Q & A: Starting Over

Q) “I was thrilled to see you on “the road to CES” I have attended several events where you were a keynote (NABOW and Woman Success) and your wisdom and advice has always been easy for me to incorporate into my career.

My question is how do leave a career that I have spent 20 years in to start all over for myself? Marcia W. San Francisco, CA Dear San Francisco,

A) It sounds like there is a “fear” you have created about leaving 20 years of hard work to start all over again. But instead of facing the picture head on, let’s change the angle that you are looking at your “20 year career” verses the blank slate you see in front of you. Begin by filling in the blank slate with all that you will take with you from your 20 year career. Make a list of the contacts and connections you have made and how they may be used in your new venture. Try to think about all the connections you made and examine how they could be of help to you as you jump-start your new opportunity.

Reflect upon the knowledge you have developed from your 20 years that will be instrumental in your new opportunity; What do you know about business now that you didn’t know then? What mistakes have you witnessed in your career and how can you prevent them? What role have you played inside an organization? What people do you need to surround yourself with to attack a problem from multiple angels? What are your strengths and what are your weak areas? I believe the more time you spend looking at all the tools, knowledge and connections you already have the more the fear will disappear and a new found entrepreneurial confidence will immerge and you’ll realize how ready you really are.

Never quit, your success is closer than you think. Amilya

PS. You can learn more about Amilya on her web site, http://www.Amilya.com. And when you are ready to make the entrepreneurial jump, make sure you check out some of the priceless information and inspiration at http://www.LuckyNapkin.com, or plan to attend our Lucky Napkin Live Event, March 20, 2008 in Phoenix, AZ. Lucky Napkin is the country’s premiere “Venture Catalyst” company, an entrepreneurial catapult “Where Great Ideas Launch.”