Knowing when it is time to "move on"... It might be right now!

Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit. - - Conrad Hilton

Making the decision to move on to a new job (or seek a new career ... sell a business) is a very difficult and often an emotional undertaking. If you think about it, close to 80% of our waking time is engaged in our job or business. It becomes part of our heart and soul.

Surveys the past month are indicating a strong discontent among workers that is causing them to reflect on and then take action to move on to a new career and job . So many that I have revisited this subject again (since 2008) and why? 

The recent survey numbers are staggering – one study indicated that 81% of workers are planning to change jobs . Another indicted that over 50% of employees in jobs are in an active job search right now (that may be the person right next to you). 

Clearly the working population is starting to feel more confident about their chances in landing a new job and at the same time, many are just fed up with their current employer given the wage cuts, layoffs, increased workloads, lowered benefits and lack of growth many experience the past three or so years.

What does this mean? 

The “Brain-Drain” is about to occur. The “Brain Drain” relates to the number of people with knowledge of a company, customers, processes and products who will be or are ready to jump ship. This has a detrimental effect upon an organization as they need to retrain and regroup, and that takes time and money. Smart companies will realize this now, and talk to their employees, perhaps give back some that was taken away or simply acknowledge the situation. Not enlightened companies will do nothing and think, Hell, they won’t find a job out there … (But they will!).

Is it time for you to move on?

But there are times in any job - what I refer to as defining moments – when a situation, a change or a significant revelation is a wake-up call. I was recently working with a client who made the decision to seek a new job after his 4-year old son asked Mommy, "...does Daddy live somewhere else?" That's a wake-up call. If you are having feelings that there is a disconnect in your job or career, perhaps it is your time to change – to move on and recharge your internal “batteries”. I hope the following tips help: 

Have you lost that "loving feeling" or Passion? Maybe Bored?  Move On …

You enter the job or business full of enthusiasm and vigor, and it wears off. You are not challenged, you lose interest or you don't see growth, challenge, etc. It's not that there is anything wrong with you or the company, you have just outgrown each other; it is time to move on.

If your job affects your life -- health, family, relationships --- Move on

Job stress can kill you (take it from an "expert"). It can affect your health in many ways including sleep, eating, clarity of thoughts, etc. Excessive job demands will affect your family and relationships, and when this becomes an issue, move on.

Changes don't fit you … Move on

Change helps grow businesses and at times, changes just don't fit everyone. If you feel that company changes are not right for you, and you see no light at the end of the tunnel, time to move on.

You are marginalized --- or work for boss you do not respect? … Move on

Everything is going great and then there is a new player or a new strategy that results in you being marginalized - not included in meetings, or not involved as you were before. You become disconnected. Top that with a new boss who you just don't click with and you know it is time to move on.

You are not growing … Move on

This is the number one reason why people leave jobs - no growth or learning opportunities. The result - you find you're "stuck" --- not growing, not learning, and not advancing. Talk to your management team and if there is no positive resolution, move on.

Change is good for all. When you are disconnected from your job, your performance suffers and that is not good for the company. It's best for both that you move on --- with a great experience under your belt and with a new set of skills and friends.

Energize yourself – take action – move on to bigger and greater things. – And thank you for reading this. - Dan

Is your next or-ideal career in your genes?

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they

have never failed to imitate them. -- James A. Baldwin

"I felt that I had to be a carpenter... Bookkeeper ... Doctor ... Nurse

because that is what my mother/father did and I was urged to follow them but

I never really really like what I was doing ......"

Sadly this is true and replayed over and over. There are however stories of

those who had their career in their generic background  only to discover

this later after trying another career that was unfulfilling.

I met just a person on our trip to Europe this past week and he was a star

example. We were on a river cruise from Germany through Austria (Melk,

Strasberg, Vienna) and ending in Budapest Hungry). On our river cries ship,

we connected with the Captain,Tom Durning. Captain Durning was the one who

had full responsibly for the ship, crew and 150 passengers. You could tell

he was in total control; he clearly was the leader (more about his

leadership in a moment).

Vikki and I had the opportunity to sit with the Captain to talk about his

ship, but the conversation turned to his career choice to be a riverboat

Captain (Vikki is the publisher and owner of Where To? Magazine and

Co-publisher of Capital Region Living magazine www.crlmag.com and she was on

assignment).

I asked Captain Durning how he came to be a Ship Captain. He chuckled and

said "It didn't happen easily ...." The Captain proceeded to tell us that

both his mother and father were ship captains which in itself was a bit

unique to have both parents involved in this career which means long travels

and separation from family. The Captain himself is on the ship for 10 months

of the year away from his family. On this cruise he was able to bring along

his 17 year old daughter which was a treat for him.

The Captain shunned his parents advice but admitted he had a feeling the

career choice was right but heck, who, listens tom their parents at that

age! He went to university and studied accounting and began a nine-year run

at this. "I knew right away ... bad choice. .. but I stuck it out for many

years until I made the decision I should have years back and became a Ship

Captain which required years of training and experience. I love what I do

and could see me doing anything else".

The Captain's experience shows that sometimes your ideal career might be in

your genes and found in the wisdom of your elders. It is all about vetting

the career opportunity and perhaps accepting the advice or at least

listening.

Of course those in my business might feel differently about this and to a

degree, I can agree. We rely heavily on the science of assessments and the

process of discovery to help people identify their ideal career path(s).

While this works for most, there are those who just know what they should do

.... They just need to give themselves permission to do it, but it might

take a few attempts to do so like the Captain. He got it; he loves it and is

a fulfilled man.

His leadership style? The Captain believes that You cannot micromanage. This

creates a level of distrust among staff. He delegates and holds his team

responsible for their actions, and he leads by example.

His biggest challenge? "Finding the right people.....". I have heard that

many times before and our challenge in the US is the same in Europe.

I hope this is helpful and thank you for reading this. - Dan

Tough Times – Opportunists?

You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.  ~Walt Disney

The events of this week – or few weeks for that matter – has been a wake up and take notice call for many.

Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed Washington at its worst, an addition to the staggering debt, a plummeting stock market and now a downgrade of the credit respected since the beginning of time, the credit of the United States in the world market. I am not trying to and will not be political – be you a Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Liberal or what have you, you have taken notice.

So what does this have to do with issues of your career and work life which is the focus of this blog.

Everything.

You need to be prepared. Really prepared.

We do not know where this is all going, but at some point in the very near future, it will affect you, me and our livelihood. There is no escaping from what the experts say and the talking heads chatter about. The past week it was 24/7 news from what I hear and people have become rightly scared. I had the experience of being in Europe the past two weeks and trying to catch what was happening through the media. In Europe, news is of an international basis – the woes of the US were just one of the many tough stories last week. While our markets were slumping big time, so were the European and Asian markets. It was sure nice to be back on US soil Friday and to be with our family again (but we did have a hell of a great trip – more on this to come and some critical management lessons I learned from the “masters”).

Like a Boy Scout, always be prepared.

Again, I do not want to scare anyone. But I do want each one of my readers to not just sit on the sidelines and wait to see how this play out. Three years ago the same thing happened, and iwe know what happened. The economist say this situation is worst – with the potential double-dip recession and world market problems.  And we all know what happened after with the massive job loses that werenever recovered.

Have a plan – enact it. Don’t have a career plan – do it – NOW!

If and when credit tightens up again, jobs will go away. As consumer confidence drops as it has recently, purchasing stops – jobs go away. As we hunker down as a nation and change our living habits yet again – this results in job losses.  To take a wait-and-see attitude is dangerous – very dangerous. Crank up your networking, dust off your career plan (and resume to say the least) and start engaging in the market. Figure out what you want to do next (a professional can help if needed) and start to work to that plan. Consider declaring your own independence and be in total control – evaluate if your own business is right for you or get help doing so. Just take action – be in control.

This quote tells it all …

Career management is not job hunting. Job hunting happens when one does not manage their career (B. Ball, a well-know career authority).

When the going gets tough, be an opportunist

I have to end on a positive. While there are tough waves to navigate, there will be many opportunities l for those who are opportunists.  Companies – likely smaller companies – will be looking to find better talent – you may be the one. More businesses are launched in tough economic times than any other time. The key – don’t get sucked into the negative – be positive and look for opportunities always.

I am – always do – always looking for better ways to do what I love and expand my scope. Your feedback and ideas are always valued – I really mean that.

And thank you for reading this. – Dan