The 4 career change myths debunked

In this post, I’m going to show how you too can leave your comfort zone to start a new career that will still sustain your family and bring in a full-time income.

And this is a major challenge that is on many minds these days. Did you know that a whopping 55% of millennials are not engaged at work? And 60% is looking to switch jobs?

To change careers, you need faith in your abilities, insights into what you are good at AND the courage to leap. If you lack self-confidence and courage, it is less likely that you will make the transition that I have witnessed dozens of times in the last months.

Since I switched from a corporate director to entrepreneurship, I know something about this.

Let’s start with the #1 myth. In this post, I will bust 3 other myths that share the principles I used and still teach my clients to this day.

MYTH: When you change careers, you have to start over.

Most think that you have to start from scratch. I fell into the trap too. When I became a coach, I thought my business background would not be helpful. But that is of course not true.

My business experience is helping me coach corporate clients and makes me an excellent executive coach. I know what it is like to be at the top. How people act, what is expected of you: I know all this from first-hand experience. And that raises the worth of my advice.

This is also true for you. No matter which switches you are considering. You bring all of your experience to your new job!

MYTH: Positive thinking will help you do this

This might be a bit uncomfortable for many to hear. But positive thinking is often the exact opposite of what you need to conquer your fears.

As with any emotion, fear only goes away when you truly acknowledge it. When you feel it. Did you know that emotions are only meant to last 90 seconds? After that, it is the emotional story that you put on auto-repeat in your head. And it keeps looping unless you decide otherwise.

I always recommend finding the story behind your fear and replacing it with a new story. This is much more effective than positive thoughts or doing affirmations. I am not saying they don’t help. See them as a tool to scratch the surface.

They do not solve the root cause.

When it comes to conquering fear, biology plays a hugely important role.

I have dedicated a huge amount of time to understand what happens in our bodies and brain.

When faced with fear, your brain sees a saber tooth tiger or a bear. Ready to attack and you need to fight, flight, freeze. The amygdala part of your brain takes over!

Practicing emotional resilience techniques, most notably meditation, builds better self-awareness which will result in fewer amygdala responses. It is about observation first, working with the subconscious second, and only then positive thinking comes into play.

MYTH: If I persist and use my willpower, the fear and insecurity will go away

Negative ideas cannot be changed by willpower but by new ideas. So no, using the sheer power of will, that won't work. It will only make you tired and frustrated.

Instead, learn to relax when thinking these thoughts because that takes the negative charge off. Then choose again. Choose again is at the core of CBT and an incredibly powerful method.

Realize that you are the director of your life story! Your brain is running programs on auto-pilot. And it is you who can decide to change the programs. Just like upgrading a computer, it is possible to upgrade your beliefs and confidence.

One of my clients had a breakthrough when she participated in my group program FLOW (currently only in Dutch). I teach my customers that instead of relying on willpower, it is much better to connect to your vision. (And for all your perfectionists out there: your vision is just a snapshot of what you want right now. It does not have to perfect. It only has to make you excited.)

Connecting to our vision is incredibly powerful and motivating. It shows us what is possible. BUT we have to open the door. I call this working with portals.

Imagine this. You are standing on a spot. In front of you is a door. This is the portal to your next level. The only thing you have to do is open it. But without action, nothing will happen. You have to show up, open the door and walk through it.

Your vision will create the portal but only by taking actions aligned with the vision, will you be able to walk through it.

Myth: I have already chosen my career, now I need to stick with it

For me, a major breakthrough came to couple of years ago. My friend and I were having coffee. She told me that she was going to start a 4-year program to become a nurse practitioner. She was 36 at the time and had been working in an unrelated area. I was puzzled and happy for her. Because she seemed excited.

But a 4-year program? That was a big commitment especially with a family and kids at home. And then she said this. I was stunned.

“Floor, we still have to work for more than 30 years. Why not do something that is fun? Because 30 years is a long time to be bored.”

She was so right.

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Now I have helped a great number of clients on the same path. And that is totally normal.

Research reveals career change is the new norm. Millennials dubbed the “job-hopping generation” do not plan to hold jobs for life. They are more likely to look for new opportunities within the next year compared to older generations.

So if you have not found yourself contemplating what your next career will be, you are among the minority.

My advice, just go for it. Settle your fears and leap.

If you are considering a career change, but you are looking for ways to leave your comfort zone.

You might benefit from my 3 day rewriting your life story challenge. It is a free challenge totally focused on lasting change.