Recently I was admitted into the Law Society of England and Wales or should I say indoctrinated LOL. I thought at this point I could breathe a sigh of relief, exhale and just say phew! Boy, was I wrong. As the saying goes new level, new devil.

I knew this day was coming, when I started my training contract I was given an end date, so why then was I thrown for a loop when the date arrived? I just wasn’t ready.

My career in its own way was changing and I wasn’t ready for it. Then add to that my business venture, I can only tell you that confusion moved in and stress and anxiety also took up residence.

DID I WANT A CAREER CHANGE? Those words were written in bright neon colour at the forefront of my mind. What did it mean to have a career change?

Day in day out I was asking myself all sorts of questions and playing out in my head different scenarios.

Then one day I had a candid conversation with myself, ‘so you want a career change, do you? Where do you even start?’ I didn’t know what it meant to maybe want a career change, I had never been in such a situation. I did my research, I prayed and I asked a lot of questions and here I am to give you the answers I came up with.

I am a big believer in paying it forward, so if you are ever at a crossroad and contemplating a career change, I have listed some tips that I hope you find useful in your journey.

1. Change your perception

What is your thought on your current situation? Are you so focused on why you hate your job or current business position that you wake up miserable every day? Instead of walking into work with a negative mindset, try focusing on the bigger picture. Focus on the goals that will get you that promotion, get you that other job you applied for or get you stated on your business. Work on changing the things that are within your reach and learn to accept those things that you have no control over. Your perception is EVERYTHING! The way you deal with life and all its changes is based on the lens you choose to view your situation. Is it a lens of misery, resentment and defeat, or is it a lens of hope and progress?

2. Plan

If you decide to leave your current position, you need an exit strategy. Do not be naïve to think that you can quit without already having options in place. It should never be an option to walk from one uncertainty to another. Planning your exit is the most responsible and appropriate decision you can make.

As the saying goes “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. Here is a list of items I strongly advise that you consider when planning your exit strategy:

• Set out your goals!
• Give dates to reach your goal. A deadline will keep you focused
• A 6-12-month financial plan
• A list of skills you need to gain or polish
• A realistic view of the best and worst case scenario
• Make sure you have a support system in place- family and friends

3. Make it a priority

Your goals will not come to fruition unless you decide to work towards them. That means you should say no to everyday after work drinks, watch less TV, skip outings on the weekend to work on your goals. Suck it up and do the work that is needed now for the benefit of your future.

It is important to remember, this isn’t just about your career; it’s about your life.

It’s about how you feel every morning when you open your eyes; how that affects your health and your relationships; and, ultimately, it’s about the impact that you can make on the people around you through the passion you have in what you do.

The danger is that the longer you stay in the world of theory, the less likely it is to become a reality. If you are seriously thinking about a career change, you need to believe in it enough to spend time working towards it.

So, you’ve talked about it to anyone who is willing to listen. The question now is what are you going to do about it?

Take that first step, make that connection, write that proposal, apply for that grant. ACT! If you stop moving forward, you will plateau and eventually go nowhere.