February 2010
With Every Gain, There Is a Loss.
Career transitions create discomfort. Often times it is not clear where you are headed. At other times you aren't sure if you really want to make a change. Like a snake shedding his old skin you had adjusted to the "old skin", your current career, but it just doesn't fit any more. As you get more and more uncomfortable you realize you must make a change.
One key question to ask at this critical stage is, "What will I take with me and what will I leave behind?" As you begin to get clear on the answers you will begin the process of letting go and moving on with greater clarity and confidence.
Going from one career to another can be scary. What helps is to acknowledge what is being gained and what is being lost. Just by doing this you begin to see the possibilities of the new career while at the same time you can let go of the pieces of your current career that are no longer useful.
Jim, a lawyer I worked with, was miserable in his practice. An even tempered caring person he found that other litigation attorneys were often rude, hostile and belligerent. It was not unusual for them to keep fighting long after the case closed. Jim, a solo attorney, expected and sought out camaraderie from other attorneys. During the past few years he found it hard to find others who shared his values. This made him feel alone and isolated.
Financially he found his practice challenging too. He could not predict his cash flow. There were peaks and valleys in his revenue stream that he found hard to manage. During lean weeks Jim felt his confidence go. He often felt he was letting his family down and he got angry at himself for not being able to provide for them adequately.
Jim had many different outside interests that had nothing to do with the law or legal work. He enjoyed working with his hands, fixing and building things. His legal practice was all consuming and he rarely had time to pursue these interests. Jim resented this.
The situation finally got too difficult for him to bear. He decided it was time for a change. He admitted to me that there were several aspects of his practice that he would miss. He loved the intellectual pursuit that the law offered. He enjoyed a certain status from being a lawyer and when he had a good year he made a lot of money.
Jim was willing to let go of those pieces though for a career that was fulfilling, that had a predictable salary, that gave him some free time to pursue other interests and in which his colleagues were friendly and helpful. He also noted that thanks to his law practice he could take with him business know how, multitasking abilities, public speaking experience, and management skills, all of which would be helpful in his new career. He said he felt good about what he had learned in his practice-much better than he had in a long time.
Career transitions are not easy. It is often a time when people feel confused and uncomfortable. Growth comes when you can shed what is no longer useful to you (your old skin) and have the courage to move on to something more meaningful and exciting. After looking more carefully at his situation Jim felt optimistic and energized. He was ready to explore the possibilities that lay ahead of him.