The Work: Changing Careers

Through inexperience we have the opportunity to make choices with little to no knowledge of the outcome — these choices can result in mistakes, but they also leave room for sparks of genius. As we continue to practice a skill or craft, we refine our approach. We miscalculate less often. We continue to do what works and we discard what doesn’t.

Overtime, we develop rules that dictate our behavior and actions. If A, then B. These rules allow us to feel confident, knowing what to do even when the situation we’re encountering is new.

Even more significant than learning what someone knows, is to learn how and why they came to that conclusion. Here within “the work” we’ll discover the rules that experts in the fitness and wellness space have developed as they share how they arrived.

RULES FOR CHANGING CAREERS

1. FIND WHERE YOUR PASSION LIES

You need to treat your work as a professional business and take yourself seriously. This means you must show up prepared and on time. It means continually learning and growing in the field. It means engaging in good communication, learning from others, failing and moving forward, taking some risks and delivering your best customer service.

2. SELF-CARE IS A PRIORITY

One of the best ways you can care for yourself is by getting adequate sleep. Sleep and stress occur in a cyclical manner, such that reduced sleep can increase the perception and effects of stress, and high-stress levels disrupt sleep. Poor sleep quality can, in turn, affect a variety of other factors including mood, appetite, energy and exercise recovery.

3. ADOPT A LONG-TERM MINDSET

Education and certification are must-haves to get started in the fitness industry. Add to that savvy business practices, and you'll have plenty of clients. But for true longevity and success in this field, passion and empathy and a true desire to help people must make up the heart of your work. This is what turns a job into a calling.