Now that you have taken inventory of your life and career, what are you going to do about it? If you’re perfectly happy you don’t need to do anything. If you want more money, more satisfaction in your career and life, a more rewarding feeling every day in what you do, more recognition, more confidence, more enjoyment and more security, then you must change.
Change is inevitable and is happening at an alarming rate. If you sit on the sidelines technology will pass you by and render you obsolete. Just look at computers, cell phones, computer games and the Internet and how they have changed your way of life. We depend on computers and cell phones more today than ever before. If you are not knowledgeable on today’s technology you are being passed over by younger and savvier competitors.
You need not be afraid. You can learn and reap the benefits. Identify the areas of concern for your career and stay on the cutting edge. Develop a plan for continuous success. Review the section on taking inventory of your life and career.
What do you like to do? What don’t you like to do? Too many of us have been trained to concentrate on our weaknesses and not on our strengths.
Find out where you have been successful and where you have failed or hated what you were doing. We have been conditioned to look at our weaknesses and improve on what we don’t do well. How about improving on what we do well and becoming the best on our strengths?
Many people don’t like to travel or be away from home too long. Why take a job where you travel excessively and miss life. Some people love to travel and can’t wait to get on the road again. Why take a job that makes you sit in an office all day. Day after day after day. Some people like to work from their home and others need the structure of the office environment. Some people like the outdoors while others like being inside.
Are you the type that needs supervision and constant hand holding, while others like to work on their own and make their own deadlines to accomplish the task. Being a manager is not for everyone. Some people are not good at delegating and holding people accountable. Many companies have dual careers and pay the same for managers and successful sales professionals.
Do you have a hobby and wish you could do it all day. Be careful for what you wish for. A hobby can be just a hobby and not something that you would be successful doing for a career. Can you make a good living at your hobby? Is there a demand for your hobby? Did you consider the expenses before you make a profit? Did you consider the overhead, hours, responsibility and expenses of your hobby as a career? If the answers make sense then your hobby may be the solution and be a lot of fun. You always hear people saying. I would do this if I did not make any money. Of course it always comes from someone who is making a lot of money doing something that they are good at.
Do you have the talent to do what you want? Maybe you don’t have the talent to be a football star, baseball star, musician, singer, actor or Olympian. Maybe you could still be in the field that you love but in a different capacity. How about a trainer, front man, marketer, spokesperson, accountant for the star, manager for the team or star or booking agent.
What would make your job easier and make you more successful? Maybe you need more financial information about your company y. Have you ever thought about approaching the CFO and asking him or her how to read the annual report, stock reports or how to understand the intricacies of the financial makeup of the company? Most CFO’s would love to explain the job that they do everyday. Do you own any stock in the company? Have you read the company’s web page and there articles and press releases. Having the knowledge about your company shows management that you’re interested in your career. Knowledge is the power. Ask for free tickets to the next trade show that your company is involved. Learn about your competitors.
Start a knowledge notebook with information about stock prices, products, brochures, tech documents, glossary of terms, answers to objections, corporate officers, and annual reports. Remember knowledge is power and the spoils go to the person with the knowledge.
