Public Finance Blog

Fear is the number one emotional impact that holds everyone back from doing something they know they want to do.  Once they get over the initial fear and do the thing, then they are so happy they conquered their fear.  It’s time to explore how fear relates to your career path and the fear of leaving your current space or position.

What Is Fear? 

Fear has been analyzed as false evidence appearing real by many professional speakers and medical professionals.  Fear is based more in your head than it is in reality.  Ask yourself how many things in life that you feared ever came true, and I am willing to proffer that it is fairly minimal.  We conjure up these bad things that are going to happen and most never do.  For example, as it relates to your career path, the fear of leaving your old firm behind is the number one inhibitor of moving forward with a new employment situation.  However, fear is just complacency in this scenario.  The idea of venturing into unknown waters is what is holding you back because you are comfortable where you are.  That’s being complacent, not fearful.  The only way to get over this is to, as Nike says, “[Just] do it.”

Complacent Or Is Something Else Driving Your Fear?

The fear of leaving your old clients behind is a real concern.  How is this fear dealt with?  In this case, it is not “complacency-driven” but rather “financially concerned-driven.”  The only way is to take a good look at your book of clients and ask yourself, “Are they your clients or the firm’s clients?”  If they are yours, be confident no matter what business card you are carrying because they will follow you.  If they aren’t yours, the next question is, “Can you build new and better clients because of the new platform you will be representing?”  Here you have to project where you will be origination-wise in eighteen months from the time you make a move. Why eighteen?  Historically, that is how long it will take to completely ramp up after a move.

The Obstacles

There may be other fears that creep up as you are entertaining a move.  Know what you are feeling is real, at least to you.  The fear of leaving has been handled by others as well as they go through the process, know this is normal in any growth spurt.  You just have to see them for what they are: obstacles you have to conquer as you go through the process.  Note that the further you are in your transition path, the more prevalent they will become.  Man is an emotional being and fear is just another emotion that is put in front of you that will determine your desire to move forward.  If fear does stop you, it’s your inner control mechanism saying it’s not the right move; but if you put fear behind you and step into the unknown, you will most definitely come out ahead.  Let us guide you through these unknown waters.  Anything you are contemplating we’ve been doing that for public finance professionals like you for almost fifteen years.  

Conclusion

You don’t need a resume to chat with us! If you would like to discuss your options, please reach out for a confidential conversation at 760-477-1284 or email at harlan@hfriedmansearch.com. He can also be reached on LinkedIn. Harlan publishes a blog every Thursday here. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter here, which is a compilation of our weekly blogs, so you never miss one. 

About Harlan Friedman, JD & Founding Member, H. Friedman Search LLC. Harlan is a thirty-year veteran Public Finance Banker turned recruiter who specializes in the placement of all levels Public Finance Bankers, Healthcare Bankers, Municipal Advisors, Compliance Officers, Issuers, and Bond Counsels.