Index

action, taking, 8, 93, 98

adaptability, 11

advisers, trusted, 98–101. See also coaches

analysis paralysis, 2, 98

apprenticeships, 115–117

assets, using your, 140–141

backup plans, 83–84

best self exercise, 62. See also exercises

boredom, as signal it’s time to take stock, 9–10. See also stock, taking

budgeting, 79–80. See also financial issues

career

being stuck in wrong, 87–111

building expertise in new, 163–167

having multiple, 171–175

identify themes in, 144–146 (see also storytelling)

length of, 40

passion for, 59–64 (see also passion)

reevaluating, 7–15

stages of, 40–41

career changes

context of, 5

conventional wisdom on, 1–2, 90, 93, 96, 98–99

financial issues of, 77–86

guidance on, 98–101 (see also coaches; advisers, trusted)

imagination exercises for, 65–68 (see also exercises)

making big, 101–102

midlife crisis and, 31–36

obstacles to, 90

radical, 185–191

reasons for, 78–79

resilience and, 189

risk taking and, 71–76

studies of, 91–92

success stories, 102–103, 171–175, 177–184, 185–191

test and learn model for, 103–110, 111

test driving, 115–123

thinking about, 87–89 (see also reflection)

three-point plan for, 93–94

career decision scorecard, 155–161

career fuel, 41–42

career stages, 40–41

career stories, 143–147

career strategy, 39–43

change

big, 101–102, 186

fear of, 3, 90 (see also fear; risk taking; risk tolerance)

test and learn model of, 103–110

triggers for, 108–110

coaches, 23–25. See also advisers, trusted

cold calls, 127–132. See also informational interviews; networking

company research, 127–128, 133. See also informational interviews

connections

keeping alive, 135–136

making, 135

shifting, 104, 107–108

using your, 140–141

See also relationships; networking

core self, straying from, as signal it’s time to take stock, 10–11. See also stock, taking

core values, 12, 20, 26–27. See also stock, taking

corporate culture, 11, 35

cost-saving opportunities, 79–82. See also financial issues

coworkers, 99–100. See also advisers, trusted

crafting experiments, 104, 105–106

culture, corporate, 11, 35

deep smarts, developing, 163–164. See also expertise, building

demoralization, as signal it’s time to take stock, 9. See also stock, taking

discretionary spending, 81–82, 85. See also financial issues

dream job exercise, 66–67. See also exercises

dreams, for future, 20–21. See also tools for reflection

emergency funds, 81–82. See also financial issues

ethical conflicts, 11–13

as signal it’s time to take stock, 9–10

See also stock, taking

executive coaches, 23–25. See also advisers, trusted

executive development programs, 17, 18, 22

executives, informational interviews with, 125–137. See also networking

exercises

best self, 62

dream job, 66–67

imagination, 65–68

job crafting, 47

lifeline, 19–21

life principles, defining, 20

mental models, 62–64

reflection, tools for, 19–21

time horizon, extended, 20–21

tools for reflection, 19–21

expectations, managing financial, 84–86. See also financial issues

experience section, of LinkedIn profile, 152–153. See also LinkedIn profiles

experience(s)

mini, 166 (see also career changes, test driving)

past, 139–142

experiments

crafting, 104

shifting, 105–106

expertise, building, 163–167

experts

gaining knowledge from, 164–165

observing in action, 165–166

extreme jobs, 66. See also exercises; imagination

family

advice from, 99

expectations of, 24, 84–86

impact of change on, 84–85

perspective of, 24

fear

of change, 3, 90

letting go of, 189

financial issues

of career changes, 77–86

emergency funds, 81–82

reduced income, 79–81

responsibilities, financial, 9, 77

security, financial, 17, 73

freelancing, 106. See also experiments

frugal living, 81–82, 85. See also financial issues

fuel, career, 41–42

future

creating the, 188

dreams for, 20–21

envisioning, 21, 186–187

gatekeepers, 129. See also cold calls; networking

goals

for career experiment, 121–122

setting, 9, 75

taking steps toward, 74–76, 102, 188

halo effect, 140. See also professional status

headhunters, 100. See also advisers, trusted; coaches

headline section, of LinkedIn profile, 150–151. See also LinkedIn profiles

identity

possible selves, 96–98

professional, 10–11, 17

working, 97–98, 103–110, 111

images, in LinkedIn profile, 153–154. See also LinkedIn profiles

imagination, 65–68. See also exercises

inaction, 71–72. See also risk taking

income, living on new, 79–81. See also financial issues

inexperience, as virtue, 141–142. See also professional status

informational interviews, 125–137. See also cold calls; networking

innovation, 174. See also career, having multiple

interests, past, 67. See also imagination; exercises

internships, 123

job

boredom in, 9–10

diagramming your, 48–52

feeling stuck/trapped in, 9, 46, 87–111

finding new meaning in, 25–29

time off from, 15–17

See also career

job crafting, 45–57

about, 46–47

benefits of, 47–48

exercise, 47

limits of, 55–56

mindset for, 48

process of, 48–55

See also exercises

job satisfaction

assessing current, 42–43

decline in, 46

in midlife, 32–33

job security, 71–72, 73

job shadowing, 119–120

knowledge

gaining from experts, 164–165

pulling, 165

leaders

rediscovering passion for work, 8

support for employees by, 28–29

leadership programs, 17, 18, 22

life, shortness of, as signal it’s time to take stock, 13–15. See also stock, taking

life coaches, 23–25. See also advisers, trusted

lifeline, 19–20. See also exercises

life principles, defining, 20. See also exercises

life satisfaction, 32–34

LinkedIn profiles, 149–154

living abroad, 178–182

meaning

finding new, 25–29

personal, 7

meaningful work, 39–43

media samples, in LinkedIn profile, 153–154. See also LinkedIn profiles

mental models, 62–64. See also exercises

mentors/mentoring, 35, 41, 99–100, 107–108, 120

Merchant, Nilofer, 177–184

midlife crisis, 31–36

causes of, 32–35

coping with, 35–36

mini experiences, 166. See also career changes, test driving

mission, as a wake-up call and signal it’s time to take stock, 13. See also stock, taking

multiple careers, 171–175

networking, 74, 84, 107–108, 135. See also cold calls; connections; informational interviews; professional circles

9/11 attack, 14

obstacles, to career change, 90

opportunities

deciding between, 155–161

in early career stage, 40

learning, 165, 166

planned, 187

outplacers, 100. See also advisers, trusted; coaches

passion

clarifying professional, 59–64

connecting to your, 188–189

as driver, 8

lost, 87

reawakening for work, 7–29

renewal strategies, 15–29

past

experience, 139–142

interests, 67 (see also imagination; exercises)

reflecting on, 19–20

perceptions, 47, 53–54

planned opportunism, 187

possible selves, 96–98

priorities, changing, 13–14

professional circles, 173–174. See also networking

professional identity, 17. See also identity

professional status, 139–142

professional themes, 144–146. See also storytelling

purpose, 188–189. See also meaning

questions, for informational interviews, 134–135

recommendations, in LinkedIn profile, 153

reevaluating, your career, 7–15

reflection

collective, 23

on past, 19–20

self, 94, 96

solitary, 23

tools for, 19–21 (see also exercises)

reflective structures, 22–23

relationships

adding value to, 135–136

assessing, 47

close, 74, 99–100, 107–108

in different circles, 173–174

enduring, 42

job crafting and, 53, 54–55

maintaining, 84

shifting, 104, 107–108

toxic, 54–55

turning informational interviews into, 135–136

See also connections

relocation, 178–182

renewal

cycle of, 190

strategies, 15–29

research, company, 127–128, 133. See also informational interviews

resilience, 189

reverse mentoring, 41. See also advisers, trusted

risk taking, 71–76

risk tolerance, 82–83

role models, 164. See also expertise, building

sabbaticals, 16, 106

scorecard, career decision, 155–161

self-awareness, 61–62

self-examination, 10–11, 22–23

self-knowledge, 94–95, 96, 98

self-reflection, 94, 96

self-study, 164

sense of self, as signal it’s time to take stock, 10–11. See also stock, taking

sense making, 104, 108–110

September 11 attack, 14

side projects, 105–106

signals, 186. See also taking stock

skill development, 172–173

skills, 67–68

transportable, 42

stages, career, 40–41

status, professional, 139–142

strengths, extreme, 67. See also imagination; exercises

stock, taking, 8–15

stories

career, 143–147

success, 102–103, 171–175, 177–184, 185–191

storytelling, 146–147

strategy, career, 39–43

strengths, 67

success stories, 102–103, 171–175, 177–184, 185–191

summary section, of LinkedIn profile, 151–152. See also LinkedIn profiles

taking stock, 8–15

tasks, 47, 49–50, 52–53

temporary assignments, 106

test and learn model, 103–110, 111

thank-you notes, 135. See also informational interviews; networking

time

investing wisely, 43

spent on tasks, 49–50

time horizon, extended, 20–21. See also exercises

time-outs, 15–17, 106

tools for reflection, 19–21. See also exercises

toxic relationships, 54–55

transformation process, 182–183

transportable skills, 42

trapped, feeling, as signal it’s time to take stock, 9. See also stock, taking

traumatic events, as signal it’s time to take stock, 13–15. See also stock, taking

trigger events, 108–110. See also stock, taking

true self, 96. See also identity

uncertainty, 73, 105. See also risk taking; risk tolerance

values, 12, 20, 26–27

volunteering, 117–119, 120, 122–123

wake-up calls, as signals it’s time to take stock, 13–15. See also stock, taking

work

meaningful, 39–43, 78

reawakening passion for, 7–29

See also career; job

working identity, 90, 93, 97–98, 103–110, 111

work-life balance, 12–13, 43, 77, 78

work situation, assessing current, 42–43

Zaccaria, Leah, 185–191