A Plan B
“The most successful people are those who are good at plan B.” – James Yorke
2009 was the year that taught me the importance of having a Plan B in career. A Plan B which can be summarized this way: the best you can make of a worst-case scenario, the deal you cut with a fate you might be unable to avoid. “Plan B” is your back-up plan. It is what you are going to do, in case your first choice for a career path doesn’t work out the way you had expected. Developing a back-up plan is a good way to approach major/career planning – and life in general! It is essential to develop multiple approaches to your future.
I’ll explain what kind of Plan B I’m referring to:
- What is your Plan B if you’d lose your current job tomorrow?
- What is your Plan B if you can no longer continue your career within the same company, the same type of role ?
- What is your Plan B if you were being asked to sell yourself into an entirely different profession?
- What is your Plan B to take on a role at least 3 levels higher?
- What is your Plan B to increase your income with 5, 10 or even 20 times?
A Plan-B job might not be a step down at all and could be more rewarding than the Plan-A job. For many Plan-B jobs, you don’t have to earn an additional degree, or even obtain a certificate, but they do require a re-positioning of your existing skills. The most important thing in a good economy or bad is to keep expanding your skills and knowledge. You don’t need to be a jack of all trades, but if you stay current on what’s going on in your industry and update your skills to what’s needed today, you won’t work yourself out of a job.
I have found my ‘Plan B’ and planned for it in 2009. What about you ? If you still haven’t found one, it is high time to think over it.
