Why Career Change Starts Now

Curt Rosengren

One of the biggest lies people who are unhappy with their careers tell themselves is, "I want to change careers, but I can't." It's a great excuse to sit and wallow in misery without actually having to do anything about it.

It's also a flawed perspective.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, what they really mean is, "I want to change careers, but I can't right now." And because they can't right now, they project that to mean, "I can't ever." Of course, if they take that view of things, they're absolutely right.

But here's the thing. For years, I've worked with people, helping them find careers that energize and inspire them, and the career change process almost never happens with the flip of a switch. It almost always takes months, even years to unfold. It's a process. Very few people look at change and say, "I can right now." But that doesn't mean they never can.

So if you find yourself saying, "I want to change, but I can't," look at the possibility with a longer-term view. Ask yourself, "What is it going to take to make the change? What do I need to put in place?"

Maybe you need to start putting aside money for a career change fund. Maybe you need to start developing an expertise or building relationships in your new area of focus.

Whatever it is, you can start taking steps toward change right now, even if the culmination of that effort is still off in the future. If you're unhappy with your work, now is always the perfect time to start your career change.

After years as a professional malcontent, Curt Rosengren discovered the power of passion. As a speaker, author, and coach, Rosengren helps people create careers that energize and inspire them. His book 101 Ways to Get Wild About Work and his E-book The Occupational Adventure Guide offer people tools for turning dreams into reality. Rosengren's blog, The M.A.P. Maker, explores how to craft a life of meaning, abundance, and passion.