I have to admit something.  I’ve been nothing less than overwhelmed by
the unpacking, fixing, cleaning up, arranging, and decorating in our
new home.

Let’s just say I haven’t been too pleasant to be around.

I look around and see boxes that haven’t been touched yet.  “Stuff”
that still doesn’t have a home.  And of course, things I want to
change and fix in every room.

And I’ve gotten stuck. I’m no longer making any progress.

Then a colleague of mine said to me last night, “You know, you really
need to live in a home for awhile before you can figure out what it
should look like.  It will be awhile before it will look the way you
want it to look.  Oh, and why don’t you just aim for one box a day or
even a week?”

Uh, sounds like the advice I might give a client.

She reminded me that this was a slow, step-by-step process.  If I
wanted to get out of my rut I had to take baby steps.  And of course,
this is what I tell my career change clients.

Changing careers can be a daunting task–maybe even worse than moving!
But it takes a series of small, sometimes seemingly insignificant
steps that will bring you the results you are looking for.

Just like me clearing out one box at a time, here are three ways for
you to get out of the rut you’ve been in and make some headway.

1. Stop surfing the job postings.  You’re just wasting your time.
It’s like trying on shirt after shirt at the store without knowing
what size the tag says it is, hoping one will fit.  It’s simply a way
of avoiding asking yourself what you really want to be pursuing and
going after it.  You end up just digging a hole deeper and deeper
while wishing for a new job but not actually doing anything to get
one.

2. Make some room for a new career.  I’ve worked with clients who
remain stuck in their old jobs because they don’t have any physical or
mental space to find a new career.  Eliminate the unnecessary in your
life right now.  Looking for a new career–or even just a new job– is
a big endeavor!

3. Apply to ANY job.  So now that you’ve stopped surfing the job
boards, I want you to actually start applying to some jobs.  Applying
online is not my favorite method of getting you in a new job, but
we’re talking about building momentum so you can break out of your
rut.  The job doesn’t have to be perfect and neither does your resume.
 
Keep taking NEW and EASY steps.  It’s the little ones that count.

© 2007 Segaric Coaching Inc.

Annemarie Segaric is a respected career change coach, motivational speaker, and the author of the ebook, 107 Tips for Changing Your Career While Still Paying the Bills. Ready to switch careers and don’t know where to begin? Visit www.segaric.com and download your own career change toolkit today.