Career Change Can Be A Good Thing
What's your reaction when you hear, "things are going to change"?
Do you feel fear and anxiety? Or do you get a sense of excitement and optimism? For many, change is viewed with concern and worry. What will I lose? is often the first thought. And yes, change does lead to some loss. I should know. I lost my first job due to a massive change in the accounting industry when my employer Arthur Andersen went under with the Enron debacle.
In the media at the time, we heard all about the loss - how 80,000 people in 90 countries lost their jobs and how the faith in one firm was lost forever. There is another part to the story however that you didn't hear -how much was gained through this change.
For me, the end of Andersen forced me to deal with a career I wasn't happy with. It was a turning point for me, one that led me to the career coaching and radio hosting that I do (and love) today. And I'm not alone in this experience. Many of my Andersen colleagues have changed careers.
It's not just Andersen either. I've been working with a corporate client recently who wants their people to see the opportunities in an upcoming merger. Over the last few months I've been coaching each team member to see how this change could be a blessing in disguise. Yes, it's still a challenge to say goodbye to each other yet at the same time, it's exciting to explore new career paths and opportunities both within and outside the merged company.
Change is the one constant we can count on in our careers. The key is not to fear change but to leverage it to move your career forward. Tomorrow, I'll be speaking to a group of Columbia University alumns about How to Successfully Navigate Corporate Change. If you're in that group, sign up here!
I'll also be sharing tips and ideas on leveraging change on my radio show "Making a Living with Maggie" today at 4pm EST/1pm PST on SIRIUS 112/XM 157. Call in at 866-675-6675 and share your reactions to change and what concerns, fears are holding you back from moving forward. Share your comments and career change successes here too. I welcome your input and know that whatever change comes along together we can handle it!
(Photo courtesy of Flickr)
Comments
I was part of that epic Andersen fall from grace. Come to think of it, there was no bailout for us? Seriously, I learned many valuable lessons from that event and in my career transitions since. And, yes, change is the one constant. But to me, it really comes down to your attitude about it. I choose to make it an adventure.
stay adventurous,
Craig
Change almost always results in something positive. I think humans are designed to crave structure and order and our ancient survival required we keep things constant in order to survive. Nowdays, we have to embrace change and flexibility. The best way is to take baby steps toward permanent change. So, those small things we do to improve ourselves, to find the perfect career for us, is best found by making seemingly small, but important changes toward our goals. Do something small and it will reverberate into something big for you! And it won't seem so scary, either.
I was a partner in BC and one of the remaining few to "vote" to end the partnership in September '02. I'm now a freelance writer, started a network of writers, editors and ghostwriters and have a blog called "The Dead Company Club" for others who have been through the same experience. Recently there are so many, particularly from the financial and legal sectors, and I have the benefit of knowing what they're going through. It actually turned out to be a great lesson and let me find what I really wanted to do.
I was with Andersen too (16 years) and went through the classical 4 stages of grieving. The change was hugely beneficial to me in forcing me out of comfort zone, learning, maturing, and being better able to keep things in perspective. I have worked in 3 different industries since, proactively seek change, and look forward to each new experience.
I still miss my Andersen colleagues and team though - the brightest single group of people I have worked with.
I went back to school and got an MBA with a concentration in Computer Information Systems. It all started with the opportunity at Andersen to stretch my skills outside my official job role. As a side project, I built a database for the Client Satisfaction surveys coming through the Marketing Department. Through this project I learned how much I loved creating something from nothing technology-wise that really helped improved our business process. So it was a no-brainer what to major in for my MBA. I'm now a technology consultant assisting clients with requirements gathering, project management, and report development and I get to throw in my marketing experience every now and again too. I love what I do and I owe it all to my start at Andersen.
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