Ask Yourself Questions – Lots of Questions

By Sandy Prock M.Ed., JCTC, Co-Owner of www.ExpertResume.com and www.ExpertExecutiveResume.com

Change - it is hard - no doubt about it. Change also transforms your life. Whether the change was your idea, or someone else’s idea - something new is on the horizon for you.

How do you transition from where you are now, to where you want to be in the future? Start with something you mastered when you were a little kid - ask questions - lots of questions.

Why do we quit asking questions? One reason is that we may have a fixed mindset. Check out Carol Dweck’s (world renowned Stanford Psychologist) book called “Mindset” for more life changing ideas. Carol researched and discovered that people have two basic mindsets, one is fixed the other is a learning mindset.

The people in a fixed mindset believe they must protect who they are and what they know. They must keep their status as “smart” or whatever particular way they have chosen to describe themselves. The people who are in a mindset of learning, love challenges and even welcome criticism because it leads to greater understanding of a problem, or themselves.

If you are stuck in a job you don’t like, or you were let go or fired, your environment is telling you it is time for something new. New is good. New means you now have an opportunity to ask yourself some significant and important questions.

-         The number one question to ask is “What do I have to learn right now from this experience?”

-         The answer to that question will lead you to new opportunities in your life.

Explore other questions such as:

• What have you secretly been longing to do?

• What do you like and dislike about your job, or your past job?

• What did you dream of doing when you were a kid, but gave up long ago?

• Where do you really want to live?

• What part of your life are you unhappy about right now?

• What part of your life are you happy with right now?

• What did you dream about last night?

• What are you daydreaming about when you let your mind go free?

Answer those questions and keep asking more questions. Allow yourself to answer these questions in a journal or with a trusted associate. Do not discuss your dreams or explore new ideas with anyone invested in you being your “old” self. Explore what new things are clamoring to enter your life.

As an executive, you are used to managing people and policy. Turn your executive function toward yourself and explore your new possibilities.

Here is the key to answering and asking good questions. Keep at it. One answer leads to another. This is your self-discovery treasure hunt. This takes time. Just like a plant taking root and blooming, you cannot yank out of yourself your new direction. Allow your exploration process time to germinate and push through the soil. Allow your mind and potential to change, bloom and then flourish.

· What interests you right now?

Allow yourself to follow your interests, even if right now they do not make logical sense. When you do this, you are preparing the ground for new ideas to sprout and for synchronicity to bring you surprises and unexpected answers.

Happy hunting, find your new and better direction. When you are ready to move forward, put your best foot forward with a top-notch resume, cover letter and all the other documents you need to transition into your new life.

Bob Prock is an award winning resume writer. If you have any questions about your resume, cover letter or other job search documents, feel free to call Bob at 1-864-292-5288, email him at ExpertResume@yahoo.com or stop by our office for a free consultation. Our address is 2704 E. North Street, Greenville, SC 29615.

Bob and I wish you the best in your career development and job search.

Sandy Prock M.Ed. (Vocational Guidance and Counseling), JCTC (Job and Career Transition Coach, Co-Owner of www.ExpertResume.com and www.ExpertExecutiveResume.com