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Sometimes the changes in
our career direction are so subtle and gradual that we fail
to notice them. But the earlier you see that you’re
headed in the wrong direction, the easier it is to get yourself
back on course, or adjust course, if necessary.
All too often, unwary workers realize
they’re on the wrong track after years of time and energy
have been expended. Foresight and extreme self-honesty can
go a long way to prevent failure and disappointment.
Here are some warning signs that your
career may be off track:
1) You no longer feel a sense of passion
and purpose about your career. What excited you ten years
ago may not excite you now. Or it may be that you never have
been excited about your career. You may have entered this
career because it promised money or because it was expected
of you.
2) What you do on a daily basis is motivated
primarily by the avoidance of hassle. If you don’t keep
up a minimum level of productivity, the boss will be upset.
If you don’t work on certain reports, certain colleagues
will miss their own deadlines. There is no intrinsic value
to you in what you are doing.
3) You often find yourself fantasizing
about doing something else. We all fantasize about better
and more glamorous jobs, but if you frequently find yourself
fantasizing about working in an entirely different field,
it might merit exploration.
4) Your performance reviews are less than
stellar. Perhaps you’re no longer included in key projects.
Your coworkers seem to get all the kudos and you only get
criticism, or worse, you’re ignored. Your boss doesn’t
seem to like you. Your clients seem less than satisfied. Even
worse, the above are occurring and you find you don’t
really care.
5) When you envision yourself five or
ten years into the future and imagine yourself in the same
line of work, you’re depressed.
What to do?
It may just be a phase. We all become
periodically disenchanted with our work. But it usually passes.
Often a new project or a vacation is enough to light the fire
again. If you think it’s just a phase, take positive
action to bring the phase to an end as quickly as possible.
If it’s not a phase, then it’s
time to do some serious reflecting about your future. Life
is too short to continue down the wrong career path. Visit
the library and borrow some books on career choices. Go online
and explore the multitude of career advice sites. Learn everything
you can about career transitions, and embark upon a plan of
action.
And finally, be grateful that we live
in a time and a culture when career changes are becoming accepted
as the norm. Gone are the days when people were expected to
adhere to the career decision they made when they were in
high school. In fact, nowadays, career changes are seen as
positive forces in our lives. They keep us fresh, engaged,
and interested, which are three qualities we need to do a
good job in whatever line of work we’re in.
Holly Zenith is a professional
woman by day and a netpreneur by night. Her mission is to
help women move forward in their lives and make their dreams
come true. Please visit her at http://hollyzenith.com/sq.html
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