Getting Clear on What You Want

The Momentum Files #13

What do you really want?

Knowing what you want isn’t always easy.

Take Thanksgiving. Which do you reach for first – the creamy cheddar mashed potatoes or the light and flaky homemade biscuits?

You’ll decide in seconds which to add to your plate (I know, it’s probably both!). No need to create a pro/con list or weigh the risk versus the reward. It’s easy.

 

Now consider career transition. Preparing for a career change requires you to make decisions that will affect your life (and possibly others) now and moving forward.

It’s not easy.

To successfully navigate your transition – meaning you’re happy and fulfilled on the other side of it – you have to step into it knowing exactly what you want.

This should be a no-brainer, right? It isn’t.

But I’m here to support you – which is why I’m sharing FOUR expert tips that will clear the mind clutter and shine a light on what you value most.

Plus, a don’t-miss exercise that you can start doing now to ensure you’re filling your plate with the right things (…the things that will help you reach your goals!).



✅ Expert Tip #1: Get real about your fears.

A career change – big or small - can leave you feeling vulnerable and hold you back from taking actions that can lead you to more fulfilling opportunities. Getting candid about what scares you (what you don’t want) allows you to identify how you can confidently manage the process (what you do want).

You might be fearful about:

  • Meeting your financial commitments.

  • Overcomplicating things.

  • Leaving your comfort zone.

  • Proving yourself in a new arena.

  • Uncertainty and rejection.

  • Failing.

Check out the top 5 fears you’ll face during times of career transition – and the solutions that keep you moving forward.

✅ Expert Tip #2: Talk to you your future self.

An effective way to identify what you want now is to imagine what you’ll want later.

Maybe you’ll be:

  • Traveling internationally

  • Working from home

  • Building a new business aligned with your passions

  • Enjoying better life balance (finally – relaxing mornings in the garden!)

  • Speaking on a big stage inspiring a captivated audience

Think about your future self. What do you imagine yourself doing 5 years from now? How about 10 years from now? How do you want to be living day-to-day? Knowing what you want later will help you take the right steps now.

✅ Expert Tip #3: Remember your why.

Why is different from what. What is the thing you want (a bigger salary, a shorter commute). Why is the emotion that fuels your what.

  • I want to feel less rushed during the week, so I want a shorter commute.

  • I want to feel the pride that comes with supporting my family, so I want a bigger salary.

  • I want to feel adventurous, so I want to break into a new field.

To get clear about what you want, always ask yourself why it matters.


✅ Expert Tip #4: Get specific.

Up for a dating analogy?

A matchmaker asks you, “Who are looking to date?”

You reply, “Someone single.”

What is the matchmaker supposed to do with THAT? Let’s try again.

A matchmaker asks you, “Who are looking to date?”

You reply, “I’d like to meet someone who is over 6 feet tall, has dark hair and a killer sense of humor, enjoys hiking and loves to travel the world.”

That matchmaker is going to introduce you to someone compatible before you can say swipe right.

Here’s the point. The more specific you are about what you want, the better support you’ll receive from those who want to help you! You’ll get better job recommendations, introductions to the right experts and the exact guidance you need to achieve your career transition goals.

Here’s that Don’t-Miss Exercise to start getting clear today!

To get more clarity around what you DO want, I recommend you get clear on what you DON’T want. When you identify your pain points (I don’t want to drive too far, I don’t want to be underpaid), you uncover the things you value most.

This exercise – I call it Want / Don’t Want – is about getting things out of your head and in front of your eyes.

Here’s what to do. Grab a post-it pad and pen. Put them by the bathroom mirror (or anywhere you’ll see them every day.) Jot down the things you want – one *want* per post-it – and stick ‘em up on the mirror. Next? Keep it alive! Look at it every day! Remove things that you realize don’t matter to you as much as you’d thought. Add things that you realize matter greatly.

Before you know it, you’ll be looking at a specific “most wanted” list that takes into account your fears, your future and your why!

Reply and tell me your biggest career transition challenge! I’ll personally reply and support you!

To Your Success!

Cindy Haba


P.S. A career transition is so much easier with a trusted ally to guide you! I’m offering you a FREE call to candidly discuss your wants and how I can help you navigate change like a pro. Click here to book!

Cindy Haba