You may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
You may find yourself in another part of the world
You may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
You may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
You may ask yourself: well… how did I get here?

-Talking Heads, “Once in a Lifetime”

When I thought of this Changing Your Game post, I remembered this classic song. And the first verse is likely something you’re contemplating at this very moment.

For years, perhaps, you have found yourself in the same place in your career, which may not a good thing. Judging from sites like JobVent, that much is pretty clear.

But in order to move forward and change your game, taking a look at the events leading up the the present is essential. It is said that those who don’t learn history are forced to repeat. And in terms of our career, many of us have done just that.

So, consider your current situation and ask yourself, “How did I get here?”

The answer that question, you will certainly have to ask a series of other questions, including, but not limited to:

• What was your financial or career situation at the time you took this position? Did it play a role in accepting this job?
• Have there been any changes to management or ownership during your tenure? If so, how did that change things?
• During economic downturns, has your job role changed? If so, are you doing more or less than you were in good times?
• Of the people who were there when you started this job, how many of them have left? And how often do you have new people being hired?
• Has your organization experienced any layoffs or reductions in force? If so, have you been told or do you get the impression from management that your position could be next?

It may be helpful to write everything down. Then, you can go down the line and review each question and answer. If you see a pattern, perhaps you should start to seriously think about heading in another direction.