A.C.T.I.O.N.: The Career Transition Guide

Who before do. Identity catalyzes action. Once an individual decides, with his or her whole heart, who he or she wants to be, nothing can stop them. 

What makes a river so restful to people is that it doesn't have any doubt. It is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn't want to go anywhere else.

– Hal Boyle, Pulitzer-prize-winning journalist 

Creation of a timeless career transition framework requires attention toward individual development. Understanding the depth of tension and hardship brought upon by a career’s conclusion is mission-critical when formulating a reliable source of both information and inspiration for those in need.  

The Six Human Needs by Tony Robbins and Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are viable considerations of an individual going through a career death and searching for a fresh start. Uncertainty overwhelmingly abolishes feelings of assurance, significance, connection, growth, and contribution.

In the same breath, those going through a career transition after thousands of hours dedicated to a previously specialized realm are yearning for psychological shelter — they lose senses of safety, belonging, esteem and desire to reach the top. After all, in many ways, they are forced to start a new journey somewhere closer to square one. 

The following provides an action-provoking, practical guide to effectively transition.

Acceptance (Be aware)

I do not know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.

– Abraham Lincoln

• Transitioners should:
  • Let go of the past
  • Believe in the present-day version of self
  • Create a aspirational vision of what will come next
  • Understand who they are and who they are not, yet
• Tasks: 
  • Reflect with loving awareness the person they were
  • Come to appreciate accomplishments achieved 
  • Write down all that they are grateful for today
  • Set an aspiration and steps toward that main goal 
• Sources to consider: 
  • MBTI Personality Assessment 
  • Urgency/Importance Table for prioritization and planning
  • Sweet Spot Venn Diagram 
  • S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Curiosity (Be open)

A boy comes to me with a spark of interest. I feed the spark and it becomes a flame. I feed the flame and it becomes a fire. I feed that fire and it becomes a roaring blaze.

– Cus D’Amato, American Boxing Trainer of Mike Tyson

• Transitioners should:
  • Seek help from other people, such as caring friends and mentors 
  • Learn about next field of interest through books, podcasts, and videos
  • Remain open to The Law of Attraction and or a higher spiritual power
  • Continue to develop and evolve individually and among close friend group

• Tasks: 
  • Make a list of those they can learn from, how they could reach them, and when they will do so
  • Study success by looking for information, rather than affirmation
  • Discover and inquire about their faith
  • Create a schedule to practice gratitude and or prayer
  • Attempt new adventures, endeavors, hobbies, and internships
• Sources to consider: 
  • Social Media
  • Nonfiction manuscripts, such as “Think and Grow Rich,” “The Secret,” “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” “A Man’s Search for Meaning,” 
  • List of Well/Better/How 
  • YouTube

Transformation (Be courageous)

Transformation begins when pain of current circumstances outweighs pain of change.

– MG

• Transitioners should:
  • Work on themselves harder than they work on anything else
  • Improve upon weaknesses, blind spots, and vulnerabilities
  • Know their strengths and double-down on them
  • Use insights, perhaps through friendship and therapy, to develop holistic health and wellness
• Tasks:
  • Seek deep conversations with knowledgeable people
  • Persist through hardship with grit and tenacity
  • Remain unwavering in commitment to a better version of themselves
  • Attempt and give best efforts in learning about personality
  • Build physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual resilience via daily disciplines
• Sources to consider:
  • Triad of Health (Sleep/Recovery, Nutrition, and Exercise) analysis
    • WHOOP wristband tech to track Heart Rate Variability (HRV) 
  • See wellness doctor for blood work check-up
  • Remain open to seeing a therapist or performance coach
  • Create a personal board of advisors
  • Books, Journals, and or Diaries 
  • “Wheel of Life” Exercise
  • Body Composition Analysis via healthcare practitioner

Investment (Be intentional)

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

– Benjamin Franklin

• Transitioners should:
  • Put time, energy, and money into their development and dreams
  • Maintain discipline with their scheduled practices and routines 
  • Avoid distractions by creating an Environment of Excellence
  • Focus on what they have (gratitude) and what they are working toward (goals)
  • Educate themselves on their personal subject of interest
    • What makes them tick? What are they passionate about? What frustrates them? Why?
• Tasks: 
  • Create a mantra that helps stay the course, e.g. “One Day At A Time!”
  • Establish a written schedule, no matter how simple it seems
  • Make a list of distractions to avoid throughout the day and week
  • Answer these questions: 
    • Who am I investing the most time with and why? 
    • How could I enhance my physical and mental health? 
    • Where should I travel to this month and year ahead?
• Sources to consider: 
  • Calendar (Google or hard copy)
  • Savings or retirement account
  • Nearby coffee shop and gym
  • Start/Stop/Continue List
  • Gratitude Journal
  • Clean nutrition and supplements
  • Supplies that will enhance knowledge base

Optimism (Be hopeful)

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.

– Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

• Transitioners should:
  • Continually choose appreciation > expectation
  • Remain hopeful of what’s to come by practicing faith-based practices
  • No matter how hard and rough the road gets, believe
  • Realize positivity will make dark times bearable and good times great
  • Stay connected to high-energy individuals and tribes
• Tasks: 
  • Examine and adjust closest relationships and triggers
  • Print out quote and put it in a visible place to see it every morning:
    • “Every day stand guard at the door of your mind.” – Jim Rohn
  • Remain active and involved
  • Mental imagery and visualization
• Sources to consider:
  • Emotional Support / Service dogs – take care of someone else
  • Positive uplifting communities (volunteer organizations, choirs, etc.)
  • Sports
  • Gym membership or at-home exercise equipment
  • Serenity Prayer 
  • Relationship Inventory Exercise

Now (Be present)

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

– Buddha

• Transitioners should:
  • Not wait for circumstances to change around them 
  • See the present moment as a gift (nature walks help!)
  • Realize tomorrow is not guaranteed (Momento Mori)
  • Give back 
  • Help others
  • Love (Serving others brings joy; Thinking only of self brings negativity)
• Tasks: 
  • Make a list of those in need
    • Set a day in which they could help them
  • Make a T-Chart of who they are now + who they are becoming
  • Ask and answer this question: “Who needs me?” 
  • Breath work, Mindfulness Meditation, Yoga, Bottom-up Approaches
• Sources to consider:
  • Emotional State (Focus, Physiology, Language) Exercise
  • Guided Mindfulness Meditation videos and apps
  • Mood music
  • Attention-demanding tasks
  • Nature (walking, hiking, etc.)
  • Visitations to those less fortunate
  • Undertake a difficult training endeavor (for example, marathon)

When should we accept, be curious, transform, invest, and be optimistic? Now.