Bring it on.

This is for the person who is really struggling with change: me too.

If you are frozen in fear, stuck in confusion, or anaesthetized by comfort, the result is the same. You don't move. When you don't move, you don't really just stand still. Things start to recede. Habits get stickier. Hours pass, seemingly vanishing. The couch gets comfortable. Maury looks entertaining.

Here's the good news. This is not a permanent condition. You do not have to stay in a funk. You can make a significant comeback. At any age.

Hear me out. This won't be easy, and it won't be fun. But it is super possible.

Here are 5 steps:

1) Find a solid basis of comparison. Look, I'm not going to beat out Lebron James to make a basketball team...ever. Mark Zuckerberg will always be richer than me. But, I can move more than I did yesterday. I can make a dollar more this week than last week. I can apply for one more job today than I did yesterday. I can make more calls than yesterday. Check out The Gap and the Gain, a book detailing this perspective.

2) Deal with your demons. If you are confronting substance abuse or issues with your mental or physical health, please seek help. Talk to your physician. Go to meetings and support groups. Care about yourself. If the gym can improve your health, find a training program that suits your needs. You will be building on this foundation, so make it as strong as possible.

3) Take your inventory. You don't have to do the full sketch-pad inventory that I detail in this newsletter here. But if you have time, I highly recommend it. My friend Bob Evans advises the pro wrestlers he mentors to take inventory all the time - not just your stuff, but your skills, your resources, and your potential action steps. If you combine observation with gratitude, action, and outreach, you will gain a lot.

4) Identify a goal. It doesn't have to be sexy. It doesn't have to be anywhere near your final professional destination. But set a small goal and achieve it. Even if it takes two days to get yourself to clean your house, so be it. But do what you can, as well as you can, and make it shine. It's about building a habit of action and breaking the negative inertia that is keeping you still.

5) Rally your team. Humble yourself and ask for help. You don't have to ask for a dime. Mostly, what you will need are accountability, moral support, and connection to other people, ideas and companies.

You might need to move up. You might need to move on. You might need to move...period. If you need help, don't be afraid to reach out to me. I've made all the mistakes (sins of commission and omission alike), so that you don't have to. You got this.

Michael Kane is a career coach in Hyannis, MA looking forward to more spring weather. For free weekly job tips and a short weekly career meditation podcast, sign up for his e-mail list at www.kanemillsmedia.com. For a free 15-minute consultation, visit www.calendly.com/michaelkanekmm. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].