Comments on: Don't Ignore Career Realism - Small Business Trends

?Realism is a philosophical state of mind that professes that?truth?consists in the mind?s?correspondence?to reality? ~ Wikipedia

I remember the first time one of my mentors told me I had to accept that things were not as I wanted them to be. They went on to encourage me to always take reality and use all of my skills, talents and intangibles to make things happen within it. Some of the best advice I ever received.

?Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity? ~ Seneca

We can?t change many of the external circumstances that we live with, but we can change the way we manage and work with those circumstances. ?I sometimes feel like there?s been kind of ?a ?career armageddon? with so much radical change in a relatively short time. There is so much to keep pace with and resilience and perseverance are key qualities to survive. The great news is there is always much opportunity in change.

No one can afford to be too idealistic or too subjective about their careers or business. Better to adopt a realistic, pragmatic activism that you can make your own and make work for you now.

Change Is The New Norm

Get used to, and become, better at things moving at a fast pace, continually shifting and changing. Keep up, don?t fall behind. What are the things you need to be keeping up with better?

Prepare For An Extended Job Search

If you are out of work or looking to change careers, get used to a longer search process. The hiring process operates on a whole new set of rules that extend how companies qualify people. Be prepared for multiple interviews.

Become A Master Marketer And Networker

Hone and develop your?personal marketing, branding ?and networking skills both online and, more importantly, in person. Relationships lead to introductions and connections.

You Can Be More Fulfilled And Happy In Your Career

If you want to be more fulfilled, happier and inspired in your work, you can be. It?s up to you to move your career in the direction you want it to go.

Build, Use And Bolster New Communication Bridges

How we find, engage and interact with each other is the new frontier for jobs, careers and work. Building strong networks and connections with the right people can open doors both directly and indirectly. Get more comfortable with and use?social media?and especially?LinkedIn?to build your connections and recommendations.

In a reversal of traditional gender roles, young women now surpass young men in the importance they place on having a high-paying career or profession, according to survey findings from the?Pew Research Center.

Among married couples with their own children under 18 at home, the share with a?working wife and unemployed husband?went up in 41 states in 2009, compared with the year before, according to a new Census Bureau analysis of data from the American Community Survey.

More than three dozen companies, non-profits, foundations and individuals have donated more than $580,000 to fund?The Work Place?s initiative, called Platform to Employment. The AARP Foundation kicked in another $200,000 to assist the jobless over age 50.

These are some examples of today?s career realism that become the new trends that emerge that all of us can take advantage of. ?Time to roll up our sleeves, accept radical reality, get into radical action, and watch radical results happen.

Reality Check Photo via Shutterstock

About the Author

Deborah Shane is an author, speaker, media host, business and career brand/branding consultant. Deborah hosts her blog, Deborah Shane Toolbox, and weekly business radio show, Deborah Shane Metropolis. She writes for several national business, career, branding, business and marketing sites. Her new book, "Career Transition: Make the Shift is available through all major book sellers.

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