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Finding Balance in Your Career Transition

As a career transition specialist, I have interviewed hundreds of people over the past several years. I have made it a practice to review this simple exercise with all my clients:

Picture three cups sitting on the table in front of you. Each cup represents a life factor, and is labeled as follows:

Let’s clarify each cup or category.

Money

For some people making a lot of money is their goal, they want to be rich. For others, money is a means to an end and once they have enough, they are not driven to make or earn more. Are you more concerned about immediate income and quick cash flow, or are you pateint and willing to grow a business that has future equity value? It’s best to ask yourself, ”What are my thoughts or feelings about money?”

Passion

This is a little more complex. It is divided into two camps. The first group must love what they do and are seeking fulfillment in the actual job, product or service they deliver. Every day they want to wake up and say, “ I love what I’m doing.” They follow the often heard mantra, “Do what you love and the money will follow.” My observation is that this person tends to identify who they are with what they do. The other side of passion is the thrill of being an owner or entrepreneur. They love the business of being in business for themselves. In this situation what the job or business does is secondary to what it does for them. They may own a window cleaning business; it is boring, but they are thrilled at the challenges facing them each day in growing a thriving operation. Another person may be a teacher,who is stuck in a school system, but they are thrilled by the thought that they could be making a difference in the life of even one student.

Quality of Life Factors

This is a little harder to define. Each person has issues and needs that are encompassed by phrases such as these: “ I want to have control over my time.” or, “ I want to work with my family member.” I want to choose who I work with.” “I need to have a say in major decisions, and not be forced to implement programs that I feel won’t succeed.” “I want to control my destiny, and I’m willing to take responsibility for my choices.”

What are some topics you would define as quality of life factors?
The Ten Tokens - You now have 10 tokens to place into the cups corresponding to the importance you place on each category. For example, if making money is really important to you, place more tokens in that cup. The remaining tokens must be divided between the remaining two cups. It’s amazing how this exercise works with couples. Each may allocate their tokens the same way, or differently. A lively discussion always ensues.

The last part of this exercise is related to what is called the primary driver. Which factor, money, passion or quality of life must come first in order for the others to happen? The husband may place more emphasis on passion, since he is currently trapped in a profession he hates. He may place 5 tokens in the passion cup. His mate may see things differently, and place a priority on making money, knowing that if they have money, the other issues will resolve themselves. Her issue is security first, fun second. She may place 5 tokens there.

So what’s the purpose of this exercise? To find the ideal job or business you must include a broad number of factors. By identifying, defining and prioritizing these issues, you will make sure you end up with the best solution for your career change. Try this with your mate, life partner or significant other. Let me know how it went.

Stephen Hogan
Franchise Consultant
509-396-6686 or 509-628-6801
shogan@myforkintheroad.com