The biggest difference between a confident person and someone who lacks confidence is that the confident person recognises that they have choices and they are prepared to back their decisions. Even if your confidence is still not strong take the time to consider the options that you currently have.

1. Five Steps To Regain
Your Confidence
When It’s Been Shattered
You have Choices

2. You Have Choices
The biggest difference between a confident person and someone who lacks
confidence is that the confident person recognises that they have choices and they
are prepared to back their decisions. Even if your confidence is still not strong take
the time to consider the options that you currently have.
Your choices must be determined by your financial security and your responsibilities,
but let's look at the choices and see if any of them are possible for you to consider.
Working less hours
In previous posts we have talked about continuing in your job but in another area
within your organization, or changing careers altogether. Now we have the third
element which involves the number of hours you actually work. Achieving your goals
might prove to be as simple as changing from full-time to part-time work.

3. To add more variety to your range of options you could have a “portfolio career”, that
is full-time work consisting of different part-time work. For example you could work
five days a week, spending Monday and Tuesday as an independent self-employed
consultant and then work Wednesday to Friday for a firm which employs you. So your
options can be summarized as:
• Full-time at the one job
• Part-time giving yourself more free time
• Full-time combining two part-time commitments such as an income producing
job and self-employment
Job share
Sharing your job is another option to consider. A job share situation can be described as one
full-time job, performed by two people each working part time, sharing the responsibilities and
roles within the job.
There can be problems if one of the workers is not pulling their weight but provided both are
happy in their role this can be the best of both worlds. The employer is getting two great
workers, and the workers are getting the right mix of work and play, although obviously they are
effectively halving their income.

4. Start your own business
This is an option many people choose when they make a career change. For many
mature workers a home-based business, consultancy, or online business enables
them to use their skills and experience for their own benefit. However you need to be
very sure that this is the right path for you before resigning from your current job.
There are pros and cons for self-employment as a career change alternative.
However, if you carefully consider your decision and plan well there’s no reason why
you can’t thrive and be successful.
Governments today provide considerable support for people
wishing to start a small business. Many of the resources are
free. Short courses about operating a small business are
readily available. If self-employment appeals to you there
may be support and assistance, even financial assistance, to
help you create a strong and successful business.

5. For more information, visit us at
BoomersNextStep.com