Not all jobs are created equal!

Some jobs are just that - a job. I'm sure you've seen the "J.O.B. = Just Over broke" analogy. Well, money is only one aspect of being "broke." Oh, you say. What other ways can you be broke? Here are three.

How's your enthusiasm for life? Is it up and running at full speed? Do you look forward to going to work, interacting with your coworkers ans customers? Can't wait to answer the phone and solve another problem. Woohoo! Check your enthusiasm bank account. You might be broke.

I know you enjoy your commute. It is a great way to prepare for the joy that awaits you at home. Constant excitement and joy. Your partner and children are waiting to give you a big hug and kiss. They missed you all day. Or maybe not. Maybe the commute is a hassle, traffic is a killer, and the chaos of home awaits you. How is your relationship account? Broke?

Lying there in the early morning, head on the pillow, life flashing through your thoughts you smile appreciating your success. All those lofty goals and dreams of youth have come true. Obviously you are fantastically satisfied by your accomplishments. Oops! There might be a couple of areas you could work on. Could your fulfillment account be - broke!?

Hmm. On second thought you probably don't need to make any changes.

Or not.

Coach

Renewing Your Career Mind

Romans 12:2 tells us to "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Philippians 4:8 says "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

How are you renewing your mind? Are you thinking about the past and your old ways or about the future God has for you living out His purpose for your life? How are you transforming your life's work to accomplish that purpose?

You probably already know that if you want different results you have to take different actions. And you will need new thoughts because actions start with thoughts. What are you thinking about your new career to go along with your new creation?

New Creation = New Career Opportunity

Getting a chance to start over is what the New Creations program at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission is all about. That doesn't mean it is easy ... or quick. And starting over as a new spiritual being and leaving behind old behaviors and addictions is only the beginning.

Starting a new career to go along with your new creation is an important ingredient in the recipe for a healthier, happier, more fulfilling life. The first step is the most challenging. You have to believe it is possible.

If you have never dared to dream or have a vision of your future it may seem unattainable. If you have never experienced the luxury of looking beyond the next week, the next day, or even the next hour, thinking about one year, two years or more down the road may be unimaginable. Yet that is the first step - simply believing that God has a plan for you and a multitude of options to achieve His purpose for your life.

Give yourself the gift of throwing off the chains of your past and accepting that God has an incredible future in store for you.

Coach

Affordable coaching, anytime access!

I thought the pace might slow down after the Fourth of July. No. I have been speaking to services clubs, adding coaching clients, developing new materials to share and even more exciting, building a membership site for easy, economical access to career coaching. If you are even thinking about thinking about changing careers or jobs within your current employment, this is definitely the way to go. Think you can't afford coaching? Think again. Think you can't squeeze coaching into your schedule? Think again.

For the price of a grande, non-fat, mochaccino per week you can experience all the value of coaching, minus the one-on-one. You get all the articles, all the audio and video files, all the guest experts. And you get it 24/7 when you want it. Download MP3's and listen on your iPod! Plus you can email questions to our expert panel and join us for forum discussions.

Do I sound excited? Yes. Why? Because I want everyone to have the opportunity to make confident career choices through coaching. Everyone deserves to have someone in their corner.

Stay tuned for the launch date. I'm confident you'll wonder how you got along without it.

Oh, and if you are in the market for a new kitten, I have six little bundles of joy who will be ready to change your world in about 8 weeks.

Coach

There may be benefits to taking care of yourself now.

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

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

Environmental Influences

Every so often I have to get away from it all. Right now I am in Arizona visiting family, basking in the sun and enjoying the change of pace. When I begin to absorb the negative environment - people and work conditions - it affects my attitude and focus on where I am going by drawing me into the muck like a sponge. Time away is like using a cleanser to get the stains out of the kitchen sink. The more regularly you use it the easier it is to come clean and recapture the shine.

I am working on a new workshop and have a short deadline for the first run through. Plenty of ideas were swimming around in my head but nothing was spilling out onto the page (computer screen, that is.) My energy was being sapped by the negative comments and attitudes (including my own) at work. Within hours of starting this trip I became clearer on a structure and format. In one session I wrote a draft outline that will actually develop into a series of four workshops, giving more value to all who attend. I was able to continue coaching clients - cell phones are wonderful.

Have you ever rinsed and wrung out a sponge, the one's with an outer cover for scrubbing, by the kitchen sink? It is amazing how much stuff comes out even if the surface didn't look that bad. That's how our negative environment can soak into us leaving an facade of cheerfulness while inside we are sloshing in sludge. It is hard to think about your future, let alone take action, when your head is in the old game of life. Like the dirty sponge, you can't absorb anything until you get rid of the grease and grime of time.

Plan time for yourself to get away - an evening, a day, a weekend - and wring the sludge out of your sponge. Give yourself a clean sponge and soak up some energy to make confident career choices.

Coach

Take this job and ...

If you have ever worked in a cube farm under the watchful eyes of "the boss" you know my world. But I am ready to escape. I am throwing off the chains. I am going to stop doing what I don't like to do and do what I like to do! (Thank you Marcus Buckingham.)

Have you ever felt that way? Have you dreaded going to your job, not going to work, just the work you are doing now? What keeps you from pursuing your dream? Is Saturday the only morning you can get out of bed early because it is the only day you get to use your strengths doing something that brings a smile to your face?

Well you are at the right place. We are going to do this together. We are going to break the chains and run for daylight. If you want to come with us just say, "Put me in, Coach!"

See you soon.

Coach