Career change without career change: Step 2A

If your career search keeps getting stalled, return to Step 2: Inventory Your Friends. I’ve found people who think they have false beliefs or inner blocks often find themselves moving forward once they restock their friendship shelves.

You’re fighting for your life here. I once knew “Mark,” who was out of work and looking for a job. He was hanging out in a coffee shop or a nearby park, talking to others who were having hard times. He rarely talked to anyone who shared a similar level of professional experience and education.

By sheer luck, Mark fell into a good job. He wasn’t earning as much money as he wanted, but he was paying the bills. More important, he was surrounded by smart, upwardly mobile professionals. He had lunch with them. They took Starbucks breaks together. Occasionally they convened on a weekend for parties.

I watched Mark change so slowly he didn’t realize what was happening. He began to speak of more career options. He dressed differently. He moved more purposefully. He even lost weight without effort.

And after I moved, I found myself changing too. Sadly, I had little in common with some friends, because now I had to work more. Some people just didn’t get it. They vanished from my life. Now it seems everyone I know is on a path to success…and I am too. It’s contagious.

Often you know on some level, “Something is wrong with this picture.” That’s why I often say, “Your own intuition is your best career coach.” To get started with new friends and a clearer sense of what’s going on, click here.