The market is changing in Silicon Valley, the holidays are inching closer and the year is not far from ending. Put it all together and this makes it a great time to reflect on where you are and where you want to be! We know you are busy juggling and trying not to eat that Halloween candy before the trick or treaters get here in a couple weeks, so we’ll make this short & sweet: here are 3 questions to ask yourself now.

1) What do I love about where I am at today? As work, kids in school and holiday happenings are likely about to make your life even crazier than usual, take one minute to think of 3 things that you love about your life today. Don’t beat yourself up about the never-ending laundry pile or growing mound of bills; nope, this is about what you are grateful for. Then, when things get chaotic, ground yourself by remembering these 3 things and focusing on them when all else fails.

2) Where do I hope to be in 5 years: financially, personally & professionally? You can still like where you are today and recognize you want to be somewhere else in the future. A job closer to home? A home closer to family? A few dollars closer to retirement? There’s no way to make a step in the ‘right’ direction if you don’t know where that direction is. Pick a direction before the year ends and you’ll start the New Year one step ahead of the game. Heck, your New Year’s resolutions could be old news before the New Year begins!

3) What am I waiting for? Is that one lingering destination STILL on your vacation wish list? Would you love to move up but ugh… now the rates are ‘too’ high? Are you planning to change jobs but can’t find the perfect time? Often fear of the unknown gets in the way of our action plans. You may have read our past blog about ‘the next right thing’. It’s our personal and professional reminder that doing what’s right for you and those around you is far more productive than thinking about all that could go wrong. Try it. It’s unbelievably refreshing.

Last but not least… don’t forget to put things in perspective. A career change might feel scary ~ but chances are you’ve done it before and made it through! Rates might be higher than they were last year, but they still far from the 8-9% range of the 90’s or the 10-16% range of the 80’s!  What feels impossible today may not have been a glimmer in your eye 10 years ago and could be a crowning achievement 10 years into the future.

You have got this – and we are here to help in any way possible. Cheers to a fall brimming with what challenges you, what changes you and what sustains you. ~ Mark & Jason