Sometimes we miss some of the
biggest career opportunities in our lives simply because we don't ask.
There are hundreds of career
possibilities
in the world today, many which pass by on a daily basis, but you
need to be attuned to them and grasp them when they come into view.
Opportunity
will come knocking, but you have to be there to answer the door.
Taking small risks
If you are a regular reader of this column, or my online weblog, you will already
know that I recently returned from my first trip to Hawaii. My family and
I went to visit a close friend of ours, Lorilyn, who moved to the island
of Oahu about 2 years ago. This is her story. It shows what is possible if
we only seek out and exploit the opportunities that come our way.
Previous to her move, Lorilyn had visited the islands several times within
one year. She had friends there herself and found that she really enjoyed
the environment and the people. After she returned from one trip with glowing
accounts of her visit, I wondered aloud if she might try to move there someday.
Here in Los Angeles, she was working for a national organization that assists
the poor with pre-natal and early childhood nutrition and healthcare. It
happened that this same organization also has branches in Hawaii. I jokingly
told her that, when she was next visiting, she should stop by their office
and see if they had any job openings. This is exactly what she did. Almost
before we knew what was happening, she had had several phone interviews and
had been offered a job. Then, in a matter of months, she had moved to the
islands.
This is only one small story, but it shows the power that you have in your
career. Sure, it is easier to make such a large change in your life when
you are unencumbered by spouse or children, but I would challenge you to
not let those issues stop you from investigating opportunities. There is
no harm in checking them out and certainly no harm in asking some questions.
Start looking for opportunities
Are their opportunities in your life that you are ignoring? Many larger corporations
today are national, if not international in scope. Would you like to live
somewhere else? Would you like to try living in another country? Why not
check with your human resources department today and see what opportunities
might be available? What do you have to lose? Nothing, but you just might
gain a wonderful new aspect to your career and your life. Even if you don't
want to move out of the country maybe you could move to the coasts, the Midwest,
the north, the south, anywhere your company might have offices. More than
likely you will find that these opportunities also provide you a chance to
move up the corporate ladder, combining a new location with a new position
and, possibly, a higher salary.
If you are a freelancer, consider places where you might be able to continue
your craft or business that might provide a better standard of living or
a better environment. After several visits to Sedona, Arizona and the surrounding
area, I have investigated the possibility of moving my family and my business
there. I am originally from New London, Ohio, a small farm community (pop.
2000) in north-central Ohio. As you might imagine, Los Angeles has been a
significant culture shock over the last 20 years. Due to its tourism, Sedona
provides many of the good aspects of a major city, while being surrounded
by open ranch land and a National Forest. While I have not made any major
decisions yet, it sits in the back of my mind as a possibility. Do you have
a favorite location where you would like to live? Have you investigated the
possibility of moving there? Why not? There could be an opportunity just
waiting to be explored.
Don't let opportunities pass you by just because they might seem far-fetched
or even impossible. There is no penalty for investigating opportunities and
yet you can gain great advantages both in your career and in your life. Let
yourself dream on occasion. You might just find a new career in the islands
of Hawaii or in your personal favorite destination.
Comments, Questions, Reviews?
Career
Opportunities
