| Sitting here this morning working at | | | | Confusion over your future. Confusion |
| home (I am a Realtor), I turned on the | | | | over which step to take next. |
| television. One of the all-time great | | | | So how do respond to stagnant career |
| daytime shows was on - The Price is | | | | syndrome? First of all, don't |
| Right! Bob Barker, what a career! What | | | | concentrate on failures only. Sure, you |
| if he had not taken of advantage of the | | | | should identify the things that are |
| opportunity when it was presented 35 | | | | working. They may not be producing |
| years ago? How did walking through that | | | | results at the level you desire but they |
| door of opportunity change his life? I | | | | are contributing positively to your |
| am sure he would have found success in | | | | career goals. You should also identify |
| other places but would it have been at | | | | the things that are not working. Write |
| the same level? No one really knows the | | | | all of these activities down. When you |
| answer to that question. But, we do know | | | | put the issues on paper the picture will |
| the answer to what saying "yes" to that | | | | become better focused. Put the goal or |
| opportunity did for him! | | | | objective on paper. |
| What about you and your career? Have | | | | What are some changes that need to be |
| there been opportunities that presented | | | | implemented? Perhaps it is something as |
| themselves but you refused to "walk | | | | simple as obtaining additional education |
| through that door?" If so, why not? Is | | | | or skillsets. Perhaps it is just the |
| the fear of the unknown such an intense | | | | environment in which you are operating? |
| fear that you are frozen in place? Is | | | | Don't forget that those around you may |
| the comfort level such that you don't | | | | be the anchor holding your career down? |
| want to upset the apple cart? | | | | It could be the processes you are doing |
| Change is something we as humans don't | | | | are appropriate yet the environment does |
| embrace, at least enthusiastically. Even | | | | not support your success. Lets say you |
| in your current position are you ever | | | | are a farmer. You have the technique |
| presented with changes to rules or | | | | mastered for planting a garden. You know |
| procedures? What is your initial | | | | the time of the year to plant, the types |
| reaction? Are you so set in your ways | | | | of crop your environment favors, how to |
| that adapting to change creates stress? | | | | operate the necessary equipment, all the |
| Sometimes change is good. I heard it | | | | steps. However, if the soil |
| said once, or maybe read it someplace, | | | | (environment) is not appropriate for the |
| that if "you always do what you always | | | | desired results, nothing will ever |
| done, you will always get what you | | | | develop. If a crop does result from your |
| always got." There is truth to be found | | | | efforts, it may not produce the greatest |
| in those words! Is there not a better | | | | harvest for the efforts expended. To |
| way to do what you do? | | | | maximize the return on the efforts, the |
| Dissatisfaction with your current | | | | farmer simply must plant in the right |
| situation is a sign that you need to | | | | soil, or modify the soil by way of |
| implement some type of change. Perhaps | | | | fertilizers, in which to maximize his |
| it is only a procedural modification? | | | | return. |
| Perhaps it is a new focus. When things | | | | After all, this analysis the only |
| get stagnant we often are suffering from | | | | modification required my be a change in |
| tunnel vision. Opening up to new ideas, | | | | your environment. Or, a modification in |
| new methodologies, is the first step to | | | | the environment. Time to make a change |
| recovery - recovery from the disease of | | | | to your environment? Recognize the |
| the stagnant career syndrome. | | | | situation for what it is and plant your |
| What are the symptoms of stagnant career | | | | crop in a new soil! You may have no idea |
| syndrome? Some of the symptoms include a | | | | how great the harvest will be. Taking |
| lack of enthusiasm, seeing the glass as | | | | advantage of opportunities and resources |
| half empty (pessimism), repetitive | | | | available may be all that is need to |
| processes without positive results and | | | | cure this thing - stagnant career |
| dissatisfied contentment (oxymoron?). | | | | syndrome. Good luck and may your harvest |
| These manifestations, when combined, | | | | be bountiful! |
| leave you in a state of confusion. | | | | |