Prepare for Your Next Great Adventure!

Many of you know I went through a major career change in January 2023. One chapter closed, and a new chapter opened. Sometimes you have months to plan for change, and sometimes change comes fast and furious. Either way, change is a part of God's plan for your journey. He sees you and equips you for the next great thing He has assigned to you. All that to say, ready or not, here comes change.

“Listen carefully; I am about to do a new thing; now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

God loves change. God loves new. God loves taking you on your next great adventure!

God prepared me for my next great adventure. Even still, I was surprised by how quickly the new season began. The change was upon me. I had a significant task list to complete to adjust to the change. I was in transition, and I needed a plan.

Many of you are anticipating or currently experiencing transition. God has spoken new things to your heart. Some of you are about to walk through those new doors. Let’s talk about a few practical things you can do as you walk out the new thing God has for you.

1. Ask God for a New Prayer Strategy.

God is asking for you to prepare for something greater than yourself. Your relationship with Him is the top priority. The busyness of the new assignment can quickly impose upon this relationship if you are not determined to guard it. This is the time to go deeper with God.

You will need God's help to navigate this territory. Ask God to equip you with new levels of wisdom and insight. Ask for assistance in developing new skill sets and new relationships. Now more than ever, you need direction from God for every step. Ask God what your new season requires from you and how to become equipped for it. Guard your quiet time with Him like your future depends upon it.

2. Practice Good Heart Health.

I am not going to lie; change is hard, even good change. The harsh kind of change will leave a heart wounded. Bad experiences can make you question your worth, competency, and calling. If you were hurt in the transition, seek intentional healing of your heart. Healing comes through forgiving in prayer. Reach out if you need help praying. I recommend you seek someone to pray with you.

3. Leverage Sacred Community.

Sometimes we try to navigate challenging times alone, especially if the change has felt overwhelming. Walking this journey alone will put you at a disadvantage. We need God, AND we need Godly people. Engaging your circle of people who love and honor you is essential and smart. Here are a few ways to lean into your sacred community:

• Ask 2-3 intercessors to pray for you for the next 100 days.

• Find 1-2 people who are currently in something similar to your new assignment (CEO, missionary, ministry leader, etc.). Ask them to share their experiences of getting started. Also, ask what they would do differently knowing what they know now.

• Gather a group of family and friends you can depend on for wise counsel, encouragement, and prayer support. Check-in with them at least weekly.

4. Make a 100-Day Plan.

Maybe you are feeling stressed about this new adventure. A 100-day plan will reduce stress, keep you focused, and help you feel more confident. Here are some key components to include in your plan:

• Plan time to learn. Do your research. Discover what requirements and expectations you must meet. What will you need to accomplish? What are the expected timelines? Who are the key players? What are your resources? How will you measure success?

• Create your 100-day timeline. Create a timeline for the short-term goals you want to accomplish in 30, 60, 90, and 100 days. For example, the first 30 days will contain goals for learning about your new assignment. The next 30 days may be for goals of top priority, crisis, applying the knowledge you have learned, and so on.

• Craft your goals and plug them into your timeline.

• Remember this is a working plan that you will evaluate and update often.

5. Activate the Plan and Evaluate Your Progress.

Begin activating your plan by marking off a specific time and space designated for your work. This may be your new office. Prepare your space for what you will need to stay focused. If working remotely, designate a space at home dedicated to work. Make a routine and stick to it. Break down your goals into smaller tasks you can accomplish and check off. Evaluate your progress at the end of each day and weekly overall. Routinely ask for feedback on progress from key stakeholders.

6. Consider Hiring a Leadership Coach

Many leaders hire a coach to help them get through the transition. Coaching helps you achieve your personal and professional goals with support and guidance. Coaching stimulates your vision to see future possibilities and helps you plan how to get there. The coach guides you to focus on your untapped potential and discover what needs to be done. The coach will focus the conversations, help you go deeper, reach higher, and explore the strategies and support structures you need to succeed. The coach will assist you in establishing your goals, ask powerful and probing questions, and offer different perspectives while helping you achieve what you want most in your career and life. The coach will stimulate better skills, overcome self-defeating habits or insecurities, manage relationships, develop new competencies, and build effective ways to improve. The coach empowers you to transform. 

7. Additional Tips for Success.

• Maintain a humble attitude.

• Listen to all the feedback, especially if it is disagreeable. Ask for feedback from bosses, employees, and co-workers – up, down, and sideways.

• Be curious and ask powerful questions.

• Keep your plan in front of you and use the feedback to prayerfully revise the plan as needed.

God has called you to this new adventure. You may feel ill-equipped or overwhelmed, but you are called just the same. God will help you develop what you need as you work hard, create strong strategies, and gather input from others.