How bad do you want it?

I work with people all the time to RESET their careers, and what I’ve found is those people fall somewhere along the continuum above. Take a look at the descriptions and plot yourself along the line. The further to the right, the more likely your efforts will result in actual change. Stuck on the left? Keep reading books and articles, talking with your friends, and gearing up for the day when you’re really ready to RESET.

Where are you?

• The Tourist — Appears to be interested, but asks almost no questions. Just talks about miserable situation they’re in. More interested in a listening ear than actual change.
• The Fear-stricken — Is interested, but so bogged down by fear and anxiety that conversations are redundant. Lots of time passes and nothing changes. Has good intentions, but doesn’t move. Easily caught in the space of faux-progress — talking about it feels like progress but doesn’t manifest in change.
• The Firework — Starts with a bang then fizzles out. Gung-ho at first by developing self-awareness and taking some initial steps but falters when the majority of the work requires time and effort that would jeopardize the pre-8am or post-6pm routine.
• The Steady Eddie — Committed. Does the work to develop self-awareness and takes some action to generate opportunities. Doesn’t lose steam but also flatlines on progress. The reason, by the way, is typically a result of a lack of focus and/or subtle fear. Continues to drive, but doesn’t arrive.
• The All-In Resetter — Fed up, both with self and situation. Recognizes need to change and that change only comes through own efforts. Completes assignments, asks tons of questions, takes risks, and gets it done.

NOTE: The most common factor separating the first four types from the All-In Resetter is fear. At some level, fear works in the life of the first four types, causing a lack of action.

Lots of intent, no real impact.

It’s not that the All-In Resetter doesn’t experience fear, it’s that they’ve chosen to acknowledge it, punch fear in the gut, and move anyway.

The only antidote for fear is action.