What do you want to be and the Change needed to get there

What do you want to be?

I started thinking about that question this week after having the opportunity to spend time with global leaders of EO in Puerto Rico. There were a couple of deep shares by different people during the week where they talked about failing as a leader. One of the speakers went so far as to call it…LeaderS*%T (which I will write about sometime soon).

We ask children what they want to be all of the time, and smile as they tell us about wanting to become a firefighter, doctor, or monster truck driver. Grownups tell kids that they can be anything they choose to be if they work hard enough. “Reach for the stars” we say. “Go after your dreams” we say.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.

Mahatma Ghandi

When was the last time you asked yourself, “What do I want to be?” OR maybe more important than asking the question, when have you told yourself to “Reach for the stars! Go after my DREAMS!” For some, if not most, that can be harder than going to a job that you hate every day. It almost always means you must change, grow, and strengthen to become what’s needed to take on the challenge. But what needs to change, what muscles need to strengthen and grow?

We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.

Sheryl Sandberg

Below are 3 exercises to help you begin the journey of change.

1. Identify the scope of the change

Resistance and in some cases, or fear to change, is typical. Change is hard. It can mean new people, new processes, new habits, which leads to putting even more effort into what had been easy tasks. For some it can mean things might get worse, not better. It can cause you to doubt yourself and question whether you are “good enough”. Change is inevitable. Life forces us to mold and shift, but changing can be an intentional decision as well. Maybe you want the next step in your career journey, or you want to lose the 10 lbs. that you promised yourself for the past 3 years. Whatever the change, it needs to anchor itself to something grounded that will help you stay committed.

2. Identify the drivers for the change

Understanding the reason you want to change and identifying your WHY is next. Why do you want the next career step?…Is it that you feel you want to be more challenged in your career or do you believe it will come with more money to put into savings? Why does losing the 10 lbs. matter?…Do you have a class reunion this summer or do you want to feel healthier so playing with your kids is easier? Why would learning about the 5 love languages (hint: Valentine’s Day is this coming week, You’re Welcome) help your relationship?…Is it that your relationship isn’t going as well as you might want? Or are you still looking for the right person and want to understand yourself in a deeper way to give you a better chance at the relationship you have always dreamed of? What direction should the change you want to make take you? The commitment to the reason will help lead you to the outcome.

3. Identify the outcome for the change

What does your life look like once you have lived through the change? What are the results and benefits of your effort? This is the step that most people completely ignore because they can’t imagine the change actually happening. Creating a Vision Board can help you bring clarity to what the new future will look like. “Visualization is one of the most powerful mind exercises you can do” per the popular book The Secret. Make the outcome tangible, something you can touch every day. Whether it’s a photoshopped picture of yourself that has the love handles gone, or the family you have always wanted, or the job that makes you feel challenged, engaged, and appreciated. Whatever the outcome, make it tangible.

YOU DESERVE ALL THAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER.

Believe that! John Kepley

Most people already have forgotten their New Year’s resolutions. Whether you have or haven’t, recommit to change this year for the better. What you can achieve in the next 10 months will shock you.

“Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.” Leo Buscaglia

SaturdayMorning.Careers is a blog to help navigate the career journey and motivate people to become their ideal self. If you need help, visit me at www.careerdesigncoaching.com.