Think As Inc

BUILD A FOUNDATION OUTSIDE OF YOUR JOB

March 1, 2010 on 1:21 am | In career coaching, life coaching | No Comments

The best time to look for a job, seek a career risk, ask for anything is when you don’t need anything.  Desperation repels.  Confidence attracts.  All careers have ups and downs and situations out of your direct control.  If you nurture your life outside of your career, you have the confidence to weather these ups and downs.  Just like the company with a cash cushion to weather challenging markets, so you must have a reserve outside of your career to prop you up when things are down.

Build a financial reserve.  If you live paycheck to paycheck, you are desperate for your current job.  You are not in a position to challenge career-stalling assignments, work overload, or poor compensation.  If you have savings, little debt, and liquid money to invest, you are able to take a risk, challenge the status quo, and pursue a dream.

Nurture your relationships.  You are not a different person when you leave your home and enter your workspace.  A fulfilled personal life contributes stability, encouragement and passion to your professional life.  Solid relationships free you to dedicate time and energy to your career.

Mind your health.  Career growth requires a healthy body to work hard and a healthy mind to focus.  You need enough sleep and a good diet and exercise routine to ward off daily ills.  You also need extended periods of relaxation (i.e., vacation) to compensate for extended periods of work (i.e., crunch time).

When you have solid finances, fulfilled relationships, and good health, your career has a platform upon which to grow and thrive.  While it takes time to build a foundation outside of your job, it takes less time than reactively putting out fires as they arise.  A solid foundation enables you to manage your career from a position of strength.