Written by: Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
One of my colleagues jokingly tells me that my favorite phrase is “in transit.” I would argue that he has not so coincidentally reached out to me when I was moving from here to there. I enjoy being in transit when my intentions are accomplished; that is not always the case. The reality is when we move from one place to another, there may be delays, the connection we were hoping to make didn’t happen, or better yet, when we arrive at the destination, it may not be what we thought it was going to be. Do you turn back, or do you stick it out? That can be metaphorically applied to the uncertainties that come with a career transition.
Career transitions occur at varying stages in our lives and are backed by individually differing reasons. To this present time, many have been a part of what has been noted as the “Great Resignation,” where an estimated 5 million people quit their jobs, citing minimal to no pathways to advancement, feelings of disrespect and low pay. Contrary to what human resources may desire, there are indeed a number of workers who are dreading a return to the workplace and they most certainly have a career transition at the top of their minds.
I empathize with those who don’t feel a sense of psychological safety, equity, belonging, or inclusion. There are other reasons for dissatisfaction at work, like boredom, an unhealthy relationship with your manager or coworkers, or you’re noticing a mismatch with how your gifts and talents are being activated in your current role. While I made a pivot before the wave of resignations, one core piece (fruit) of the work was missing for me: joy. It was truly a leap of faith and it was not as smooth as one might expect. What I was experiencing, and still do now in business, is the reality of faith-driven laws in a transition.
Dr. Cindy Trimm speaks to a four-season process that occurs in transition in her book Activating the 12 Laws of Boundary-Defying Faith Goodbye Yesterday. There is the process of ending, the process of the loss, the beginning of a new and then there is fruitfulness. It may look like this in a career transition:
Season of Ending: You resign, or you’re laid off
Season of Loss: You recall things you miss from whatever role or place you left (relationships, culture, flexibility, location, pay, etc.)
Season of Beginning: You start your new role, and you’re adjusting to new terrain, people, culture, way of thinking and moving
Season of Fruitfulness: You begin to witness and experience the “fruit” of your sacrifice and efforts
Upon looking at this, you might be thinking, “This looks fairly simple. I can do this!”. You may very well be able to. It is important to remember that no one person’s transition is the same. If you’re looking at what appears to be the “fruit” of someone else’s career pivot, you are most certainly missing the full picture. A season of beginning does not always yield a season of fruitfulness.
Furthermore, there is the downside of a premature decision. You may only be perceiving the upsides, not recognizing how your journey will be different.
So what should you do during a period of transition?
I recommend these steps from Activating the 12 Laws of Boundary-Defying Faith Goodbye Yesterday:
Take ownership of the in-between times when you are neither here nor there
Meditate on God’s promises
Strain at clarifying your vision and goals
Consult God, craft your vision, and speak into the womb of your tomorrow
Any transformation, any change or transition, requires faith. People of faith don’t just prophesy to their future; they provoke it. Faith takes you into the realm of unlimited possibilities. Faith sees what other people overlook. – Dr. Cindy Trimm
Imani Missouri, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Imani Missouri is the Principal Owner of Faith Forward LLC, where she leverages the essence of faith to coach leaders toward their purpose. She has a number of faith-centered sub-brands that motivate women of color to reach their full potential in the professional sphere and beyond. Some of which include the Forward 40 (4tea) podcast, which highlights the experiences of 40 women of color on the rise in the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors. She is also the founder of The Forward Academy, a faith-centered professional development platform for women of color seeking to define themselves beyond their titles. Her career spans experience in the nonprofit, community development, and education sector. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for DIFFvelopment, a nonprofit that creates historically and globally conscious Black visionary leaders who believe in Black business, take responsibility for developing solutions to the issues Black people face, and have unshakeable pride and confidence in themselves. She is also a member of the Medal and Nominating Committees for Smith College.
