World Biz Info
The source of the best business, financial and legal news
web www.worldbizinfo.com
Business Informations

How to Turn Career Mistakes into Career Wins


I recently talked with a client who was paralyzed at the thought of making another "mistake" in her career.

She was stuck and unable to choose a direction. Her fear of looking stupid, of choosing another career that she wouldn't like, loomed over her. Her negative thoughts were keeping her from making any move at all.

Does this sound familiar?

Have you pursued a career, or taken an advanced degree, only to find it's not for you?

What is your willingness to try something new?

If this rings a bell, then I've got some comforting thoughts for you.

It's by your mistakes that you learn and grow. You need to know what you don't want to do, too!

Making choices is part of being an adult and taking control of your life. The more choices you make, the more risks you take, the more "mistakes" you will make. That goes with the territory.

Here's the key: Mistakes are a good thing, if you learn from them. It's giving up and deciding to do nothing afterwards that is the "mistake."

When I was starting out in my career, I tried nursing school and dropped out after 6 weeks. I tried to make a living as a commercial artist and found I couldn't compete with other talented designers. After I got a teaching degree, I discovered that the city was laying off teachers. The list of professions I tried goes on and on.

When all this was happening I wasn't very happy. I kept thinking, when am I going to find 'the' career that's right for me? And it didn't help that I had relatives who reminded me of the smooth career trajectory of my "smart" cousin who became an attorney.

As it turned out, I found several careers that fit for a while. I worked in a corporation for 12 years, was promoted 5 times and finally knew I didn't want corporate life anymore.

I moved on to the next 'right' position. I never felt married to any profession.

I had careers and jobs that suited me at particular times in my life. When I was in my 30's and 40's, making my mark, earning a big salary, having a 4 -window office with a view and a title were important. Now, I could care less about those things.

Job satisfaction, making my own schedule, doing work that I love-those are the factors that drive me now.

Which brings me to a critical point: If I hadn't made those career "mistakes," I would still be wondering, "you know, maybe I could have been a (fill in the blank).

I have no regrets that I tried things that I didn't end up staying with long-term. In fact, my past "mistakes" enable me to use my experiences to guide clients.

So what can you learn from my story?

Wisdom and self-knowledge come with making choices; experiencing the possibilities that are presented to you everyday. Focus on what you can learn about yourself, not on the fear of making a mistake. In the end, they won't be mistakes. They will add to the reservoir of life skills that you can use wherever you end up.

Dale Kurow, M.S., is an author and a career and executive coach in NYC. Dale works with clients across the U.S. and internationally, helping them to survive office politics, become better managers, and figure out their next career move. Visit Dale's web site at http://www.dalekurow.com/phone_ebook for information about her latest E-book, Phone Interview Skills Sharpened Right Here!


MORE RESOURCES:

Military MBA Sees Bright Spot in Lackluster Employment Market ...
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
"This is a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster employment market." Discussions with the event's participating career experts reinforced Military MBA's ...
MBAs Veer Off Path to Big Finance Jobs Wall Street Journal
all 8 news articles


Kelley School Study Finds Early Exit Yields Better Odds of ...
Talent Management, CA - Nov 17, 2008
... and are in a good position to plan a departure that will benefit their careers.” For the study, Semadeni examined the employment situations of 1155 ...


MyPursuit.com Launches Massive Career and College Portal to Help ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 7 hours ago
... Salaries, Influential Professionals, Leading Organizations, Top Cities for Employment, Career Training as well as other Careers that may interest you. ...


Careers Seeker and Agency Seeker Bring More To Recruiters And ...
Online Recruitment, UK - 6 hours ago
Careers Seeker and Agency Seeker have partnered with industry specific market leaders to promote the fact that the Seeker brand is now respected in the ...


Resume tips for parents returning to work
HeraldNet, WA - 7 hours ago
... my wife is ready to pick up her career in the finance field. I'm helping to create her resume, and we aren't sure how to deal with this employment gap. ...


GET

T-Mobile: Graduates not selling their tech skills
GET, UK - 4 hours ago
Earlier this month, Nick Keeley, Director of the Careers Service at the University of Newcastle, told The Guardian that graduates should display 'personal ...
REC partnership aims to raise employment levels Gradplus.com
all 2 news articles


Radio 1

Sir Alan Sugar gives his career advice
Radio 1, UK - 4 hours ago
Back in the late '50s, they were really tough times where there were no employment laws. Take my father for example. He worked in a garment factory and ...


Program encourages tech students to master trades
Jefferson County Journal, MO - Nov 18, 2008
... giving them pre-employment testing tutorials, behavioral interviewing skills, resume writing and job training to put them on a career path, often at UE. ...


Release of Ardour 2.7 : Open-Source DAW for Mac OS X
Media Newswire (press release), NY - 1 hour ago
... prepared to take on the challenges of a professional career than those of other training providers – the fast track to employment in the media industry. ...


How to Research a Potential Employer
Single Minded Women, Arizona - Nov 18, 2008
At the careers site, you’ll find information directly related to employment, including specifics about benefits. Again, it’s important to know what you’re ...

careers employment - Google News

home | site map
© 2006
web www.worldbizinfo.com