6 Career Risks You Won’t Regret Taking
The following is a guest post by Linda Grimmeson. Her bio follows.
This is a new world. A new time. You are able, welcome and even encouraged to try new things and take risks. Employers are actually looking for people who have done more than their predecessors, who have a new set of skills, passions and interests.
As this is the case, what is holding you back? Why do you still clock-in for a job that brings you no satisfaction? It’s time to do something about it. Let’s talk about some risks that you need to take in order to finally get where you want to be:
Shed Off Fear
Fear of failure is a huge deterrent to trying anything new. You can’t live that way. Period. In order to succeed in any facet of your life, you must have confidence in you. Never say “I can’t,” because, in all likelihood, you can.
Jeff Haden, Ghostwriter and owner of BlackBird Media, is an entrepreneur, and knows a lot about taking risks. In a LinkedIn article, Haden says: “Pick something you’d love to do but are scared to do. Don’t try to get over your fear. Accept that you will be afraid. And then go do it anyway.”
If you need a mantra to recite in the mornings, before work or even before making big decisions, we’ve got you covered: “I am strong. I am confident. I can overcome fear and I can achieve great things.”
Take a Job Abroad
Take a job abroad – why not? Immersing yourself in a different culture will change you. Your viewpoints will broaden, your international knowledge will expand and, even if the job you take pays less than a job within the confines of your comfort zone, it doesn’t matter, because the experiences that you will gain will prove themselves beyond valuable.
Money Isn’t Everything
Having money is nice, this is true. But being stuck in a job that you hate just so that you can get that monetary gain each month, is seriously, in the long run, not worth it.
Liz Ryan, a contributer for Forbes.com said this: “As you evaluate competing job opportunities and consulting gigs in the 21st-century workplace, the question ‘Which job is more secure?’ cannot be the first question you ask yourself — or the second, or the tenth. No job is secure. Even if a job were secure, why would that make it the best job for you? The best job is the one where your muscles keep growing and your flame keeps growing, too.”
Intern/Personal Research
If your company offers training programs, take them, even if your colleagues aren’t; it’s their loss. Search out after-hours internships or even just tutorships with a company or person who specializes in and knows about a new idea or skill you would like to pursue.
There are also a TON of resources available online for you to access and learn a new skill on your own, even. You can learn to code, for example, all online for free.
Speak Up
Speaking up during a department meeting can seem daunting, but if you feel, in your gut, that something needs to be changed in order for improvement to occur, then say something! If the idea is successful, then the risk paid off and you could get a promotion. If the idea isn’t successful, don’t back down and definitely don’t resolve to never make another comment again. Keep striving to improve your position by proving that you’re a leader.
Go Back to School
Leaving your job to go back to school may seem like the biggest risk of all. You will only expand your job opportunity pool by increasing your level of education, however.
Returning back to school can cause financial strain, but if you’re a military spouse, we suggest choosing to attend a certified MyCAA school to take advantage of those discounts. You can also get an internship or student job on campus to help cover costs. Again, here are more opportunities for growth.
Taking risks is risky, but the majority of the time, they will work in your favor. Cast off fear, doubt and guilt and just make it happen. Remember your mantra, “I am strong. I am confident. I can overcome fear and I can achieve great things.”
Linda Gimmeson
Linda Gimmeson is a Career Coach that is passionate about helping others identify their strengths and pursue their dreams. Follow her @LindaGimmeson on Twitter for more career advice.
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