How to Begin a New Career?

[CoffeeAndSlippers]

I'm an IT cube dweller of 10 years and while I'm not of an age to be burned out...I am. Over the last few years, the industry seems to be spinning downward. Two bad gigs have cemented my plans to leave and start again...but where and what?

I know that I enjoy being outside and I like working with my hands...but that will hardly replace an IT salary. I think my best bet is to start my own business, but I lack direction. HVAC tech? Plumber? Energy auditor? Home inspector? Realtor/Broker/Foreclosure Agent

I'm having difficulty finding which direction I should go and being reasonably comfortable in my decision. I've got a young son and while my wife could go back to work (healthcare) I want to support her in staying at home with my son.

How do I take the next steps (and what are they)?

[Tristan Bull]

Hey welcome to the forum

Congrats on deciding you want a change, most people never take action they just complain about it.

You basically have endless possibilites now.

By the sounds of it you have no idea where you want to go or what you want to do.

I reccommend starting your own business simply because there is no limit to the amount of money you can make.

However you need to decide what you want to do.

Since your coming from the IT industry you are most likely pretty skiled in that area, maybe you could create your own IT business?

If you want to get out of IT altogether thats cool too.

When you are nice and calm and relaxed, maybe after work or on the weekend or something like that.

It's important to do this when you are not stressed.

Go into a quiet room and make sure you won't be distracted, preferably do this when no one is home.

Take a few deep breaths to just really relax yourself and quieten your mind.

Then just start to imagine what you want to do in the future, ask yourself if I had the choice of doing ANYTHING what would it be.

Don't try and argue with what comes up, it doesn't matter if it doesn't make any logical sense.

Just accept it all, you will most likely have lots of different ideas pop into your head.

Just observe them.

Now at this point you should be in the right frame of mind to really get creative. So grab a pen and a pad and ask yourself the question what do I really want to do.

Again just let the answers flow to you, don't object to them.

As you get the answers write them down on a piece of paper, doing it this way is a much more powerful way to brainstorm because your mind is in the right place.

You should come up with a few ideas that are worth looking into.

Once you do the next step is to start researching it, see what is needed to get the idea up and running and before you know it you will be in your new carreer!

Good luck

Cheers,
Tristan

[CoffeeAndSlippers]

Thanks for the input Tristan!

When I first got started in IT, my plan was to work for a few companies...then consult and then start a consulting agency. With the turn in the industry to offshore more and more work, I don't believe that type of model can compete. I've watched a few good consulting startups go under in 2001 and it just never seemed to recover. I think this is a good opportunity to get out and do something I really enjoy...I just have to figure out what I want to do.

I've done a career assessment (and I will try the excercise this weekend). What else should I do to start off this enterprise?

[Tristan Bull]

My pleasure.

Well once you decide what it is you want to do you need to start researching it.

So you need to find out if there is a DEMAND for whatever it is you will be selling. In other words are there enough people who will buy your stuff to keep you in business.

Then you want to take a look at your COMPETITION. You want to find out if the market is highly competitive and if you will be able to compete, however it is important that there is at least some competition because that shows there is money to be made in that market.

CUSTOMERS - You need to really find out who your customers are and what they want, you don't want to convince people that they need what you are selling you want people to realise what you are selling is what they want. You do this by first getting to know your market really well and discovering what there most common need is and then you provide the solution.

After that it's all about TAKING ACTION. You actually need to get these things done and get the ball rolling.

Of course all of this isn't relevant until you actually decide what it is you want to do.

Cheers,
Tristan

[JustinPopovic]

I thought I would chime in here because your question is VERY relevant to what I have gone through in my life.

I think everything Tristan has said is awesome so I'm not trying to steal his thunder...but rather add another perspective for you to think about

I was in a very similar position as you a few years ago. I was an IT specialist with a very large corporation and I just reached a point where I knew I couldn't do it anymore. The thought of sticking it out for another 30 years waiting for retirement just turned my stomach.

I got deeply inspired by personal development books and programs and spent about 6 months searching for what I wanted to do. I loved the PD stuff so much that I decided to become a coach/speaker! Pursued it with all my heart and soul. Within a few months, I actually went full time and walked away from the corporate job. It was an amazing feeling of passion and liberation...and most importantly freedom.

Now is the time for you to sink your teeth into the kind of work that doesn't *feel* like work at all. In the past 2 years I have not felt like I worked a day...yet some days I put 15,16 hours into what I do.

I also had a young son when I made my move so I know where you are coming from and I know this can be a scary and difficult move to make.

PM me if you would like to arrange a skype discussion. I would be happy to share my experiences with you over a voice chat.

Cheers
Justin

[Rob Ozanne]

The switch from employee to business owner isn't something to be taken lightly - the worst thing that can happen is that you end up as the whole employee in your own business.

I would start off by deciding what the lifestyle you want to create for yourself and your family is and how much that actually costs.

Then I would get in touch with who you are, what gift you have to contribute to the world, who are the people you most care about helping.

You can create a business to make money. Or you can create a business to express your purpose and passion, and receive an income as by-product.


From my signature you can probably guess which one I chose!

Also if you focus on your inspiration then you are a lot more likely to put in the time and energy to get your business off the ground and become more successful in the long run.

[JustinPopovic]

Originally Posted by Rob Ozanne

You can create a business to make money. Or you can create a business to express your purpose and passion, and receive an income as by-product.

Well said.

The only thing I would add is that you have to ensure that you set the intention to create the income. I've seen too many people who love what they do but never learn the business skills to convert that skill into business revenue. They run their business to "help the community" or "serve their clients" which are very noble things to do. But if you don't have money flowing into the business on a regular basis, you are just running a very expensive hobby...and it won't last.

I know...because I was one of those people. Luckily I found a really good business mentor who taught me how to monetize my passion.

[lifetimelearner]

CoffeeAndSlippers
I love that name !!!

since you like working with your hands here are a couple of sites for you to look at -

The 25 Best Realistic Jobs — JIST Publishing :: Occupational Outlook Handbook and Career Publications

Holland's Realistic Code

[Tristan Bull]

Originally Posted by Rob Ozanne

You can create a business to make money. Or you can create a business to express your purpose and passion, and receive an income as by-product.

I tend to disagree slightly

The sole purpose of a business is to make money. That's what it was designed to do.

Sure you can want to do good things and help the world but if your business isn't making money then it really isn't a business.

Think about a house, the sole purpose of a house is to provide a safe and secure structure that provides shelter. It doesn't care who lives in it.

It doesn't care how much the people living in it feel like they are "home".

If the house isn't doing it's job, if it falls apart then the people inside it are going to get a new house that does what it's supposed to no matter how much they love it.

Business is the same, businesses make money. It's their job. You can do a lot of good in the world because of your business but if your business isn't making any money then it just becomes a hobby.

Too many people sacrifice the money to follow their passion but if their passion doesn't make any money they are struggling to pay their bills every month.

Plus the more money you make the more free time you have to spend on your passion.

My point is just be smart about it, if there is money in doing your passion then go for it. But if there isn't then find something that will make you money.

There are a couple of passions of mine that I would LOVE to be able to make money from but there simply isn't any money in those areas so I focus on some of my other areas of interest.

Anyway that's my 2 cents

Tristan

[PerDev]

I have similar situaion and This is what I am currently doing and suggest.

You can sit back and relax ..
try to find out your gretest talent and your gretest passion.
see where they overlap
and create your purpose and pursue that with Passion and talent (Genius)

This is very generalized answer but its very important i believe.
Dont be in hurry and dont be miguided by thinking you will have clarity in 1 month.
This will take you atlest one year to get the clarity so be patience

right Goals are more important than right plans (specially longterm)
so be patience.

Originally Posted by CoffeeAndSlippers

I'm an IT cube dweller of 10 years and while I'm not of an age to be burned out...I am. Over the last few years, the industry seems to be spinning downward. Two bad gigs have cemented my plans to leave and start again...but where and what?

I know that I enjoy being outside and I like working with my hands...but that will hardly replace an IT salary. I think my best bet is to start my own business, but I lack direction. HVAC tech? Plumber? Energy auditor? Home inspector? Realtor/Broker/Foreclosure Agent

I'm having difficulty finding which direction I should go and being reasonably comfortable in my decision. I've got a young son and while my wife could go back to work (healthcare) I want to support her in staying at home with my son.

How do I take the next steps (and what are they)?

[PerDev]

This sound fentastic and I really want to do this transition
most of all i have sense that I need to go in the field of personal development.
I hope it will be reality of my life within some years

Originally Posted by JustinPopovic

I thought I would chime in here because your question is VERY relevant to what I have gone through in my life.

I think everything Tristan has said is awesome so I'm not trying to steal his thunder...but rather add another perspective for you to think about

I was in a very similar position as you a few years ago. I was an IT specialist with a very large corporation and I just reached a point where I knew I couldn't do it anymore. The thought of sticking it out for another 30 years waiting for retirement just turned my stomach.

I got deeply inspired by personal development books and programs and spent about 6 months searching for what I wanted to do. I loved the PD stuff so much that I decided to become a coach/speaker! Pursued it with all my heart and soul. Within a few months, I actually went full time and walked away from the corporate job. It was an amazing feeling of passion and liberation...and most importantly freedom.

Now is the time for you to sink your teeth into the kind of work that doesn't *feel* like work at all. In the past 2 years I have not felt like I worked a day...yet some days I put 15,16 hours into what I do.

I also had a young son when I made my move so I know where you are coming from and I know this can be a scary and difficult move to make.

PM me if you would like to arrange a skype discussion. I would be happy to share my experiences with you over a voice chat.

Cheers
Justin

[PerDev]

Well said, Thanks It will help me a lot in future ..

Originally Posted by JustinPopovic

Well said.

The only thing I would add is that you have to ensure that you set the intention to create the income. I've seen too many people who love what they do but never learn the business skills to convert that skill into business revenue. They run their business to "help the community" or "serve their clients" which are very noble things to do. But if you don't have money flowing into the business on a regular basis, you are just running a very expensive hobby...and it won't last.

I know...because I was one of those people. Luckily I found a really good business mentor who taught me how to monetize my passion.

[PerDev]

Hi CoffeeAndSlippers

I believe if you can read steve pavlina's Podcast on creative selfexpression this will help you gain clarity (but you have to heard it atleast 8-10 times to grasp the concept as it is very content rich. )

You can also check steve's blog's on career section. specially the Top to down approch for career.

Originally Posted by JustinPopovic

Well said.

The only thing I would add is that you have to ensure that you set the intention to create the income. I've seen too many people who love what they do but never learn the business skills to convert that skill into business revenue. They run their business to "help the community" or "serve their clients" which are very noble things to do. But if you don't have money flowing into the business on a regular basis, you are just running a very expensive hobby...and it won't last.

I know...because I was one of those people. Luckily I found a really good business mentor who taught me how to monetize my passion.