<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>thelearningpath</title><description>thelearningpath</description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/blog</link><item><title>What I learnt from the hustle: LP Live #5</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/wy0xav6xsVA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2017/04/20/What-I-learnt-from-the-hustle-LP-Live-5</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2017/04/20/What-I-learnt-from-the-hustle-LP-Live-5</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Apr 2017 02:07:55 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wy0xav6xsVA"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Profile of an Escape Artist: James</title><description><![CDATA[Meet James!James escaped a role as a Project Consultant based in the UK and is now a Sales Consultant with Salesforce in Sydney Australia. Here is his journey.Where did you escape from?Leeds, UK. I studied Business Computing at Leeds University and fell into a job straight out of studying, working as an application support analyst for a small software company. I worked my way through various roles across the next 10 years, across various companies. These included roles in: support, training,<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_c8b83d411e534dbbbd63a575052bac28%7Emv2.png/v1/fill/w_131%2Ch_216/518ed3_c8b83d411e534dbbbd63a575052bac28%7Emv2.png"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/11/04/Profile-of-an-Escape-Artist-James</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/11/04/Profile-of-an-Escape-Artist-James</guid><pubDate>Fri, 04 Nov 2016 04:31:39 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Meet James!</div><div>James escaped a role as a Project Consultant based in the UK and is now a Sales Consultant with Salesforce in Sydney Australia. Here is his journey.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_c8b83d411e534dbbbd63a575052bac28~mv2.png"/><div>Where did you escape from?</div><div>Leeds, UK. I studied Business Computing at Leeds University and fell into a job straight out of studying, working as an application support analyst for a small software company. I worked my way through various roles across the next 10 years, across various companies. These included roles in: support, training, development, you name it - pretty much every department in your average software house! I finally ended up working as a project consultant.</div><div>Where did you escape to?</div><div>Sydney, Australia. I landed a job working as a Sales Consultant for a small organisation generating business nationwide, providing voice recognition technology &amp; equipment to lawyers, doctors, accountants - any profession conducting heavy transcription.</div><div>How did you make your escape?</div><div>Working in predominantly a technical role, I was never 100% satisfied I was in the right place. Working as a consultant, the part of the project I felt most comfortable in was the client engagement which usually happened at the start and end of the project. The downside was this was maybe only 20% of the job. </div><div>Even after 10 years of working in that environment my response when asked &quot;How was your day?&quot; was always &quot;Okay, just Okay&quot;. I knew something wasn't right, but I just couldn't put my finger on what it was. All I knew was that continuing in that profession wasn't sustainable and the thought of doing that for another 30 odd years just didn't sit right! The wife and I decided we wanted to travel, which we did for a year. Following this we always planned to fulfil a dream and migrate to Australia (to much warmer climates than rainy northern England!). </div><div>What/who encouraged you to make the change?</div><div>I had the offer of moving into a more direct sales role in 2-3 of the organisations I worked. I just didn't have the kahoonas to make the jump. The risk involved in effectively changing career scared me I guess. And so I did nothing. So moving out to Oz, I needed a new job - why not give the sales gig a whirl. If it doesn't work out, nothing ventured, nothing gained right? I didn't want to get to 60 and look back in anger at what might have been. </div><div>Luckily I have a supportive wife and family who were behind the move and after a month or so, I landed a role in a completely alien environment to what I was used to. But I loved it instantly. Now I work for an organisation called Salesforce providing business solutions - and now the fastest growing technology company in the world. I couldn't see myself doing anything else and I never have that Sunday feeling of dreading the working week ahead.</div><div>Anything else you might want to add?</div><div>I would just say to go for it. It's not always immediately apparent what is you want to do, it wasn't for me. But once you search it out, it'll be the best move you ever made. </div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Corporate Bull</title><description><![CDATA[People in big corporations often don't speak like normal humans. They use expressions like "synergies", "capacity", "leverage" and "continuous improvement".It's often noted that the people who get ahead in the corporate world are usually those who 'fit the mould'. They are not considered the best at their jobs, but those who 'played the political game well'. We know this is "just life" right. However, do you want to be a part of a world where appearances, perceptions, alliances and presentation<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_c8abdff0f77f40709b9860c727d6c2bc%7Emv2.png/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_313/518ed3_c8abdff0f77f40709b9860c727d6c2bc%7Emv2.png"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/10/19/Corporate-Bull</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/10/19/Corporate-Bull</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Oct 2016 10:28:13 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_c8abdff0f77f40709b9860c727d6c2bc~mv2.png"/><div>People in big corporations often don't speak like normal humans. They use expressions like &quot;synergies&quot;, &quot;capacity&quot;, &quot;leverage&quot; and &quot;continuous improvement&quot;.</div><div>It's often noted that the people who get ahead in the corporate world are usually those who 'fit the mould'. They are not considered the best at their jobs, but those who 'played the political game well'. We know this is &quot;just life&quot; right. However, do you want to be a part of a world where appearances, perceptions, alliances and presentation are valued more than output, execution and how nice a person you are?</div><div>Have we lost our way? Are we just satisfied with conforming to the 20th-century manufactory corporate mindset? Let me ask you this; how many pointless meetings have you found yourself in today?</div><div>&quot;If you had to identify, in one word, the </div><div>reason why the human race has not achieved, </div><div>and never will achieve, its full potential, </div><div>that would be 'meetings.&quot; </div><div>~ Dave Barry - Columnist, Author.</div><div>Don't forget there is a wonderful world out there filled with exciting and amazing opportunities. Your employer is just buying your time. You are exchanging a certain amount of hours a week for a certain amount of money. If it no longer seems like a deal work striking you owe it to yourself to start exploring alternatives.</div><div>Want to find out more about what we do? Have a look at <a href="http://www.thelearningpath.com.au">www.thelearningpath.com.au</a></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Profile of an aspiring escape artist: Fiona</title><description><![CDATA[Meet Fiona. An aspiring career escape artist in the making. We wanted to get to know some of our members a little better and some, like Fiona, are brave enough to share a little with us.We couldn't be prouder of the steps she has made and look forward to watching her journey closely. Well done Fiona.From recently redundant in the sports industry to fresh start in massageHow did you hear about The Learning Path community?I heard about The Learning Path by a friend in Tasmania who sent me a link.<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_8d71b0eb1ba843279ca9b92977822756%7Emv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_300%2Ch_300/518ed3_8d71b0eb1ba843279ca9b92977822756%7Emv2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/08/17/Profile-of-an-aspiring-escape-artist-Fiona</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/08/17/Profile-of-an-aspiring-escape-artist-Fiona</guid><pubDate>Wed, 17 Aug 2016 08:06:04 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Meet Fiona. An aspiring career escape artist in the making. We wanted to get to know some of our members a little better and some, like Fiona, are brave enough to share a little with us.</div><div>We couldn't be prouder of the steps she has made and look forward to watching her journey closely. Well done Fiona.</div><div>From recently redundant in the sports industry to fresh start in massage</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/518ed3_8d71b0eb1ba843279ca9b92977822756~mv2.jpg"/><div>How did you hear about The Learning Path community?</div><div>I heard about The Learning Path by a friend in Tasmania who sent me a link. I looked at it and was at a stage when I needed to find some direction and explore things I perhaps had not thought of. I also was (and current still) in desperate need of improving my networks and feeling connected.</div><div>I was made redundant in March after 16 years which whilst was 'expected' the process was less than professional or easy. I was not sure whether I should look for a job or consider study. I have to admit, I was fairly experimental in my thoughts - wondering whether to break out of the sports industry that has been my life with study and then 30 years in the industry. I was ready to 're-invent' myself, this was 'my time'.</div><div>Tell us a little about your 'escape':</div><div>I considered joining the fire brigade; getting into relocation services; teaching and/or massage. I realised after 16 years in a home office environment, my personal and professional development was a little lacking which meant I would need to get out there to network and study if I was to secure a 'good job'.</div><div>What does The Learning Path mean to you?</div><div>Well, I explored teaching only to realise it is now a full 2 year Masters Degree. Not sure I was ready to go into this. I considered a Certificate IV in Training &amp; Assessment as well as a massage course. The timing of my inquiries coincided with the first #BreakMondays event. I was fully inspired by not only our host, Luke Campbell, but also the guest presenter, Dr Michael Brenner. It was also lovely to see the session well supported by a great location in Dimension5 Hub. Their community manager, Peter Kamper, also added to the experience.</div><div>To actually come away from a session where you have listened to people, learnt something, networked and walked away with some action item (practical application) was refreshing and inspiring. I had a 'pledge' to action one of my thoughts - a remedial massage course. </div><div>From that one session to the next I somehow found the motivation, researched and accessed information to further my line of inquiry; when to a career expo, attended an open day and actually enrolled into a 12 month full-time diploma.</div><div>What helped to drive me? I felt refreshed; more of 'I CAN do it' and more importantly I was accountable! I actually had 3 things to action and communicate to my new 'buddy'.</div><div>I therefore found The Learning Path helps one to challenge yourself and your assumptions; connect with people in similar 'dilemmas' and is a supportive, learning, interesting forum.</div><div>I look forward to continuing to connect with others to give and learn.</div><div>Cheers,</div><div>Fi</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Event Highlights - Do Work You Love</title><description><![CDATA[<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/10dyBvmWHsg/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/07/30/Event-Highlights-Do-Work-You-Love</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/07/30/Event-Highlights-Do-Work-You-Love</guid><pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 2016 06:42:20 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/10dyBvmWHsg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Forget about finding your passion</title><description><![CDATA[Remember when you were a kid? You would just do things that made you happy. You never thought to yourself, "what are the benefits of playing soccer versus football?" You just ran around the playground and played both. You built mud cakes and played tag, you asked 'silly' questions and played pretend.Nobody told you to do it, you just did it. You were led merely by your curiosities and excitement.The wonderful thing is if you hated soccer, you just stopped playing soccer. There was no guilt<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/30720c61f63047fda3b206ff84480115.jpeg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_417/30720c61f63047fda3b206ff84480115.jpeg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Luke Campbell</dc:creator><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/07/11/Forget-about-finding-your-passion</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/07/11/Forget-about-finding-your-passion</guid><pubDate>Mon, 11 Jul 2016 09:19:29 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Remember when you were a kid? You would just do things that made you happy. You never thought to yourself, &quot;what are the benefits of playing soccer versus football?&quot; You just ran around the playground and played both. You built mud cakes and played tag, you asked 'silly' questions and played pretend.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/30720c61f63047fda3b206ff84480115.jpeg"/><div>Nobody told you to do it, you just did it. You were led merely by your curiosities and excitement.</div><div>The wonderful thing is if you hated soccer, you just stopped playing soccer. There was no guilt involved. There was no arguing with your internal voice. You either liked it, or you didn't.</div><div>Heck, if you loved bugs, chances you played with bugs. There was no second-level analysis of, &quot;is looking for bugs really what I should be doing with my time? nobody else is looking for bugs, does that mean there is something wrong with me? how will looking for bugs affect my future prospects?&quot;</div><div>If you liked something, you just did it.</div><div>I continue to hear from much aspiring escape artist that tell me &quot;I don't know what to do with my life.&quot; And like many others this is usually followed by, do you have any ideas of where I could start to 'find my passion.'</div><div>You see, that is the whole point! Not knowing is the whole concept. Life is full of 'not knowing' moments, and then doing something anyway. Some would wish this moment could be decided for them. Some would prefer a 'magic bullet' for a career change where they somehow wake up one day and in a new role and they say &quot;I love my job.&quot;</div><div>The common misconception is that a lot of these people need to 'find their passion.'</div><div>Here is the thing. You already found your passion, you're just ignoring it or pushing it way down. Seriously, pay attention to this next part. You're awake some-16 hours a day, what the heck do you do with your time? You're doing something, obviously. You're talking about something. There's some topic, activity, or concept that dominates a significate amount of grey matter, free time, conversations, web browsing and it dominates them without you consciously pursuing it or looking for it.</div><div>It is right there in front of you, you're just avoiding it. For whatever reason, you're avoiding it. Sometimes, your unconscious mind has buried it so deep that you might need to resurrect it.</div><div>I know what you thinking. You might be telling yourself, &quot;I love comic books, but that doesn't count. You can't make a living with comic books.&quot; Have you even tried?</div><div> I would also recommend an artist date or two to allow you in seeking what excites you again. This activity is for those that are feeling super stuck and not even sure what grabs their curiosities anymore. It is possible that you have been jumping through other people's hoops for so long that you have lost touch with your own innate interest.</div><div>The problem is not a lack of passion for something. The problem is productivity. The problem is perception. The problem is acceptance. The problem is acceptance.</div><div>Where did this phrase &quot;follow your passion&quot; come from in the first place? Plugging the phrase into Google Books Ngram Viewer, a search engine that shows how often phrases have occurred in books over the years, reveals an interesting truth: &quot;follow your passion&quot; is a fairly new phenomenon from 1990.</div><div>People cultivate their passion by doing the hard work necessary to get great at something. You know what that something is already. Now spend the time to execute.</div><div>Drop your preconceived ideas of finding your passion. Don't feel bad if you haven't found yours yet. You most likely won't. Instead, dedicate yourself to being or continue cultivating one or many. </div><div>Take at least two hours this weekend and pay attention to your inner whisperings, your curiosities. Give yourself permission to seek whatever excites you. Leave your judgemental adult brain at home and enjoy.</div><div>Have a great week.</div><div>Thinking of joining a Tribe? <a href="http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/tribes">Applications are open</a> for our upcoming events throughout Australia. Spaces are limited at the moment to 30 spots max.</div><div>Have you signed up to our escape lessons? <a href="http://eepurl.com/bWGY9P">you can sign up here.</a></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Why everyone should have an Escape Fund</title><description><![CDATA[When I was recently married, my wife and I decided we needed an 'escape'. Some call this a honeymoon. It was my first real overseas trip with her. So much more exciting knowing that it didn't involve work.I loved every minute of the planning, researching and identifying places to visit and figuring out our 'budget'. We settled on Canada, in particular the mountains surrounding Banff. Our idea found the motivation it needed when my extremely proactive wife created a plan. Swiftly we resolved to<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1fd4b3362a44e2685542e0bd95c756a.jpg/v1/fill/w_638%2Ch_425/e1fd4b3362a44e2685542e0bd95c756a.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Luke Campbell</dc:creator><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/06/30/Why-everyone-should-have-a-Escape-Fund</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/06/30/Why-everyone-should-have-a-Escape-Fund</guid><pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2016 12:45:30 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>When I was recently married, my wife and I decided we needed an 'escape'. Some call this a honeymoon. It was my first real overseas trip with her. So much more exciting knowing that it didn't involve work.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/e1fd4b3362a44e2685542e0bd95c756a.jpg"/><div>I loved every minute of the planning, researching and identifying places to visit and figuring out our 'budget'. We settled on Canada, in particular the mountains surrounding Banff. Our idea found the motivation it needed when my extremely proactive wife created a plan. Swiftly we resolved to one day see Banff and experience all it had. Back in Melbourne, Australia we opened a separate account and committed to transferring funds into it as often as we could. We created a minimum direct debit of $50 per month. If we could save more than $50 we did.</div><div>Some time later we were coming to the end of the saving journey. We had over $3000 in the bank. After our clever planning we found ourselves at Lake Louise staying around the foot of the mountains and enjoying every moment. We had the trip of a lifetime.</div><div>Obviously there was a lot more planning involved than what I have describe here. Much more from my amazing wife. However, we would never have got anywhere near making the dream a reality had we not decided to start saving. What was a pipe dream had become a reality.</div><div>If you don't have a saving account aimed at a dream tip, car, or adventure... why not? My current one is call 'Canada Take 2'. I am saving for our next trip. Since having children our expenses to travel have increased and our ability to save as much has decreased. However, with a minimum of $10 per week it might just happen.</div><div>Any big leap, big story, or big adventure always starts with a small step. What does your 'escape fund' move you towards.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Longest Way - A Walk Through China</title><description><![CDATA[Hi Escape Artist! A big of inspiration for you on a Tuesday morning. Enjoy...<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/5ky6vgQfU24/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/24/The-Longest-Way-A-Walk-Through-China-1</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/24/The-Longest-Way-A-Walk-Through-China-1</guid><pubDate>Tue, 24 May 2016 00:05:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Hi Escape Artist! A big of inspiration for you on a Tuesday morning.</div><div>Enjoy...</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ky6vgQfU24"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When getting 'sacked' wasn't the worst thing in the world</title><description><![CDATA[When Eric Proux who worked in advertising in America was made redundant he decided to make a documentary about people in the advertising industry who have lost their jobs. “More than 70,000 advertising professionals have lost their jobs in this “Great Recession.” Lemonade is about what happens when people who were once paid to be creative in advertising are forced to be creative with their own lives.” This trailer captures many of the values that our tribe here within The Learning Path hold<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/wJltcT7DH7g/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/20/When-getting-sacked-wasnt-the-worst-thing-in-the-world</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/20/When-getting-sacked-wasnt-the-worst-thing-in-the-world</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 May 2016 12:21:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>When<a href="http://pleasefeedtheanimals.com/">Eric Proux</a> who worked in advertising in America was made redundant he decided to make a documentary about people in the advertising industry who have lost their jobs.</div><div>“More than 70,000 advertising professionals have lost their jobs in this “Great Recession.” Lemonade is about what happens when people who were once paid to be creative in advertising are forced to be creative with their own lives.”</div><div>This trailer captures many of the values that our tribe here within The Learning Path hold close. We all deserve to do work that matters to us. The message I took from it is whether you love or hate your work - suddenly losing it would make you look at your options and your life in a totally different way.</div><div>What would you do if you were pushed to make your next steps? what would you do if your corporate job just suddenly vanished?</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wJltcT7DH7g"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When was your 'Moment of Truth'?</title><description><![CDATA[“The clock on the south-western tower of St Paul’s cathedral appeared to have stopped, […] ten past two […] could hardly be the correct time. I had eaten my sandwich lunch in the garden on the bomb-site just over the road and had been back at my desk promptly at two o’clock, as befitted the most junior and recently recruited member of the London publishing house for which I was working. And that seemed at least three-quarters of an hour ago." “I took another glance out through the window. The<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/396b13c3280b57f48152d090c333ab97.jpg/v1/fill/w_288%2Ch_288/396b13c3280b57f48152d090c333ab97.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>The Learning Path</dc:creator><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/14/When-was-your-Moment-of-Truth</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/14/When-was-your-Moment-of-Truth</guid><pubDate>Sat, 14 May 2016 00:06:09 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>“The clock on the south-western tower of St Paul’s cathedral appeared to have stopped, […] ten past two […] could hardly be the correct time. I had eaten my sandwich lunch in the garden on the bomb-site just over the road and had been back at my desk promptly at two o’clock, as befitted the most junior and recently recruited member of the London publishing house for which I was working. And that seemed at least three-quarters of an hour ago.&quot;</div><div>“I took another glance out through the window. The clock hadn’t stopped after all. Its hands had certainly moved. They had advanced a few minutes. But it was still not half past.&quot;</div><div>“This dismal revelation depressed me so much that I decided to turn my desk around so that I wasn’t hypnotised by the hands of a clock. Instead, I stared at a blank wall. And it was then that I decided that this was not the way I wanted to spend the rest of my life…”</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/396b13c3280b57f48152d090c333ab97.jpg"/><div><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/david-attenborough">David Attenborough</a> was fortunate enough to have his Moment of Truth aged 24. I doubt anyone who is familiar with his life’s work or has read his book <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/413681.David_Attenborough_s_Life_on_Air">‘Life On Air‘</a>would say that he took the wrong path.</div><div>This was his moment, at the crossroads. Conventional wisdom would have told him to stay in his job, pursue the next 2-3 years experience for his CV as to weight up his options carefully before deciding which career path to go after. Conventional wisdom would have been wrong.</div><div>This passage connected with me, as I am sure it would have for the much aspiring escape artist stuck in the same situation. Wondering whether you really studied for 3 years to get your qualification in order to be where you now find yourself: stuck sitting in an office, clock-watching, doing your work that doesn't connect with you.</div><div>If David stuck to his 2-3 years and pushed past that itching feeling he would have missed the opportunity to join the BBC's 'Talks Department' and we would have never enjoyed his many inspirational productions.</div><div>Have you had your 'moment of truth'? What is your limit for how much you can take? Perhaps you may never find out. Perhaps you'll find yourself there forever. Or in fact you've already had the itching feeling that there is more to life and you'll start taking the path less travelled to find out what it is that you truly want to do.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Stagnation, or time for the next step?</title><description><![CDATA[As the The Learning Path community continues to grow, I thought it time to share some further insights into what we are all about. It is my intent to share with you some of the best tips, tools and lessons I have picked up about career change and entrepreneurship in this and following posts. I have also taken to answering some questions you’ve posed on our Facebook community page via a live video stream — If you are yet to visit our page — please do, I look forward to seeing you there. One of<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/54e5b921fdf54a1db3802e905a8c53f6.jpg/v1/fill/w_288%2Ch_192/54e5b921fdf54a1db3802e905a8c53f6.jpg"/>]]></description><link>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/06/Stagnation-or-time-for-the-next-step</link><guid>http://www.thelearningpath.com.au/single-post/2016/05/06/Stagnation-or-time-for-the-next-step</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 May 2016 00:07:00 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>As the The Learning Path community continues to grow, I thought it time to share some further insights into what we are all about. It is my intent to share with you some of the best tips, tools and lessons I have picked up about career change and entrepreneurship in this and following posts. I have also taken to answering some questions you’ve posed on our Facebook community page via a live video stream — If you are yet to visit our page — please do, I look forward to seeing you there.</div><div>One of our most common questions received:</div><div>“I think I am ready for a change — how do I determine if it’s just stagnation, or time for the next step?”</div><div>What’s next?</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/54e5b921fdf54a1db3802e905a8c53f6.jpg"/><div>We at The Learning Path identified a large number of factors that can have a significant influence on employee dissatisfaction. Be them push or pull factors. Push factors are the undesirable aspects of work that would push one to change out of their job. We are more interested though in the pull factors — the ones that draw us out of an existing career. We found the pull that is driving ambitious and talented individuals to seek a career move or change, approach their desire for change with a clear sense of purpose — making it easier for one to stay healthy, can have a direct social impact, and allows the opportunity for achieving autonomy and independence. Employees are leaving jobs for a myriad of personal, intellectual, emotional and physical reasons. It is clear that purpose, health, and social impact are of significant importance to the 21st Century Career.</div><div>How do you determine if you’re feeling stagnant and need to refresh in your current role or are looking for that next step?</div><div>Identifying what you dislike about your current role and understanding why your dislike that aspect or situation is key. Drill down on the issues you identify.</div><div>Is it the culture?The Boss?Your colleagues?Are you out of your depth?Is it too repetitive?Are there a lack of opportunities?</div><div>When you have identified those key high level concerns, keep prodding for the root of what the issue is. Is it something you can change? Have an influence to improve on? Working with your manager is a great place to start or maybe a mentor is available to you to try and uncover the true cause of your discontent? When you can clearly identify the areas of concern that are causing your job dissatisfaction and either a solution is found or what you need can’t be accommodated, you will know which spot you find yourself in — remedy the stagnation or time for that change — become an Escape Artist!</div><div>So what to do?</div><div>There are two things to address first and foremost. Firstly, know yourself and understand what you want to escape to. Once you have established this you then need to find or create the opportunities to escape to.</div><div>The Learning Path can provide you with the inspiration for escape options and a Tribe to support you in the process. Complimentary to that, the aspiring Escape Artist must include some rather modern day strategies. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:</div><div>Twitter</div><div>Do not underestimate the ability this tool has in providing a connection point with team members in companies that you would like to escape to. Once you find a company or leader that you want to escape to, don’t go directly for ‘the ask’. Treat it like a nice date first. Get to understand what they are interested in, what are they posting regularly then contribute in return with value.</div><div>Linkedin</div><div>When you have identified a company or companies you are interested in joining, doing some research on the company, the people who work there and the community following them will provide you with greater understanding of the culture and environment. Keep your Linkedin account active — connect and be engaging — but remember — Linked in is not Facebook (keep the holiday snaps and selfies of the new ‘do to a minimum).</div><div>Instagram</div><div>Instagram tends to be the social media stream most companies tend to use to showcase inspirational images. It is a great place to have a look and understand further the aspirations of the company you are seeking to escape to.</div><div>Know yourself, do your research and don’t forget about your own personal branding.</div><div>Personal Branding…keep your eye out for a future post on improving your ‘Personal Branding’</div><div>Thank you for reading.</div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>