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Frequency > Frequency Apr 2004
An
Update On This Fantastic Journey
An adventure outside of the
comfort zone inspires Crane to respond to his own 12-step
program.
Until recently, I have been reluctant
to mention the details of my recent career transition.
However, I am so grateful to those of you who have sent
personal notes of support over the past several weeks
that I thought I owed you an update. (Disclaimer: If
you couldn't care less about one man's "professional
voyage," please continue reading anyway. I promise to
sprinkle in some political humor, talking animals, car
explosions, gun fights, football, and other topics that
might keep you riveted.)
Anyway, it has been about two
months since I moved 200 miles north and changed jobs.
During that time, I have been a 30-something "grown
up" living with my mom, seeing my wife and kids on weekends,
trying to sell our home of almost 10 years, and looking
for a new place to live. The kids have been on a weekly
roller coaster of excitement every Friday and sadness
every Sunday. To make things worse, I think my dog Pete
is extremely confused. (Don't you wish pets could talk?)
At work, I have been immersed
in learning new responsibilities in a new office with
new staff, new buildings, and new customers in this
new town. Well, maybe Charlotte, NC is not exactly a
"town." Now that I think about it, compared to where
I used to work (Charleston, SC), Charlotte is a mega
metropolis!
Speaking of Charlotte, how
about those Panthers?! It was exciting to be here during
the playoffs and the two eternal weeks leading up to
the Super Bowl. People here in the "Queen City" were
united with such a common purpose that I don't think
the newspaper reported a single car explosion, gun fight,
or anything related to election primaries. (I told you
there would be talking pets, football, violence, and
politics!)
It isn't necessary to delve
into the details of my job change-although there are
vast differences in work order processing, accounting
software, the company mission, and corporate culture-but
I would like to share with you the greatest lesson I
learned as a result. I found that it's always important
to believe in yourself and occasionally consider possibilities
that might be outside of your comfort zone. (This lesson
is particularly relevant here, since some of my enlightenment
came courtesy of the feedback I've received about this
column from TFM readers and staff.)
How can you tell if you need
to shake things up in your professional life? Well,
it's important to remember that a serious evaluation
of your career might very well lead you right back to
where you started-which is not necessarily a bad thing.
You might also be dealing with circumstances that have
huge implications on your career decisions. After all,
if you have important personal commitments that keep
you tethered, your career considerations would be very
different from someone who looks forward to time away
from home and out of the office.
Is it time to dust off the
old resume and look outside the box? Or does your career
need a slight tune up instead of a major overhaul? Your
answers to the following questions might serve as a
preliminary career barometer.
1. Do you routinely have trouble
sleeping while wondering how you're going to meet all
your obligations and deadlines?
2. Are the hours you're working
straining relationships in your life that are worth
more than the next rung on the corporate ladder?
3. Has your health been negatively
impacted as a result of your professional responsibilities?
4. Are you constantly concerned
that you could be blindsided by a layoff, downsizing,
or outsourcing decision?
5. Is most of your day spent
doing things you "must do" instead of things you "want
to do?"
6. If you could turn back time
and "undo" education and career decisions that brought
you where you are today, would you do things differently?
7. Do you routinely receive
positive and constructive feedback for your efforts
and contributions?
8. Do your superiors understand
the value of your services and the true cost to replace
you if you left?
9. Does your position offer
personal and professional growth opportunities?
10. Is your compensation commensurate
with your experience and responsibilities?
11. Do you have opportunities
to work on challenging projects and learn new things?
12. Would you recommend your
line of work and place of employment to your best friend?
Ideally, answers to questions
one through six should most definitely be no, while
questions seven through 12 should be answered with a
resounding yes. But it's never a good thing to generalize,
particularly when it comes to career decisions.
In a case like this, it's important
to weigh the relative importance of each question from
time to time. Consider talking things over with a mentor
or trusted colleague who is familiar with your situation
but objective enough to provide constructive feedback.
Changing gears and/or moving to a new town aren't simple
tasks, but a brutally honest risk/reward analysis can
help crystallize a hazy vision of your future.
As I wrap this month's column,
I am encouraged by the fact that the hardest part of
this transition is probably behind me and my family.
We recently sold our Charleston home and expect to close
on a new house shortly-perhaps by the time this issue
goes to press. Soon after, my family will be reunited,
and my mom's house will once again regain its status
as a nice place to visit!
Send Crane an e-mail at jeff_crane_pe@yahoo.com.
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