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10 Dirty and Divine Career Reinvention Lessons (#9)

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Lesson #9: Expect the Unexpected

This is our darling little neighbor, and yes, he is as angelic as he appears.  Good natured and always smiling, he provides a breath of fresh air every time I see him.  But even this little angel isn’t perfect 100% of the time.

A few weeks ago, he decided to surprise his hard working mother with a little “gift.”  Knowing that she loves flowers, he ran into their garden and picked her a nice big bouquet of almost-ready-to-bloom peonies — the very flowers that she had spent hours carefully planting, weeding, pruning and watering, intending that they would bloom all summer long.

He presented them to her with a big smile and a hug. She responded with stunned silence.

Needless to say, Mama wasn’t happy. All that hard work, all those hours, all that planning – obliterated by one swift tug of a little boy’s hand. Alas, once she recovered from the initial shock, she found the humor in his misguided (but heartfelt) gesture of love. After a “little talk,” and a sincere promise to “never, ever, do that again,” all was forgiven.

Whether at home or in the office, we all have times in our lives when the unexpected torpedoes our plans.  A boss resigns, a layoff is announced or your best client decides to ditch you for a competitor.  No matter how good you are, how carefully you prepare or how hard you work, every career has its share of “moments.” As the bumper sticker so eloquently says, “s–t happens.”

Knowing that, it is always prudent to be prepared for the unexpected.  In terms of your career, that translates into taking actions that keep you market ready at all times.  Whether you are an employee or an entrepreneur, the three best things you can do to minimize the impact of an unwelcome turn of events are:

  1. Keep your network active: Stay in touch and support your network on a regular basis, especially when you are not looking for a job. Get involved with a professional group. Speak or write articles that enhance and expand your professional reputation
  2. Update your personal marketing materials: Regularly review your resume so it is ready to be presented at a moments notice.  Google yourself periodically to ensure your digital footprint is clean and compelling.  If you are an entrepreneur, refresh your blog on a regular basis to keep it relevant and timely.
  3. Upgrade your skills: Don’t wait until you are downsized, or put out of business by a savvier competitor, to bring your skills up to snuff. We live in a world where it is imperative to continually assess and improve your skills in order to ensure your long-term marketplace value.

You can’t know when or how bad things will happen.  But if you practice preventative medicine, you’ll be better equipped to spring into action with “Plan B” when your path is uprooted by the unexpected “moments” of life.

Enjoy this? Here is the rest of the series:

Lesson #1: Getting Started is the Hardest Part

Lesson #2: Plant Yourself in the Right Soil

Lesson #3: If You’re a Sun Loving Plant, Find a Sun Loving Garden

Lesson #4: Don’t Wait to Reach for the Watering Can

Lesson #5: The Grass Always Looks Greener on the Other Side

Lesson #6: Say Goodbye to the Old – to Make Space for the New

Lesson #7: Take Time to Smell the Roses

Lesson #8: To Be the Best, Learn From the Best

Lesson #9:  Expect the Unexpected

Lesson #10: To Everything There is a Season

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25 Questions To Help YOU Identify Your Ideal Second Act. You'll also receive my free newsletter filled with second-act ideas, tools and inspiration.

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