Now What?® Coaching
from Laura Berman Fortgang
A favorite scene from Jerry Maguire: Here he’s feeling exhilarated, after taking the plunge to do the work he loves on his own terms. In Now What, we call it the Free Fall, and Tom Petty’s classic captures the mood for Jerry.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FN89jWaw8s&feature=related]
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
Here’s a far out idea. If your job search or dream goal is not coming along as you had hoped, write a story about how it could and watch your circumstances change.
“Really? Can that work?”, you might ask.
Yes, it can and let me tell you why. When you write fiction and allow your imagination to take over, you are wiping out linear, logical thinking and tapping into your intuition, also known as your superconscious. (vs. subconscious) When we approach a strategy linearly and it does not work out, we have a hard time tapping into a new, creative approach and tend to get stuck repeating the approach that is not working over and over again.
When we use our imagination, as in writing a fictitious, outrageous story about how our goal can come to be, we are tapping into our intuition, getting away from linear thinking and coming up with new ideas that may work to change our circumstances when put into action. We are also tapping into a greater knowing within ourselves that may not have been obvious to our conscious, linear mind.
For example, Marty is a hard working CFO of a hospital and has been ready for a new job for a long time, but has been stuck and not getting any substantial results from sending out resumes. He has used the bad economy as a reason to drag his feet and not be too aggressive about his search, assuming he should be grateful to have a job and not rock the boat to find another. When he gets a burst of energy about his search, all he can think to do is to send out more resumes.
When asked to write an outrageous, fictitious story about how he lands a new job, Marty struggled at first. That’s not unusual. We are not used to using our imagination or even thinking it’s a worthwhile exercise to stop and write a childish story about getting what we want. Yet, Marty managed to leave his disappointment and disbelief aside for an hour and let his imagination take over.
“I am sitting outside the hospital one day and the CEO’s of several hospitals are walking around during a break from some sort of conference. Two of them come over to me at different times and tell me they have heard of me and wondered what it would take to get me on their team. We have meetings in the next couple of weeks and they have a bidding war to get me. I have my choice and go with the highest bidder securing a contract that with bonuses that could create great security for my future. Within a month from that day on the bench, I am in a new job and very happy.”
Marty’s story seems far-fetched. That’s GREAT! That’s the point. Now, will his story come to be just because he wrote it that way? Likely not, but we have seen stranger things happen in our Now What?® career transition coaching work. However, where the gold is here is to then interpret what your intuition may be trying to tell you as it snuck into your story. What parts of the story are actionable? What hints can you glean from it?
Marty saw that he was not networking at all and that he had to be out to industry events and shaking hands again like he did in the beginning of his career. He took that message from his intuition to heart and created a linear plan of action for being in touch with more industry people. This was his ticket to a new job. Within six months of active networking, he was getting responses to his resumes and interviewing with hospitals that he would be happy to work for. In eight months, he had a new job.
No matter what you may be stuck about, career or not, use fiction-writing as a way to see your situation differently and be released from the ‘no -results-zone’ and ushered into the ‘opportunities-come-my-way-zone’.
It really is all in your mind and how you see things……..I want you to see what I see……POSSIBILITIES. You really can write your own ticket.
Based on Chapter 9 of “Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction”, “Life Often Does Imitate Art; Write Your Own Fiction”. More on this topic in Laura’s upcoming “The Prosperity Plan” (January 2011)
“Life’s challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they’re supposed to help you discover who you are.” Bernice Johnson Reagon
Recently we answered a question about how to change your resume when you’re changing fields. Check out this clip provided by Jobing.com, for some tips on acquiring experience in a new field.
Today’s question comes from a member of our community in New Jersey who participated in a recent Community Call, and is answered by:Laura Berman Fortgang.
Question:
Hi, Laura. Like you, I’m an alumna of Montclair State University. I was the first one in my family to go to college and after I graduated, I realized I had no professional models to look to. Rather than work with children, which was my interest at the time, I became a secretary because I was able to make more money. But now, I got laid off and I’m wondering where to go from here. At this point in my career, I enjoy working with adults. I have a 21-year old daughter and I’m not sure whether to go back to school or look for work elsewhere. What do you think?
Answer:
I want to acknowledge you for the paths you pioneered in your family and for modeling to your daughter what’s important in the world. Of course security is important to you, but being laid off is an opportunity to change. Just like the stock market corrects itself if it goes too far one way or the other, a lot of people now are getting to correct course as well. If doors are not opening in secretarial jobs, for instance, maybe it’s now time to get to do what you want to do, after having done what you had to do. I can hear in your voice that you’re a poised person and that you have a good personality and an honest work ethic, so remember to build on these things. This may mean meeting people in person, networking, and talking to people you already know vs. just sending out resumes.
See what other opportunities might be available and launch a multi-faceted work campaign. Sending our resumes is not enough. Paper doesn’t work as well as meeting people does. When you get out there and meet people, you’ll be able to make your own opportunities. For example, you mentioned that you work as a volunteer to teach English as a second language. Do they need a program coordinator or other person on their staff? Think creatively. Every industry has people they need in support roles. See what you might find just by being more aggressive. Allow yourself to dabble, to try some things. You’re going to have to get outside your comfort zone and when you do, just remember that discomfort = growth. Go out and shake some hands.
Michael Leigh started looking through telescopes as an 8 year old and his interest in astronomy stayed with him in the form of a lifelong hobby. After losing his job as vice president in a manufacturing plant, Leigh took temporary employment with a telescope manufacturer, while making plans to run a bed-and-breakfast with his wife. The Observer’s Inn, located in Julian, California is designed for star gazing, with a private observatory that Leigh built by hand with a friend. In reading Leigh’s story, we’re struck by how one’s interests and passions, when nourished over the years, can germinate and come forth in unexpected ways. Kudos to Leigh for creating a new career he loves and for sharing his sense of wonder with others.