Could regular, and acute, cases of Mondayitis be a symptom of a career rut?

It’s a four day week in this part of the world, following the four day Easter weekend, and one neighbour I met in the lift on Tuesday evening, who had just arrived home from work, was looking very much the worse for wear.

Or do we just hate Mondays, or the first day of the working week, regardless of how much we like our work? This is something that warrants further investigation. The good news, for those working a Monday to Friday week at least, is that Friday is here. At last. Enjoy the weekend; I know I will!

• How to set personal goals from the Study Habits blog. Achieving goals can be reasonably straightforward so long as we work to a plan. Or to guidelines. Even a “to-do” list is a great way to make sure things get done. While we’re on the subject of such lists, Remember The Milk is an excellent online personal organiser.
• And not being organised may also be another reason why you are not as successful as you would like to be, or doing as well as others. 9 Reasons You Are Not Successful, an article at Career Ramblings, looks at some of the things we need to consider in order to make an impression.
• Confidence Vs Experience. Almost written for career changers! Obviously we will be low on experience when establishing ourselves in a new career, so this is the time to work on boosting our confidence. Amit suggests a few ways to increase our self belief.
• Ten Reasons To Turn Off Your TV. My loathing of TV is legendary. I have always maintained there are better ways to spend time, even if that is just day dreaming; at least it is making use of the imagination! There’s a lot you can do with your (new found free) time if you ditch the TV though. How about start a second business, take an evening class, learn a new skill or a new hobby, and take on a major project? Never had time to start making that career change? Now you do!
• And finally a little humour for a Friday, thanks to the people at Flying Solo, who pointed out a couple of parody websites the other day. Huhcorp is a great take off of a consulting company, while Duhcorp as a go at application developers. Actually both companies seem fun places to work, I wonder if they’re hiring?

Actually this is NOT the last post being made at The InterChange Desk, at least I hope not, but rather it is what I might say if for some reason it were.

This article is actually part of the Blog Apocalypse, a meme being hosted by Albert Foong aka The Urban Monk, who is inviting participants to imagine that, shock horror, the blogosphere is coming to an end, and they have the opportunity to make one final post before it is all over.

For every person who takes part Albert will put aside one dollar. Once 500 participates have been logged, he will make a $500 donation to a selected charity. He’s even open to suggestions as to which charity as well. So since it’s for a good cause, why not?

And if it were your blog, what last message, or words of wisdom, would you leave your readers, while you still could?

It was something I had to ponder for a short time. The InterChange Desk, being a blog dedicated to all matters career change, and job search, made me wonder what one topic or issue could I elevate above all others, and highlight in a final post?

Then I remembered a comment a reader had made a few days ago. The commenter had said while she always wanted to make a career change, she was too afraid to take the plunge, and make it happen.

Therefore my last post at The InterChange Desk would to be quite simply to say “go for it”.

In fact I would quote the words of Mark Twain, which have always, for me, made a lasting impression.

And his words are exactly spot on. It’s always the things we didn’t try to do that linger in our minds long the opportunity to act has passed. Of all the questions we ask ourselves, it is the “what if” ones that we keep trying to answer.

If you’ve gone out and tried to do something and failed, then at least you have the consolation of telling yourself that you gave it a go, and it didn’t work out.

You however can’t say that if you just sat out the moment, and let the chance pass you by.

And then of course there is the possibility you will succeed, in which case many of us are left wondering, “why didn’t I try doing this far sooner?”

To quote the ancient Roman poet and possibly, motivator, Virgil:

We really are only afraid or fearful when the prospect of the unknown, or uncertainty presents itself, and that fear alone is enough to hinder us.

This is where making plans and doing research can make all the difference. If we know what we are up against then we are far better prepared to deal with it.

As I’ve said when contemplating a career change draw up a road map. While it won’t eliminate every last doubt and unknown, it will supply you with direction and a means of reaching your goal.

So there we go, my last words of advice, plan it, research it, and then go for it. And in parting let me offer one final motivational quote. While the creator’s name eludes me right now, I’m sure you’ve heard it before:

And in true MEME style I’d like to tag the following bloggers, people I either know in person or by reputation: BucketFountain, John Allsopp, Nia, The Bargain Queen, Jen Leheny, Kumiko, Darren Rowse, Eastwood Zhao, Sisi, coolchiq, AustralianBlogs, Uncover Your Bliss, domestika, shokthx, and Cedric Ang.

Today is the beginning of a four day weekend for many people. As if I need to say so. Hopefully most of you will be having some time off. I’ll be taking it easy while also tinkering around behind the scenes here. I can’t help it; it’s just in my nature! Enjoy your break, but read the Friday five first!

• Since Richard Bolles, author of “What Color Is Your Parachute?“, shares some of his thoughts in this article, I really thought I had to point to it! “Discovering your life’s purpose is more like putting together a big puzzle then it is finding a needle in a haystack.” I envy those who seem to have it all worked out!
• Setting goals is one thing, but working consistently towards achieving them can be something else. And while we all forget to do something, or are prone to procrastination at sometime or another, Jen has found a solution! Dreaminder allows you to list your goals or dreams, and then arrange for a reminder, or a follow-up, to be emailed to you at some point in the future. A kind of automated conscience maybe?
• Considering many of us have to return to work on Tuesday (something that is difficult enough after an extended weekend, doubly so if you also can’t stand the job!) you may want to skip over this one. Secrets of the nomads profiles a few (lucky) people who travel as part of their job. Not so much about working as such, but a great holiday weekend read nevertheless!
• Top 10 reasons why happiness at work is the ultimate productivity booster. May seem like commonsense for many people, but there are certainly one or two workplaces around that have no idea!
• A little motivational reading. Strength from Weakness and What You “Can’t Not Do”. Did you know that Richard Branson gets bored easily and that is why he started so many businesses? When working for one project starts to becomes a little familiar, he puts on another cap, and does something different for a while. How’s that for a response to boredom?! Gives the term “multitasking” a whole new meaning that’s for sure!

What do you know, it’s Friday already, and that must mean it’s time for another edition of the Friday five! Ah, some quiet reading, just the tonic for a week that was way too busy. Enjoy!

• Withdraw your resignation! No, I don’t mean your letter of resignation, I mean your resignation from leading a happy life, trying to get out of whatever rut you are in, or pursuing a career you really want. Sometimes we are pushed into a corner that we don’t like, but the real problem is when we don’t try and dig ourselves out of it. Leaden Winter, at Verve Coaching, offers some excellent advice for dealing with these sorts of situations.
• Perhaps a career as a writer appeals to you. The work is creative and as long as you can meet deadlines, the working hours flexible. So why not? That just leaves the problem of what area of writing to specialise in, and with the range as varied as the world is wide, the choice can be difficult to say the least. Not to worry though, the “What Type of Writer Should You Be?” quiz, is here to help you out!
• Changing careers is a big step for many people and sometimes the prospect of taking a big step, any big step, induces a certain inertia or reluctance to move forward. Or to be more precise, fear of change. These fears can be overcome as this article (which originally appeared at PayScale) at the Career Transition Resources suggests.
• Chances are you’re considering a career change because you not only find your current job un-fulfilling and boring, but you HATE it with a loathing as well! If the latter is the case then you should check out Disgruntled Workforce. Read about what peeves other workers and even submit your own stories. It’s great to really vent now and again and this is the perfect place to go!
• And if you do submit a workplace tale to Disgruntled Workforce, remember to be discreet, and not give away too many clues as to who you work for. It just may get you dooced or fired! But what if the worst has already come to fruition? First, calm down and try not to panic, and then second, read the advice from Career Hub about what to do in the hours immediately after a sacking.

If you consider yourself a slash careerist (this week’s favourite term at The InterChange Desk!) then this week would have been a “slash week”, as I’ve been wearing a couple of work hats these last few days. Talk about busy days and busy nights! Still time to compile the weekly check list though, I hope you enjoy today’s selection.

• Rather than search high and low for your dream job you could try creating it for yourself instead, by starting a business that is related to your field of interest. So what is it you want to do though? How to choose a career is an article at Flying Solo written by Katie Roberts, and suggests a few ideas for those seeking out their dream job.

• Aspiring entrepreneurs, or those thinking of launching their own enterprise, ought to check out the series of articles by Bryan Baker on how running has changed his life and inspired him to become a successful entrepreneur. Some interesting parallels there, long distance running and starting up your own business are hard work, but the result is worth the effort.
• What did you did about your dreams? Some excellent motivation reading for a Friday, together with some lessons about never being afraid to ask for help, and being prepared to constantly reassess your weaknesses.
• Another must read for those contemplating a career change, The Power of Calling, at Creative Careers Unleashed. Just what is your calling in life? There’s something each of us wants to do, and is capable of doing, but somehow we seem to miss its call. I love the article’s summary: “You CAN definitely ignore your Calling - but believe me it WILL HURT to do so”.
• A picture speaks a thousand words! Another way of looking at finding the “ideal career” equation!

A few years ago, in a vain attempt to improve my less than brilliant guitar playing, I enrolled in an evening course for “intermediate players” at a nearby community college.

Already familiar with several of the scales, and the requisite three chords all guitarists need to know, I reasoned I was ready “to take it to the next level”.

There were about 15 people attending the six week course, two of whom were sisters. At each of the weekly meetings, our instructor would remind us that daily practice was essential to becoming a good guitarist. His message on the final day of the course was no different.

“Don’t forget to practice your scales everyday!” he said by way of a farewell. He then turned to the two sisters in the group and said, “You two will be able to act as each other’s consciences in this regard!”

His words, aside from being some encouragement to the sisters, also struck me as an interesting and useful concept.

While most of us think of a conscience as being a guiding force, and something that influences our thoughts and actions in, hopefully, the right direction, a conscience can also act as a gentle reminder, and prompt us to stay focussed and working towards our goals.

And a person acting as a conscience is not like a mentor, but rather someone who will periodically prod us, and remind us of where we should be at any given time.

Asking someone to act as a conscience can be especially beneficial for people who are effectively working alone to achieve what are sometimes open ended and long term goals, where they are not really “accountable” to anyone except themselves.

This is in contrast to team situations, say a workplace project, where goals and deadlines are under constant review by a team leader.

In these sorts of circumstances it is far easier to remain motivated and working towards a specific outcome, as most of us would not relish the prospect of having to “explain ourselves” if things were not completed when required.

Working as part of a team also means we have others to call on if we need help or advice, and this is a role a “conscience” can also partly fulfil, offering encouragement and support when needed.

Changing careers is a very individual, or solo undertaking, and since we are not working as part of a team, and our performance (or lack of) is not being monitored by anyone else, it can become all too easy to let things slip.

And when this starts to happen it is often very easy just to say to ourselves, “Oh well, not to worry, maybe next time.” And all too often we can be very vague about when “next time” will be. And why not? It’s not as if the boss will reprimand us, is it?

While we should be working according to the career change road map we drew up at the beginning of the career change process, having someone who can follow up on our progress can help ensure we meet the various milestones we set out in that plan.

For instance are we doing enough networking? Are we doing all we can to chase down potential job leads? Left to our own devices we may not be doing what is needed, when it is needed.

We all need some prodding from time to time, and perhaps having to “explain” to someone else why a deadline may not be met, or something else may not be accomplished, could motivate us to lift our game, and get things done.

All with a little help from our conscience!

Recently a couple of articles have been written about the lessons that bloggers can learn from topics and events that are completely unrelated to blogging.

And who would have thought that Britney Spears shaving her head, or museum exhibits, could be of benefit to blog writers? Well, you’d be surprised.

Similarly, who would have thought people changing careers could take a few pointers, and gain some insights, from those going through a midlife crisis? Once more, you’d be surprised.

Sure many people think the “concept” of a midlife crisis is pathetic, tacky, and even self indulgent, but there are a few things career changers can learn from this “burning of the blood”, or Pon Farr, if you happen to be Vulcan.

1. That yearning for something more
In the context of a midlife crisis this “yearning” usually means a longing for lost youth and vitality.

Rather than pining for something they cannot have back though, career changers can instead aspire to finding more satisfying and fulfilling work.

2. Being bold and adventurous
Another symptom of the midlife crisis is the inordinate desire to break bungee jumping records, or climb Mt. Everest, and those “suffering” somehow seem to find new motivation to try things they’ve never dared do before.

While career changers don’t have to start scaling vertical rock faces, or competing in marathons (unless of course you’d like a new career as a marathon runner) you won’t get very far unless you are willing to break out of your comfort zones and try something new.

3. Reevaluation & self improvement
I can’t think of many people who would label this phase of a midlife crisis so kindly. But that’s exactly what is happening, even if the, shall we say, motivations for such reevaluation, and subsequent “self improvement” are slightly dubious.

For career changers though, there is nothing the least bit dodgy about some reevaluation of life and career goals, and even a little self improvement, through a combination of things like study, work experience, and networking, to bring about a change.

4. Buying that damn Porsche
Ah, the sports car. That indisputable symbol of youth, vitality, and success. Surely just the tonic for a debilitating case of midlife crisis? In the minds eye that is. Or should I say pig’s eye?

While the flash sports car may provide temporary relief, and a short lived ego boost, all a “dream car” does in reality is put a huge dent put in the buyer’s wallet.

Career changers on the other hand, can achieve long term contentment and gratification, by trading up to their dream career.

5. You must be joking
Be prepared to be called a fool. Get ready to be told you’re being ridiculous. Whether you are having a midlife crisis, or changing careers.

If you are changing careers however, ignore such taunts.

You’re not leaving your lifelong partner or family, nor pursuing a potential lover 20 years your junior, dyeing your blond, growing a pony tail, having plastic surgery, or adorning your ears with pirate size earrings, are you?

Now that, me hearties, is ridiculous.