For ambitious working moms, the decision to pull the plug on a career they have spent years building is next to impossible. Why it is so hard? Most of us have defined success for ourselves, consciously or unconsciously, and anything but that is, in our own minds, tantamount to failure. We get so focused on staying the course that we sometimes forget to change our goals as our life changes.
Climbing the corporate ladder can require sacrifices that you aren't ready to make. If that time comes, you have to be ready to look at the big picture. A career in the corporate world isn't the only path to success - you do have other options. Thanks to advances in technology, working moms can still feed their ambitious side without going into an office for forty plus hours a week. You have more options than ever before, including working a reduced schedule, telecommuting, taking time off, and starting your own business.
Here are three signs that the corporate fast-track may not be your best bet, at least for now:
You've used most of your paid time off before summer even begins. If you are burning through your vacation time faster than you can accrue it, you may want to consider taking a few years off, if possible. It used to be that once you jumped off the fast-track, there was no going back, but this isn't the case anymore. Organizations have realized that they are missing out on an incredible talent pool here and are scrambling to tap into this market. There are even recruiters and job boards dedicated to bringing this group back into the workforce the moment they are ready.
You spend more time at work dealing with family issues (or thinking about them) than you do working. Let's face it; if you are spending that much of your work time on family issues, you aren't going anywhere fast anyway. Just as a mom knows when her kids are up to something, so too, does the boss (and typically HR). This is probably a case where you are the only one who doesn't realize that it's time to dial your schedule back a notch. We are, after all, typically the last to see what is so obvious to others. Reducing your hours or telecommuting can be a great alternative for someone in this situation. Check out today's featured resource to learn how you can get your boss t o say yes.
You have a nagging feeling that you are missing out on more than you are gaining. There is a whole world outside your office. Suppressing the thought that you should be out there rather than in your office will not make it go away. Entrepreneurship is a great option for women who are ready to opt out of a traditional career without giving up work completely and flexibility is just one of the perks. Creative control over your work and unlimited income potential make it even more appealing. Not ready to give up a sure thing for the uncertainty that comes with a new business? Advancements in technology have made it feasible for working moms to get a business up a nd running while still bringing home a paycheck from their day job.
Your Assignment:
Whether the time is now or it's fast approaching, define your priorities and your goals and then list your options. Which one offers you the best fit? Need help weighing your options and creating a plan of action? My new Single Strategy Session will help you gain clarity and create a plan of action in just one hour. But hurry, I only schedule a limited number of these sessions each month
Comments