My business was growing better than I even imagined. So why did I feel like I was failing? Why was my confidence at an all time low?
It was Fall 2019 and my confidence was in the gutter. It was a turning point though because I learned that our brains don’t give a damn about what’s actually going on in our lives. We can have evidence that things are going well. And still feel unworthy. It’s why we can’t depend on things outside of ourselves to feel confident. Which is amazing when you really think about it – confidence is ALWAYS there, ready and waiting for us. We just have to discover it. Good news? I know how. I’ve uncovered the 5 steps to building confidence and in this week’s mini-training I’m going to teach them to you, in less than 10 minutes! Click here to watch the video: Watch it and then comment below it your questions and your biggest takeaway!
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Do you feel stuck in an unhappy job or are looking to rejoin the workforce after some time off but feel unsure of what career is the right one? Read on for this updated on my classic and proven three step plan on finding your way. I'll also link to a FREE video on "How to Get Unstuck". I can tell you from personal experience that it is easy to become complacent, whether in a career that you are decent or good at, that pays the bills or that just is okay. I also understand, no matter if you are working or not, that at the end of the day you may feel a little empty, and that as the years go by you begin to feel a lot lost - lost from those idealistic days of school when the world was your oyster. Well now is the time to break out of the comfort zone and find that dream career of yours. Now, what if you don't know what career is the right one for you? It is very common to feel so lost that you don't know what your next move should be. Well here is a tried, tested and true way (see classycareergirl.com and Career Leader Assessment) to figure all that out using me and my story as an example. 1. Interests As a child what were you interested in? Your core interests (not hobbies!) don't usually change too much as you get older. Which means that this is the key to find a fulfilling career. Maybe you used to love taking things apart to see how they worked, or anything to do with numbers. Maybe you were constantly making up stories or taking care of animals. For me, I always loved helping and coaching people. In class I was always the one who was paired with a struggling child so that I could help them improve their grades. I also loved helping people figure out their lives and was the go-to person for family and friends to help them find their way. When I was reflecting on my interests this, I looked at where I found the most joy and fulfillment in my job as a Recruiter and I noticed that the times I spent providing advice on careers (job search, resumes, interviews) was when I was happiest. And it makes sense - it is when I'm really helping them beyond just the transaction of if they fit this job and it is giving them the knowledge and tools to figure out their careers. 2. Motivations What motivates you? Your motivations can fluctuate as you mature and as your life changes. So think about what is most important right now. Is it job recognition, location, money, a prestigious job title/company? These change as your life changes - a family usually is one of the biggest impacts on motivations! I really only have one motivation right now - job flexibility. I have two kids (Nolan, 6 and Abby, 4) who are in school and a husband with a career that requires him to commute. So the flexibility to work from home is paramount to me. The great thing is I can help people during times that make the most sense for them - like in the evenings, while still being there to get my kids off of the school bus. 3. Skills What are you good at? You can ask your friends, your boss, colleagues. You can also look at any previous performance reviews, or see if there are any patterns in what people are complimenting you on. Skills are things that don't change (most soft skills) and things that you can build upon and learn (hard skills). Looking at the skills I've developed throughout my life and career I have seen some patterns. As a recruiter, I don't even know how many resumes and LinkedIn profiles I've screened, but can estimate that it is in the tens of thousands. I interview people every day - over the phone and in person asking all the different types of interview questions there are. I am a good listener who is able to quickly get to know a person since I am highly empathetic. And not to toot my own horn, I am able to translate a person in my writing so that they come alive on paper. So combining my interests, motivations and skills led me to take this leap - freelance career coaching. I couldn't be happier with this decision. What led me to finally breaking out of my own complacent bubble was that this past spring my grandfather passed away and while I was mourning him I realized one of the things he taught me was to never to late to embark on a new adventure. He did all these amazing things in his life - including white water rafting and paragliding in his 80's - to life it to the fullest. I wasn't. I was going with the flow in a job that suited my skills and my motivation of flexible work but I wasn't paying any attention to my interests. But using the above three step plan, it was obvious to me what I needed to do. And yes it was scary to put myself out there with the risk of failure but I knew I would regret it if I didn't. So whether you are new into your career, a stay at home mom, or someone with only 5-10 years of working years left, it is never too late to find your way to a fulfilling job. To watch a free training (less than 15 minutes!) of me walking you through "How to Get Unstuck"
In my experience, there are 2 types of people. Those who live life on purpose and those who let life happen to them. I’m someone who lives my life with intention – always thinking about my growth and happiness. BUT for years I let my career happen to me. I thought I had control over everything in my life but my job and career. It meant that I wasted 15 years in a career that just wasn’t meant for me. I was successful in it but it was me frantically hustling and white knuckling that success. Totally distracted busyness. It was a way for me to feel better about it. It didn’t work though because I spent A LOT of time criticizing myself – blaming, angry, judgmental about all the things. I tried to do all the things. Just thinking that if I had a perfect day or completed a task perfectly than it would be all okay. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t. I ended up spending a lot of time ruminating and worrying, including many sleepless nights stressing out, annoyed with myself and feeling completely lost. I had to do something radically different. I had to slow down and take back control. 1. Purposeful Introspection The first thing I did was really got familiar with who I was – the ins and outs of my personality, my motivations and my feelings. It was eye-opening. Incredible. Uncomfortable. It was purposeful. Which meant that my experience of myself and the world around me shifted and changed. 2. Plan Your Execution It allowed me to move to the next step which was thinking about how I was going to actually execute on my dreams. I carved out time in my fulltime job and life as a mom of 2. I focused on small, focused blocks of time to work on my career and my vision for it. I lived the motto “less is more”. 3. Plan Your Rest I also learned that proper rest was key. I wanted to stop feeling that frantic energy followed by complete exhaustion. So I planned my rest. It was intentional. It was pleasurable. It reset my nervous system and healed my body after years spent in the hustle energy. 4. Love Yourself The last thing I did was to build my confidence. Years of letting my career just happen to me took its toll on my confidence. I didn’t feel like I was worthy of a career I loved, that it could happen to me, I kept thinking that I should be grateful and not want more. I had to realize that I deserved this and that there was nothing wrong with me for wanting it. So I began a self-gratitude practice. Every day asking myself: what am I thankful for myself today? So I ask you today – how do you want to spend your career? If you want to take back control of it, then here’s what you need:
You get it in the Career You Love Academy. A 12 week course that you get instant access to with all the workbooks, video lessons, guides that you need. Plus for the month of January I’m live training and coaching on the 3 steps to Career Clarity so that by February you will know exactly what your next step needs to look like (whether it’s a career change, a new boss, or a promotion). Plus, There’s weekly coaching A monthly training A live Q&A call And the best community around. Click here to join us. |
AuthorSara Curto helps people find a career they love by teaching them a new way to job search. The Secrets to finding a job you loveClick HERE to watch
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