Reinvent Yourself, Part 1: Know the Problem

This is the first in our four-part series on reinventing yourself.

Reinventing yourself involves taking a step back to reflect on who you are and what you want to achieve in life, and then taking action to make those goals a reality. It can be a time of self-discovery, a time to ask, “What are my values?” as you shed old habits and ways of thinking and embrace new opportunities and challenges for personal growth. Ask yourself: “What are my values? What do I want? Do I want to make a career change, or is it something deeper?”

Whether you’re looking to make a career change, pursue a new hobby, or simply become a better version of yourself, reinvention requires determination, self-awareness, and willingness to take risks. With the right mindset and approach, anyone can embark on this journey, make a career change — or a soul-level change — and create a brighter, more fulfilling future for themselves.

The first step in this process is to understand your current position and determine if you genuinely want to change. In other words, you need to know the problem.

Start by assessing the situation. What is the problem? What opportunities are available? What are your values? You should also seek out alternate frames of reference to help you understand the issues you’re facing or the aspects of yourself you want to improve or change. Remember, you can only grow when you’re challenged internally or externally, so embracing this opportunity for change can be an important step in your personal development.

If you want to make a career change or you’re considering making an overall change in your life, here are some steps to help you get started.

Identify The Reason For Wanting to Change

Is it an internal desire for personal growth or an external factor that’s driving the desire for transformation? Understanding the root cause of your desire to change can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals.

Another important factor to consider is how you want to be remembered. Ask yourself again, “What are my values?” What is your legacy, and how do you want others to remember you? Identifying why you want to change can help guide your choices, give you a long-term perspective, and help you develop a sense of perspective outside yourself. It can also inspire you to become a better version of yourself.

Set Specific, Achievable Goals

Once you know the reason for wanting to change, you must set goals for what you want to accomplish. This might involve identifying specific areas of your life that you want to change or improve, such as your career, job skills, relationships, or personal habits. Set both long-term and short-term goals to help you stay on track and measure your progress. And don’t forget to break down your goals into actionable steps to help you stay focused and motivated.

Seek Support and Accountability

Of course, making a change also requires sacrifice. It’s important to identify and weigh those potential sacrifices. For example, consider who you associate with on a regular basis. Are the people in your life helping or hindering your progress?

Reinventing yourself can be a lonely process, so you’ll want to surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, and mentors who can offer guidance and encouragement. Consider joining a support or mastermind group or working with a coach or therapist to help you stay accountable and on track. You can also find accountability by tracking your progress and sharing it with others, such as an accountability partner or online community. However, at the end of the day, what progress you make is your responsibility, and yours alone. Whether you succeed or fail on that account lies squarely within your control.

Embrace Self-Care and Personal Development

Self-care is an essential component of personal transformation. Make time for activities that promote your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies that enrich you and bring you joy. Invest in your education and seek new learning or skill-development opportunities to help you grow and develop.

Be Patient and Resilient

Change takes time and effort, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. Don’t let setbacks discourage you. Instead, use them as opportunities to learn and grow. Remember to celebrate your progress and accomplishments along the way, and stay positive and focused on your goals.

Reflect and Reassess

Check with yourself and your goals periodically to ensure you’re on track. Don’t be afraid to reassess your goals and make changes as needed. Personal transformation is a continuous process, and it’s okay to adapt and evolve as you grow and change. Keep an open mind and be open to new opportunities and challenges as they arise.

Ready to Make a Career Change?

You may think you’re ready for a new career. But is that really what needs to change, or is there more to the situation? To understand what is truly happening in your life and how you may (or may not) need to change it, you first need to:

• Understand your current position
• Acknowledge you want to change it
• Identify your opportunities
• Seek alternate frames of reference to understand what you want to change
• Surround yourself with people who have your back
• Think about the long term

Doing what you’ve always done and making sure you’re comfortable is all well and good. But after enough time passes, that can become stagnant and stifling, contributing to a lack of personal and professional growth. A little discomfort now for a lifetime of contentment later means everything.

By understanding your current position, identifying your goals and desired legacy, and weighing the sacrifices you would have to make, you can take the first step toward becoming the best version of yourself.

If you’re looking for help as you make a career change, the Eighth Mile could be the solution. Learn more about our latest course: Reinvent Yourself.

David Neal

David Neal Is a leader, strategist, founder, project and change manager, as well as a practical consultant for clients such as the ADA NSW, University of Sydney, Australian Defence Force, Prescare, RSL Queensland, MedReleaf, and KPMG. ​He is one of the authors of ‘Growing Good Leaders’ which focuses on developing high performing teams and running projects. He travels throughout Australia and overseas helping others to simplify the complex. His time serving in the military has provided him with vast experience in leadership, complex problem solving, project and risk management. He has chosen mateship, family and helping good people as his path.