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Episode 2189:
Stacey Hagen describes the in-between stage of goal setting, the stretch after the plan is made and the work has started but before any results show up. Writing from her own post-MBA job search, she argues that reaching this stage means the hardest part is already behind you, and that the frustration comes from not knowing the timeline rather than from a lack of effort. Her suggestion is to accept the uncertainty as temporary and fill it deliberately with the things that restore you.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://tinybuddha.com/blog/career-transitions-how-to-cope-with-the-in-between-stage/
Quotes to ponder:
"Accept the uncertainty, knowing that you've done the planning, you're doing the work, and eventually (that scary word) things will come together for you."
"At this point, more than ever, you need to believe that you have the power to take yourself to the next step."
Optimal Work Daily is a daily career advice podcast where we narrate the best articles on productivity, entrepreneurship, and work-life balance, read to you by a professional narrator so you can grow your career a little more every day.
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[00:00:01] Pink Panther us here. Coach and Spotify are teaming up to bring music and style together, and they want you to be part of it. Grab your friends and head to the Tabby Tour, hitting cities around the country with live performances from special artists, exclusive experiences, and personalized products. And discover custom playlists on Spotify, built just for you based on who you are and how you listen. Live your story with Coach. Learn more at Coach.com.
[00:00:29] This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.
[00:00:52] This is Optimal Work Daily. Career Transitions. How to cope with the in-between stage. By Stacey Hagen with tinybuddha.com. Quote, If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking. End quote. Proverb. If you're a passionate person with goals for your life, you've probably been at the in-between stage more than a few times.
[00:01:19] This is the stage when you've identified your goals, broken them down, identified steps to reach them, and started on that plan. But you're not yet seeing the fruits of your labor. Ambitious and excited at the goal-setting stage, you embarked on this path with a vision in front of you. Now, you're in the throes of it, or maybe waiting on the sidelines for the next step. You're feeling frustrated and stuck, like you're not making progress fast enough.
[00:01:46] What else can you do aside from A, worrying, B, going over your plan again and again, and C, feeling like a mouse on a wheel? The good news is that if you're at the waiting stage, you've surpassed a major milestone. Often the hardest part of goal-setting is identifying what you want in a clear, specific manner. Visualizing your end goal is a lot of work in itself. But once you've done your homework, all that work can feel like a waiting game.
[00:02:14] I'm in the in-between stage in my career right now, and I have been for a few months. I earned my MBA over a period of three years while working full-time in marketing within the financial services industry. Previously, I worked in entry-level and junior positions. I thought having an advanced degree would make it a lot easier to climb the corporate ladder, starting with a management position. When I graduated, I felt hopeful about my prospects. But the job search has not been as easy as I thought it would be.
[00:02:42] I've had some phone and in-person interviews, but none for a job I really wanted. I've reworked my resume, sought out career counselors, networked with everyone I know. And I've always had the what-do-you-do small talk at the tip of my tongue at parties. I've listed my strengths, likes and dislikes, favorite companies, and important contacts. I've set aside time on my calendar every day for applications, networking, and follow-up efforts.
[00:03:09] Recently, I was starting to feel like I was just spinning my wheels. I thought I was doing all I could do, but nothing seemed to be working out, and that was frustrating. Now that I was ready, I wanted something to happen immediately. I took the time and put in the effort. Where was it already? Something should have been happening. I talked to a friend about this, and she said, Well, it's going to happen eventually, right? I mean, who has wanted a new job and not eventually found it? It's true.
[00:03:37] Studies show that most people don't stay in the same job forever. Moving from company to company is the norm nowadays. People, especially those trying especially hard to make some traction, eventually move on. What a scary word, eventually. What does that mean? Sooner rather than later? One month? One year? Longer? Not knowing the exact time frame can make you feel like a mouse on a wheel. You may find yourself asking, What now? I have a novel idea.
[00:04:07] Enjoy it. Enjoy the uncertainty. Revel in it. Bathe in it. Be happy about it. You will never be in exactly this same in-between stage ever again in your life, although you will be in others for sure. I can hear your disbelief at this zen-like mentality. Enjoy uncertainty? What does this mean? In one word, it means accepting. Accept the uncertainty, knowing that you've done the planning, you're doing the work,
[00:04:36] and eventually, there's that scary word, things will come together for you. How do you possibly enjoy the in-between? First off, know that it's the in-between. Know that you won't be here forever. Know that this is a temporary state. Imagine how things will be in your new state, knowing that will come. Secondly, do things that make you happy during this stage. What makes you happy and appreciate life? What makes you feel nurtured and taken care of?
[00:05:04] What makes you lose track of time and feel carefree? Make a list if you have to. Now, do those things. If you love to run, take time out every day or every other day for that. If phoning a long-time friend makes you feel good, do that daily. Like weekly manicures and monthly massages? If you can make that happen, sure, whatever it takes. While in-between careers, I'm using my time to freelance right, something I've always wanted to do.
[00:05:31] I've taken up new hobbies, such as tennis and golf. I take Fridays off of work while I can to make it a long weekend. I make lunch dates with my friends to get out of the office. I take an afternoon walk to enjoy the view. And most importantly, I keep the faith. At this point, more than ever, you need to believe that you have the power to take yourself to the next step. Know that it's just a matter of time. So accept the present uncertainty. Who knows what will come after this? Oh, right.
[00:06:01] You do. Your end goal. The thing you've been working toward with patients throughout the process. If you embrace this in-between phase, the reward will be even sweeter. You just listened to the post titled Career Transitions. How to Cope with the In-Between Stage. By Stacey Hagen with tinybuddha.com Pink Panther us here. Coach and Spotify are teaming up to bring music and style together.
[00:06:30] And they want you to be part of it. Grab your friends and head to the Tabby Tour. Hitting cities around the country with live performances from special artists. Exclusive experiences. And personalized products. And discover custom playlists on Spotify. Book just for you based on who you are and how you listen. Live your story with Coach. Learn more at Coach.com This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser. But Gemini and Chrome? That's new.
[00:06:59] It can help you with practically anything on the web. Like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block. Or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required. Compatibility and availability varies 18+. And thank you to Stacey for this post. But it was actually a guest post on Tiny Buddha. So I also want to thank Lori who runs that site for letting us share articles from there.
[00:07:28] Tiny Buddha has been helping people heal, grow, and find peace since 2009. The site features stories and insights from people of all ages from all over the globe. For daily wisdom, you can follow Tiny Buddha on Twitter and Facebook, at Tiny Buddha, and Instagram, at Tiny Buddha Official. Or subscribe to the blog at tinybuddha.com slash list. And be sure to check out Tiny Buddha's Inner Strength Journal, Creative Prompts and Challenges to Help You Get Through Anything,
[00:07:57] which is available on Amazon. Content from Tiny Buddha is featured across pretty much all of our podcasts. So again, a big thank you to Lori. And please come by tinybuddha.com for a lot more and to show them some support. But that'll do it for another edition of Optimal Work Daily. As always, I thank you so much for being here with me and listening all the way through. And I will be back again with another post tomorrow, where your optimal life awaits.