One of the career books I've been reading recently is Business Model You: A One Page Method for Re-Inventing Your Career. It offers an interesting template for evaluating your career aspirations and looking at them in light of the different ways you can bring value based on your various assets and resources. 

I signed up for their email newsletter and this morning received an update on their latest European workshops that included the three questions they use to start their sessions. I think they're excellent ways to stop and take stock of your career, so wanted to share them here.

Three Questions for Taking Stock

1. Is it time to move up? 

This is a pretty obvious question and one that I think a lot of younger people in particular start asking themselves--are they ready (and willing) to move to another level?

This isn't just about hierarchy. It's also about scope. Are you ready to assume more responsibilty? Do you want to leave a bigger mark on the world? If you're self-employed, is it time to expand or to work with a different level of clients? 

2. Is it time to move out?

This is the question to ask when you are feeling antsy or angry all the time. I talk to many people who feel like they've hit a brick wall with their current employer and find themselves in the same stale situations with colleagues and work scenarios. When you feel like you've "been there, done that, have the t-shirt," then it may be time to move on. 

Same thing for self-employed folks. I've discovered this year, for example, that I needed to "fire" certain types of clients. Life is too short and my energy is too precious to spend it on people who don't really want to make changes. There are some markets that just aren't worth it, so it's time to move out of them. 

3. Is it time to adapt your style? 

This is an interesting one. Often what we find is that work has changed, but we have not changed with it. This is especially true in this era of constant turmoil, where uncertainty is the one thing of which we can be certain. 

We may have developed a particular style or approach that made us successful in previous contexts, but that may no longer be working for us. We may be caught up in our old "frames" or stories, making it difficult for us to recognize that the situation has changed and we must change with it. 

This style question also has resonance if our role has recently changed at work. For example, I often see that moving from individual contributor to team leader can cause a "style crisis." Moving from "employee" to "freelancer" creates a similar situation. 

Taking a step back and looking at how you might need to adapt yourself to new situations is helpful. It can allow you to rejuvenate and renew your commitment to your work. 

How do these three questions resonate for you? Can you use them to take stock of your current career situation? Drop me a line in comments or let us know over on Facebook.