In the long run, there are no bad decisions. If you turn
left instead of right, you think you've made a mistake --
till you realize this detour is actually a shortcut to the
destination of your dreams.
But if you're standing at a fork in the road, here are some
guidelines that others have found helpful.
1. Know who you are and what you want -- today. You spent a
life as the quintessential urban resident and now seek the
countryside. You enjoyed twenty years of law or medicine or
sales, and now you find yourself writing poetry and making
time to help a third-grader learn to read. Yesterday's
decision rules won't work any longer.
2. Be willing to walk away if you're not ready to sign on
the dotted line. You always have choices. If you're
supposed to have that house or that job, it will be there
tomorrow.
3.Share your plans with friends, family and colleagues. Pay
attention to how you feel when you share. Are you proud?
Embarrassed? Afraid of what they'll say?
4 Feeling uncertain? Get more information. Talk to people
who have been where you're going. Book knowledge and internet
knowledge will be outdated by the time you read it.
5. If you turn right, what is the worst that could happen --
a year from now? Five years down the road? How does that
compare to the worst case scenario of turning left?
6. Some people sleep soundly when they don't know where they
will get the next mortgage payment. Others toss and turn
when their checking account falls below ten thousand
dollars. When you live in your own comfort zone, you
attract more opportunity.
7, Decisiveness may be valued by your corporate or social
culture. In a transition, fast decisions can actually slow
you down. Most people have more energy for starting up than
starting over.
8. Intuition is your source of power. Keep your batteries
charged. Meditate, write in a journal, spend solitary time
outdoors. If you feel uncertain or intimidated, go away
until you feel stronger.
9. Don't dive right in. Dip a toe into the water. Warm?
Start wading. Do you find yourself waving good-by to the
people left behind? Are your toes curling happily into the
wet sand? Or are you finding sharp rocks, icy water and
harsh tides? Do you feel ready to take off and swim to the
other side of the world? You can still turn back, but do
you want to?
10. Once you've committed to the decision, keep looking
ahead. One of my happiest friends says, "I don't agonize
over a decision. I assume whatever I chose is right for me
and go full speed ahead."
At the same time, remember that few decisions turn into a
life sentence. You can always review your new life, get out
the maps, and chart a new course for your future.
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. author, career consultant, speaker
"When career freedom means business"
http://www.movinglady.comFree Career Freedom Ezine:
subscribe@...cathy@... 505-534-4294
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