The desire to change the profession depends on the values of a particular person. It doesn’t matter what you want: to fulfill a youthful dream, earn more money, or work in an area without a ceiling for development. None of these reasons is better or worse than the other.
Kate is now 31 years old. She dreamed of becoming a designer, but her dad insisted that Kate attend law school. It is more prestigious, and there will always be money. Kate has been working as a secretary in court for seven years: she was offered this position as soon as she graduated from high school. Kate does not like law, so she did not even try to grow in her profession. Kate has recently been making fake hospital certificates from a friend to avoid going to court. She wants to change jobs but doesn’t know where to start.
Ask Yourself Three Questions
If you’re having difficulty figuring out what business you see yourself in, try a reflection exercise by Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia Business School. This technique is called “Three Questions”:
- What can I do better than others? It is unnecessary to think about what you have already achieved as a professional. Think about the skills you use in everyday life or in school. Are you good with people? Or do you know how to sell? Or do you feel colors and composition? Look for a skill that people you know are likelier to turn to you than someone else.
- What tasks do I want to solve? Any work, even the most creative one, is a solution to a problem. If communication is your skill, what tasks would you like to solve with it? Are you a good listener and empathetic—perhaps you want to help people in grief or depression? Or do your communication skills allow you to entertain? Or have you always been a super communicator who can bring people together?
- How would I like to look in the eyes of other people? Of course, we are not limited to our work, but we present ourselves to the world through our profession. What impression do you want to make? What words can express this? Feel free to list whatever comes to mind. Think about what field or profession all these words have in common. For example, you are calm, you know how to support, you have a strong analytical mind, and you know how to support – a store manager or a consulting company.
When you combine all three answers to these questions, you will see the range of your professional interests and will be able to make a choice. Or at least know which way to look.
Kate loved to go to the country with her grandmother: they transplanted flowers together and then collected huge bouquets from them. A grandmother is no more, but the country house and love for flowers remain. Guests who see Kate’s bouquets at home constantly ask how much she is ready to make them exactly the same. Recently, Kate was putting together a flower arrangement for her sister’s wedding: she said that she trusts Kate more than professional florists.
Kate would love to become a florist, but this is seasonal. The father will be horrified: his daughter wants to be a beggar.
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Remember When You Dived Into the Process With Your Head
Refer to memories. When did you get so immersed in work that you lost track of time? The cartoon “Soul” protagonist forgot about everything when he played music. He plunged into a trance. This experience is described by many psychologists. Psychotherapist Mikhail Litvak talks about “intellectual nirvana” – he compares this state with children experience who are passionate about the game.
Think about when you were completely focused, clear, and not worrying about anything? At what point did you feel that you were growing even on a physical level?
Kate remembers how she makes bouquets: at these moments, time stops, and it is easy for her to take apart the composition and start again. Something seems to lead and suggest how to place accents and what flower to add. Kate asks herself: “Is it possible to get such pleasure from work?” She is excited by this thought: she can do what she is so passionate about every day. Of course, first, you need to take courses and find a job, but now she believes in herself twice as much as in her life before.
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Don’t Think Only About Money And Prestige
If you pay attention only to the salary or the demand for the profession, it is easy to become unhappy. Especially in the future, it will affect your productivity. Well, Misha works as an engineer instead of teaching children at school. He is not enthusiastic about the profession, so he does not develop in it in any way. Because of this, there will also be no more money. It seems that he would have become a class teacher long ago and spent a lot of money on tutoring.
Kate told her dad that she wanted to become a florist. She has already enrolled in the courses, and as soon as she finishes her studies, she will immediately leave the court. The father was indignant that the only daughter wanted to become a florist. All friends of the family will understand that he raised her wrong. Children of acquaintances work as doctors and economists and occupy leadership positions. Only Kate wants to make money with floristry because she didn’t play enough in childhood.
A month has passed since this conversation. Yesterday Kate applied for dismissal. Today is her last working day in court. She graduated from the courses and has already got a job as an intern in a flower boutique. Kate recalls a conversation with her father and is glad she did not listen to him then. Tomorrow she will become what she used to envy: a person with a job she loves.
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Put Your Inner Critic In Place
Ideal results for the first time in a new job will be expected from you only by your inner critic. Sometimes he really comments on the case, but he often interferes. You don’t need his high expectations now. No one has any illusions that you will become an employee of the month from the first day if this is a new area for you.
Kate has her first working day at the flower shop today. She has been sitting in the hallway for 20 minutes and cannot leave the house: she is scared. And suddenly she will be asked to arrange a wedding for 500 people. This is a boutique with a big name. There are no simple orders. Moreover, Kate has an education as a florist. So, everyone is waiting for her to compose any composition that the client wishes.
Kate stops herself: “Wait, Kate. Instead of you, Mary is now working as a secretary in court. She has no experience. She just graduated from high school. Did you think that Mary would figure everything out right off the bat? No, expecting this from a beginner is nonsense. This means that they will not demand much from me today. They will show me how everything is arranged and the nuances of the work. It’s just my first day.” Kate is calmer. She leaves the house and, as she drives to the salon, repeats this thought to herself.
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Your Favorite Heroes Were Once Rookies Too
Many characters in fairy tales, myths, and films embark on their journey when they are not yet ready. Luke Skywalker did not complete his training with Jedi Master Yoda and flew to the Death Star. Bilbo Baggins suddenly went on a journey with the dwarves and Gandalf. Both heroes were unprepared for adventure, but they had something else in common: they wanted to change.
The stories of mythical and artistic characters reflect the mental processes that have happened and will happen to people at all times. So you are in wonderful company: Zeus, Loki, and Miss Elastica are with you.
Kate was asked to put together a small composition on a floral sponge. It was at the courses, but Kate did not have time to work out such an assembly. Before the eyes loom lousy compositions and upset customers. Kate takes a sponge and goes to get it. She stands in the toilet and calms herself: “Okay, okay. Mulan Fa went to war all of a sudden. Nobody blamed her for the fact that the Huns attacked China. The worst thing that will happen is that I will ruin the sponge and have to collect the bouquet over again. It seems that no florist has ever died from this.”
Seek Advice And Support From New Colleagues
That way, you’ll know if you’re doing well or not. Ask colleagues how they evaluate your work, what to improve, and how to do it. At the same time, you will show that you trust them as professionals. People are more comfortable helping than receiving help. So you have an advantage: you are a beginner who constantly needs advice. This will be able to please your colleagues for another couple of months.
Kate collected the composition on a sponge. She doesn’t like something, but she doesn’t understand what. She approaches another florist, Dima, and asks what is wrong with the composition. He says everything can be fixed quickly: you must cut more stems and wrap another layer of wrapping paper around the composition. Then the sponge will not be visible, and the bouquet will look complete.
Kate follows Dima’s advice and shows the composition again. He hums approvingly. Kate says: “Thanks for helping. With your advice, I quickly realized what needed to be corrected.” Dima smiles and says contentedly: “I haven’t helped you make flower vines yet. They are the best for me.”
After Time Mistakes Become Just Part of Your Experience
Kate finished her internship, and she was hired as a junior florist. Unfortunately, she mixed up two orders the next day: by Wednesday, she made the one expected by Saturday. The bouquet withered, and by the weekend, Kate made a new one. And she made an order for Wednesday in a hurry when the client had already come to the salon. It was Kate’s mistake: it was impossible to confuse the dates, but she succeeded.
French apple pie “inside out” Tarte Tatin is a misunderstanding. According to one version, the cake was dropped and collected as best it could before being baked. In general, many culinary recipes are a mistake and someone’s clumsiness. This is one of many cases where a failure was learned from experience and created something completely new.
All orders in the salon are written on pieces of paper and hung on the board. For some reason, those who work with their hands write everything down by hand. And it’s also a boutique – there seem to be few orders. But recently, the client base has grown greatly: the board is not enough. Kate suggested introducing a task manager at work: she is ready to start and fill it out herself. Then nothing will be lost and confused. Moreover, with its help, you can see what orders were made by the same person. For all customers, it will be possible to make cards with their tastes and preferences in colors.
Now Kate is doing well: she loves her job. Seven years in court seem to her something unreal. But the father still doesn’t get along. When Kate comes to visit, they are silent. Kate is afraid to tell her dad about her new job: he doesn’t approve of it. Dad does not know what to ask his daughter about: lately, her life has only floristry, and he does not want to talk about it. Kate feels that she and her father seem to be losing each other. He never supported her, but Kate wants their relationship to become warmer. To figure it out, she signed up for a psychologist.
You can choose a psychologist at Online-Therapy: for this, you must fill out a short questionnaire. You will be able to select only professionals with whom you are confident. If a psychologist doesn’t work for you, that’s okay – try another one.
