How to Avoid “Opportunity Paralysis”

Despite the grim headlines, current and former pharma professionals have never had more opportunities than they do right now.

(They just may not be in the pharmaceutical industry.)

Curing Opportunity Paralysis:  Divide and Conquer

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed with all the possible directions you can take, it always helps to take a deep breath and ask yourself a few important questions that will let you divide and conquer, focusing your energy effectively.

1)    Will you work for someone else or for yourself?

If you’re the entrepreneurial type, now is a great time to go for it; take a look at different ways you can start a business.  If you prefer working for others, no problem - focus more on career development.  Simply asking this question is a great way to begin focusing your efforts.

2)    Will you work from home or from an office?

There are all kinds of ways to make money from home whether you’re starting a business on your own or seeking an employer who will let you work remotely.   That said, maybe you prefer the social nature of a real office.  Understanding what your preferred lifestyle will be will determine which opportunities you will chase down.

Other questions you may ask:

3)    Will you be full time or freelance?
4)    Will you work on your own or within a team?
5)    Will you sell a product or service you own, or will you promote someone else’s?

The point is there are thousands of opportunities out there, and identifying which ones to pursue can feel overwhelming sometimes.  So to cure opportunity paralysis, make a list of questions like these, be honest with yourself about what you want out of this next chapter in your life, and divide and conquer.

Whichever path you decide to take, perhaps the most important question you can ask yourself will be this:

Will you start now, or will you wait another day?