Navigating Career Change: 7 key lessons

Shifting careers and feeling like a total imposter in your new line of work? Trust me, I get it. But some things will help ease the shift. Learn from my experience!

Here are 7 key lessons from my career-changing journey that I wish I had listened to sooner.

1. CONFIDENCE is everything.
   
   Believe in your creative ability and the path you’re pursuing. Remind yourself daily that challenges bring forth confidence. Keep creating.
   

2. Put yourself out there even if you don’t feel ready.
   
   Putting yourself out there isn’t easy. We never 'feel' ready, but once we take the leap, we often wish we had done it sooner. Begin by sharing with your close friends and family, and build onto that momentum.
   

3. Lean into and trust the POWER of referrals.
   
   When you do good work, people recognize that. Foster and maintain relationships. The next time a friend needs your expertise, you’ll be who they think of.
   

4. Trust that the people in your circle want to help you.
   
   We sometimes hesitate to ask for help, even from our inner circle. Lean on friends and family for their expertise. You never know where it could lead.
   

5. Celebrate the small wins.
   
   It’s easy to get caught up on a setback and feel like you didn’t do enough. Every small win leads to growth, and growth leads to big wins.
   

6. Practice having a growth mindset.
   
   If you don’t know something, teach yourself. View challenges as opportunities for change.

   “You cannot be what you haven’t seen.” Jay Shetty
   

7. And above all, be kind to yourself.
   
   You’re taking a big risk and learning something entirely NEW. Be patient and don’t be so hard on yourself. Nothing happens overnight. If you put in the work, progress will come.