I have to admit something. I've been nothing less than overwhelmed by the unpacking, fixing, cleaning up, arranging, and decorating in our new home.

Let's just say I haven't been too pleasant to be around.

I look around and see boxes that haven't been touched yet. "Stuff" that still doesn't have a home. And of course, things I want to change and fix in every room.

And I've gotten stuck. I'm no longer making any progress.

Then a colleague of mine said to me last night, "You know, you really need to live in a home for awhile before you can figure out what it should look like. It will be awhile before it will look the way you want it to look. Oh, and why don't you just aim for one box a day or even a week?"

Uh, sounds like the advice I might give a client.

She reminded me that this was a slow, step-by-step process. If I wanted to get out of my rut I had to take baby steps. And of course, this is what I tell my career change clients.

Changing careers can be a daunting task--maybe even worse than moving! But it takes a series of small, sometimes seemingly insignificant steps that will bring you the results you are looking for.

Just like me clearing out one box at a time, here are three ways for you to get out of the rut you've been in and make some headway.

1. Stop surfing the job postings. You're just wasting your time. It's like trying on shirt after shirt at the store without knowing what size the tag says it is, hoping one will fit. It's simply a way of avoiding asking yourself what you really want to be pursuing and going after it. You end up just digging a hole deeper and deeper while wishing for a new job but not actually doing anything to get one.
   
   
2. Make some room for a new career. I've worked with clients who remain stuck in their old jobs because they don't have any physical or mental space to find a new career. Eliminate the unnecessary in your life right now. Looking for a new career--or even just a new job--is a big endeavor!
   
   
3. Apply to ANY job. So now that you've stopped surfing the job boards, I want you to actually start applying to some jobs. Applying online is not my favorite method of getting you in a new job, but we're talking about building momentum so you can break out of your rut. The job doesn't have to be perfect and neither does your resume.

Keep taking NEW and EASY steps. It's the little ones that count.

© 2007 Segaric Coaching Inc.