Being a business woman or entrepreneur can take a lot of determination and dedication. There are times when we come across obstacles or forks in the road and don’t know which direction to go, or sometimes simply want to throw in the towel. Lucky for us- we have Anna Runyan of Classy Career Girl on the blog today sharing her expert advice on how to get out of a career rut, how to make positive change, and how she stays focused (and balanced!) with her busy schedule. Take it away Anna!
Hello! I started my blog in 2010 to document what I was learning during business school and at my full-time job. I wanted to share the information that I was learning about being a woman in the professional world. There were things I learned that I wanted to share so that other women didn’t make the same mistakes that I did.
BB: What happened in your life that made you realize that what you do now is your calling?
My blog was a place where I could express my creative side, which I was not able to do in my job. My blog taught me what my passions were and what my purpose is. I realized I loved writing and teaching others about career development and leadership but I never would have discovered that without waking up at 5am to blog everyday before work. I learned that once you start on the direction of your passion and if you do something daily on your way to your big goal, doors will start opening and totally amazing things start happening.
BB: What are some signs to look for that indicate you are in need of a career change?
1) You are not valued, rewarded or appreciated. Are you working your butt off and no one is noticing and saying good job?
2) You are not challenged anymore and there is no opportunity for growth in your current job. You are stagnant and you don’t have motivation to learn more. You are doing the same thing everyday. Eventually, you will become an expert and you won’t be challenging yourself to learn more.
3) You don’t trust your company. Your company is doing something sneaky and you don’t like what you see or hear.
4) You have lost your excitement and passion for you job. You should be enjoying what you do.
5) You know in your gut. The fact that you are watching this video is a sign it is time for a career change! Trust your gut!
BB: What is your advice to women that are stuck in a career rut, and want to make a change? What are the risks?
1)Make a list of things in your current job that you love and hate and take your time to find what it is you truly want in your next job. This is going to help you focus during your job search and make sure that you don’t just jump into another job that you absolutely hate! Think about everything that is involved in that job including your work environment, your co-workers, your boss, your commute, your hours, your co-workers and your clients. I mean everything.
2)Try to add little things to your plate that you enjoy and want to learn. These things you can eventually place on your resume and can help you get a new job. 3)Make New Habits Other things to do are to make some new habits in your life, such as starting to wake up earlier, creating a to-do list before you leave work for the next day, adding a 30 minute workout to your day or setting aside an hour of reading every day. Change one little habit and it can really change your life. Once you start making this habit, it gets easier to keep.
BB: What are some of the things that you teach at workshops/group talks?
Just like Warren Buffet says, the best investment you can make is in yourself. When I see my clients investing in themselves and really taking their own lives, careers and dreams seriously, that is when amazing things really start happening. I have learned to also invest in myself with coaching and that has been life changing for my career and business. I would not be where I am today without my coaches and support system that I have in place. Sometimes you just need an outside perspective to help you sort through a really great idea or to help you get past a fear or roadblock in your way.
BB: What are your top five tips for women who want to grow within your industry (ex: get a promotion, obtain more clients, start a business, etc)?
1) If you do something daily on your way to your big goal, totally amazing things will start happening.
2) Don’t wait for your boss to manage your career development plan for you. You are the only one in charge of it. You have to make things happen yourself because no one else is going to do it for you. Ask your boss for a career development discussion this week.
3) Be comfortable being uncomfortable. The best opportunities come when you are a little scared.
4) Once you say no to the things in your life that are holding you back and free up room for awesome things to come your way, doors will start opening.
5) Start small and take small risks. That will help you gain the confidence to make bigger risks in the future.
BB: What are some of the obstacles that you have come across during your path to success and how did you overcome them?
Being an introvert was definitely a challenge but my networking challenge was crucial to my success. On January 1st, 2011, I made a new year’s resolution to knock down my networking barriers and reach my goals. I was graduating with my MBA and I was majorly stuck in a career rut. I had been so busy going to school and working full-time that I had forgotten to network. With two months left of business school, I was determined to use networking as a way to figure out the next step in my career. I embarked on a 4X4 networking challenge where every month I would meet with four people I already knew but would like to get to know even better. I also made a point of meeting with four new people that I didn’t know. My goal was to learn from each person I talked to and ask questions about how I could get to the next step in my career. At the end of 2011, I added 48 new people to my network and strengthened relationships with 48 friends, co-workers and family members. These conversations gave me clear direction and helped me gain confidence and really helped me determine what I wanted to do with my career and life.
