Here is what to do if you are having career regret

Here is what to do if you are having career regretHere is what to do if you are having career regretFor many workers, the end of the year serves as a prime time to think about their career. Annual performance reviews encourage reflection, and announcements about promotions and raises (or the lack of them) stir emotions.Such scenarios also can bring up career regret. Feelings that maybe you should have accepted that out-of-state job or listened to your parents and chosen a more practical major come to the surface. And even though we all know pondering what if? is part of human nature, experiencing career regret still feels lousy.Ready to grapple with career regret rather than let it weigh you down? Heres a look at moving forward when you have career regretIdentify the feelingDont chastise yourself for what you feel. Yes, job security, a roof over your head, and the ability to provide for your family are great things for which you certainly should be thankful. But thinking about how th ings might have been different if you went to medical school or wishing you would have pursued your idea for a startup does not make you ungrateful- it makes you normal.Weve all felt regret (or at least wondered what would have happened if we had made a different decision) in our careers and lives, says career coachKristen Zavo, author of Job Joy Your Guide to Success, Happiness, and Meaning in Your Career. When my clients experience this, I encourage them to fully feel it, rather than put on a mask of positivity- and only then look forward andtake steps that are aligned with their current vision.Consider actionEvaluating the intensity of your feelings helps determine next steps. A fleeting curiosity about the road not traveled is one thing, nagging dissatisfaction quite another. The latter definitely shouldnt be ignored.To be more satisfied in their careers now, I encourage clients to focus on both (a) the short-term what can they do now both at, and outside of, work to be happier and (b) long-term getting clear on their career vision, building a plan, and taking steps each day, each week, to make it a reality, Zavo says.Actions big and small depend on you. Maybe what you need is greater flexibility to achieve a better work-life balance. Or perhaps you canreinvigorate your current position by taking on new challenges. Maybe its time to enroll in some classes youve always wanted to explore. Or perhaps its time to admit that you truly arent in the right industry and must get out.Reframe regretLastly, look at your past as valuable knowledge and experience that paves the way for whats ahead.Although it can be tough to hear it in the moment, more times than not, ourcareer mistakes end up being the best things for us, Zavo says. They show us what we want- and dont want. They allow us to learn lessons, encounter challenges, and work with people that we might not have otherwise. As Steve Jobs said in his well-known commencement speech, You cant connect the dots looki ng forward. You can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.This article was originally published on FlexJobs.

The Path From Private Pilot to Airline Pilot

The Path From Private Pilot to Airline PilotThe Path From Private Pilot to Airline PilotBecoming an airline pilot is no simple task. It involves extensive training and it costs large sums of money. And even after you finally earn a commercial pilot certificate, employment is achievable only after banking a substantial number flying hours under your belt. Consequently, the path to becoming an airline pilot demands the parallel pursuits of both copious training and patient time-building. Training Training can be accomplished at a Part 61 or a Part 141 flight school. The educational process entails earning the following series of certificates in the precise order listed Private Pilot CertificateInstrument RatingMulti-Engine CertificateCommercial Pilot Certificate, with high-performance endorsementCertified Flight Instructor Certificate (optional, but common)Certificated Flight Instructor- Instrument Add-On and MuIti-Engine Instructor Certificate. Both are optional, but some flight s chools require these as minimum qualifications for new flight instructors. Time-Building Those who achieve the aforementioned pilot certificates will likely have logged 300-500 hours of flight. But for those intent on building hours in their continuing pursuit of pilot glory, the following activities will help their cause in the interim Fly as much as possible.Network with fellow pilots and airport employees.Find a job as banner towing pilotFind a job as an aerial photographerFind a job as a flight instructor. Many flight schools offer a retainer fee to keep you as an employee, and since flight schools are often paired with fixed-base operators that have larger, faster airplanes, instructors often have the opportunity for advancement.Seek opportunities to fly bigger, faster airplanes in a scheduled environment.Become turbine pilot in command (PIC), which is the person aboard the aircraft responsible for its operation and safety during flight. Within a couple of years, you shoul d have the credentials to apply for an airline job. The timetable to achieve this depends on the discipline of each individual. Motivated folks may achieve this within three to five years, while others may require 10-15 years. However at any time during this progression, all individuals may be hired to work for a charter or corporate flight department- even with just few hours logged. Furthermore, once you pass that 1,500-hour mark, you can consider making the transition to a regional airline.

These 3 habits can completely transform your confidence

These 3 habits can completely transform your confidenceThese 3 habits can completely transform your confidenceMost people misunderstand confidence They think that people are just naturally confident.This is false.People who have unearned levels of self-esteem of self-worth are arrogant, not confident.Confidence is a skill like any other.It must be acquired.Therefore, when you ask how to transform your confidence what you are really saying is How can I become mora competent.Because competence breeds confidence.If youve never competed in a martial art before and you arrogantly assume that you can fight a black belt in JuJitsu and win Youre a fool.Ladders is now on SmartNewsDownload the SmartNews app and add the Ladders channel to read the latest career news and advice wherever you go.However, if you have trained for years, earned a black belt yourself, and won several competitions, you can have confidence because youve become competent.Its also important to know that confidence in one area of your life leads to confidence in every area.When you get good at one thing you realize that you can get good at anything.And this is what true confidence is Its the understanding that you have the potential and ability to become highly competent at anything you want.But back to the question.How does one actually go about developing confidence?Specifically, what are three habits that can transform your confidence completely?Here are my three favorites.1. Start by transforming your bodyAs Ive already stated, confidence first requires competence in one or more area.Once youve become really good at a given skill or activity, you develop confidence in your ability to improve yourself and acquire new skills.And the simplest way Ive found to increase competence and prove to yourself that you can transform your life is to start by transforming your body. Why?Simple Becoming physically fit is actually really simple.Sure, there are a million and one different workout programs and die ts you can follow.But if you follow the core principles of exercise physiology such asEating a caloric surplus or deficit to gain muscle or lose fatProgressively adding weight to increase strength and muscle massUsing aerobic conditioning to increase speed and recoveryGetting plenty of good sleep so you can continue trainingYou WILL get results.Its not like entrepreneurship where you can fail at 100 businesses before succeeding or your romantic life where you can date dozens of people without ever finding someone with whom you click.If you show up and put in the work You will get results.And the confidence that you will gain by transforming your body and developing an Instagram worthy physique cannot be understated.When I went from scrawny to brawny, my confidence skyrocketed.I felt more confident around women.I had more energy and vitality and felt like I could take on the world.And I no longer felt self-conscious when hanging around my fit friends.If you want to be more confident , start by developing an amazing body.I recommend following a program like Bigger Leaner Stronger or Thinner Leaner Stronger by Mike Matthews since this is the simplest and most research-backed approach Ive ever found.Trust me When you build your body, confidence will come as a natural byproduct.2. Eradicate self-doubt and worry by practicing fear settingFear holds you back from feeling and experiencing confidence.They are antithetical emotions.You cannot be afraid and confident at the same time.But heres the thing Most of us are afraid of the wrong thingsWe are scared by ghosts and What ifs that dont actually exist.As such, the quickest way to develop your confidence is to overcome your fears and worries using two techniques.Fear settingExposure therapyFear setting is simply the act of writing down exactly what you are afraid of and then playing out the What if scenario all the way to the end.For example, if you are afraid of quitting your job and starting your own business write d own everything you are afraid of from Looking foolishGoing brokeBeing homelessFailingGetting laughed atEtc. etc. etc.But dont stop there Once you have your fears clearly written out, you are now going to write out how you can eliminate possible downsides and maximize the upsides.For example, if you want to start your own business but are too afraid, you couldStart with a side hustle while keeping your current jobFind a mentor who has the results you want and pay him to teach youRequest a sabbatical from work instead of quitting outrightCreate a backup plan in case you failThen, I want you to play out the worst case scenario in your head.If you fail on EVERYTHING, whats the worst that will happen.Short of death and dismemberment, you will quickly realize that what you are scared of isnt even that scary.In fact, youve probably overcome worse situations before.When you realize this, your confidence will be restored and your fear eradicated.But this leaves me with one more way to beat f ear and develop confidence 3. Expose yourself to things you fear regularlyIn other words Get out of your comfort zoneWhen you sit in your comfort zone and only do things that you are used to, its easy to become lazy and complacent.You will no longer feel confident because you will no longer be taking strides towards achieving the life of your dreams.If you want to maximize your confidence then you need to prove to yourself on a regular basis that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to.So make a list of things that you fear or are, at the very least, uncomfortable with.And then go do those things every day.Here are a few examples to get you startedTake ice cold showers instead of hot onesTalk to that pretty girl/guy in line at StarbucksCall your phone company and ask for a discount (youd be amazed how many people are terrified of the phone)Take a part-time sales job and do cold calls every dayIf you have phobias such as heights, snakes, or driving fast, slowly expose yourself to those thingsJust do MORE things that scare you on a daily basis.I promise if you will do this for the next 90 days, you will feel more confident, self-assured, and ready to take on the world than you ever have in your life.This deutsche post ag originally appeared on Quora.