Embarking on a thrilling odyssey of career transformation, I have my nose buried in some phenomenal books (I'll share the titles below). What struck me during this exploration was how much switching careers mirrors executing Agile change.
Unlike a dramatic overnight transformation, where I'd love to snooze as a Program Manager and wake up as a seasoned Career Coach, real-life career transitions are a more nuanced affair. It's a process where you gradually acquire new skills, expand and shift your network, undergo profound internal shifts, and eventually step into your new role. The destination might not always be crystal clear; you have a vague sense of where you're heading, taking one small, deliberate step at a time, and trusting that the path will reveal itself through a blend of calculated choices and the guiding hand of fate.
But I can't just sit around, reading an entire library's worth of career transition books and drowning in an analysis paralysis. I must press on, knowing that I'll stumble along the way, but those mistakes will be my most valuable lessons, sprinkled with moments of genuine triumph.
Contemplating my own career evolution, I initially believed I needed to unshackle myself from my 16-year journey in change management, starting with a clean slate. However, I've come to realize that it's more of a career evolution, a process of taking my existing skillset and artfully applying it to a fresh career path. New beginnings often necessitate an ending, much like the transformation William Bridges speaks of. This voyage has three phases: an end, a neutral zone, and a new beginning. Right now, I'd say I'm in that tricky neutral zone, a place of limbo where my old identity as a Program Manager still clings while the desire for a career in coaching relentlessly tugs at my heart. In this ambiguous space, the best remedy I've found is to make small, incremental moves each day. Whether it's crafting a blog, recording a brief video diary, conversing with experienced career coaches, or, the part that makes me cringe, announcing my new journey to the world.
As my wonderful mentor constantly reminds me, it's about savouring the journey rather than rushing to reach the destination. One thing is certain: this career transition journey is no straight, well-paved road. It will be a tapestry of iterations, twists, turns, and surprises. I'll invest more time and resources than I ever anticipated, face more "no's" than "yes's," and, in the end, create something I never even dared to dream.
So, as I navigate the early stages of this thrilling career metamorphosis, here are my primary focus points for the next three months:
Now, if you're curious, yes I crafted a waterfall-style project plan back in April of this year to chart the course of my career transition. I can almost hear your chuckles. Suffice it to say, it served as an excellent launchpad, but I've since torn it up and shifted gears toward the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) approach.
Recommended reading for the early phases of career transitions:
Working Identity by Herminia Ibarra
Transitions by William Bridges
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