We talked before about taking care of the stranger you don't know - your future self - by the action you take today. Today's New York Times has an interesting article about the value of downsizing plans for the future security and spending more time on relationships and other endeavors that enhance your current life. In the long run you may be healthier and happier. It is a new twist on the "grasshopper and ant" parable. It Might Pay to Follow Your Bliss is the story.
It fits with what we've been discussing - following your strengths to a better life. Better quality relationships and healthier mindsets follow in part from meaningful and fulfilling work.
In the end, confident career choices lead to a happier and more rewarding life.
Coach
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Changing careers is all about taking care of those you love.
Is it OK to take care of others? Of course. Concern for others makes us more aware and appreciative of our own good fortunes. What about the other you? You may remember the "best friend you never knew" speech I told you about. Your future self is your best friend. Would you let your best friend languish in a job that drains their energy and life? Of course not. Well, if that best friend is your future self, what are you waiting for?
Your health, happiness and well-being are intimately connected to your work. In five years at a particular job I developed high blood pressure, bladder cancer and found myself becoming depressed with my situation. Medication addressed the symptoms but action addressed the causes. I went back to school to complete my degree, got additional training and established my coaching practice. The damage was done but further damage has been minimized by opening the doors to a world of fulfilling work. If you "just can't" give up your current position at least give yourself the gift of volunteering. Harness your untapped potential and energy giving something back to society. The life you save might be your own.
Update - My Palm Treo was turned in to the bus driver who took it to lost and found. Talk about relieved!!!! Lesson learned. From now on it goes in its holster where it belongs. Expect good things to happen and they will.
Any thoughts on this or anything else (career-wise)?
Coach
Your health, happiness and well-being are intimately connected to your work. In five years at a particular job I developed high blood pressure, bladder cancer and found myself becoming depressed with my situation. Medication addressed the symptoms but action addressed the causes. I went back to school to complete my degree, got additional training and established my coaching practice. The damage was done but further damage has been minimized by opening the doors to a world of fulfilling work. If you "just can't" give up your current position at least give yourself the gift of volunteering. Harness your untapped potential and energy giving something back to society. The life you save might be your own.
Update - My Palm Treo was turned in to the bus driver who took it to lost and found. Talk about relieved!!!! Lesson learned. From now on it goes in its holster where it belongs. Expect good things to happen and they will.
Any thoughts on this or anything else (career-wise)?
Coach
Monday, June 11, 2007
Technorati link - networking for jobs
Hey sports fans. I am now linked to Technorati. It is all part of my own career transitioning that you are observing firsthand. Of course getting a job takes more than technology. It takes personal relationships, built over time, developing trust and respect.
"How?" you say. You start by networking with your friends and contacts. Let them know you are looking for a job. If you know them well they are probably aware of your skills and may have ideas about possible opportunities. Get some phone numbers and call to schedule informational interviews. Now this requires some integrity. You really are just conducting informational interviews at this stage. This is where you find out about the many variations on a theme that might allow you to work in your preferred area with or without specific training or education.
Why is that important? We'll talk about that next time.
Meanwhile I am anxiously awaiting the morning, specifically 10:00 to find out if my Palm Treo (which apparently fell out of the pocket on my fleece vest this morning) has turned up in the Seattle Metro lost and found. The biggest loss is the pictures on the phone that I had not yet backed up on other media and the SD card with soooo much information and photos on it. I can recreate my contact list but I sure hate to lose the other stuff.
My next confident career choice may be a new Treo - and a holster!
Coach
"How?" you say. You start by networking with your friends and contacts. Let them know you are looking for a job. If you know them well they are probably aware of your skills and may have ideas about possible opportunities. Get some phone numbers and call to schedule informational interviews. Now this requires some integrity. You really are just conducting informational interviews at this stage. This is where you find out about the many variations on a theme that might allow you to work in your preferred area with or without specific training or education.
Why is that important? We'll talk about that next time.
Meanwhile I am anxiously awaiting the morning, specifically 10:00 to find out if my Palm Treo (which apparently fell out of the pocket on my fleece vest this morning) has turned up in the Seattle Metro lost and found. The biggest loss is the pictures on the phone that I had not yet backed up on other media and the SD card with soooo much information and photos on it. I can recreate my contact list but I sure hate to lose the other stuff.
My next confident career choice may be a new Treo - and a holster!
Coach
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Making yourself a personal brand.
One of the newest trends in business is personal branding. That is, identifying yourself as a brand, much as Ford or Starbucks or McDonald's are identifiable brand names. The premise is that you need to differentiate yourself from the crowd to improve your chances of advancing or getting hired.
This goes along with what we have explored in the area of defining strengths, talents, etc. that set you apart and then focusing your efforts on those areas. Your brand becomes that specialty and is how employers identify you. Reach Branding Club is an interesting site to visit. Take the video tour at www.reachbrandingclub.com.
I think we could all benefit from the clarity, consistency, constancy that are the 3 C's of branding. Be clear on who you are (and aren't), be consistent in your actions and be constantly visible to your audience. This isn't about tooting your own horn, rather letting your actions speak for you.
So have a look. Then let me know what you think. It might be part of your decision making process when you make confident career choices.
Let's talk.
Coach
This goes along with what we have explored in the area of defining strengths, talents, etc. that set you apart and then focusing your efforts on those areas. Your brand becomes that specialty and is how employers identify you. Reach Branding Club is an interesting site to visit. Take the video tour at www.reachbrandingclub.com.
I think we could all benefit from the clarity, consistency, constancy that are the 3 C's of branding. Be clear on who you are (and aren't), be consistent in your actions and be constantly visible to your audience. This isn't about tooting your own horn, rather letting your actions speak for you.
So have a look. Then let me know what you think. It might be part of your decision making process when you make confident career choices.
Let's talk.
Coach
Friday, June 1, 2007
A friend is retiring next week. After 16 years in this organization he is calling it quits. Not because of age or because he has some can't miss opportunity. He is leaving because the door was slammed shut on any chance to advance and his current job has become so routine that he actually hates coming to work.
He was an educator before. When he describes the joy of being able to make decisions and impact daily activities, plot the course and have his input valued and accepted a big grin replaces the tears that well in his eyes talking about today.
I gave a coaching client the assignment to describe her ideal day. She has struggled with this exercise. After 31 years at the same organization, the only thing she knows about her ideal day is that it doesn't include coming to work. In planning her retirement activities her first vision is doing nothing.
She has become involved in a nutrition product company due to some health issues of her own. When she talks about sharing with others what these products have done for her, she becomes animated and excited. Her answers to each question I pose seem to end up involving this opportunity to share with others and impact their health and wellbeing.
Sound familiar? Fortunately they are doing something about the situation. Good for them, bad for the organizations, losing valuable employees because they are unable to apply their passions and talents in their work.
Marcus Buckingham, http://www.marcusbuckingham.com/ , researched strengths and how the focus on strengths by organizations and individuals is the single most reliable predictor of outstanding performance. What a shame for people to languish in a job, dreading their days, waiting for a date on a calendar when they can pursue their strengths.
Want to pursue your strengths? Ready to make some confident career choices that bring work and joy together? Share your story. Post a comment. Let's talk.
Coach
He was an educator before. When he describes the joy of being able to make decisions and impact daily activities, plot the course and have his input valued and accepted a big grin replaces the tears that well in his eyes talking about today.
I gave a coaching client the assignment to describe her ideal day. She has struggled with this exercise. After 31 years at the same organization, the only thing she knows about her ideal day is that it doesn't include coming to work. In planning her retirement activities her first vision is doing nothing.
She has become involved in a nutrition product company due to some health issues of her own. When she talks about sharing with others what these products have done for her, she becomes animated and excited. Her answers to each question I pose seem to end up involving this opportunity to share with others and impact their health and wellbeing.
Sound familiar? Fortunately they are doing something about the situation. Good for them, bad for the organizations, losing valuable employees because they are unable to apply their passions and talents in their work.
Marcus Buckingham, http://www.marcusbuckingham.com/ , researched strengths and how the focus on strengths by organizations and individuals is the single most reliable predictor of outstanding performance. What a shame for people to languish in a job, dreading their days, waiting for a date on a calendar when they can pursue their strengths.
Want to pursue your strengths? Ready to make some confident career choices that bring work and joy together? Share your story. Post a comment. Let's talk.
Coach
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