How to avoid checkmate in your BIG professional game

One of the most common questions I get from people who are considering hiring a coach is: “I just feel that I have something undone professionally. But, how can I start taking action if I don’t know exactly what I want to do?” Since early days, we are so drilled into goal orientation, that it almost seems impossible to start acting until we have a clearly defined goal and a master plan to bring us the results we are looking for.

When people are facing a major professional decision, it´s so easy to fall into procrastination mode and start using excuses for not taking action. I should know, as I did it for years.

What strikes me after looking back on my own professional journey and now benefiting from helping others play bigger professional games is that there are a few, key success factors characterizing those who start acting without knowing exactly what they want.

First of all, they are able to visualize what it feels like to be in professional role they are passionate about. Secondly, they are willing to learn new skills, to experiment outside of their comfort zone and to reflect about their insights. And finally, they are assuming an open attitude towards opportunities emerging as part of the process.

When I decided to enter into my current professional adventure as a small business owner, I knew what I wanted to do more of and less of when moving on. I had basically no knowledge nor any guaranties of business partners nor the supplementary services and tools I was about to discover. In fact, some of them did not even exist when I made my professional move, and today these partners, services and tools allow me to offer create my own, unique professional platform.

Which moves did I make? I decided to learn, explore and experiment with services in demand and stayed open to new opportunities coming my way. I made mistakes, I lost time and I stumbled to define my niche. Move-by-move, I started to align more and more with my professional intentions of becoming a business woman supporting my ideal clients no matter where they are located in the world.

I have mentioned it many times before: Everyone has an opportunity to attract professional opportunities in line with their area of passion, but sometimes we need to remind each other to play the BIGGER game. To learn, explore and experiment as part of the process. Nobody should have to feel checkmate in their professional opportunity game. So, which move is next for you?