What's Stopping You?

What's Stopping You?

Published: 6th July, 2015. Author: Mark Anderson in Career Change

"I always wanted to be a Chef. I mean, not a chefy chef....just someone who could cook really, really good chips! My wife and I used to talk about it - getting a little pub restaurant outside London."

"What stopped you?"

"Money, fear, real life....."

This was a conversation that took place between a couple (about to embark on an affair, I hasten to add) in a recent TV drama. However, I believe these types of conversations happen all over the country every day.

Many people dream about changing career but do nothing about it, mainly out of fear. In my experience as a Career Coach I reckon that the biggest factor that stops people moving from where they are to where they want to be.

We often dismiss our dream as not being realistic, but this is often not based on evidence. So here are 5 things that you can do to 'feel the fear and do it anyway'.

1. Find a way to speak to people who do what you'd love to do. Ask them how they got into it, what puitfalls to expect and whether they actually love their job.

2. Break down your fear. Where or who does it originate from? What evidence is there to back up your fear? How much is the fear costing you in relation to your dream?

3. Get inspired. Is there a book or movie that really inspires you to take positive action? Do you have a friend who is a real inspiration? The more you hang around people who inspire you, the more chance there is of their vibe rubbing off on you.

4. How many things have you done in your life for which you had a guarantee of success? Not many, I imagine. Yet you still went on ahead and did it. Getting a job, getting a mortgage, getting married....Even if they didn't turn out so great, you still went on ahead and did it.

5. What is important to you about achieving this dream? What's important to you about getting out of your current job? If your reasons aren't strong enough, then you're unlikely to do anything about it. That's ok because there is likely to be a very strong value you're holding onto which is keeping you from taking action. Is it security? Status? Whatever it is, perhaps only a minor shift is required to give you the satisfaction you crave.

Fear Beliefs Career Change

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