We've all had the experience of pulling the right string and
watching a knotty tangle unravel all at once.

When you're standing at a fork in the road -- or wondering
where to turn off a traffic circle -- asking the right
question can be equivalent to puling he right thread.

Let's say you're trying decide whether to move from Boise to
Boston, or vice versa. In my book, Making the Big Move, I
suggest the key question is, "Can I still be me?" Will you
still retain your identity after moving thousands of miles
-- and the question becomes tougher if you also move to a
new country.

When your decision involves money and careers, the key
question often is, "How will this move affect my power?"

"Norelle" enjoyed a well-paying job with a profitable
corporation. In a tight job market, she enjoyed generous
raises and promotions. Norelle called me when she was
tempted to apply for a lower-paying job in the non-profit
sector, a job that she felt was much closer to her life
purpose.

Norelle first framed her decision as, "Can I live on less
money?" but she quickly realized the real question was, "How
would this move affect my market power?" A few queries to
her network support her suspicion: she would have a tough
time returning to the private sector if the new job didn't
work out. And she would not be developing new skills or
qualities to become more marketable.

"Ivan," newly promoted and relocated, considered spending
his new wealth on a large house. Buying a house, he knew,
would send a signal of "I'm staying here!" However, as in
many communities, few quality rentals were available. Ivan
decided to buy a small house -- and "resale potential"
became his first priority.

Once you have asked the key question, the answer magically
appears. To use another metaphor, it's like picking the
right key from a huge ring. The door opens right away.

Psychologists call this process "framing" the question. Just
as you rule out options by trying different keys, often you
gain insights into your decision by exploring different
frames.

When faced with a tough decision, try two or three different
keys. If your fork in the road turns into a circle, walk
away for awhile. Stimulate your creative processes. Talk to
someone who can offer objectivity.

We all know that feeling of relief when a locked door to a
room or house finally opens. We're in! We're free! That's
also the "great decision" feeling. Stuck? Keep trying --
and consider that maybe you've just grabbed the wrong key
ring.
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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career
coach. She works with mid-career, midlife professionals who
are ready to move to career freedom.
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Website: http://www.movinglady.com.
Phone: 505-534-4194 Email: cathy@...
--
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Coach, Speaker
*The Fast Track to Career Freedom*
http://www.movinglady.com
505-534-4294 mailto:cathy@...