Discover the Keys to Transform Your Career by Chris Makell

The general idea of what your "career" provides is clear. If not, here's a refresher. It will give you more than just a paycheck, although, that's important but it also uses your innate talents and helps you grow them, develop more and satisfy your spirit. Tall order? You're worth that much! Today, more professionals are questioning what a job or career truly means to them. What is it supposed to deliver to their lives? How can you get more from it, than it gets from you?

There are a number of approaches one can take to answer these questions. Starting with a "simple" career change. Looking at the options and possibilities that are available to you based on your desires, talents and ambition. Though I've used the term simple, there truly is nothing simple about it. With a well developed plan, it can be step-by-step and easily accomplished. But really digging into the "what" and why of a career change is deep and nourishing work. For some, it's not so simple.

What if you don't want to make a career change, but in fact want to make the one you're in better? Then focusing on a career transformation is an exciting approach. Transforming your career from flat, dry, day-to-day is possible by re-energizing the "why" of the career you chose.

Here are a few simple (there's that word again) steps you can take, today, to begin a career transformation.

Take a step back and re-examine the all important "why"!

- Why did you choose the career you're in today?

- What was it that attracted you to it?

- What did it help you to gain? (This could be skills, confidence, increased talent, visibility, credibility, etc.)

- What did it help you avoid? (This could be a "job" with no sense of growth and contribution, a lower level of income, feeling like your time and investment in education or training were wasted.)

Begin here with identifying these points. Consider, putting each answer to the question on a post it note and position it around your workspace to remind you why you do what you do. This is especially helpful when you have "one of those days" and you start asking yourself the question.

Next, connect or reconnect with mentors who are excelling in the career you've chosen. Spend some time with them to ask why they continue in the area.

- What keeps it fresh for them?

- How do they avoid burn out and perhaps pursue something different?

- What's their long term plan; based on this career they're in.

- What advice do they have to keep you motivated?

If you don't have a mentor, get one! It's simple (a recurring theme here). Look around at who is doing it well today. Approach them with both a deep level of respect and curiosity and they will be happy and open to share their perspective and advice. Don't forget to prepare so that you both have the best result from your meeting. And have fun. This is meant to be a learning experience and the lesson is longer lasting if it's accomplished with joy.

Finally, without action, nothing changes. So take all that you've learned about why you pursued and enjoyed the career you've chosen, what you've learned from your mentor and create a simple (last time, I promise) plan that you feel good about and can do easily to transform your career.

Here are some tips for the plan...

- What three things can create more excitement in your career? (maybe attend an industry or professional conference)

- How could you take one per month or quarter and make it a reality? (perhaps there is a local conference that I can afford and attend)

- What will I do with this new learning and increased expertise? (develop training for new or experienced employees)

Just using these few steps can not only transform your career, but deliver growth, satisfaction and increased income that you and your spirit desire...and deserve.