Making the Change…
“Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to act in the presence of fear.”
- Bruce Lee
There are very few people that end up doing what they always thought they would… many don’t just change jobs, they change vocations… and every single one experience the same emotion when making the change: FEAR!
I’ve run into several people that are changing things up. The work they do just isn’t satisfying any more. While many got sick and even died because of the pandemic, in some ways it served others. Forced to work from home, or under pressure, or required to do things they didn’t feel comfortable with, the pandemic provided a season of working from home and sheltering in place. It was through this that people were given a new perspective. What they were doing gave opportunities for real evaluation. Many decided: I need to make a change.
And that is exactly what they did.
I know a medical doctor who quit her practice and went into real-estate.
I know a pastor who started a landscaping company.
I know an IT professional that started a farm.
I know an architect that is currently developing a social media app.
I know a man who worked in a pharmacy that is starting a makerspace.
I know a pharmacist that does philanthropic work.
I know a teacher that now sells insurance.
I know an educator that began a non-profit.
I know a business owner that went into higher education.
I know a minister that built out an old bus and turned it into a coffee shop.
I know an at-home mom that began a business online.
I know an occupational therapist that started and now leads a multi-million dollar 501 (c) 3.
I know a musician that began his own marketing/branding company.
I know a woman who graduated from an Ivy League university that does local food distribution.
I know a person who majored in English that now runs a massive nationwide organization.
I know an engineer that now negotiates contracts.
I know a young man that went through firefighting training only to begin working in a brewery.
The list goes on and on…
These people set out going into one field, but somewhere along the road made a change.
When is it time to make a change?
There are several questions to consider:
Do I like what I am are doing?
Do I like the people I work with?
Do I feel supported in my work?
Am I respected by the higher ups and my colleagues?
Do I believe in the philosophy of my current company/organization?
Does my spouse or significant other support the idea?
Do I have the support of my family members?
Can I afford to make a change?
Can I see a path forward into the next thing?
Have I put down plans on paper?
Do I have a coach that can help me?
These are all questions that need to be satisfied before making any major change. Answering discerning questions like this can help you when you are considering a vocational change to take calculated risks.
Embrace the Fear When You Make a Change
For several years I studied Martial Arts. I can still remember that first year of classes. I was scared to death. I tried not to let anyone see it, but I was out-matched by people who were bigger and people who were highly trained. One evening I confessed that fear was inside me all the time.
That’s when I was told by my instructor and the other more advanced students in the class: Fear is a good thing.
Fear is a God-given gift.
Fear as a good thing was something I had never thought about before. I always thought that fear was that thing that told you to run away. Fear kept you from danger. It was there to help you prevent risk. It’s true, fear is what keeps you from jumping off a bridge, or fighting as a matador in an arena, or playing with snakes. But in that martial arts school, among the others as we punched and kicked, learned to wield weapons and spar, I learned something new: fear is a gift and can be used as a tool not only to help you avoid something but to drive you into something.
It is a scary thing to make a change, and you do have to walk through the fear. But, that feeling of fear provides the safety net you need so you don’t jump too quickly. If you are afraid as you consider changing vocations, careers, or jobs, you’re doing something right!
Bruce Lee famously said, “To understand your fear is the beginning of really seeing.”
The fear you feel as you consider making a change will help you see the pitfalls but also the possibilities!
Fear is not to be avoided. The presence of fear doesn’t mean you should avoid moving forward. Fear is simply a signal that your radar is working. Fear is that biological sensor that, when pointed in the right direction, sharpens your senses, helps you to consider all the factors, gives you the energy needed to make quick decisions, and can be used as the motivation needed to hustle and get the job done. Some avoid fear and push it away. But I’ve come to learn: ignoring fear is foolishness.
Instead, as you walk through these discerning questions, embrace the fear. It serves to protect you, give you focus, and be the motivator you need as you plan your next career move.