Thinking Of A Career Change? 3 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Making A Move
- Aug 30, 2023
- 2 min read
Written by: Michelle Schafer, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
I've never been a Formula One fan. The Netflix series Drive To Survive has changed that. The documentary provides a behind-the-scenes look at the drivers and races of the Formula One World Championship.
The competition. The cutthroat negotiations. The backstabbing among drivers (yes, even drivers on the same team). The high-stakes finances. But one episode in particular really grabbed my attention. Man On Fire. This episode (season 3, episode 9) chronicles Romain Grosjean's catastrophic crash at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. As his family watched in horror, Grosjean's car slammed into a wall and burst into flames. For an excruciating 2 min and 45 seconds, his family thought he was dead. And then he walked away from the burning vehicle. Listening to his wife talk about what was going through her mind during those minutes, is heart-wrenching. Which is why Grosjean made a decision to walk away from Formula One. He couldn't think about putting his family through that stress again – to have them suffer through another crash. Grosjean had a literal "crash and burn" moment that caused him to pivot his career and transition to other forms of motorsport. If you are looking at making a career change, perhaps you've had your own "crash and burn" moment. A project that failed, with no support to learn from the experience. A feeling of dread that arises every Monday as you gear up for a new work week. A conflict of values with your leader, and the organization you work with. Romain Grosjean changed career streams prompted by a catastrophic event. You don't need to wait for things to get really bad before making a change.
Here are 3 questions you can ask yourself to help you decide if it’s time to stay – or time to go:
Reflect on the work that gives you energy. Is what you are doing now feeding that energy?
Reflect on what's most important to you – in an organization, in a leader, in a team you work with. Is where you are now meeting that criteria?
Reflect on your non-negotiables – your dealbreakers. Are these being honoured today?
What can you do for yourself now – before things get really bad? You have choices. There are options. Take this time to think and plan.
Michelle Schafer, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Michelle Schafer is an International Coaching Federation Certified Coach and Facilitator specializing in career transition and leadership. She is the owner and founder of Michelle Schafer Coaching, empowering people to achieve career fulfillment. Michelle has personally experienced two significant career transitions through restructuring and has reinvented herself for new careers both times. She deeply understands the physical, emotional and mental impact associated with a job search. Michelle is passionate about people and inspired by their progress, working with clients at all levels of an organization and across sectors including federal and municipal government, high tech, not-for-profit and financial services. Michelle offers coaching 1:1 in groups and recently was certified in the foundations of team coaching with the Global Team Coaching Institute.
