Analyzing Career Change Risks

Neuroscience shows that fear of the unknown activates the same brain regions as physical pain. When we face a career leap; whether starting a business, pitching a bold idea, or leaving a safe job our primal wiring screams "Danger!" even when logic says "Opportunity." 72% of professionals regret not taking career risks when they had the chance (LinkedIn 2024) The average person spends 6.7 years in jobs they've outgrown (Gallup) "Safe" choices often carry more long-term risk than bold moves. I discovered: The fear lasts 3 seconds, just until your body realizes you're committed Clarity comes mid-air, not while you're hesitating on the edge The water is always deeper than it looks, your capabilities expand to meet challenges. This mirrors what I've seen in 100+ executive coaching clients: The founder who doubled revenue after finally firing their toxic "safe hire" The engineer who landed her dream role only after quitting her "stable" job The manager who transformed his team by admitting "I don't know" in a high-stakes meeting. How to Jump Smarter 1. Calculate Risk Like a Pro Ask: "What's the worst that could happen?" Then ask: "Could I recover from that?" 2. Most "career-ending" failures aren't 3. Pack a Parachute 4. Save 3-6 months of runway 5. Build skills before you need them 6. Cultivate a "rescue network" of mentors 7. Practice Free-Fall 8. Take small jumps daily (speak up in meetings, pitch wild ideas) It rewires your brain's fear response (Neuroplasticity research, Cambridge 2023) The water's fine. But you'll never know until you let go of the rail. #Neuroscience #clarity #challenges

Midlife Career Change: Risk, Reward & Reinvention.... key points you could use. I recently spoke to Pulkit Joshi of the CHRO Mindset Podcast to share my views on career transition. Firstly, career transition makes sense only if you land something more meaningful, challenging, and aligned. I made a significant career switch at age 52, moving from a nearly 30-year career in operational excellence and quality management into HR operations. And I get a lot of questions about this change. Hoping you will get some answers in this episode. Here is the episode 👇 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲: https://lnkd.in/g9UgJNVd And the key points.... 1. Feeling of Not Good Enough: Common fears associated with career transitions, especially later in life, include fear of failing, fear of an accident, and questioning if one will be good enough (imposter syndrome). 2. Fear of Success: Worrying that if the transition works out, they will have to live a different life. 3. Figuring it Out: No one is truly sure what is next, and if you are unsure, you are part of the vast majority. Having a directional plan is sufficient; you don't need to have everything figured out. 4. Planning is Everything Planning is everything, even if the plan itself doesn't work out, because going through the planning process leads to learning and development, making you richer and better equipped for something else. 5. Milk What You Know: When pivoting to a new role or field, it's crucial to build awareness of your current skills and not remain stuck in the past. 6. Demonstrate: To transition successfully, you need to demonstrate capability, skill set, knowledge, and awareness in the new space you want to enter, potentially by creating content and becoming a thought leader in that domain. 7. Have a Growth Mindset: You may not have the best mind in the room. But you can have the best mindset in the room. 8. Risk Payoff: Taking a risk, such as a career change, means it is more likely not to work out. The world is not obligated to make your risks pay off, and you must be willing to pay the price if it doesn't. Don't tell yourself you can't do it. Make a plan and get going. And even if you then don't land well, you will still be in a better place. I invested a long career in Operational Excellence, and it was time to pivot. I made a plan and worked on it for three years. It will take time, but it will work out. What transition are you holding back from? 🧱

"I'm afraid of leaving academia; it's too risky." Here’s what you’re overlooking: When I speak to PhD students and postdocs wanting to change or pivot into a new role, the majority focus on the risk of leaving. I totally get it. After so much work, it's like starting all over again. But there's something else you are neglecting— the risk of staying where you are. The risk of hitting a dead-end. What you’re doing right now also has risks. It is just harder to see because inertia and sunk cost fallacy are powerful forces telling you to keep going as you are. Yes, taking risks to pursue an alternative career path is scary. But staying where you are, if it's making you unhappy, is scarier and a huge risk too. Instead of only asking, what do I risk by leaving my current role? Also ask yourself... ↳ What do I risk by staying where I am? ↳ What do I risk by not investing in my network? ↳ What do I risk by not being discoverable online? You cannot avoid risk in your career. You can only learn to manage it. Your security is your ability to adapt, be proactive and intentional with your decisions. Not taking a risk can be the biggest risk of all. Visual: @visualsbymelodie

Navigating career decisions isn't a walk in the park, especially when you have options and uncertainties. But don't worry, there's a way to bring clarity to the chaos with a structured approach that considers both logic and emotion. Let's dive in. 1. Clarify your decision: Start by pinpointing what decision you need to make. Are you choosing between job offers, or are you contemplating a new career path? Having a clear objective is crucial. 2. Define your priorities and values: List your top 4-7 priorities for your career, such as career growth, impact potential, and personal satisfaction. Also, identify your core values and what truly matters to you. These can guide you to choices that align with your long-term fulfillment. 3. Generate more options (if possible): Don’t limit yourself to a couple of choices. Use your priorities and values to brainstorm additional options, considering both immediate and long-term possibilities. Talk to people you admire, explore job boards, and think outside the box. 4. Rank and test your options: Once you have a list, rank them based on how well they align with your priorities. Then, dive deeper into your top options—talk to people you know, check YouTube, or even test the waters through short-term projects. This helps in reality-checking your assumptions and understanding the true landscape. 7. Assess risks, regrets, and reversibility (a critical step, in my opinion): Evaluate the risks and potential regrets tied to each choice. Consider what could go wrong and whether you're prepared to handle those challenges. Also, think about how easily you could switch paths if necessary and what opportunities you might miss by not choosing a particular option. As my wife wisely suggested, try tossing a coin and pay attention to your immediate reaction to the outcome—it can reveal your true preferences. 6. Incorporate emotional insights (gut feeling): Pay attention to your emotional responses and gut feelings. They can provide important insights into whether a decision aligns with who you are at your core. Balance these with your systematic analysis for a well-rounded decision. 7. Make your best guess and look ahead: At some point, you'll need to make a decision. Trust the process you’ve followed and don't look back. 8. Take action: Once you've decided, focus on execution. Break your plan into actionable steps and set milestones to track your progress. Career decisions are part of an ongoing journey of growth and exploration. They are not linear and don't have to be. Just focus on what is best for you and your life; the rest is just noise.