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Career Barriers: Beating the Big Three

July 7, 2020 by Wendy Toth Leave a Comment

Have you ever done a “single-leg slide?” It is the most boring exercise known to humankind. You lie on your back and slide one foot towards your butt, then back down. So what does this have to do with career barriers? Stay with me.

The single-leg slide happens to be very important for rebuilding your core after a back injury or carrying a baby. I have done thousands of single-leg slides since carrying my kids, with the goal of getting back to long-distance running.

It works. Building your core makes everything better. Your form, your strength (your nagging back and hip pain), your confidence, and your joy.

No matter what your job situation is (or isn’t) right now, I bet you could benefit from some core strengthening. Building up foundational career skills makes everything else easier. It’s how you break through career development barriers.

Career Barriers: The Big Three

There are three barriers that my career transition clients consistently face:

  • I can’t stay focused.
  • I’m in a rut.
  • I don’t have the time.

These aren’t excuses. They’re real barriers to career development that require practice to beat.

Think about them again. Which one is your career barrier?

Career Barrier 1: FOCUS

Hint: To focus on the right things, STOP CARING about the wrong ones.

Career Barrier 2: OPPORTUNITY

Hint: If you are in a rut and can’t see any opportunities coming your way, look more carefully at what’s hiding in plain sight.

Career Barrier 3: TIME

Hint: To use time efficiently, say NO to pointless tasks.

These are the first three areas I cover with every career transition client.

Now not everyone needs extra core exercises on their plate. I only work with people after we evaluate, together, if they really need the support, and more importantly, if they can take on the work. But some of us REALLY need it.

When you need it, you know.

In the early days of my single-leg slides, my friend at the gym would be like “Hey, want to take the new spin class later?” and I’d be like, “Nope, I’ll be on that sad mat in the corner slowly moving my foot back and forth for the next 20 minutes.” I needed it and I knew. I may not have liked it, but there I was.

While I was at it, a guy, any guy, would sit next to me and do something fancy like sit-ups with a weighted ball on his chest.

And I would feel like a wimp.

If you have a friend who just got a promotion or a great new gig and you’re saying, “I’m just working on my time management skills,” you too may feel like a wimp. Try not to care about this feeling. It will go away.  

I have graduated to other, vastly more interesting modes of torture (read: strength training).  And I’m working up to running what my PT calls a “happy mile.”

That’s running one mile, pain-free. If you are a marathoner, this may not sound like much, but it is WAY more exciting than where I started, especially the pain-free part. Longer distances are within sight.

This is how career moves should go too. At first, it might seem slow, but with a rock-solid core, you’re running before you know it.

Learn how to break through your biggest barrier:

  • Focus
  • Time
  • Opportunity

If you’d like to learn more about career transition coaching, book a free 15-minute connection call with me.

Filed Under: Finding Balance Tagged With: essay

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About PowerSuiting I’m Wendy, a long-time journalist and career coach. I started PowerSuiting to help other creative women get ahead, without giving up who they are. Wondering if I can support you in a career transition? Book a FREE call with me.

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