Looking for Work or Changing Careers?--Pre-program Success!

Are you unemployed and frustrated over lack of job prospects? Do you remain employed but are sick and tired of your present job? Let's assume that you have wisely taken time out to thoughtfully define the targeted position or entrepreneurial venture of your dreams. Before charging forward, your next task is to address five crucial issues:    1. Financing career change. How long do you anticipate to be out of work? Have you completed a workable family transition budeget, agreed to by all family members? Will you have interim sources of income? Are you prepared to make temporary lifestyle compromises? (Note: Always plan for a longer-than-anticipated transition--you will need to "buy" enough time to avoid panic and retain the option to say "no" to crummy job offers.)   2. Related economic issues. When you quit your job, how will you obtain health insurance for self and family? How will you pay for your children's education? Will you need to relocate? Might you need to tap into savings? (Note: It often makes sense to tap into "rainy day" funds to finance a positive career change.)   3. Cost and availability of job training. Can you afford the technical and occupational training needed to perform your dream job? Is training offered in your local area? How long will it take you to become qualified?   4. Testing the Waters. Can you launch your targeted venture or job search at night or on weekends while retaining you present day job or accepting temporary employment? Do you possess the stamina to perform two jobs while not neglecting your family?   5. Demonstrating qualifications. How will you attract prospective employers, investors or venture partners? Can you locate not-for-pay volunteer activities in a related field in your community? Without sacrificing integrity, could you volunteer for related projects on your current job?   Before plunging into job search or a new venture start-up, you will need to confront head-on two potential roadblocks: lack of a boss and time on your hands. No longer fully occupied with pre-assigned tasks, the mind will have ample opportunity to lose focus and to generate worries, real and imagined. Once on your own, it will be entirely up to you to calm any negative emotions and to fill in the gaps in your assignment calendar. You will need to scope out and implement a comprehensive, positive day-by-day transition plan complete with self-imposed accomplishment deadlines. You must never let temporary setbacks, obstacles or distractions (even a great day for golf) throw you off track. To keep the search process moving foward, always take action sooner rather than later refusing to waste time and effort agonizing over every next step.     Always keep in mind that your are CEO of your own job or career transition. Your "Board of Directors" is composed solely of self and loving family members; in the end you and you alone are responsible for a successful outcome. In closing, I  suggest you make yourself this solumn pleadge:   "I will not accept any position or invest time and money in any business venture unless I am 100% certain that this is how I wish to spend my remaining productive years and can realistically anticipate income sufficient to support our chosen family lifestyle, both now and in the future."    In next week's blog, I will recommend methods to sustain positive emotions during a sometimes long and difficult career transition process.