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beginning a new job: visions & goals, part 1

June 30, 2015 by

So you got the job. Congratulations! Now what? How do you prepare for the new environment and responsibilities? You may think that all the hard work is over once you accept a new job offer. You’re partially correct. You probably survived a difficult process of identifying opportunities, submitting applications, interviewing, and negotiating your benefits.

It’s time to appreciate your efforts and success and take a breath. Celebrate. But, there’s more work ahead to become ready for that first day and first six months.

Thinking about these changes before you begin a career transition is wise. You don’t have to wait until you secure a new position. You can plan while you are in a job search and even before. If you prepare now, you’ll have more space to acknowledge, relax, even vacation between transitions.

The reasons people change jobs vary tremendously. Knowing your reasons or what adjustment you seek is essential. There could be too much of something in your current job. Like too much micro management or bureaucracy, or too many administrative tasks. Or there could be too few growth opportunities or leadership roles or a chance to mentor others.

Creating an expanded career vision along with goals for your new position ensures getting more of what you want. Image how you want your ideal day/week to be. What skills do you want to use and develop? What role do you want to play in an organization? What do you want to produce, create, or improve? What mark do you want to leave? All of these answers are revealed on the job as you grow. But starting with a vision of what you value and seek allows you to be proactive and aware.

“Build your own dreams or someone will hire you to build theirs”
Farrah Gray

Lynda is starting a new job in two weeks. She will remain in the same field, but will gain more managerial responsibility and have program development duties. She’s excited and somewhat exhausted finishing out her old job and preparing for this one. She has an initial idea of the company’s mission and the role she will play, but figures she will learn more once she arrives.

Is Lynda as prepared as she can be? What is her game plan to hit the ground running? What actions does she need to take?

Often before we can look ahead and be ready for a career change, we must say goodbye to the past. Giving yourself time to grieve the relationships, roles, and parts of the old job you loved will prepare you for the future.

Since transition time between jobs is often scarce, it will benefit you to think about these things in advance. Immediately or as soon as you decide to make a career transition, you can start envisioning and letting go. It may sound premature, but trust me, you won’t have enough time to process during the weeks of wrapping things up and getting ready for the new.

One valuable guide for starting a new job is the book, “The First 90 Days, Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter” by Michael D. Watkins. Watkins outlines the steps and tools to help you get off to a successful start. A start that will ensure you will bring value to the organization. These tools can be sharpened as you make many transitions on your career path.

Workers aren’t staying 10-30 years with the same company as in the past. You will be moving around, which necessitates rapid adjustments. Imagine if you could begin each new chapter refreshed and focused on the fusion of your goals and those of the organization leading to a mutually beneficial outcome.

In next month’s blog we will examine some of Watkins’ guiding principles, such as building early relationships and alliances and planning timely wins or accomplishments to demonstrate your usefulness.

Prepare now for your next career transition:

Develop your career wish list
Constantly revise it
Create your professional growth plan
Identify environments where you thrive
Determine your unique purpose in working

Start your homework and see you for Part 2!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , , ,

wake up call: time to take action

May 29, 2015 by

Hvar, Croatia

Think of times when you really wanted something but discovered you lacked the preparation for it. This month while hiking in Croatia, I found myself in that situation. I had dreamed of coastlines and sun, great seafood and interesting companionship, new vistas and learning.

While I experienced all that, I also received a huge wake up call. My training fell short of what was needed to thoroughly enjoy the adventure. Instead, I labored up the inclines and stepped gingerly over the rocks. My attention was on my safety versus the view. I was surprised by this peculiar experience. Previous hiking situations were manageable. What was different this time? What do I need to change?

So my wake up call pertains to conditioning and health. Other wake up calls may reflect work or relationships. They catch your attention and bring you up short. But do they really need to surprise you so much? What initial signs are you ignoring? What short cuts are you taking?

What keeps you in a job that no longer fits or a relationship that is broken? A wake up experience can hit you in the face and prevent you from hiding in the dark. You can’t make excuses and push things under the rug anymore. It’s time to address what is standing in your way of happiness, success, or accomplishment.

These tipping points serve to force a choice. Either you address the problem or you change your vision. Facing the fact that your success requires more work and/or knowledge leads you closer to your dreams. Giving up because it’s difficult results in disappointment and shame.

I didn’t give up. I kept going, even though it wasn’t pretty, even though I was the last in line. But perhaps if I had prepared harder before, my vacation would have been easier and more enjoyable.

Marion is extremely unhappy in her job. She dreams of more responsibility, meaning, and autonomy. Her efforts to find new work are falling flat. She’s unsure what else to do. She’s angry and frustrated and, if truth be told, wants something fantastic to fall into her lap. Rarely does that happen in real life.

Instead the breaks come after a great deal of hard work and preparation. Marion can feel a victim or become empowered to take action to make something happen for herself. She can acquire relevant skills, get more experience through volunteering, network aggressively in her field, and/or hire a professional guide.

On one day during my hiking trip I had a personal “sherpa guide” Jasna to help me over the rough spots. We laughed and joked and became acquainted. It made the path much easier and fun for me.

A wake up call allows you to take action to get back in control. When you establish a plan to address what is needed and begin working that plan, you become invested. No longer are you hoping for a miracle, but you are helping yourself for today and tomorrow.

The practice you gain through effort teaches you that most things can be solved or attained through learning and hard work. You can achieve your dreams and reach your goals. No matter what your circumstances, fighting for what’s important is the process of creating a well-lived life.

So I took the easy route before my trip and now I’m addressing it with hard work. My fellow travelers gave me a glimpse of what’s possible. Older, fitter hikers gave me hope. If they can do it, I can too. I remarked to one guide Lea that she was very fit. She replied, “If I don’t take care of myself, who will?”

Who will indeed? What dreams do you have that require a plan of action? When will you begin? How hard will you work? What deadlines will you give yourself?

“It’s always a wake up call to get beaten”
Usain Bolt

Steps to take before a wake up call:

Identify your vision
Outline the steps needed to get there
Begin now, prepare yourself
Ask for the support you need
Appauld your progress

Enjoy life and see you on the mountain!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , , ,

your guiding star: creating principles to live by

April 23, 2015 by

Sunset/sunrise above the Earth on a starless sky.

Sometimes you feel lost, directionless, confused. It can happen in your work life, your personal life, or your family life. It’s as if all you believed in and counted on has changed. Bethany felt that jolt when her husband wanted a divorce. Owen fell into a tailspin when he was laid off.

Think of times when you lost your way. Perhaps it was due to external circumstances or instead a deep change within. What follows is a sense of unease and questioning. You wonder: what happens next? Where will I go? What do I want? This state of instability can occur quickly or creep up on you.

Expecting life to be smooth and predictable is futile. As living organisms, change is constant. Nothing in your life, outside or inside, will stay the same. If it did, you probably would stagnate and become dissatisfied.

“The important thing to know is that life will always deal us a few bad cards, but we have to play those cards the best we can. And we can play to win. This was one lesson I picked up when I was a teenager. It has been my guiding principle ever since. When I wanted something, the best person to depend on was myself”

John Gokongwei

Some things in life are changed for you and some you change yourself. By making thoughtful decisions and choices, you increase your chances of creating a life that is satisfying. But what aids you in making the appropriate decisions? You can ask for the opinions of others, gather information, and hire experts. But how do you know you’re heading in the right direction?

Eons ago our ancestors relied on the North Star to guide them and to guard against becoming lost. Currently we have technology to blaze our paths, but our confusion comes more from the lack of an internal compass. Many fail to ask the one who is most “expert” in what will work…oneself.

Instead of a North Star to point you in the next direction, you can establish guiding principles to shape your actions. Guiding principles are rules that influence the suitability of your actions. They are highly personal. Based on your values, self-awareness, and lessons learned, your guiding principles become the North Star you can consult. When faced with a dilemma or change, you have criteria to determine your precise direction/orientation. Without personal guiding principles you can become adrift in the life you design.

Just as companies and corporations outline their principles, individuals require them to stay on a steady path. Individuals uncover their guiding principles through self examination. Principles are ever evolving. As we grow and experience, they show up as guideposts for work, family, and personal life and demand effort to create.

Melanie is at a crossroad in her career. She studied biology and pursued a degree in research so she could work in a laboratory. After ten years on the job, she is dissatisfied. Rules and regulations interfere with desired discoveries. Melanie lacks the reward of seeing the results of her efforts. Instead, Melanie feels depleted of energy and frustrated.

What Melanie knows about herself is that she requires certain elements in order to be engaged. These include: connecting with people, teaching others, and making a contribution. Using these uncovered principles, Melanie decides that becoming a high school biology teacher would more meet her needs.

Knowing what guides her purpose and passions, allows Melanie to find a new direction that is a better fit. If she fails to heed these guidelines, Melanie will fall into greater disinterest and despair.

As I meet with others, I often hear their guiding principles: learn and grow, be in nature, connect with others, be happy, share your voice, be creative and active.

While you create opportunities to express your guiding principles in your career, you can also practice them in your personal life. The more you utilize your values and guiding principles, the more authentic and satisfying your life will become.

Steps to take now:

Review your lessons learned
Outline your guiding principles
Employ them whenever you can
Review periodically
Savor the results

Full speed ahead and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , ,

wait don’t tell me, figuring it out yourself

March 31, 2015 by

Some of you may listen to the NPR Quiz Show, “Wait, wait don’t tell me”, or have been in that frustrating state of trying to remember or do something and imploring someone, “Wait, don’t tell me”… Along with the desire to come up with the answer independently, is the satisfaction of figuring it out on your own.

This past week I encountered that situation. Every year I participate in a psychotherapy conference in Washington DC. In addition to clinical courses, creative arts workshops are offered to allow us to grow by getting out of our heads and using our bodies. I chose the Clay class.

I’ve always admired and collected ceramics and wondered how it would be to create a clay piece. Our instructor gave us tools, clay, brief demos, colleagues for support, and permission to play. It was heaven manipulating the clay and seeing what emerged. We worked on small tables of 5, all creating unique projects.

After watching people throw pots on a wheel, I was intrigued to try it myself. Maybe this could become a hobby for me and I would become good at it. In addition to supporting artists, I could become one and share my gifts with others… To be honest, I wasn’t dreaming that far afield. I was just curious to try something new.

Another student centered a blob of clay on my wheel and then it was me alone with the clay. Being mindful of the instructor’s demonstration, I started the wheel and touched the cold clay.

I didn’t really know what I was doing, but took my cue from the clay. When it felt dry and my hands couldn’t shape it, I would add water. When it seemed off center, I gently moved it back into equilibrium. It felt like the moving wheel and clay were in charge and I was a minor onlooker. This was fun.

No one was there telling me how to do it. At times I thought, “I need to ask for help, I need to find the correct way to do this”. But just as quickly as that urge arose, I responded with “Wait, see if you can figure it out on your own”. I liked that freedom and risk taking.

I doubted something huge could go wrong. At one point I drew out a thin lip of the pot. It looked cool and then, in a flash it flew off the wheel. Oh well, that was ok. I just started over. No biggie.

“We cannot teach people anything, we can only help them discover it within themselves”

Galileo

What were my take aways from that day with clay? I enjoyed the hand building and wheel working experiences. I felt relaxed expressing myself with my hands. And felt positive that clay is something I’d like to try again. I challenged those early childhood messages, “You don’t have talent”, by simply investigating an interest.

Why not pursue something new and different that exposes you to unique experiences? Why not stretch yourself?

What does playing with clay have to do with Career Transitions? Getting curious about an alternate career field or job happens when people are ready for a change. That urge to shake things up and immerse yourself in another environment represents a voice calling you. You’ve heard it.

Sometimes you ignore the call because you can’t attend to it right away. Sometimes it gets so loud or falls in your lap that you just have to take it on. Sometimes you give yourself permission to take a peek.

Just like in clay class, you need some orientation, some tools, some encouragement and even some fellow seekers to support you. You may charge ahead with purpose or feel lost and want some direction.

Based on my experience, I encourage you to make times when you follow your heart, investigate interests, avoid asking for the answer first and envelop yourself in the multiple possibilities.

Steps to get started:

Ask what’s calling you
Find a way to experience it
Engage your head and body
What are the lessons?
Decide what’s next

Happy Trails and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , ,

readiness for retirement: your time to plan

February 7, 2015 by

When is the right time to start planning for retirement? There are people in their 40’s who say “I’m too young to think about that” or people in their 30’s who already have a vision of the various career chapters they want to pursue until their last breath.

What actually is retirement? Why do some people love “retirement” and others feel they should have never retired? Let’s be clear. The term retirement is outdated and unrepresentative. We lack consensus on a more accurate term, but some suggestions are: Act II, Renewment, Encore, My Time, Refirement, and Next Chapter.

Historically most people retired at 65 when eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits. Often they no longer worked for pay. Today the average age of retirement from a main career is 62 and most retirees are wanting or having to find new paid work. So retirement is not a disengagement from work, but a transition to a new way of living.

Work in retirement will become increasingly commonplace. Seventy-two percent of pre-retirees over 50 say their ideal retirement will include working. Nearly 58% of working retirees transition to a different line of work and they are 3 times as likely to start their own business than younger people. This encore work is fast becoming the fourth leg of retirement financing along with Social Security, pensions, and savings.

Due to medical advances we have gained 30 years of life expectancy in the 20th century. In 1900 Americans lived to an average age of 47. Today it is 79 and rising. A 60 year old today has a life expectancy of 81.6 years. So at 65 you may have 20+ years to use as you wish. Working on your own terms for pay or love may be part of that life. Options include: bridge jobs, part time work, contracting, entrepreneurship, volunteer/civic engagement opportunities, phased retirement, consulting, job sharing, temporary work, seasonal, or encore careers.

Comparing your current with desired life style (how you live) and your livelihood (how you work) allows you to design a life portfolio that meets your vision of the future. In fact people will plan multiple retirements or transitions as they create new opportunities for themselves.

Mark is a real estate agent who is 60. While he loves working with new clients and helping them find their dream homes, Mark has begun thinking about other ways to contribute. After 30 years in his career, Mark is eager to try something new. Through talking with his wife and friends, reading, and taking courses, Mark is designing his next chapter and beyond. He is drawing a timeline with the steps needed to transition into becoming a self employed CPA. Mark figures he can work as much as he wants and needs, but also take time off in slow periods. He likes the idea of learning new skills, becoming more flexible, and continuing to help people.

You may have dreams of your own. What everyone shares is a drive to establish an authentic lifestyle along with determining what financials are needed to support it. The reasons people seek retirement are varied. Some leave work voluntarily and others are let go. Some run from an unsatisfying career and others exit to pursue a new passion. Taking an annual review of what’s going well and what’s missing in your life allows you to become aware of your values, interests, and goals. From that knowledge you can begin a thoughtful plan toward self directed change.

“We spend the first half of our lives learning what we love, we should find a way to do those things in the second”

David Whyte

It’s vital to replace the perks of our current career: the friendships, roles, purpose, money, creativity, stimulation, identity and structure. A full life includes relationships, engagement, health, giving back, activity, learning, and passions.

Initial Action Steps:

Create and implement a financial plan that reflects your vision and values
Take action to improve your diet, exercise, sleep and stress reduction
Ask yourself whether your work is fulfilling. If not, brainstorm ways to change it
Evaluate your relationships, leisure time, and happiness. What actions will you take?

Rewire and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design Tagged With: , , ,

pausa: using a break to transform your career

January 29, 2015 by

cala luna cave

For most of us, life moves very rapidly. We jump from responsibilities to activities to thoughts and worries. It’s like we are on an automatic walkway. If we slow down, we risk falling off and all the balls we are juggling will drop. The extreme dis-ease of busyness prevents us from finding greater clarity.

Sometimes it takes a planned immersion into a slower moving culture to have the space to reflect and explore where your career is headed. I love to escape the cold of winter and travel closer to the Equator where life seems sleepy and steamy. Usually vacations afford us that time to slow down and leave behind heavy obligations. Pair that opportunity with an unhurried, warm community and you have the “pausa” which gives a break and allows your creative juices to flow.

When is the last time you took a “break” from your career? A career transition point can occur by choice or involuntarily. It can become a huge change or a small re-direction. You can be let go or you can let yourself leave.

If you are pleased at work, you may not pause to consider why. If you are in discomfort, you may lack the stamina to create new solutions. Both scenarios require your attention.

Consider those people who design their own career transition points on a regular basis through sabbaticals or project work. They view their commitments as short term, temporary. As such, they are regularly considering their interests and needs. Sylvia uses her I.T. expertise to work when needed and takes off to travel the world when she has a sufficient nest egg. She is continually asking herself, “what do I want now, personally and professionally?” Loyalty and status are not values for Sylvia. Freedom and flexibility are.

Business owners tend to actively review and regularly design their next steps. They employ a structured break or retreat to insure they are heading in the desired direction. Matt takes time quarterly to view the trends in his sales volume. He compares these figures with his annual goals. Additionally, he takes a reading break to stay on top of advancements in his field and sets up focus groups to get client input. Sometimes he takes a short vacation to completely unplug.

For those of you who are employees, often your career direction appears dictated by your organization and its leaders. You question what level of input you have as to your ongoing course. Your choices feel limited. But is that so?

As we mature in our career and life, we seek variety, change, and fulfillment. This desire propels us to become more proactive in our career path. Traditionally, annual reviews are a time for the employee to create growth goals and to express desires for the future. But who’s to say this is the only opportunity both for a review and a voice?

If you were to operate more as a free agent in your job, you would be alert to opportunities to improve performance and brainstorm ways to attract growth. As an employee it’s common to dream of how you would operate if you were the boss. But what stops you from advocating those ideas for everyone’s benefit?

Twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do, than by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, and discover.”
Mark Twain

Creating a Career “Pausa”

Schedule a break
Luxuriate in nothingness
Be in an unfamiliar space
Get curious around possibilities
Try on one new perspective

Relax and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions Tagged With: , ,

career year end review: wins and lessons

December 29, 2014 by

Sonnenuntergang in den Bergen
It’s common to make New Year resolutions at this time, but how many of you review the year you are exiting? Especially in work life, whether you work for yourself or others, you can learn lessons to guide your progress and growth.

If you were to close your eyes and scan over the past 12 months, what stands out? Is it that fantastic trip you took, or precious time spent with friends and family, or does something work-related make you smile?

Most of us need to work to earn a living, but what else does your career bring you? What are the meaningful parts of your role? What keeps you engaged? What demonstrates that your efforts matter?

Lisa works in the healing arts and is reminded that her hard work matters when clients praise the positive results of her efforts. Harry, a musician, is motivated to continue long hours of practice when audiences cheer and return to experience his superb performances. Tony feels recognized when his boss salutes him in meetings and hands over more authority.

While exterior validation feels yummy, what are you hearing inside yourself? What’s going well from your perspective? How do you measure success in your work? Is it quantitative, objective, or emotional? By making yearly career goals it is possible to evaluate your progress. This can be the year to begin a structured process to know where you are:

1. List your most important career Wins of the last year. For example, these could be advancements in pay or responsibility, completion of projects, or advanced skill development. Karen was asked to take on new responsibilities when a co-worder suddenly left. While she felt unprepared to carry out unfamiliar duties, Karen jumped in. She grew new skills by working with a mentor as well as taking an online course. Now Karen is amazed and proud of what she can do.

2. Make note of those times when you are in Flow: you are so immersed that time flies by. Analyze the pattern of those times. Are you working with a team, creating something unique, or using a skill you are very comfortable with? Marty finds whenever he is thinking outside the box, he is extremely satisfied and excited.

“When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life”

Jean Shinoda Bolen

3. List your Lessons learned: those things you love to do, those you’d rather avoid, your system for finding solutions. Sarah realizes she is better having great independence than being micro-managed. Often failures while painful, can teach us a great deal. Bob took a risk with a friend to start a new business. They were matched in their talents and ended up competing in decision making because they lacked complementary skills.

4. Appreciate all the Skills you have used as well as new ones gained. Imagine how these skills can be transferable. Marion is a great cheer leader for her team. She can translate those skills into leadership and management opportunities.

5. What Risks paid off the most this year? Stretching out of your box and doing something new lead to growth. Which one of these risks reaped returns? Was the “pain” worth the “gain”?

6. List the new Relationships you have made and how you want to prosper from their existence. Bob joined the Board of a non-profit and is meeting professionals outside of his field. It is bringing an infusion of viewpoints and personalities that spice up his life.

Once you have an overview of this year’s work, it’s time to look ahead. What do you want for yourself in the future? Set your intentions. Where do you want to be? Is it staying where you are, moving to a new role in the same organization, or is it time to move out? People put off making changes waiting for the planets to align, but the reality is that nothing will be perfectly timed for a change. You can make the change now on your terms or have change happen to you without your input.

“Life has no smooth road for any of us and in the bracing atmosphere of a high aim the very roughness stimulates the climber to steadier steps, till the legend, over steep ways to the stars, fulfills itself”

WC Doane

Whatever you decide, it helps to have an accountability partner to brainstorm goals, steps, and review progress. Whether this partner is a peer, a colleague, or a professional coach matters less than the act of committing to a regular process.

So look back before you look ahead:

Make sense of this year
Write your “take aways”
Keep what you like
Discard the rest
Take a new step forward

Be bold and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design, Self Knowledge Tagged With: , , ,

career exit strategies, making a plan, part 2

November 30, 2014 by

Two buses on highway in motion blur

“You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don’t need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don’t need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free”

This chorus from the 70’s Paul Simon song “50 Ways to Leave your Lover” playfully talks about a very painful process: leaving a relationship. Perhaps you wish you could have 50 Ways to Leave your Current Job. About the only way above you can seriously use is “Make a New Plan”…

Your uncovered answers from last month to what you care about, what gets you in flow, and when you are at your best lead you to some clues regarding how you want to be spending your time. But often, we don’t believe we can earn money at something we truly love. You think: if only I could, if only it wasn’t so hard or impossible or unrealistic. If it feels so good, it can’t be right.  Says who?

The pain of not following your dreams makes everyday life very dissatisfying. Not being true to yourself saps your wellbeing.

“One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself”

Shannon L. Alder

What are you waiting for? You know people who waited and lost their opportunities through illness, disability, or death. You also know people who throw off caution and go for it. When you don’t pursue your passions, you may say “I’m waiting for the just right time”.

“If you wait, all that happens is you get older”

Larry McMurtry

The hard truth is there is no “Just Right” time. But acting now gives you the opportunity to discover what’s possible.

Taking initiative to pursue your interests comes in many forms. You can take a course, join a club, change jobs, volunteer, or establish a self study. Education at midlife looks different than that in early adulthood. Instead of a four year track that is pre-determined by higher education, you become responsible for putting together your specialized, independent study.

Lynn has worked in the financial services field for 15 years. She enjoys the client contact, but is weary of the pressure and sales aspect of her job. She dreams of something different and takes the leap to start adding new interests to her current life. “At least I can enjoy something in my off hours”, she thinks.

Growing up Lynn enjoyed childcare. Her children are grown, but Lynn decides to become a mentor to families at a local shelter. She finds meaning that is missing in her livelihood. Even after a particularly difficult day at work, Lynn grows energy through her interactions at the shelter.

So a door is opening for Lynn. Where it takes her depends on her curiosity in, desire for, and investigation of new fields. Whether this stays a hobby or becomes a career, depends on Lynn’s development of her learning track.

The experience of new skill building promotes confidence and vitality within you that can lead to changes. An investment in your future expands emotional connection. This connection to something unique gives you a sense of possibility and expansion.

With confidence and optimism you take action. Say you want to change jobs. By setting a deadline to leave, you help to make it happen. Telling others your plans also holds you accountable and increases completion. Self imposed deadlines help put your priorities in line with those from the outside. Once you create your desired outcome and deadline, you can work backward to identify small steps needed to accomplish your goals.

You can use the time before your deadline to:

Learn new skills
Investigate different fields
Volunteer
Informational interview
Apply for new jobs
Create opportunities where none exist
Save money
Plan a sabbatical

The concept of purposeful sabbaticals, where you prepare for new work as well as refresh and renew, is growing in popularity. Higher education historically has used sabbaticals for advanced study and research. But most workers are not provided this opportunity. Creating one yourself is extremely valuable when in career transition.

What you can do for yourself:

Choose a topic for independent study
Create a series of activities
Listen carefully to your reactions
Set a deadline for change in your livelihood
Establish the steps needed to reach your goals
Get in action

Happy travels and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design Tagged With: , , ,

career exit strategies: letting go to move ahead, part 1

October 31, 2014 by

Doors

When negatives outweigh the positives in your career, you think about moving on. But what is involved? When you were younger you changed jobs, relationships, and housing frequently. But as you age, transitions become more complicated. Perhaps your decisions impact your family’s work or schooling, or you have greater financial responsibilities that depend on your earnings, or your identity is tied to this job.

Often you feel trapped, but don’t take action either to fix where you are or to move on. So you stay in pain and complain. This pain influences your mental and physical health, your relationships, and your hope. You have choices. They may not be your ideal dream, but there are always choices.

In order to creatively construct solutions for your career distress it’s necessary to be in top shape. Exercise, adequate sleep, socialization, and stress reduction are important. When you aren’t at your best, you become vulnerable to making poor choices and being adversely impacted by tensions around you.

If you work in a demanding environment, it’s almost as if you need to wear protective armor. This armor can consist of your confidence and focus. Holding a clear idea of your values and goals allows you to sort through interferences. Giving yourself the space and cushion to be mindful of your needs and mission allows you to be proactive in meeting them. Every workplace has some stress, dysfunction, and parts we dislike, but you have the power to minimize the hassles you absorb.

Allison Rimm, author of “The Joy of Strategy-A Business Plan for Life” uses the concept of the Joy to Hassle Ratio.  She has her clients measure where they stand on any day. If the hassles are overpowering your joy, it’s time to take action.

“If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m about to do today? And whenever the answer has been ‘no’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something”

Steve Jobs

That “something” represents a continuum of change ranging from keeping the status quo to finding another job. The vision of walking out the door comes to us when we are fed up. It happens in relationships and work, but impulsively walking out is not recommended. You may ultimately decide to leave, but there are intermediate steps to take before you act.

Amy is in her late 40’s and has practiced the same profession for 20 years. She has worked in different settings and is on an upward career path toward success. But while Amy is excellent at her job and is achieving success by society’s standards, Amy is no longer satisfied with her vocation.

But what can Amy do? Perhaps she can take efforts to create more of what she wants at work. Or if Amy knows she wants something different, she can begin a search and establish networks in that field. She can also prepare herself for a new field through training and volunteering. All of that can be done while still working, but it takes stamina. That’s where personal wellness promotion is vital.

In order to take on new learning and community building, you have to make room in your life. Too many people pile on goals and fail. Unless you let go of some things on your plate, you won’t have the space and energy for anything new. Determining what you can let go of and taking action are essential to success in any new endeavor.

“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage, pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically, to say no to the other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside”

Stephen Covey

If Amy doesn’t know what she wants to do, there are more answers to discover. She can begin an inner journey alone, or with a professional guide, or with trusted friends and colleagues. By getting curious about who she is now…20 years into a career…Amy can analyze the lessons learned about herself.

These are the questions to ask: When are you at your best on the job? What lights you up? What gets you in flow? What do you care about? If you could change something in the world, what issue would you seek out?

Next month we’ll look at what to do with the information you are amassing and what next steps are possible.

When you have one foot out the door:

Test your joy to hassle ratio
Ask yourself some hard questions
Dream about what is missing
Learn from your experiences to date
Determine what information you need

Happy journey and see you on the path!

Filed Under: Career Transitions Tagged With: , , ,

channeling your inner sherpa: practices to guide you on your career path

September 30, 2014 by

Sunny summer morning in the Italian Alps. Dolomites mountains, I

Ways to refresh and recharge vary according to our interests and needs. One of mine is moving in nature. It allows a shift from too much brain focus to a body engagement, where all senses are ignited.

This month I relished two weeks of hiking in Italy. One with a guide who shared wisdom that is valuable every day. Our small group in the Dolomites differed in abilities, but shared a desire to push ourselves beyond our status quo. The question of “Can I do it?” reverberated in the mountains. It reminded me of the adage to make your goals just beyond your fingertips…not too overwhelming, but not too easy.

As we started out, our guide Gary shared about the Sherpas in Nepal and what he’s learned from them. The Sherpas are the ethnic group known for their mountaineering skills. Besides guiding visitors, they carry the gear and food to nourish the group.

As we began our ascents, I became out of breath with rapid heart rate. Gary offered that the Sherpas take very small steps and strive to keep their breathing and heart rate level. So that became one of my practices on the trail, a type of walking meditation with focus on the breath. Gary has used this to climb the first 27,000 feet of Mt. Everest without oxygen. My goals were much more modest, but keeping a steady fuel of oxygen was one.

I found during that week an energy and excitement not present on most days. The beauty and fresh air inspired us, as did the camaraderie. We were all leaving the pressures of work and life responsibilities to heal our souls. It worked. The glow remains one week later after re-entry. But how to keep it alive or to create it without an exotic trip? What can we plug into our normal lives that keeps us engaged and energized?

The people I coach are ready for a change, usually starting with increased satisfaction in their work lives. They ask me how long does change usually take. How long do I work with people? They preface by saying they know it varies, but they still want to know when relief will appear for them. I understand the desire for a more gratifying work day..one where you are using your skills, living your values, and involved in something of interest that makes a difference.

How often we lose a sense at work that what we do matters? It may appear worthwhile at the outset, but after several years we grow stale. We need a shake up, a new path, a new reason to perform. As we grow and change as people, we need new challenges. But we fear our readiness for that challenge. We doubt our ability, but will never know our potential unless we try.

Like the Sherpas we can learn to take small steps and monitor our heart rate and breathing. If our body tells us to slow down, we can listen. Just as we can listen when it tells us to make a change because we are bored or stressed. Have you ever noticed when you take on something you love, time flies and you’re filled with energy? You are in flow according to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, author of “Flow, the Psychology of Optimal Experience”. Here’s his TED talk:

http://www.ted.com/talks/mihaly_csikszentmihalyi_on_flow

We don’t have to doubt our ability and stamina when we find the right interests. And we can find them by trying out many different things. There’s no recipe book for you. No index to check about what to do next. It’s just the willingness to put one foot in front of the other in a new direction. If you find that’s not bringing you joy, turn to the left or to the right.

During one of our amazing hikes, we were alone without our guide. We reached an unmarked crossroad and had to make a decision. In the direction we turned the trail became narrow and dark and muddy…difficult even. Surely this can’t be the right one, we thought. But we kept on, encouraging each other, finding unique ways to make it. And we came out onto a huge clearing, a bright meadow with flowers. In the distance we could see our guide waiting for us. He knew we would make it and ultimately, we did too.

So pick up your walking stick and:

Decide if this is your time for a change
Identify what area of your life needs a boost
Create your initial vision
Make a strategy map
Step on the path with a smile and hope

Good hiking and see you on the trail!

Filed Under: Career Transitions, Life Design Tagged With: , , , ,
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