Thinking of moving on from the corporate world? 10 questions that helped me see clearly

My friends & ex colleagues from corporate world very often talk to me, candidly, their wish to get out of a 10-5 routine and do what their heart desires. Having observed me for close to a year operating independently in the domain of executive & business coaching, the questions are about when I thought about it & how I went about it?.  I do share honestly all of it. It seems to build their confidence. I am however cautious enough to add that each of us who change their career direction have to think through their transition and journey. Each individual is unique and so is their thinking.

At the end of the day, each one of us takes our decisions based on our goals & current situation. It is therefore imperative that we focus on these two and ask ourselves the questions. My ten questions would be:

1.     What would I love doing (goals) if I do not wish to continue a job in the corporate world?

2.     What are my key requirements and desires that I want fulfilled by being independent?

3.     What is so special and unique about these requirements that it can only be fulfilled by being independent?

4.     What more do I need to acquire (knowledge & skills) to do that successfully?

5.     Who all would be helpful & supportive to my plans & thereafter?

6.     Which stakeholders will be impacted by my decision and what would be their needs that I must take care of?

7.     How can I address the needs of my stakeholders (Parents, Kids, Spouse) in the transition phase?

8.     What actions I need to take, to be successful in my new career? Am I committed and comfortable doing those?

9.     What are my financial obligations that I need to manager now & later (within next 2 years of change)?

10.            What would I miss out on, if I do not make a career change now?

There could be questions, different and more, which people who have changed career could tell you. It is my view that answers to these 10 questions would make you reflect hard and take a better decision. My experience having gone through this phase and also coaching people have helped me frame them. I have helped a client make this decision & transition, successfully. Another friend decided against changing career as some of these questions helped him think more clearly.

I was compelled to write this blog as few days back a close friend and ex colleague met me and shared that he seems to be at the brink of taking a decision to quit. I sensed from his statements that he may be missing out on some pieces (after all I am a coach J ). So I asked him a few questions out of those I mentioned here. He thought & thought and smiled. He said no one has asked me these questions. “These questions are making me think & let me therefore write them down and work on it. It will give me clarity of thinking and possibly way ahead”.

What he revealed later was quite interesting. He shared “when I have bounced these thoughts off other close friends, they were unable to give me any valuable insight to help me set my decision, leaving me as indecisive and confused as previously”.

So when you come to a point where you cannot tolerate where you are, because you want to celebrate your goals, it's time for a new start. Begin with these questions.