Change is Constant
My big career move didn’t work out like I had planned. I was training for a new position at my company, but instead I got laid off. This wasn’t entirely unexpected nor is it unwelcome. I will receive a very generous severance package and move on to my next adventure. I’ve had a great job for 13 years, but the awesome startup I worked for is long gone and so are most of my coworkers. The massive new parent company is OK to work for, but it doesn’t offer the kind of challenge or autonomy I enjoyed while working for a nimble startup. I’m definitely ready for a change.
Change Offers Choices
One of the most interesting aspects of of a career change for me is the range of options I have available to me. I could drop down to part-time and semi-retire or I could work on large projects and take time off in-between. I could consult, start a business or get another traditional job. It’s wide-open for me and I can afford to pick and choose. Having low expenses, very little debt and money put away allows me to consider what I want for my future, instead of needing to take a job just to pay my bills. If I wanted to live a frugal lifestyle, I could afford to stop working right now, 10 years before my normal retirement date. But, I’m not interested in just scraping by. I would much rather work a little longer and prosper. I believe I can work a reasonable amount and also have plenty of time to travel and enjoy my life. If not, I can quit in a couple of years anyway.
Resistance is Futile
It’s amazing to me how hard some people try to resist change. Although I understand people’s fear of the unknown, at some point it becomes irrational. The worst things that have happened to me in my life came straight out of the blue, so I don’t spend a lot of time worrying about how things might change. Some of the best things to happen to me were also unexpected and they came as a pleasant surprise. Either way, I have learned to value change and break away from the status quo. Getting stuck in a rut is not good for anyone.
The Bottom Line
We don’t need to fear change; we need to embrace it. Change can bring about the exciting new circumstances that make life fun and rewarding. Change is the catalyst that stretches our abilities and breaks down barriers.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” — Socrates
