In today’s workforce, switching jobs every couple years has become increasingly common. In fact, the average person is said to have up to seven careers in their lifetime.

For others, including myself, transitioning to a new career can be a challenge, whether because of a sense of loyalty to our employer, comfort, or a fear of stepping into the unknown.

A favorite song of mine by Sara Groves has a line that says, “the places that used to fit me cannot hold the things I’ve learned.”

I quote this to myself as I look back at my former career and feel homesick for the way things used to be.

I wonder sometimes, did I make the right decision to leave? Is this really the right fit? Am I doing something that really matters?

In Transition Model, author William Bridges writes that change is the action or decision that happens first. It’s quick — and it’s probably the easiest part. What comes after — all the emotion (excitement, anxiety, fear), and the real work — that is called transition. There is no way around it. You can’t go over, you can’t go under. You’ve got to through it.

Transition #1: Working from Home

Twelve years ago, I had my daughter. I asked my supervisor if I could work from home. He explained that they had never done this before and it was expected that all employees worked from the office.

I persisted because I knew if I could transition to working from home, I could have more of the balance I needed and wanted as a new mom. The peak on the other side was so clear, I knew it was worth the challenge.

I created a Gantt chart of all of the responsibilities to be covered during my maternity leave with who, when, and where to find the resources or information to accomplish it. When this was received well, I did the same thing for the first three months of my proposed working from home plan. Even though it had never been done before, my boss took a chance, and said we would put it to a trial period for three months and then reassess. At the end of three months, he said I could continue working from home indefinitely. This move took perseverance, and adapting to nontraditional work patters, but it was absolutely worth the growing pains of transition.

Transition #2: Time for a Career Change

Ten years later, when I finally decided it was time to make a change (another career transition), I was at the top of my game. I’d exceed what Malcolm Gladwell calls, the 10,000 hours rule in his book, Outliers, and I’d finished my master’s degree, specializing in nonprofit leadership. I felt confident and eager to take the next step because I had outgrown my current goal and was eager for a new challenge.

However, there was a twinge of hesitation.

This career had fit my life so well! I was working from home and had raised my daughter past elementary school. Thinking about stepping out into the unknown to grow and advance my career felt like leaving security behind.

But, like the line in the song said: it could no longer hold the things I’d learned. There wasn’t more room to grow in this role. I’d hit my ceiling. I decided to take the next step because I could see the possibilities of what could be — the next mountain peak.

The Other Side of Transition

The transition has been everything William Bridges said it would be – both the positive and negative. I’ve had many bouts of looking back, but there is no way I could have grown in both acquiring new knowledge and gaining valuable experience without this transition. Today, I am three years into my “new” career, and this is what I’ve learned:

• The valley will lead to a new peak. Sometimes the middle can last a really long time. But, it’s in the uncomfortable transition valley that we grow the most. The past will always seem more idyllic than it was. Keep going.
• Make a plan. Work the plan. Reflect. Refocus. That first Gantt chart made transition to remote work possible for me. Now, I use the High Performance Planner to set my focus each day, and to feel balanced amidst new challenges. In times of ambiguity, setting boundaries for yourself around what you can control will do wonders for your mindset. 
• My past experience matters, but not as much as humility and an open mind. The way you used to do things doesn’t have to be the way now. Be honest with yourself and others about this. No one wants a façade for a leader. You will grow most when you don’t have all the answers.
• I’m still learning. Every. Single. Day. Remind yourself that you can only tackle the next 10,000 hours 24 at a time. Set milestones for your learning, not just your work. There is a reason you’re in this valley. You may be acquiring wisdom, patience, experience, or knowledge that will be essential for what comes next.

If you find yourself in a place of transition, remind yourself that there’s a beautiful peak just ahead. This really is just the valley. Go through it. Your journey doesn’t stop here. Persist!