Change, or a career transition, often feels intimidating. And it comes with its fair share of uncertainty. Yet it’s above all a doorway to new possibilities.
I’m currently in the middle of another professional reinvention. It’s the second time since I became a graphic facilitator twelve years ago. And even though I’m not letting go of my craft this time, I’m adapting it to new horizons.
Here are seven tips to help you navigate career transitions and embrace change:
1- Identify your passions
It all starts with self-awareness. What do you truly love doing? Which activities make you feel alive?
If you manage to get paid for what you love most, you’re bound to thrive!
2- Take stock of your skills
What skills do you already have, and how could they serve you in a new field?
And I mean all your skills, not just the ones you learned at school.
Do you love sailing? Singing? Do you make everyone laugh at family dinners? Are you the one who always wins at Monopoly? Can you calm a baby instantly?
Think about it. There’s gold hidden behind all these qualities.
3- Keep learning
The world is changing fast. Learning new skills, or deepening the ones you already have, can open doors to worlds you haven’t even imagined yet.
I had never heard of graphic facilitation back in high school, but every step I took since then somehow led me there, and once I arrived, I thrived almost instantly.
4- Cultivate flexibility and improvisation
Change rarely follows a straight path. Learning to adapt and improvise is essential.
Experiment. Try things out. Let yourself be surprised. Flexibility keeps you afloat when the map disappears.
5- Explore new ways of listening and creating
Through practices like meditation, singing, or other forms of artistic and sensory exploration, I’ve learned to sharpen my listening and broaden my perception of the world.
That kind of deep listening is key when navigating the unknown flow of transition.
6- Build your support network
Surround yourself with people who believe in you, share your values, and celebrate your quirks.
Step away from those ruled by fear. The ones who say it’s impossible, that you dream too big, that you’re too much or not enough.
Seek out passionate souls. You’ll see, there are more of us than you think!
7- Acknowledge and accept uncertainty
Admitting that you’re in an « unknown zone » is the first step toward turning anxiety into excitement.
For me, it means accepting that I don’t yet know what the future holds. But that uncertainty is a fertile ground where new opportunities will soon grow.
In short: learn to dance in the void. You’ll see: it’s exhilarating!
Transitioning between two professional chapters is a challenge, but it’s also an incredible adventure.
The unknown, far from being an empty space, is actually full of potential and possibility.
What about you? How do you approach times of change and uncertainty in your own life?