Hannah Salton is a Career Consultant at Imperial College Business School, as well as a freelance Career Coach. In this blog she talks about the unusually dubbed – FOMOMG or ‘Fear Of Missing Out on My Goals’.

‘Fear Of Missing Out on My Goals’ was originally coined in 2018 by model Leomie Anderson and has been discussed and debated on other platforms since.

It seems FOMOMG is particularly prevalent in fellow millennials, who have a tendency to set themselves ambitious life or career goals, and feel frustrated if the milestones aren’t hit. This resonated with me a lot. I am generally a big fan of goal setting, however I’ve also experienced a heavy sense of deflation and demotivation if these goals aren’t achieved.

It is easy to slip into the pattern of comparing your professional progress with that of your peers, made worse by constant exposure to other people’s successes so widely broadcast on social media. This can have a huge effect on our motivation and confidence, and leave us feeling like we’re failing at life. 

So, how can we use goals for what they’re meant for (quantifying, inspiring, and motivating) rather than using them as tools to beat ourselves up with?

Here are my top 5 tips on how to minimise fear of missing out on your goals:

1) Examine the motivation of the goals you set yourself

Do you definitely want to set yourself a rigid target of being in a new job in 3 months’ time? It might feel exciting to make such a commitment, however you could end up rushing into a new job you’re just as unhappy in. It may be better to commit instead to creating clear and specific criteria of what you want from you next job, or dedicating a certain amount of hours per week to job hunting. Both of these will ensure you are progressing, without forcing you into a decision you aren’t sure is right for you.

Be sure that any goals you do set align with your needs and priorities, and aren’t driven by wanting the external validation and praise that often comes with a big career move.

2) Beware: The comparison trap

It’s so easy to compare ourselves negatively and positively to others, and it rarely serves us well. Everyone is on a different journey, with different goals, networks, challenges and advantages.

Your school friend may have been given a promotion, but you have no idea the hours they may have put in, or how much they really like their job. Your ex-colleague may have got a job at your dream company, but you never know what connections they have or sacrifices they may have had to make. Even our close friends may not share the full picture when it comes to the ups and downs of their career.

Comparing ourselves to others is natural and inherently human, however it often results in us feeling inferior. Be aware when you fall into this common trap, and turn your attention to more productive things.

3) Use social media to inspire, not torture

Linking to the point above, be mindful of your social media use, and reflect on what content frustrates you rather than motivates you to take action.

Decide what social media platforms you want to use, be aware of how much time you spend online and reflect on how it could be affecting your productivity and motivation. Unfollow people and pages that don’t serve you.

I read a great book last year called ‘How to Break up with your Phone’ if you want to learn more about how to manage your technology use.

4) See set backs as learning opportunities

This one is easy on paper, hard in practice. In 2018 I set myself the goal of writing a small amount every day. Suffice to say I did not manage that last year. Or this year (yet). I’ve tried to reflect on why this goal didn’t work for me, and how I can modify it in the future to inspire action, rather than use it as a stick to beat myself up with.

When I fail to achieve a goal or target, I sometimes dwell a little too much on the failure, rather than turning my attention away to potential solutions. Some analysis of failure and set backs can be useful, but after a certain amount of reflection focus your energy and attention on future possibilities, rather than past failures.

5) Write down your successes, both big and small

It’s easy to write endless to do lists and action plans, but how often do you make time to record the stuff that goes well? At the end of each day, write down what you have done well, and celebrate even small successes like starting a new project, or contributing in a meeting.

This may feel weird and a bit over the top, but there’s a lot of evidence to support the idea that encouragement leads to better results than criticism.

Mehr Hussain (MSc Economics and Strategy for Business 2017) is a true self-starter, with a refreshing attitude to learning. At her best when pushed beyond her comfort zone, Mehr is determined to continue learning and improving at every stage of her career. In fact she gave up a promising job at one of the Big 4 as she wanted to be challenged even further. It is this attitude, as well as her hands on approach, which has seen her career flourish.

Career aspirations

“I thrive when I am in a job where I learn every day. I very much enjoy my current role as a Financial Analyst at Gulf Islamic Investments, as every day I am given new tasks and each one requires something different. There is no one way of working. I am using and developing new skills all the time.

“It’s a job which excites me. I might be lacking some skills, but I am ready to learn – give me anything and I will take it on! I came here to learn from my colleagues and they are happy to share their knowledge. I have seen people start a new job before and, in wanting to make a good impression, they pretend to know everything. But they can be afraid to ask for help when they need it. My generation of millennials is especially guilty of this as we feel we have something to prove. On my first day in this role, I went up to my manager and explained that I didn’t know it all and I wouldn’t have all the answers, but that I would work hard until I did. Working with others provides such a steep learning curve, and that is certainly something I took from my time at Imperial.”

Continuous learning

Brought up in Dubai, Mehr studied first at Sheffield University and then Imperial College Business School, completing her MSc in Economics and Strategy for Business in 2017.

“My undergraduate degree was very theoretical. I wanted to know more about the real-life application of economics and that is what intrigued me about the course at Imperial. It was the complete opposite and based on practical group projects, conversations and team work. We focused on analysing trends in the market place and real-life examples.

“It was great to be surrounded by people from all around the world. You get to learn how people do business in Hong Kong, Canada and Europe for example. You also learn the art of compromise and dealing with different personalities and opinions. It was great preparation for work life. And of course being in London you are surrounded by new people and new experiences every day!”

How Imperial prepared me for my job

“I work in an advisory role in the investment sector for private equity, real estate and venture capital. It is important that I have a good working relationship with my investors and communicate with them effectively. My time at Imperial and the time I spent with my cohort prepared me well, as I was encouraged to get stuck in. Sometimes my work is completely new to me, but my Imperial experience taught me to not panic, to take a step back, breathe and look for a creative solution.

My alumni community

“As a cohort we bonded really well. We spent a lot of time together, both in and out of the classroom. We are all still such close friends and continue to stay in touch and meet up when we can.

It was great to be surrounded by people from all around the world. You get to learn how people do business in Hong Kong, Canada and Europe for example. You also learn the art of compromise and dealing with different personalities and opinions. It was great preparation for work life. And of course being in London you are surrounded by new people and new experiences every day!

“I always love to meet people from Imperial. And I always advise people to go to there – hands down no questions about it!

“To be part of the wider alumni community is so important to me – the connections I have are invaluable. I know I can contact anyone from my cohort and tell them I am going anywhere in the world and they will put me in touch with someone who can help me.  

“I would describe it as a unique community. I will always be connected to Imperial and have a bond with my fellow alumni. I love the fact that even so far away from London and Imperial, the Business School is still connecting people around the world!”

Would you like to get involved and share your story with the Imperial community? Then here’s how:

Use #ImperialMeansBusiness on social media to share:

• Your proudest Imperial moment
• Your workplace, and how Imperial got you there
• The alumni connections you’ve made

• How your alumni community has supported you
• Your entrepreneurial expertise
• Anything else that makes you proud to be a part of the community

Key Lessons to Succeed Early in Your Career

We all join the work force with great aspirations. Some of us are aiming to become the best in their field while others are looking to create the next big thing. We work hard to achieve our goals, but no one knows the exact formula for success. Perhaps because there is no magic formula or because we each create our own and tailor its variables for each new experience.

Prepare for the unexpected 

Defining your dreams and identifying your strategy only represent the fixed portion of the formula. You will still need to add the variable portion to hedge against what you cannot control. That is why it is important to be able to modify your career plan as the circumstances change but without losing sight of your ultimate goal. The best way to prepare for the unexpected is to expect everything as this will allow you to have a contingency plan regardless of what the future holds for you. 

Do not say NO because you do not KNOW

If life presents you with a great opportunity, do not reject it just because you are afraid that you will not be good enough. With hard work and an appetite to learn, no task will be unachievable. Always remember that you need to learn, learn, and learn as you go, expand your areas of knowledge, enrich your mind, use what you know and build on that knowledge to conquer new opportunities. 

Being involved in more than one area of expertise will allow you to differentiate yourself and will transform you from being a qualified professional to become an invaluable asset. 

Network

Going to the company’s annual dinner or sending a follow-up email after a social gathering for professionals is usually not easy but is always important to do. Networking is one of the key elements for a successful career; it allows you to connect with other specialists and to enrich your professional knowledge. You can network within your own company or with professionals from other realms of business and the two forms are of equal importance. It is crucial for people within your organisation to get to know you as this may help you get that big break you were waiting for. 

Explore

In a highly competitive work environment, working hard will not be enough to differentiate you. It may get you appreciation and recognition, but it will not make you stand out from the crowd. If you want to be special, you will have to embark on a never-ending expedition to look for new opportunities and new initiatives that you can join or even take on yourself. This will allow you to meet new people, to network and to get involved in exciting opportunities. This may not be directly related to your day-to-day work but it is of equal importance. Being involved in more than one area of expertise will allow you to differentiate yourself and will transform you from being a qualified professional to become an invaluable asset. 

Seek a mentor

Having a mentor can have a significant impact on the career progression of young professionals, which is why it is essential to identify and seek the guidance of a mentor early on in your career. The mentor-mentee relationship should be based on trust and the two parties should have similar perceptions about success. Being matched with the right mentor is a tricky part, but specialised professional networks can provide networking opportunities, which may pave the way for meeting the right mentor. 

Dream big and go after what you want

Do not expect others to hand you the opportunity that will make you on a silver plate. Instead, define your goals, identify your strategy and then go after them with full force. Create your own chance and make your own luck – people may not help you to get what you want but they will salute you when you make it. 

The beauty of dreams is that they are not real until we turn them into reality ourselves, and so it does not matter if they sound reasonable or a product of science fiction as long as we believe in our capabilities. But it is worth noting that all dreams should be accompanied by a structured strategy.

Do not be intimidated by success, always dream big and work hard to achieve your goals. You may not achieve everything you were hoping for, but at least when you dream big, even if you achieve a portion of your goals, that itself will be an accomplishment. 

The Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is increasingly recommended to boost the overall strength of your application. The GMAT provides us with a key insight into your analytical and quantitative ability and helps us to distinguish top candidates as a result. 

If you are still in two minds about whether to take GMAT, we’ve put together a quick guide on how the GMAT works and can benefit you, as well as some top tips on preparing for the exam.

So what is GMAT?

The GMAT Focus Edition exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long (with one optional 10-minute break) and comprises of three elements: Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights.

Each section is designed to test a different element of your skill set including critical thinking, ability to analyse data and ability to understand written material. The idea is that higher scores show that you have a good competence in these areas, and you are therefore well-equipped to succeed in postgraduate study.

You can read more about the structure of the exam on the GMAT website.

Do I need a GMAT?

In MSc admissions, this is a question we get asked a lot! In a nutshell, most of our MSc programmes do not require a GMAT, yet a well-balanced result (GMAT score of 600+, or in the 55th percentile or higher in the GMAT Focus Edition.) will definitely add weight to your application.

Something else to weigh-up is your current level of quantitative ability (as evidenced by your degree transcript) versus how quantitative your chosen MSc programme is. You may come from a highly mathematical discipline and decide that GMAT is not as important a factor to you. Alternatively, you could come from an Arts or Humanities background and be looking to demonstrate quantitative ability in a different way. GMAT is highly recommended for candidates from less quantitative degree backgrounds. Even some of our less quantitative programmes such as our Management Masters still expect applicants to be confident with numbers, and we will be looking for evidence of this in your application.

It’s also worth mentioning that as much as GMAT can add weight to your application, you still need to consider any other programme specific requirements – a fantastic GMAT score would not overrule any other requirements you have not met!

It would be impossible for us to advise you specifically on GMAT before you apply, as the academic committee needs to review a full application in order to assess your capabilities. You need to make your own personal assessment of how your quantitative and analytical ability is demonstrated elsewhere in your application, and how much your application could benefit from a good GMAT score.

The exception to all of the above is MSc International Management, where a GMAT or GRE score is an entry requirement. Therefore, if you are looking to pursue this programme, you would need to sit the exam in advance of submitting your application (although double check whether you qualify for a GMAT waiver first).

For this programme, we recommend a GMAT score of 600+, or in the 55th percentile or higher in the GMAT Focus Edition. If you are taking the GRE, we recommend a minimum score of 156 in the verbal, and 158 in the quantitative sections. 

Are there any other benefits of taking the GMAT?

A well-rounded score can not only add weight to your application but can continue to benefit you as you go on to seek future employment.

Although GMAT is predominantly designed to predict likely success in postgraduate study, the type of skills that are demonstrated through the test such as quantitative analysis, problem solving, working with data and reports, and communication, are sought after professionally.  

In the fields of finance, analysis, risk management, investment banking, management and consulting, it is becoming more common for firms to ask for your GMAT scores. Even if you aren’t required to take it, a strong score will look good on your CV and LinkedIn profile as it has a strong global reputation. GMAT Exam scores will remain valid for five years from your appointment date, so this gives you quite a wide timeframe.

What’s more, the skills, time and effort you put in to preparing for the GMAT, as well as striving for a good result, will put you in good stead for MSc study and securing your career goals in the future.

I’ve decided I’d like to take the GMAT, what next?

There are more than 600 GMAT test centres worldwide – you can use the GMAT website to find your nearest test centre. Alternatively, you have the option to take the GMAT exam online – the choice is yours! 

Remember though, GMAT is designed to be prepared for and GMAC advise that 6 months is the ideal timeframe to give yourself. However, this varies from person to person with some test-takers reporting that eight weeks is enough time to get ready for the exam. If you have a particularly busy schedule or are working full-time, it is probably best for you to make a schedule beforehand of how much time you want to dedicate to preparation and when.

If you are unable to attend an in-person test, the online version of the GMAT exam is available for booking up to 6 months in advanced, on a rolling basis. Before booking this however, I would encourage you to consult the GMAT Online Exam to check the online test is available in your region. 

Be sure to check out some top tips on GMAT's preparation page.

To sum up

We recognise that the GMAT is a big commitment of your time, but we have highlighted how it can be of real benefit to you. In most cases, it really comes down to personal choice. GMAT is and will always remain only one element by which we measure applicants – a strong CV, academic record, good references and personality will always be important.

If you would like to discuss more, come and meet us at one of our information sessions or sign-up for one of our online webinars.

Should you be taking the test soon – best of luck!

Tim Trailor (Executive MBA 2006) started his professional career in the ‘traditional’ finance sector, moving, as his career progressed, to new fintech-driven firms taking a fresh look at banking. As Chief Credit Officer at Monzo, the self-titled ‘bank of the future’, we talked to Tim about how a new generation of banking is shaking up the staid sector. And why a background in physics is surprisingly applicable to credit risk and lending!

Career background

I began my banking career as an Analyst, working in risk strategy. I went on to work in most sectors within the unsecured consumer lending industry across a large number of European and North American territories.

I made the decision to do an Executive MBA at the Business School because I was looking to get a more general rounding in business. I had reached a level of management where I was starting to understand and be involved in not just the technical/statistical side of lending, but the commercial side too. Understanding how a finance department or a marketing team views the world, being able to speak their language and understand their concerns has been really useful. Imperial was an easy choice for me.

The Imperial Executive MBA has a great reputation and a programme structure which fitted around my work commitments. I also had a connection to the College having completed my MSci Physics in 2001.

Science to finance might not seem a linear transition, but the highly logical, scientific way of thinking I learnt whilst studying physics is very applicable to credit risk and lending. Plus I enjoy solving tough problems. It’s surprising how many analysts in banking have backgrounds in maths, science or engineering subjects, and physics in particular.

Building a bank, together

I started working at Monzo in 2018 and I am responsible for all the lending side of the bank’s business. Monzo is forging ahead in the fintech sphere and is quite revolutionary in the way it operates. We’re engaging with and talking to our users in really unique ways, and we’re being much more transparent – as our tagline says, ‘We’re building a bank, together’. We share our product roadmap publicly and discuss where we’re taking our business next candidly with our customers. When Ticketmaster had a data breach last year, we spotted it quickly, notified Ticketmaster, contacted all the customers who were affected, replaced their cards – and communicated with them clearly at every stage.

We’re also really investing in things which help our users, even when there isn’t a profit in it. Last year we led the way in the industry by introducing a gambling block to help customers struggling with gambling addiction control their spending. The way we’re approaching things is really resonating with people, who’ve been turned off by the opaque and solely profit-centric ways many banks have operated in the past. In the last few months alone Money Saving Expert rated us the best UK bank for customer service, and Which? rated us as the top UK bank for customer satisfaction – in both cases it’s the first time we’ve been big enough to make it into their survey so we’re delighted to have taken top-spot in both in our first year!

The future of fintech

Being a ‘fintech’ means we build fantastic modern technology. This lets the lending team be much more nimble and to make use of some of the more innovative tools which are currently emerging, like machine learning approaches for credit scoring and open banking data. But of course there are challenges. One of the main issues is one all startups suffer from – the absence of efficiencies of scale. Without them, the only way to really compete is by being more agile than the competition.

Monzo moves very fast – the pace of development is phenomenal. But we’ve also just surpassed 1.7 million customers, so we’re really starting to get to a pretty meaningful scale too. As we grow, we need to maintain our agility and keep up the pace of development. If we can partner that with scale then we really will be set to radically transform the banking industry! Lending is an incredibly complex area with lots going on and lots of tough problems to solve. But it’s also an area which has a material impact on users’ lives. If done well, it can help users achieve their goals in ways they never thought possible. That ability to tackle hard problems which have the potential to really help our users really excites and motivates me.

Reflecting on your time at Imperial

Imperial is academically excellent. The quality of the education it provides and the calibre of my fellow students was exceptionally high. That core training in how to think logically and how to apply core business principles is something I use every day in my work.

Written by Adrian and Natalya Walker  (both Full-time MBA 2014), this husband and wife team tell the story of how they came to set up Boataffair. 

A first for the sailing community

Boat swapping is a first for the sailing world as a true sharing option for private boat owners. The yachting industry in general is still catching up with modern technology and trends. Many myths still exist in the market. Let us debunk some of them and explain how our Boat Sharing Community enables a new way to travel.

We both have 20 years of sailing and boating experience and a vast network of friends in the yachting world – we understand boat owners, their values and pain points.

After speaking with fellow boat owners and boating enthusiasts, we realised that among all boating platforms available out there, there was none that really catered for the needs of private boat owners. New platforms are very fast to shout how they’re the new ‘Airbnb’ for boats – there are numerous of them. But while many boat platforms aim at enabling boat owners to rent out their vessel in order to make more money Airbnb-style, we realised two things:

1. In most countries renting out your private vessel is next to illegal or very paperwork-heavy. These boating platforms mislead the public somewhat therefore.
2. Secondly, over 70% of private boat owners we talked to privately and through surveys do not want to rent out their boat. They tell us they would prefer to use their vessel to make new friends and simply share theirs with others. They were looking for a tool that connects them with other owners.

The idea for boat swapping was born: Boat swap is not a commercial transaction and the barriers to entry are a lot lower than with a boat rental scheme therefore.

What is Boat Swapping?

Boataffair is the first boating platform to truly cater for the needs and wishes of private boat owners. Within the boat swapping community, boat owners get the chance to share or swap their boat with other boat owners globally, liberating them from the need to charter a boat if you want to experience boating in a new location. We are well connected: to date, boat owners from over 30 countries, among them Australia, the UK, New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, USA, Greece, Italy, France or Spain, have joined the community. It is a unique opportunity to make like-minded friends and have the very best and joyous experience possible, and because you are hosted locals, you will have access to all the secret spots, not found in any guide book.

The benefits of boat swapping, or our boat sharing club, are manifold. Boat owners experience new boats in new countries and get to know new people. Make like-minded friends and discover new amazing boating locations through the eyes of the locals. Authentic experiences which you will not find in any guide book.

We have just arranged a boat swap between owners of sailing yachts in Australia and Montenegro and look forward to helping many more in the future.

Find out more about us here boataffair.com or write to us any time at welcome@boataffair.com.

As Owner and Managing Director of the World’s Best Relaxation Retreat (World Boutique Hotel Awards 2018), Sotiris Kopatsaris (MSc Management 2017) is a busy man. The fortunes of his family boutique hotel, Carpe Diem Santorini, have grown from strength to strength since he took over the running, after graduation. No two days are the same: one day Sotiris might be tasting a unique dish for the latest VIP guest; the next the hotel is being used as the backdrop for Givenchy’s new lipstick.  So what is his secret to business success? And how has he also found time to set up his own digital marketing agency?

Taking over the reins

“There was a very clear turning point for me: I reaslied that the agents of change in a business that is failing, are the people who dare to accept that they are also partly responsible for the situation. Through this acceptance, comes the desire to change and pursue a different path.

“I was all set to pursue a career in engineering project management and/or business consulting, when this light bulb moment hit. It was then I decided to take responsibility for the leadership and innovation of the family business. With the support of my family, I created a comprehensive plan of action to rejuvenate the business. I repositioned the hotel with more a luxury focus and reviewed our package to guests.

“We revamped the hotel from the inside out, as well as its positioning and brand. It was a fantastic feeling when this resulted in our first award – World’s Best Honeymoon Hideaway (World Boutique Hotel Awards 2017).”

“We have now created an award-winning website, a cinematic brand video and installed the most cutting-edge software. We have also pursued collaborations with very important agencies in luxury travel – who having seen our upgrades and willingness to push the boundaries, were suddenly very keen to work with us.”

Road to success

Sotiris is quick to attribute this success to the support of his family, as well as his time at Imperial College Business School: “None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, but also the incredible concept of personal responsibility and accountability that I discovered at Imperial. The programme boosted my confidence and enabled me to see the business from a totally different perspective. Only because I was confident in myself and felt personally responsible for the business’s performance, was I able to pursue these radical changes and succeed.”

“Imperial has been the most positive and transformative experience of my life. I think that every student at the Business School is privileged to consider their career and life plans in such and dynamic and creative environment. The year changed my confidence and perspective, and also made me part of an entirely new network of amazing people. It also gave me the skills I needed to pursue my own startup!”

None of this would have been possible without the support of my family, but also the incredible concept of personal responsibility and accountability that I discovered at Imperial.

Entrepreneurial expansion

Despite working full-time on the hotel business 7 days a week for 7 months of the year, Sotiris has also found time to start his own business: Loveworthy LLP. The digital marketing agency that he runs with his best friend, came about after realising what a key driver for custom conversion social media can be.

However despite all his previous experience Sotiris had a lengthy process ahead: “Starting a new business is always a challenge, as is attracting new clients and getting the word out there about what you do. Initially I was overwhelmed by the number of challenges and difficulties. However using the knowledge I gained at Imperial, I was able to push forward and enable our company to expand sustainably. The key skill at this stage is communication and teamwork. We are working intensively to get the word out to potential customers about what we do at Loveworthy.”

Sotiris believes the key to success is to “listen to what your client wants and offer it, not try to convince the client to want your service.” And his final word of advice to other budding entrepreneurs: “No matter how hard you prepare, you’ll never be ready. So, just do it anyway with no hesitation!”

It certainly seemed to work for him.

Would you like to get involved and share your story with the Imperial community? Then here’s how:

Use #ImperialMeansBusiness on social media to share:

• Your proudest Imperial moment
• Your workplace, and how Imperial got you there
• The alumni connections you’ve made

• How your alumni community has supported you
• Your entrepreneurial expertise
• Anything else that makes you proud to be a part of the community

Hannah Salton is a Career Consultant at Imperial College Business School, as well as a freelance careers coach. She left her career in corporate HR and recruitment to build her own business and a career doing what she loves. Here she shares her advice on how to fight the fear and strike out on your own.

When I resigned from my corporate job to pursue my goal of becoming a career coach and consultant, I had a wide range of reactions. Some people were excited for me, some were confused, and others were (to put it simply) fairly negative about the plan I had spent the previous year drafting. There were lots of raised eyebrows and questions, and (what felt at the time) like a lot of negative judgement on what I was supposedly going to do. “Do you already have a steady stream of paid work?” I was asked, and “Do you have a business plan for the first 5 years?”. The answer to both of these was no. I’d done a lot of free coaching, and a fair amount of planning, but I couldn’t comfortably say that I was on a safe and steady cross over plan, with every future detail mapped out clearly ahead of me.

At the time, the probing questions and the incredulous looks were hard to deal with. I already had more than enough worries inside my own head, I didn’t need to take on everyone else’s concerns too. Because I eventually recognised that’s what the judgement often represented – the individual’s own career fear, projected on to me. They couldn’t contemplate making a similar career switch because of the risks they assumed were associated with it.

“Well, you’re certainly brave…” people would say, shaking their head in disbelief. But here’s the thing. I didn’t feel brave. I was scared. I had exactly the same fears and worries as everyone else that spoke their own to me. The only difference was this: I was able to sit with and challenge each one of my fears in an objective, non-emotional, and practical way. And I’m so pleased that I did.

Over-inflated risk and extreme fear of career changing or starting your own business are very common, and often keep people frozen in a state of inaction. The fears and concerns about doing something different (both consciously and subconsciously) can keep you locked in a stable pattern of routine, and the idea of change can become so scary it makes staying put seem all the more comfy and appealing.

I’ve reflected on the vast array of fears I held before I left the corporate world and picked out my top three to share with you. I’ve also included how I counter-challenged the fears and was able to overcome them enough to make the move away. (Note that I said overcome them ENOUGH to make the move. For me, The Fear never goes away completely).

Fear of throwing my career away

I loved a lot about working in graduate recruitment, so the idea of having to start from scratch if everything went wrong with my career change was definitely one that kept me stuck for a while. I had spent 8 years working my way up and to get where I wanted to be. If I left and wanted to come back, would I be able to? After talking it through with a friend who had taken a career break to travel the world before returning to a job of equal (if not more) desirability when she returned, I reasoned that I probably could. The skills, experience and knowledge I had built up over the years weren’t going to go anywhere. Yes, I might have to fight a bit harder to get back in to the corporate world, but with persistence and focus I’d find the right opportunity eventually.

Fear of a loss of earning

This was definitely a big worry for me. Even though I wouldn’t say I am particularly motivated by money, I was definitely motivated to not get evicted from my flat. I didn’t mind cutting back on eating out while I was getting started, but I still wanted to be able to eat. With this fear, I spent some time going through my current earnings and spending. I worked out what I could get by on, and what I wanted to earn. I also brainstormed ways I could make money if my new career was slow to take off. I could temp, or I could pick up some freelance graduate recruitment work. Failing that? I could even get a job pulling pints in a bar to tide things over. Knowing I had this plan to call upon if need be was a huge comfort to me.

Fear of failure

This was a particular favourite of mine, and one that has haunted me ever since I got an E for AS Level Biology. I never enjoyed failing, and throughout my life I’ve always had an underlying desire to make my parents proud (cringe). In the past couple of years, my opinion of failure has slowly but surely shifted. Discovering lots of role models that had previously failed helped, as did reading ‘Black Box Thinking’ by Matthew Syed recently. The more I have read around and reflected on failure, the more I recognise that rather than being a begrudgingly accepted stressor to put up with, failure is a statistically essential element for significant growth and development. Once I acknowledge and let go of the knee-jerk human reaction to self-criticise, I really believe that failures are vital opportunities to learn.

Fear doesn’t need to be completely ignored…

From an evolutionary perspective, fear comes from a good place of wanting to keep you alive and safe. Pretending you don’t feel scared about making a change in your career is the equivalent of dealing with a hungry lion by simply shutting your eyes. It can still eat you.

But not all lions want to eat you. And maybe your career fears aren’t as scary as you think they are. The only way to find out? Take a close up, good hard look at them one by one – in a realistic, unemotional, and pragmatic way.

Are you looking to start you own business, or looking for a career change and need some support? Business School alumni can access the support of the Careers team, including one-to-one sessions and CV reviews.