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