Make It Happen

I speak with many folks struggling with career change, whether upping their executive presence, finding a new role, or building a book of business. Many feel that it is impossible because they need to do things outside of their comfort zone and make time to execute them.

In Lord of the Rings, Frodo Baggins is a hobbit—one of a humanoid race of short, portly beings who love nothing more than good food and good talk. Hobbits were born and trained to live in their comfort zones. They live their simple lives in the ease and comfort of their hobbit holes—comfortable homes built into hillsides.

When the evil, tempting ring of power comes into Frodo's possession, he soon finds out that he must take it deep into the enemy's lands and cast it into the fires to destroy it. Yet, although he has lived in his comfort zone, Frodo changes. He does this because he is committed. He executes this task completion. He will battle all sorts of creatures and temptations- including his own to keep the ring or give up.

If Frodo can dramatically alter his mindset, you can too, and you don't have to battle any orcs or evil wizards. Try something new and control your calendar. I know that you are capable of this.

Here are 7 tips of mine to execute on your plans.

Tip 1: Written Plan.

Write down your plan with concrete and actionable steps. You don't have to go back and re-invent it- if you already have it in front of you. People are 10x times more likely to succeed with a written plan. 

Tip 2. Understand What Success Means. 

Human beings overestimate the ramifications of success and underestimate the value of success. To counter this, know what achieving your goal will mean for you and your loved ones. You can post a picture of what that change will mean to you as your screen saver or near your computer. Is it a picture of people with more freedom, enjoying more vacations, or saving money for your children's college? And when you have doubts about whether it is worth executing your plan, reflect on what it will mean to you.

Tip 3. Reframe Your Mindset. 

Elevating what you are doing will mean changing some things yourself. It will also mean trying new things. One of the biggest reasons, people fail is because they fear failing at something new more than they value what success will bring. You need to re-frame your mindset if you see what is holding you back.

Tip 4. Break Tasks Into Realistic Pieces.

Try to do only some things at a time. If you spread yourself too thin, you will become frustrated and quit. Also, cross-off items you accomplish will reinforce that you can make progress.  

Tip 5: Build in Accountability. 

To be successful, you need to build accountability. You should calendar time to work on your plan (and keep that time sacred) and check in on your progress. Consider finding an accountability partner or mentor to motivate you and keep you on track. Again, if you become discouraged, focus on how success will change your life. 

Tip 6. Acknowledge Shortcomings and Learn.

When embarking on transformational change, there will be steps forward and backward. When things don't go as you hoped, take a moment and acknowledge that it is part of the process, and think about what you have learned and how you can do it differently. That is often the process. 

Tip 7: Celebrate Success. 

Take a moment to appreciate what you have attained and build on it. Along with shortcomings, you will have success and accomplishments.

To make career change happen, you need to change what you are doing, as well as your mind. And by successfully executing this change, you will attain more than you dreamed. 

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Want to learn how to leap from in-house technician to legal leader?

Take a look at my guide which outlines the 7 Steps to Leap from In-House Technician to Legal Leader.

In this guide, I share with you my time-tested strategy for in-house counsel to leap from in-house technician to legal leader so you can have greater impact and control of your career, compensation, and courage.