10 Career Change Myths
In today's world, the pressure to succeed is immense. Although it can be difficult for individuals to change careers, there are a few myths about changing careers that will dissuade you from trying.
One common myth is that you need to have a clear idea of what career you want before you can actually take action and make a change. Another related myth is that your personal life will be nonexistent during this process. It's important to know these myths and others so you don't let them influence your decision-making process negatively, but they might discourage you from making a proactive career change altogether.
So, here are 10 of the most popular myths about career change: [1]
If you want to make a great impact at your company, you have to stay with it for years. Employers don't really care if you leave. Leave them with a happy employee who leaves on time. Stay for years and never sacrifice your day job for it. It's too much work to reach that goal, and you will have built up resentment in the process. Everyone else can see your bright future, but you can't see yours because no one has told you what it is! You have to have an idea of what your dreams are before you can actually achieve them. You will have to spend a lot of time in a new field before you can start making good money. You have to have a clear idea of what your goals are before you can take action and make the change. You will be happier if you stay where you are and continue to be unhappy.
While some of these myths are true for many people, they aren't true for all people in every situation. No two careers or situations are the same, so thinking that one set of circumstances will apply across the board is unrealistic.
For example, it is often difficult for individuals to completely leave their jobs and start something new knowing they won't bring home as much money as they once did on a monthly basis. However, if you are simply unhappy in your current career and aren't quite sure what you want to do instead, this can be problematic. It's important to take stock of your life as a whole before you make a decision to change careers.
First, it's important to prioritize yourself; decide if the most important thing is making more money or making yourself happy. If extra cash is what you need, there are ways that you can make some extra money on the side. This will help you avoid the painful process of making a complete career change and risking everything that comes with it.
For example, if you decide that you want to make more money on the side by doing freelance graphic design, you can get training in this field and start a blog to your local area. This will help you get your name out there and build a client list so that when you do decide to leave your current career, you'll have something to fall back on. This is a great way for individuals to make some extra money without completely changing careers.
Another option may be for you to moonlight at work and work an extra 20 hours or so per week. Many companies don't allow their employees to do this, but it is possible and could be the best way for you to make extra money while staying true to yourself. It's important to find a balance between your personal life and work life and make sure that you are truly happy with both.
Another myth is that if you don't know what you want, it is impossible to be inspired by the opportunity in front of you. It's important to have faith in yourself and in your abilities. If you can recognize your limitations, understand that this is okay, and know exactly what it is about your ideal career choice that excites you, then it might be easier for you to get excited about taking action.
Source: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/22/career-change-myths/ [ARTICLE ENDS]
You can read the original article here: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/22/career-change-myths/.
There are some great points in there, and I like the fact that this person doesn't say that you have to have a clear idea of what you want before taking action. In fact, there are many examples of successful people who consciously changed careers or took an alternative path to their 'ideal' career path.
Surprisingly, the article isn't a 'get-rich-quick' lifestyle guide. It does provide some useful insights for people who are considering making a change in their life. It is particularly good for those who have been stuck in a job that they dislike. Some of the ideas that this article provides will help them find happiness and satisfaction in their lives.
The main thing that I liked about this article is that it does suggest ways to make money on the side if you are obliged to stay in your current job for another year or so. I also liked the way that it encourages people to take action, but to do so in a realistic manner. If you are unhappy and stuck in a job, don't just stick with it for ten years before you move on to something else.
Instead, try making some extra money on the side, but do this by working in your spare time or by doing work for others. The author of the article recommends that you pursue happiness in life and not just money. Personally, I think this is a good idea because most of us are more likely to find happiness by doing things we enjoy rather than just chasing financial rewards.
So, remember to chase happiness, but also try and make some extra cash on the side. If you can do both of these things together, you will be one happy individual in the future.
If you are happy with your current job, then it is a good idea to take action now so that you have something to fall back on if and when you decide to leave your current job in the future. Personally, I don't think that people should just stick with a job they dislike for ten years before they do something else. Instead, think about making extra money on the side by working for others.
You can read the original article here: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/22/career-change-myths/.
There are some useful ideas in this article, and it's interesting that this person is encouraging people to pursue happiness instead of just chasing money. Of course, it is nice to make a lot of money, but I think that most people are happier when pursuing something that they love rather than focusing on the money aspect of their work and career.
Conclusion
I am a big fan of the idea that you should always try to pursue happiness. Even those of us who want to become wealthy or rich should try and find happiness in other aspects of our lives. This is often difficult because we are sometimes forced to do things that may not suit us, but if we follow our hearts and ideals, then we should be happy with what we do.
As long as you are focusing on the contentment you feel while being true to yourself, then by definition, there will be some happiness in your life even if you do nothing. However, it is usually more effective to focus on some aspect of your life and make money from it rather than focusing on making money without doing anything else.
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10 Career Change Myths