If you compared you career to The Wizard of Oz, would you be at the start of the path, where the Lion lacked courage, the Tin Man had no heart, and the Scarecrow had no brain? Would you be Dorothy when she was moving forward to find her way back home or Dorothy in the beginning of the movie when she was afraid because the wicked witch was chasing her?

	+ Enlarge
	Deborah Brown-Volkman

What's happening to you in your career? Is your job being eliminated? Is your company merging or reorganizing? Are you on your third, fourth, or fifth boss, and you don't know what is expected of you anymore?

Sometimes in our careers we feel powerless. The circumstances around us are changing and we don't believe we have a say in how things go. Maybe you do have a say. Maybe you have more control over your circumstances than you think you do. Maybe you have the ability to map out the course your career will take as well as the power and energy to complete the journey.

Where will this power come from? It will come from you. So how do you create a powerful career? Follow these three steps below.

1. Assess Your Situation.

Maybe what you are experiencing in your career currently is not as bad as you think. Then again, maybe it's worse. Either way, you will not know what you are dealing with until you can objectively look at what's happening to you and around you. Take out a piece of paper and draw a line down the middle. (You can also use an Excel spreadsheet.) In the left-hand column, list the pros of your present situation. In the right-hand column, list the cons. Which list is longer?

Take out another sheet of paper so you can assess how bad the cons really are. Draw a line down the middle. In the left-hand column, list what you can change. In the right-hand column, list what you cannot. Which list is longer?

You are looking for an objective view of your situation, a new perspective. Feelings without facts can be disserving. Getting your thoughts out of your head and on paper will give you the ability to see your situation in a whole new way.

2. Decide to Change Your Situation.

Your career can improve once you decide to improve it. You would be surprised by the number of people I speak to who are waiting for unfulfilling situations to magically get better on their own. These individuals play a waiting game hoping to be victorious. Sometimes this strategy works. Most of the time it does not, and they are left tired, confused, and disappointed in themselves because they failed to act.

I understand that change is not easy. Trust me that working in a bad environment is much harder than taking steps to improve it.

3. Get Your Power Back.

Once you know a situation is no longer working and you have decided to change it, it's time to become powerful. Power comes through movement. When you are moving forward, you are energized. You are on the court playing rather than sitting on the sidelines. You have your to-do list, and you are checking off the items one by one. You have focus and direction. You are implementing your plan. Excuses and fear no longer deter you. You feel different because you are different. You have your power back.

So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!

About the Author

Deborah Brown-Volkman is the president of Surpass Your Dreams Inc., a successful career, life, and mentor coaching company that works with senior executives, vice presidents, and managers who are looking for new career opportunities or seek to become more productive in their current roles. She is the author of Coach Yourself to a New Career and How to Feel Great at Work Every Day. Deborah can be reached at www.surpassyourdreams.com, through www.career-escape-program.com, at info@surpassyourdreams.com, or at 631-874-2877.

On the net:

Surpass Your Dreams Inc.

Career Escape Program

Bring Order and Structure to Your Business Analyst Job Search

In an orderly and structured fashion, we consolidate all of the business analyst jobs from every professional firm career page, company and organization career page (and every other job site we can find) so you know about all the business analyst jobs and can make your important personal career decisions in an objective and rational way. We are a "good citizen" in the business analyst community and have high research standards and know you too have high standards for your career. As an unbiased research company with a profound respect for concrete facts and information about job openings, we are loyal to our members and do not accept any money from advertisers for job postings. We give you the tools to follow through and pursue your career options in a stable, practical and down-to-earth manner.

Tell us where to send your access instructions: Your Email: