In our interview with Lauren Delp last week, we talked about how researching a job in the green economy takes some unique skills. Why? Because we are pioneers in this new green landscape. That conversation got me thinking.

It's as though we've entered a new frontier—there are no clear career paths and there are no established job titles. What IS known about the green economy is changing rapidly. No one is sure how to describe what's over the horizon. We have our theories and some initial clues, but the truth of the matter won't become clear until we've all covered more ground.

Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat and a columnist for the New York Times, has indicated that the shift we are in now is of a similar magnitude to the 19th century shift from the agrarian society to an industrial society. The shift to green is influencing nearly every sector of our economy in one way or another.

What Does It Take to Thrive?

It takes a certain mindset to thrive on the frontier. Although some people may show these characteristics without any extra thought, others need to nurture this mindset consciously.

Whenever I've driven cross country or traveled to National Parks, I've always marveled at how the pioneers did what they did! How did they leave the comfort and familiarity of their home and community to face the unknown? How did they persevere to cross the prairie, rivers, mountains and deserts? What kept them going?

Although the journey from a job in a traditional company to a green career isn't fraught with as many physical dangers, many of the same characteristics come into play as we look toward the new frontier.

• Self-reliant — pioneers tend to depend on their own wits and knowledge.
• Passionate – pioneers are driven by their belief in something better.

• Strength – pioneers rely on their inner strength to pull them through difficult times to a better day.
• Risk-taker – pioneers are willing to take a chance, to try something that has no guarantee, to attempt something that may or may not work the first time.

• Resourceful – pioneers are always searching for opportunities, finding a way to make it work.
• Tracker – pioneers have the ability to find their way with a few key clues.

• Early adopters – pioneers create a path that makes it easier for those who follow. Stepping into the unknown is exciting.
• Resilient and persistent – pioneers don't let unexpected detours stop them. They keep going to get where they want to go.

• Ask and listen – pioneers who are successful ask those who have gone before them for input and suggestions. They also listen to their own intuition and pay attention to the signs around them.

What Kind of Pioneer Are You

There are three levels of pioneers.

• The pioneers that take something on when it's just an idea with no proof, no path, just a dream. Pioneers are likely to be entrepreneurs who are trying to invent something that will have a big impact on the green movement. Over the last few decades those who have persevered to develop an electric car come to mind.
  
• The pioneers that know there's something happening and they want to be a part of it. Think renewable energy or green building today. There's been enough development in these two fields to show they are on the verge of great growth, but they haven't been around long enough for the paths to be solidified. Opportunities abound, and you need to have a pioneer spirit to find your own way into the field.
  
• The pioneers who leverage the knowledge and wisdom of those who have gone before them. This option is now possible in some fields that have been established for a while now. For environmental scientists, for instance, there are educational paths and career paths to follow.
  

Being a pioneer doesn't mean getting to your goal all alone. It means sharing the wisdom you've learned with others and listening to the wisdom someone else has to share with you. The green economy is changing so rapidly you can't depend on yourself alone. You must reach out to industry experts, career change experts, green experts, and each other to find your own path into the future.

The Green Career Central site was founded to provide green pioneers with the information, guidance, and resources they need to stay motivated and inspired in their quest for a green career. With the step-by-step map we provide, you know exactly where to go to reach your goal whether you want to return to get a green education, find a green job, or launch a green business.

Copyright © 2008 Transition Dynamics Enterprises, Inc.