Last Thursday and Friday I was in a fantastic and productive mood. (Big difference from my pickle day.)
It’s so funny how my mood takes a turn for the positive when I’m busy, productive and feeling motivated. I’ve always said, the more I have to do – the more I seem to get done and the better I feel. Burning the candle at both ends really brings out the best in me.
So this past Monday I gave my formal acceptance of the new role. I start on March 1st splitting my time transitioning between the current and new role, with a goal of spending 100% of my time in the new role by the end of March.
Yesterday I worked from home. As I sat in my living room typing away and not having much in person contact with others I started to feel anxious and flat out uncomfortable with my decision to make this career change.
Am I making a mistake? I have to give up more than I realized…
- My own personal office
- A boss I have had for 6 years and therefore know what her goals and pet peeves are
- A team that is positive, hard-working and respects me as the expert
- A flexible schedule in that I can state when I need to take lunch outside of the office, run to the doctor’s or take vacation
- Working from home – I work on Tuesdays from home. I imagine for at least the first few months I won’t be working from home
- Confidence – in every meeting, on every call, during each project – I knew the right answers, I knew the questions they’d ask, I just felt like I knew it all.
- Comfort – after 6 years, I’m flat out comfortable. I don’t worry or stress about coming into work. In fact, I’m pretty meh about it in general.
So what is the payoff to keep going through this discomfort?
- A new skillset
- A mentor I respect and am looking forward to working with
- Training and certification for my PMP paid for by the company that will help me in my career forever (if I pass…)
- Managing projects and no longer being in a support role (one that caused too many last second late nights, cancelled plans, 2 am calls)
- A career path that will allow me to have kids, reduce hours or move up, move between industries (if I want)
- The option to work two days a week from home (after a certain amount of time)
- A career path that will allow me to higher my salary without fully losing my work/life balance
Fake it until I make it? I want to do this. I can do this. I will push past this discomfort and keep going.
ultra runner dean karnazes said it well … ““somewhere along the line we seem to have confused comfort with happiness.”
we can’t get to the next level or achieve great new successes without pushing ourselves outside the realm of comfort. and the longer term payoffs from making this change sound so worth the temporary sacrifices. you’re going to ROCK! xo
Good luck in your new job, sometimes you have to take a leap!