Re-Invent Yourself—Maybe It’s Time

Q. I’m happy in a job I’ve had for the past 14 years, but am getting a little worried. There’s been so much in the news about downsizing, mergers and new management taking over with new ideas. If that happens here, how can I be ready for it? I don’t want to pigeonholed and suddenly find myself thought of as excess personnel that can be cut back. Any suggestions? —Francine H.

A. Absolutely. And you’re smart to plan for unexpected changes that are more the norm in business today. The only constant you can count on is that tomorrow will be different, and that we have to continue to grow and be ready to adapt to change. You’re doing a good job now, and things seem stable. But what if new management took over suddenly, and saw things in a different light? How flexible are you in being able to move into one, two or three other totally different jobs, if needed? It’s not a bad way to build security, and a good way to start is to re-invent yourself from time to time.

Take a Fresh Inventory of YOU

Take some time and ask yourself some key questions. If you’re going to prepare for

change, you may as well be ready to change to something you’ll like—and be good at.

Starting by asking yourself three key questions, created by management consultant Alan Lakein in his book, How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life (Signet):

What are my lifetime goals?

Write them down. Ideally, any change you make in your life should take you further along in meeting those goals. You have only one life; you won’t get a second chance to reach those goals.

How would you like to spend the next five years?

This is more immediate, and can help you focus on what’s really important to you. Write this down as well.

If you knew your life would end six months from today, how would you live until then?

(After you get used to this uncomfortable thought, write down what you’d do—and stop doing.) The cells in our body are renewing themselves daily. Biologists tell us that we have an entirely new body—new cells—every seven years. Maybe we should have new behaviors and ideas every seven years, too.

Four Steps to Re-Invent Yourself

With the answers you wrote for the three key questions as your focus, now relate these four steps to your career as you build new flexibility in it:

1. Who are you?

How do you want to your living, and, why do you want it (your values)? List your current skills, talents and describe your current career reality. before you can re-invent yourself. There are many great books to help you discover yourself. "Zen and the Art of Making a Living: A Practical Guide To Creative Career Design" by Laurence G. Boldt has great exercises for narrowing down your values and talents. and the quotes are great.

2. What will it take to get you there?

After you really know yourself, some areas of interest will pop up. Read about them. Learn more about the things you love. What paradoxes in your life would you like to resolve? What “rules” is it time to change? Mind expanding articles like "You Are Your Next Project" or "Brand You" both by Tom Peters will educate you into this next century.

3. What excites you? What’s your passion?

There’s not much point in re-inventing your career if you’re not even more excited about it than you are in your current job.

4. What steps will you take?

You’re now ready to do something. You’ve read about it, you’re fired up. Now, what specific steps must you take to make this happen? When? How will you measure your results? And what can you do to motivate yourself to make this happen?

Remember to give yourself time and room to grow as you re-invent yourself and your career. Some other suggestions:

Face your fears. What’s the worst that could happen? And think of the turtle: it never makes progress until it sticks its neck out.

Talk it through. Share your ideas, goals, and fears with those closest to you.

That’s why they’re in your life.

Be open to others. Their ideas can be a beacon that shows you the way.

Look at the whole picture. Running off to Tahiti may be a dream, but consider your current responsibilities. What can you do without turning your back on them? The other pieces in your life puzzle need to fit—to form a complete picture.

Think positive thoughts. Affirm yourself and others often—and openly. And start enjoying the new career and new life you’re preparing for—even if you never choose to live it.