Three "Simple Thoughts"
William E. "Bill" Kieffer
Career Transition Coach | Best Selling Author | Executive Director, Veteran Career Journey | Coach & Faculty Member, The Honor Foundation | Strategic Talent Management Advisor | TEDx Speaker | 4X LinkedIn Top Voice
"I am who I am."
"I'm going where I'm going."
"I've been where I've been."
Confidence in these three statements and the content that underlies them is a great way to live life.
This confidence is especially important during difficult times. It provides a solid grounding place from which to take on challenge(s).
Unfortunately too many people embark on career transition lacking one or more of these.
Often "Who I am" & "Where I'm going" are the great unknowns.
Many folks don't think about transition before they land there. They focus on current job success and don't take time to reflect on:
- "Who they are", leaving them unclear about their values, priorities, capabilities, skills, expertise, passions, pet peeves, preferences, wants, needs, interests and so many others.
- "Where they're going." What job, industry, market, geography? For-profit or non-profit? Private or Public? Franchising? Start-up venture or established Fortune 500? Manufacturing? Service? Retail? Like the cereal aisle in the grocery store, there is a daunting list of possibilities.
When faced with transition uncertainty, many folks lean on "Where I've been", which does add value. It is the source of experience, expertise, expectations, skills, abilities, perceptions, networks and communities. But leaning solely on your past, limits your future. It limits your ability to see possibilities, to connect with new people, to discover opportunities.
So what to do?
Be prepared! Think about all three points before you need them. Get as clear as possible.
- Reflect on "Who you are" in broad dimensions. Get clear about what's important to you. How do you define success? What are your values? What's non-negotiable? What you prefer?
- Consider "Where you want to go" before the transition bus is pulling out of the lot. Get familiar with areas of interest. Meet people in those worlds. Explore. Get smart. Connect.
- Take stock of "Where you've been". Leverage all that is good. Learn from the tough experiences. Use your past to inform and gain clarity on the top two questions. Begin to think about how you tell your story so it lands well on employers' ears.
Invest in yourself. Your career is more important to you than anyone else. Seek others that can help. Engage a skilled coach. Find a mentor. Take some positive step to optimize your transition.
Be Well. Keep up the Fire!
Copywrite 2020 William E. Kieffer
A Net-Giver focused on meaningful work ... Helping people "Between Successes"
4 年Great thought provoking short read ... Many times when we are in a “transition” from a job or a relationship or a life event, we race to get to the next “safe” place so that we are back in our “comfort zone”. Being “in transition” is an unbelievable opportunity to “Reflect” on ourselves ... where we have been and most importantly where we want to go! Bill’s message is a key reminder of how to do just that!
Southern-Born, Marine-Made, Pastor at Heart | Turning Trailer Park Grit into Gospel Impact | Builder of Kingdom Culture & Unyielding Servant of Christ
4 年William E. "Bill" Kieffer I appreciate your thoughts in this article. Each of your observations resonate with me and describes my transition situation perfectly. The "where I want to go" question has proven to be the most difficult area that I am answering currently. Transitioning is exciting and your point about knowing"who you are" facilitates your decision on where "you want to go". "Knowing myself" allows me to consider my strengths and weaknesses and how those qualities will best translate into becoming a company asset. Lastly, the "where I want to go" question has served as a road map ultimately resulting in goal markers for my future if I continue to pursue the chosen career field. I look forward to reading more of your articles in the future.
Military Talent Development Programs Manager
4 年Bill, great points. I have recently begun the transition process and found that there are so many unknowns. Simple questions like “tell me about yourself” become hard. I think your sage advice will help to frame that very question. I will say though, that everyday I learn something new, and everyday I strive to meet someone new. This has been such a dynamic process, but at the end of the day, your three questions will help me to retain focus through it all. I am very excited for what the future holds, and I can’t wait to compete this transition and start a new career!!
I'm a capable and competent leader that can think outside the box, solve complex problems, and adapt to new situations.
4 年William E. "Bill" Kieffer, Great article and thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. If people heed your advice it will benefit them greatly.
Helping 16K+ Veterans Prepare for Meaningful, Lucrative Post-Service Careers | Best Selling Author
4 年Excellent article, William E. "Bill" Kieffer?- the answer to these three questions and creating a plan while investing in yourself are all key ingredients to success. Thanks for sharing!