, in our own lives, just doesn't cut it anymore.

A well tailored resume is no longer enough to get you a job.

When I was told I could not use a Power Point in my presentation, my first thought was, that I needed a Power Point. But now, I am so happy I didn't have one. I focused on feeling the people around me, engaging the people around me, hearing their stories and telling my own.

More and more people are desiring jobs that are meaningful. In fact, according to recent polls, more and more people care less about money and more about fulfillment.

So, what do we do when we want, and desire, something different?

Well we can start by implementing SMART goals with a Timely Twist.....

STRETCH

• As you approach a goal or action step, challenge yourself to find a bigger, better, or different way
• Extend your reach and brand yourself on LinkedIn; a LinkedIn profile is now a part of every professional's tool kit; an optimized profile can help you extend your reach, promote your worth, back your credibility, and trigger others to act

MEASURE

• Know if the goal is obtainable and how far away completion is
• Appreciate the small goals along the way - enjoy and live the process

ACCOUNTABILITY

• Claim your actions as your own and believe in your reasons behind them
• Don't rely on luck but rather trust yourself

RISK

• Great and unforeseen opportunities come from risk-taking
• Re frame your idea of risk as an opportunity to succeed rather than a path to failure

TEASE

• Learn techniques to tease ...in a professional way of course....so that people want to get to know you, want to help you, and want to be part of your people pod..on and offline
• Learn how to story-tell so that you are able to inspire, engage, and connect with listeners

Secondly, we can start to learn how to effectively "storytell"- there is an art to being able to present and unforgettable story. Why learn to career-story-tell? Because like all good stories, they have the power to be memorable, travel further, and inspire action.

Story-telling not a new concept, in fact it has been around a long time. Think about the stories you told when you were a kid, or the stories your kids tell you-they are often so passionate, so heartfelt-you want to listen.

If we take a look at Ted Talks, for example, we are awed, inspired, and moved.

But, we do not have to do a TED TALK to tell a good story (Although, that is what I am aiming for). We all have stories; creating and building stories around our passions, accomplishments, and experiences will help us to market / sell our unique value propositions and go well beyond a qualifications fit to something deeper; an emotional connection!

Some tips to help you start building and telling your story on and offline:

1. Make it concrete and analytical

2. It is meaning generated and based on emotional connection

3. Details are important

4. Knowing your target audience is key

5. It's not about a formula but it is about having a mission and following it

6. Stir up empathy and show your have empathy

7. Be bold but don't embellish

8. Know your "why"

9. Avoid side tangents

10. Believe in it and own it

Thirdly, build, embrace, and nurture your "people-pod". A people-pod is a group of people that you can depend on to help you when you needed (vice-versa). It is a great to have a personal and professional people-pod as well as an off and online people-pod. These are the people you can depend on and will help you get through periods of transition. They root for you, introduce you, give you feedback, have your back, and willing to share advice over coffee. People pods change over time just like friends-people pods can exist for a reason, season, or lifetime.

Furthermore, set up strategic coffee chats. I used to just go out for coffee but now I go for coffee-chats. Strategic coffee chats are centered around productivity and not in wasting time. It is not about "picking someone's brain" but rather a meeting based on relation and relevancy. Buy the coffee, stick to the time agreed upon, do research, and never go unprepared.

Coffee = Knowledge = Power.

5. Finally, start to Blog. Blogging will help engage your passion, knowledge, and career ambitions. It also helps you be found in search results.

The Minimalists have a great and successful blog and have great tips on how you can get started. I love their blog! It changes lives and their advice helped me get started.

I am so happy that I got to be part of such a rich and empowering day that focused on moving forward! Lives changed that day including my own. There was such an energy, an openness, and a willingness to grow. I look back at my PowerPoint and happy that it did not follow me that day.....

Shelly Elsliger

Career Specialist I Coach I LinkedIn Trainer & Profile Builder-Revolutionizing Branding Strategy & Unlocking Confidence!