CAREER DEVELOPMENT: Recreate Yourself

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Perhaps one of the most difficult things for most people to do is turn words, hopes or dreams into action. It’s great to be an information junkie, a gatherer of information and knowledge, and or have great ideas. But, until you apply action to all of your resources, they generally do nothing for you. Action is the engine of success. Action brings about change. Action beats brilliance!

Few will take issue with this statement. They may even pass it along as good advice. But here’s the catch: most everyone experiences difficulty actually doing what’s required to bring about change…any change! In fact, most, if not all of us, think about changing others, while few of us think about changing ourselves. The action of consciously and continually changing ourselves is absolutely essential to succeeding effectively in our changing world.

Constantly changing yourself can be both a difficult and a complicated process. However, you are really faced with only two choices, you either choose to change or you remain in denial. Much like an alcoholic, you either recognize that you have a problem and productively change your lifestyle and direction, or you stay in denial, continue to falter, and eventually lose everything meaningful. This may seem like a statement of overkill; however, it’s a message which must be accepted by any individual who wants to be successful. Embracing the “constant companion of change” and enjoying the embrace must become an attribute of your personal life and thus an element of your personal culture.

The act of recreating yourself requires a proactive rather than a reactive mindset. A proactive mindset toward change helps you both accept and deal with our continually changing world. The reactive mindset says:” I am proud of my accomplishments and feel comfortable where I am (i.e., they’ll never do away with my job!) It will take a crisis (what do you mean my job has been outsourced?) or (our company was just acquired?) to push me kicking and screaming into the future, because I don’t think the future will affect me that much.

The “proactive mindset” says, I am proud of my accomplishments, and like particles attracted by the magnet of change, I am being pulled ahead by the future. My aspirations drive me to do even greater things. My interest is in the future because that is where I am going to spend the rest of my life!”

Being proactive means having the personal vision to take the responsibility for your actions and behavior. This will lead you to a better tomorrow. Behavior is the manifestation of your mindset. Your mindset is the mental attitude that predetermines your response to, and interpretation of, situations. Your mindset greatly effects your actions and behavior. In fact your mindset makes it all happen!

If you think you can’t do it, you’re right! If you think you can do it, you’re right! It is true that you can do nothing to change the past; but with the proper mindset you have enormous power to plan and shape your future. When your mindset is proactive, geared toward future thinking, and embracing change, you are then ready to do the right thing. Positive, proactive thinking is a great aid to getting through all of the negative emotions you feel during any change.


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About Ingbretsen Consulting LLC:
Coach and author Roger Ingbretsen is a certified executive coach and organizational developer, providing organizational and career guidance to professionals, managers, supervisors and all individuals looking for "real world" career development and business information. His entrepreneurial approach will help you learn how to plan, lead and succeed in your career. Roger is the creator of the “Leadership Development Coaching Experience©” and author of the personal development reference eBooks, “Plan Your Career Now: The Survival Guide for the American Workplace” and “Master Your Career: Proven Strategies for Career Success©.” To know more and claim dozens of Rogers free articles go to www.ingbretsen.com or call 509 999 7008.

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