for seven tips.
Here are seven simple steps in order to
reinvent yourself professionally:
Understand how you’re
currently perceived. Many of us
1.
never be
afraid to
reinvent
yourself
By Daniel Nations
I’ve reinvented myself professionally at
least five times over the past 15 years –
some more dramatic reinventions than
others. Perhaps I get bored easily – or
perhaps I’m just passionately curious about
a lot of things. Whatever the reason, I’ve
been fortunate to have a wide variety of
stimulating opportunities in my career so
far.
People used to work for 40 years at the same
company, and then retire. Those days are
almost entirely over, and more and more
people today by choice or by necessity
are pursuing multiple jobs, careers, and
industries throughout their lives.
Whether you are bored or curious, a
victim of layoffs or the economy, or just
looking for something new and exciting,
the opportunities are limitless today in the
global economy. But in order to make that
career change, you’ll have to embrace the
concept of reinvention. I sat down with
Dorie Clark, one of the country’s leading
experts on branding and reinvention and
the author of Reinventing You: Define Your
Brand, Imagine Your Future. I asked Dorie
think we have this down – but it’s easy
to miss something. Google yourself
and specifically ask: if this were the
only information someone had about
me, what impression would she get?
It can also be helpful to do your own
“360 interviews,” where you specifically
ask your boss, trusted co-workers, and
colleagues where you’re strong and
where you should be focusing more.
No, they may not be transparent, but
it’s a lot better feedback than you’re
likely to get without asking at all.
2. Test-drive your path. Don’t jump
right into a reinvention. If you’re
thinking of trying a new career or job,
take small steps to see if it’s a good fit.
You can join a nonprofit board to learn
new skills (like finance or marketing),
or shadow a professional for a day to
see what her job is like.
3. Look for mentors. Many people
look for the classic mentor archetype
– an older professional sagely guiding
you – and get disappointed when they
don’t find one. Instead, broaden your
viewpoint and develop a group of
mentors. They don’t have to be older; it
can be anyone you admire and would
like to learn from. I formed an Advisory
Board of 11 mentors a year ago – and
it’s been hugely successful.
4. Don’t be afraid to go backwards
temporarily. When you reinvent
yourself, you may have to downshift
in the short term – maybe taking a pay
cut in a new field, or having to take on
additional projects to prove yourself.
Don’t stress out: if you’re moving in the
direction you want to go, it’ll pay off in
the long term.
5. Use social media to build
connections. Social media is the great
equalizer- you can send anyone a tweet
or comment on their blog, and they’re
likely to respond back. When you’re
entering a new field (or a higher
echelon of your current one),
relationships are everything, and
social media can help you develop
them rapidly.
6. Show what you know.
As “knowledge workers,” it
can sometimes be hard to
demonstrate what we’re really
capable of. So act like an artist and
develop your own portfolio. Start
a blog or find other ways to create
content (white papers, podcasts,
a great Twitter feed) and let the
world see what you care about,
what you know about and what
your perspective is.
7. Get a wingman. Psychology
research shows (no surprise)
that people who talk about their
own accomplishments are viewed
unfavorably; no one likes a
braggart. But if someone else touts
your accomplishments, you’re
golden. So find a like-minded
friend or colleague and make a
pact to talk each other up. You’re
likely to notice an immediate
difference, as more people become
aware of your skills, abilities, and
accomplishments.
Reinventing you might not be
easy – but in the end, it will be
well worth it to move on in your
career to something you’re more
passionate about. And thanks to
the internet and social media,
it’s easier than ever to get started
on the reinvention process. Start
with these seven steps – and here’s
to the new you!
Now it’s your turn. Have
you ever reinvented yourself in
your career? How did you do it?
Which of the above steps will you
consider?
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