Feb 24, 2016
It’s a sobering thought to think that the average Australian works over forty hours a week for nearly forty-five years of their life. But, change is a daunting thing. It’s fear of the unknown that prohibits us from diving into something new.
That’s a long time to spend doing anything with no change, and it’s even more significant when you consider that’s more time than you spend with your friends and family, let alone pursuing any passion or interest outside of the workplace.
Ok, so this is pretty obvious stuff, right? Most people are more than aware of the enormity of their working lives. But have you ever stopped to consider amongst your daily commutes, business lunches, power meetings and endless reports if what you do on a day-to-day basis is actually what you want to be spending your time on?
There is a great quote I heard recently, “Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have”, unfortunately, the source is anonymous, so we may never know who first came up with it. But the basic premise is shockingly familiar to many of us today, we moan and grumble about our position or job title, but how many people are prepared to stand and do something about it?
Almost a decade ago now, I found myself trapped in a career that, quite frankly, I realised I had grown to hate. And being in a client-facing role, my disdain for the industry and my daily grind soon became evident and started to affect my ability to successfully do my job, and subsequently my personal happiness.
Of course, we all have bad days, but this was something different, I realised if I didn’t make a concerted effort to make a bold change soon, I risked losing everything I had worked for.
But predictably, this situation dragged on for far longer than it should have. Why? Because I kept telling myself it just ‘Wasn’t the right time’ to do anything about it. There was always another big project on the horizon or bill to pay. And anyway what happened if there were no options, and I was stuck with the choices I had made? As the saying goes, nobody ever gets fired for not taking chances.
But I finally got the courage to confront my situation and decided I didn’t have to put up with something I hated anymore, left my job and ventured into the big wide world. Change wasn’t easy, but nothing that is truly worthwhile ever is.
I went through a pretty chaotic few years until I found my feet, but now sit as the MD of a boutique PR agency, with four staff and counting, genuinely excited and passionate about both my day-to-day working environment and the future.
Let’s be straight, this didn’t come about by chance, so I’m happy to share my experience for anyone looking to make a life-changing career decision.
- There is never a right time to begin change except now. There will always be a reason not to make a move, and stay in your comfort zone- but the sooner you start, the sooner you can succeed.
- Take some time to assess your skills. The most difficult hurdle for most people in changing careers is not knowing what your alternatives may be. I sat down looked at the day-to-day task of my role, and divided them into likes and dislikes. As it happens writing and meeting people stood out as strong positives, leading me on a path towards communications and PR.
- Be prepared to retrain. Nobody is going to give you a life changing new job because you feel like you might be good at it. I studied a Masters Degree part-time at night for two years- but it doesn’t have to be that drastic. Take a look at vocational courses in your chosen field- often they are as useful for networking as they are for re-skilling.
- There are no shortcuts to hard work. It’s sad but true, be prepared to work hard towards your goals, as I can guarantee it will be worth it. I knocked on what seemed like hundreds of doors, faced many rejections and worked for free until I managed to secure a worthwhile job.
- Be prepared to start at the bottom. My first break in communications saw me starting work at 06.30 making newspaper cuttings, literally the oldest trainee in town. Swallow your pride, and remember life experience is a precious thing.
Hopefully, this is helpful, many people love the profession they are in, and that’s fantastic. But if you have a desire to change, have the courage to stand up and take the plunge, and I’m pretty sure you will never look back.
Toby Hemming MD Bold Media
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