California just confirmed 12% of its residents are STILL officially out of work. STILL Highest in the nation. STILL Troubling.
It’s worse than that if you include people who are not collecting unemployment or registering in such a way that the state’s spreadsheet can count them,… “you know it, I know it and the American people know it.”
That’s Even More Troubling.
For those affected, this can be treated as an opportunity to make the career change that they have desired but couldn’t or wouldn’t. In more abundant times, if you quit your job to embark on a new direction, friends and family would milk-spit in shock and chastise you for taking an unreasonable risk.
The status quo can be soooooooo comforting.
Today, however, if you make the same proclamation, friends and family offer encouragement and support. That level of community and encouragement is vital. Although, part of that may be to get some of you off the couch in their family room. You know who you are.
So what is the desire of your heart? What career change have you secretly, or not-so-secretly wanted to make? Ahem, leave “helping people” or “saving the dolphins” to super models or over-medicated actresses. Excuse the absurdity of that last comment – you get the point.
Where is your heart? Do you have a plan sitting in a drawer? A book, or a folder full of yellowed newspaper clippings and articles torn from magazines? Whatever it is, get it out, spread it out and check it out. Those are the raw materials from which you need to architect a plan.
Start with your current job and think about everything. What do you like or dislike about your function? What about the industry? Boring, exciting or going bankrupt and you are forced to find a new pasture? How about the company itself? Mom-n-pop, start-up, medium size or corporate goliath? Which of the above do you find satisfying – or even just comfortable?
In The Rat, The Race and the Cage, I help you with part of this. Give it a read and add it to what should be a backpack full of supplies for the journey.