Many people come to me burned out in their present careers. They may want to get off the demanding fast track of corporate life. They may want to leave a nonprofit organization and sign on with an entrepreneurial start up. They may want to start a consulting practice or buy a franchise business of their own. Any of these transitions inolves trade off decisions. No career is without its particular challenges.
A minority of these clients ultimately opt to stay in their current career. Why? They have a limited toleration for risk and ambiguity. Their choice is not a matter or right or wrong. They simply feel more comfortable staying with the known, even if that path is filled with boredom, frustration or whatever brought them to my door. They are making the right decision for themselves and we proceed to find them a company or organization where there is a better fit for their personalities and skill sets.
With those who choose to break away from their current career, however, I find these individuals are willing to embrace change and take calculated risks. Moreover, the are willing to fail! Their urge to identify and find a career they love is stronger than their fear of failure. I help them create a robust vision of the new career, counseling them to take on only so much risk as they can comfortably handle. (No jumping off of cliffs or tall buildings, mind you!)
A glowing example is Rick Behr. Rick was a driver for a company that dispensed bathroom supplies to comercial business establishments. However, for the past nine years, Rick worked as a massage therapist with a small but devoted number of clients. Rick applied for loans to bankroll his massage practice, but was unable to secure financing in this difficult financial climate. Undaunted, he quit his day job, partnered with a another massage therapist and launched his full time massage practice. Although he has only been practicing full time for several months, he is already acquiring many clients. Rick is a master therapist and his clients are singing his praises throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. He faced his fears, took a risk and it’s paying off. To schedule a massage with Rick, please call 412-956-7415.