Dawn Graham, author of Switchers: How Smart Professionals Change Careers and Seize Success discussed over on the Suggested Reading page has a new article out that might ring some bells with those of you struggling to make a desired switch to a green job.
A few years ago I met with a friend who was frustrated in her job, but after 14 years in her current company was terrified to leave. While she often dreamed of a new career where she could feel excited about her work again, the idea of starting over was overwhelming. Plus, after being in one organization for so long, she was unsure of what she was even qualified for.
If any part of this resonates with you, you’re in good company. It’s challenging to leave the known for the unknown, even if you have good prospects. In fact, humans are hard-wired to gravitate toward safety from a survival perspective. Our brains intentionally avoid potential losses because the psychological pain of losing is twice as powerful as the joy of gaining (aka, loss aversion).
The result is we remain stuck in an unfulfilling career. But the good news is that once we understand what’s holding us back, we can override it. Inevitably, the hardest part is getting started, so here are seven steps to push past fear of the unknown to land the role you’ve been dreaming about. Read the full article on LinkedIn.