Is your career
stuck in neutral?

Work has become boring, repetitive and uninspiring.

You drag yourself to work everyday and count down the hours till it's time to go home. Next morning, the cycle begins all over again.

You daydream about weekends, surf the internet to plan your next vacation, and wonder what it's like to do work you really love.

Unfortunately, reality means there are always more pressing considerations: bills, mortgage, the kids, your age, fear of the unknown.

So Stuck For So Long

What keeps you from choosing a different career path and a different career outcome?

Could it be the Fear factor?

Definition Of Fear

Dictionary.com defines fear as "a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined".

The significance of the italicized words cannot be underestimated. Whether the root of your fear is something concrete and physical (like fear of snakes or fear of dentists), or something harder to pin down (like fear of dying, fear of abandonment or fear of intimacy), the emotion is perfectly valid and rational to you.

Overcoming Fear

How do you cope with a fear that is so real to you that you are completely paralyzed and dominated by it?

No amount of positive self-talk or well-intentioned advice will help, especially if the advice comes from someone who does not personally share your fear and can't relate to what you are going through.

When I get behind the wheel, I literally hold my breath until I get to my destination, especially if the route is unfamiliar. Even with the street directory next to me and the assurance that I can pull off the road anytime to take bearings, I am terrified that I will be hopelessly lost.

Some people confront their fears by doing the very thing that frightens them most.

For instance, you might overcome a fear of public speaking by signing up with Toastmasters and 'forcing' yourself to get up and speak with complete strangers, as a shy gentleman I know did.

The Gift Of Fear

Can fear be a blessing?

The answer depends on your attitude. Remember: you always have a choice about how to respond to life's challenges.

Steve Pavlina had an awakening moment at 19 while sitting in a county jail. Even as he was expecting to be locked away for the next two years, he realized that however bad his situation looked at that point, he still had the capacity to grow through it and to become a better person.

When he unexpectedly walked free, Steve gained not only his physical freedom but a bonus gift as well. He would never have a fear of failure again. To him, nothing could be worse than the prospect of being in jail, so anything else was "easy" and achievable by comparison.

How can you turn your fear into a gift?

One powerful way to break through from fear to action is through affirmations. This page with a free list of affirmations contains videos and ideas for great affirmations you can use to empower your career decision making.

The Fear Challenge

If a spirit of fear has kept you stuck in neutral, I have two questions for you.

One: Would you like help?

Two: if yes, how badly?

I ask this because we may know we are stuck in neutral yet be so comfortable that we won't make the effort.

Perhaps the real reason for staying stuck in neutral is a fear of change. Change is hard work, and brings with it certain risks.

Fear of the unknown is another good reason to stay stuck in a rut. The future is an unknown. We cannot control what we do not know, and so we fear it. On the other hand, the status quo is familiar and known and doesn't require extra effort to maintain, so we like it.

If you are ready to quit being stuck in neutral in spite of your fear, this action plan, along with the resources at the bottom of this page, can help.

4 STEPS TO GETTING OUT OF STUCK IN NEUTRAL STATE

1. Describe your perfect career situation.

Think of your career objective and life goals.

Get as detailed as you can. Include a picture of your surroundings, how you feel, what you see, who will be there and what they might say.

2. Describe your current career situation.

What don't you like about it?

How do you think you got there?

What lessons can you learn?

What mistakes would you avoid if you could live your life again?

To move forward, you need to know what has worked or not worked in the past. This helps you to refine your efforts, to plan in a smarter way and so strengthen your likelihood of success.

3. How badly do you want to close the gap between where you are and where you want to be?

You have to want to change. No one, not even you, can bring about that change if you've already decided beforehand that it's not worth the effort.

Are you hungry enough and desperate enough to do whatever it takes to succeed? If you said Yes, you're practically there.

4. Write down one thing you can do today to get closer to your ideal career situation.

The key word is Today.

Not tomorrow. Not next week.

Many great intentions have been lost because the person who thought of them did not act immediately, and lost the momentum that could have fuelled the process of achievement.

Why do we recommend one thing?

You can make it two or three if you wish, but we find from experience that one has a comfortable, achievable ring to it. One's not too hard.

Recommended Resource: Decision Making Software

If you have a specific problem weighing on your mind, I recommend this smart decision making software to help you break out of "stuck in neutral" mode.

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Quick Tour Me Through An Example button. Then type in your question or problem. For example, 'Where shall we go on holiday this year?' Or 'What career is ideal for me?'

The rest of the process will be handled by the software automatically. Just follow the prompts and you will be amazed by the breakthrough in your decision making.

Decision Making Made Easy for you. Try it!


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