Transitioning

How did you…..? These three words have rolled off the lips of my friends, family members and colleagues over the past six weeks in regards to the changes I have/am making. At times I can honestly say I took these steps and other times I tell them directly it is by the grace of God. If you are wondering how you can transition from Plan A to Plan B or just abandon ship completely I may be able to help.

I truly believe that we attract things that we need. If you look around at the things that come into your life you will start to see a pattern. We attract the things that destroy us and cause us to change paths, gain knowledge or simply gain a new network. You have to pay attention to the way you spend your time as this is the best indicator of what attracts you and keeps your attention. This is vital as the new skills and knowledge you gain from your attractions will directly impact your ability to transition.

On the other side of the river looking at your attractions are your fears. Yep, your fears can be helpful. One thing I have noticed is that I am deathly afraid of rejection. It takes me months to put my ideas to paper and after this it takes me forever to compose an email that will eventually end up in my Drafts for another two weeks before I close my eyes and hit send.  I have learned that they can’t say yes, if they never receive the information so while rejection slightly inconveniences me and hinders progress it does not rule me. I’m also afraid of flying, but I love to travel. I said all that to say I currently live abroad and head international projects that I created, negotiated and eventually hit send on. I hope you are starting to see a pattern. Your fears can lead you to your success so don’t run from them, but run towards them and even if you need Sleep Aid or a friend or five to proof read your proposal a time or ten hit send.

I know your fears can have you in the fetal position sucking your thumb, but don’t worry you have a plan and consistency. You can’t transition without a plan. This plan needs to be flexible but not flimsy. You should definitely be married to some of your ideas or you will end up blowing in the wind.  One thing I noticed when I finally decided to kick fear’s butt and pay attention to the things and people I gravitated towards was that I had consistently surrounded myself with a certain population. I love young people and I have volunteered with them since I was a sophomore in college. I also remember composing my personal statement for graduation and the goals I had were for the very population I currently serve. My plans to reach them over the years have changed, but my love for them has never wavered. I had a plan in 2005 when I graduated high school and a plan when I enrolled in grad school in 2009. This plan has comforted me on my darkest nights and shed light on the direction I should head.

All of these things are great but the glue that holds all of this together is a solid network. Creating a network is no easy task, at least not a supportive and genuine network. Maintaining your network is the same as any other healthy relationship. You have to establish boundaries, what is important to the individual and the entity they represent and also how you can create a mutually beneficial relationship. Your network is an essential piece to your success so cultivating the relationship should be top priority. If you want to find likeminded individuals attend social events that will afford you the opportunity to meet people. I want to share with you some vital information:

• Do not ask for a favor, job, etc. on the initial meeting unless it is a job seeking networking event. Even in this scenario it is best to ask for an informational meeting to find out more about the person as well as the company.
• Do follow-up immediately (within 24 hours) after meeting the person and add value to their life.
• Do use LinkedIn. I speak with so many people who tell me they want to do XYZ but they are not on LinkedIn or do not understand how to use the site. LinkedIn is the most important social media website for those looking to transition. So take advantage of the numerous posts, articles, and studies on how to properly use the site to build your network.

There is of course more than one way to skin a cat, but these four principles have truly changed my life and I hope as you continue to grow and transition that they will be of assistance to you. Remember you attract the things you need; your fears have no power over you especially if you have a strong plan and a great network.