|
Career Freedom Coaching
|
 |
|
|
"I have to make a decision -- and I can't afford to make a mistake!" I hear this comment frequently from clients who call me. Here's what I suggest to them. Some folks believe there are no bad decisions. . If you turn left instead of right, you think you've made a mistake -- till you realize this detour is actually a shortcut to the destination of your dreams. But if you're standing at a fork in the road, here are some guidelines that others have found helpful. 1. Know who you are and
what you want -- today.
You spent a life as the quintessential urban resident and now
seek the countryside. You enjoyed twenty years of law or medicine
or sales, and now you find yourself writing poetry and making
time to help a third-grader learn to read. Yesterday's decision
rules won't work any longer. 3.Share your plans with friends, family and colleagues. Pay attention to how you feel when you share. Pay less attention to their reactions. 4 Uncertainty is a sign that you need more information. Talk to people who have been there. Book knowledge and internet knowledge will be outdated by the time you read it. 5. If you turn right,
what is the worst that could happen -- a year from now? Five years down the road?
How does that compare to the worst case scenario of turning left?
6. Some people sleep soundly when they don't know where they will get the next mortgage payment. Others toss and turn when their checking account falls below ten thousand dollars. When you live in your own comfort zone, you attract more opportunity. 7, Decisiveness may be valued by your corporate or social culture. In a transition, fast decisions can actually slow you down. Most people have more energy for starting up than starting over. 8. Intuition is your source
of power. Keep your
batteries charged. Meditate, write in a journal, spend solitary
time outdoors. If you feel uncertain or intimidated, go away
until you feel stronger. 10. Once you've committed to the decision, keep looking ahead. One of my happiest friends says, "I don't agonize over a decision. I assume whatever I chose is right for me and go full speed ahead." At the same time, remember
that few decisions turn into a life sentence. You can always
review your new life, get out the maps, and chart a new course
for your future. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. |
|
Privacy policy
| ||||||||||||