Coping Successfully with Changing Tides and Winds

With regard to dealing with a career choice and the thought of changing careers later in life, each person has to know himself or herself and decide for himself or herself what they want out of life. One of the first questions I ask my students when I am a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland University College finance courses, is about their present occupation. Most of them have some sort of government job and they feel very secure as they are trying to improve their lot in life by working on their MBA degree. I stress to them that they should not feel so secure, as sometimes the external environment over which they have no control, changes and so their jobs may change or evaporate. I tell them that they are doing the right thing by preparing themselves with additional education, so that when change does occur, they will be in a position to take advantage of any opportunities that arise. Change produces opportunity and one just has to position himself to get a better advantage. I stress to them that now is the time to think of ways to differentiate themselves so that they will have a competitive advantage. Whoever their customers are in life will be the judge and jury of their advantage. Their perception is the only one that matters. Each person has to stand out because of his or her worth. The ones who succeed will have to create overwhelming desirability. Besides creating competitive esteem, somehow each person has to demonstrate leadership and demonstrate that he can execute. Whether it is a company or a medical group, the leader and the group have to be involved in execution, as that is what it is all about. I caution my students that they have to know the people who work with them and they have to set clear goals and priorities and then follow through. As I have said previously, they have to know themselves.