How To Get Out Of Your Own Way
Time for a little tough love, my friend. The only thing standing in the way of you going after your dream career… is you.
And before you slam your laptop or toss your phone across the room, hear me out.
You are capable of anything and deserve to have a career that you love, that challenges you, and fulfills your needs.
But you are making excuses because you’re carrying around limiting beliefs.
Limiting beliefs are thoughts that stop you from doing what you want. They are the little voices in your head (I call mine my little angry red guy (nod to Inside Out) that tell you you’re not smart enough, not talented enough, not whatever enough. These thoughts keep you from doing the things that you want to do because they tell you that what you want isn't possible. And they are notorious for showing up right when you a thinking about making a big change.
Over my time as a Career Coach, I’ve heard every limiting belief and excuse out there. Here are my top 3 limiting beliefs that people have when it comes to changing careers:
"I'm too old to start over."
Many believe that age is a barrier to making a successful career change, fearing that younger candidates with more relevant experience will outcompete them, or that it's too late to learn new skills. My friend, it’s never too late to go after what you want.
"I don't have enough experience or qualifications."
People often think that their current skills and experience are not transferable or relevant to a new field, leading them to believe they can't meet the qualifications required for a different career. But shift your mindset to this. Your career so far has built up some amazing skills that you take anywhere. Think about your communication, interpersonal skills, or even project management! You have an abundance of skills that you can leverage in your new career.
"I'll fail and lose everything I've built."
The fear of failure, coupled with the potential loss of financial stability, reputation, or professional identity, can make people hesitant to leave a familiar path for something unknown. I won’t lie to you. Could you make this jump and fail? Sure. But… and this is a big BUT, if you prepare for this change in a smart way, you reduce this risk. Mapping out the right change, the right environment, and understanding what you need will all help reduce the risk of jumping into something that isn’t right.
My friend, I’ll give you some good news. The beauty of all this is that you have the power to overcome your limiting beliefs, squash that little angry red guy and make that change happen. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. You are not going to just snap your figures and be in your dream career. But, with a plan and a strategy you can execute this change like a pro, and before you know it, you will be living in your dream.
If you want help to build out a map of how to change careers, click here, and let’s chat!