Are you stuck in the Middle? Are you working in one job and feeling dissatisfied but are unsure if you should stay or go or if you left, where would you go to?

As a Career and Business Coach I work with clients who are in career transition, they want to advancing in their career, exploring changing industries or owning a business or may be returning to work after a period of unemployment.

Being in a state of transition is like being stuck in the Middle. The middle for career transition represents the psychological space where we are in between opportunities, one foot planted in our former work world and the other dipping our toe into a tentatively unknown work world.

Most of my clients say that this in between stage of career transition is the most anxiety provoking. Transition simply by definition can be exciting as well as disorientating. Herminia Ibarra, author of Working Identity states at the root of transition is transit, a voyage from one place to another. As in any voyage, there is a departure, a disorienting time of travel and, finally a destination.

Ive gone through several working identities myself, from sales and marketing in the information technology industry to the quieter world of psychotherapy and then to my perfect place, the warm, comfortable and all embracing world of coaching people in the field of work and business.

I often talk to my clients about creating the coaching space an incubator space in between us where we throw ideas and chose which ones to grow. Being in the middle of a career transition is also creates an incubator space. You can use this space to try out new possibilities. It is here that new working identities are born and cautiously tested in the world by crafting experiments, learning more about new occupations, talking to people who work in those fields and even trying them on by job shadowing or testing a career change.

So how do you explore what other career opportunities might be right for you?

1. First take time to discovery more about yourself, explore what gives you fun and joy in your life. Think back to when you are happiest. Who are you with, what are you doing? Where are you? What would it be like if you were able to do the work that provided this sense of happiness and joy each and every day?

2. List the working identities that interest you. What did you want to be when you grew up? What dreams did you have? What are you doing when time seems to just fly by? What gifts do you have that you are not using? Create a list of possible working identities.

2. Learn more about an alternative working identity. Network with people who are doing the jobs you are interested in. Wonder how you would be as a stockbroker? Job shadow for a day or two. Try volunteering in your new field. Try it on as you would a new spring coat, does the fabric look good, is the fit comfortable? Journal your findings as you go from one identity to another.

3. Try a new activity that is related to your new possible self. Try on researching the work of stock brokers, attend financial trade shows, and handle some investments for yourself.

4. Get feedback from others. How would they see you in this new role?

5. Once a new working identity seems to fit, embrace it, revamp your resume as you would your wardrobe, put on the new stockbroker face and then, armed with all of your self discovery work, career assessments and work experience, undergo the effort to find work that meets your new identity.

6. Remember this is a process. If financially feasible start as an apprentice, get an internship if you have to start anew. If your financial responsibilities do not allow for this, work on what it is that you need to do to get the work that you want while working somewhere else, further education, work experience etc. Never let your eyes leave your target. Keep in mind that some transitions take longer than others.

7. Note that your passions can come from you work as well as through volunteering, enjoying new experiences and simply exposing yourself to that which truly interests you. If your passion does not support your financial needs that is okay to, work you job, live your passion.

For example, a female client in California worked at a television station, she understood she was unhappy there but was not sure why. Through further exploration we discovered that she was a person who needed affiliation and affection in her work, to help others and to be valued. She explored the idea of working as a speech pathologist, an early education teacher, and a non profit director, until she finally found her perfect working identity, that of an occupational therapist. She starts her program this fall and is very excited.

An environmental engineer longs to teach social studies later in life, for right now he shows off his love of civil war history by providing school assemblies and working part time at a museum, providing joyful education to others about civil war artifacts. A Public Relations VP does stand up comedy acts on the weekends to support his true love, providing humor to others.