Why nothing is changing in your career and what to do about it...

What's up Fam!

It’s me again channeling to you directly from the source,?Monday Magic Musings.??

I am curious, what are you committed to this week?

As you already know, in May, I?am committed to creating and sharing a collection of ideas and tools for enhancing our well being. My latest addition an ode to my inner child, children of today, of the future and you, reminds us to surrender to a gentle and curious way of living as uncertainty becomes permanent and the speed of change accelerates. Titled Love Letters to Our Children. You can listen to it on my podcast here

And now for today’s musing…

Every other day, I receive a message that often though in different words, sounds like this, ''Martha I have tried everything, I just can’t seem to get ahead in my career.?I have sent so many applications but only get a handful of interviews. And even when I attend interviews, they go quiet. I don’t know what I am doing wrong. I think it’s my CV? Or I need interview coaching. Can you help me?''

All is cool up to this moment until I ask a few more questions.

Could you tell me what you’d hope a coaching engagement would overall transform your career??Or, I am curious can you paint for me the picture of your dream/ideal job? What is everything you don't want in it? Or, what are some of your successes from your previous two roles that might have prepared you to thrive in the roles you are now applying for?

The responses I get are revealing. Some individuals have never considered carefully what their dream job looks like, yet they are looking for it. Many are unable to communicate the specific outcomes they are seeking in the coaching engagement. While others share it’s the first time they have had to think about their unique individual contribution to teams and organizations and what impact that created in the organizations.

For such individuals working on editing the CV or interview coaching is only a temporary surface solution that will less likely create long-term change. Before long, they will be back. Seeking the same service for a new job application process.

What surprises me though, is the lack of interest and resistance in many to try a new way or approach. Which as Albert Einstein would call it, insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Luckily if you are interested, there is a way you can avoid such costly, annoying, frustrating and unsustainable paths.

My coach recently shared with us a tool called the Three Levels of Transformation. I took the time to translate how it relates to professional transformation.?

Here we go...

Level 1: Habits/ Tactics

These are your small everyday actions.

CV review. Interview skills. Advice on salary negotiations. Quick tips on navigating the job market. Or if you seek a complete life revamp, googling tips for clean eating.?

It’s also the stuff we do because we think we should do it.

Tactics are necessary steps in your career change journey.?However, tactics that lack strategy (cv review because that’s what one thinks they need or because everyone is having all these sexy formats) are a time-waster. On the other hand, when you have a strategy without tactics, you will get there, very slowly, and very frustrated. This is the land of ‘that’s how jobs/life is’

Level 2: Mindset/Strategy

?You got that right. At this level of change, you are working mostly with your mind and creating better strategies.

You pay attention to your beliefs, their origins, how they run your career choices, how you show up for interviews/work, and how you interact and collaborate to build strong influential networks etc.

You focus on rewiring and affirmations, shifting from negative to positive thinking. For example shift from blaming the job market, industry, politics, recruiters, and life to taking ownership of what’s in your control.

You become smarter in how you spend your time at work, achieve your goals, network, apply for jobs, learn new skills etc.?

Level 3: Identity/Environment

This is the game-changer. It’s why I wrote this book So You Feel Stuck in Your Career?

Here you focus on your perceptions of how you see the world. Your essence. You deeply excavate your values and use these as your North Star in designing and reinventing not only your career but all aspects of your life.

You get crystal clear on what you want,?kill all distractions, let go of energy drainers and beliefs that no longer serve you.

You are committed to creating your path for success based on your unique worldview, values and desires.?

Your identity is how you are being when you are your true self.?Your environment is everything around you (people, buildings, conversations, workspace, work environment/culture, type of bosses/teammates)

Shifting your identity and environment is deep long-term work. It touches our emotions and challenges our world as we’ve known it. It’s why only a few professionals are committed to such career change journeys. Yet it’s the path to true fulfilment, meaning and happier lives.?

What level have you been working on in creating change in your career? What level do you need to focus more on to achieve ultimate transformation?

Happy Musing?

Luna