Now What?® Coaching

from Laura Berman Fortgang

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Trading In Her Stilettos for Work Boots

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Each person’s process to carving out a new path is unique.  For some it happens incrementally and for others it’s more of a leap.  That was the case for Kristin Kimball, the person profiled in today’s story, who describes the change she made from city person to farmer as “abrupt and unforeseen”.  For Kristin, change came in three areas at once: romantic, professional, and geographic.  Her story reminds us that you can never predict the shape that opportunity will take nor the degree of impact it will have.  For as uprooting as making three changes at once must have been for Kristin, she says she has gained “the deep pleasure of commitment”.

 “From The Office to the Farm: One Woman Makes a Drastic Career Change.”

Continuing Education More Important Than Ever

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Some interesting thoughts here on what “continuing education” means today.  Included are real life examples and a discussion of the various reasons for pursuing additional education such as: to upgrade skills, maintain competitiveness in the market, improve candidacy for advanced positions, or as a conduit to a new career.  Networking opportunities with professors and fellow students can also be an additional benefit.  Ray Caprio, vice president for continuing education at Rutgers University, comments: “…state of the art is becoming obsolete so quickly that whatever your profession is, it’s important to constantly upgrade your knowledge base.”

“Learning Curves on the Career Path.”

Now What? Q &A: Back to School?

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Today’s question is one we are often asked and is answered by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor.

Question:

I will need additional training for the field I’m interested in but when I think of going back to school, it feels like it will take forever.  How do I decide whether to start a training program?

Answer:

Whether it’s a specialized certification or an advanced degree, the thought of spending a year or more in an educational program can seem like a long time.  Yet if you are drawn to this new field and the thought of working in it feels right, then the best thing to do is to go ahead and begin.  The time will pass anyway and it will go by faster than you think.  This was exactly what my client, Marissa, observed after earning a Master’s degree to become a therapist.  Prior to that, she already had her MBA and had been working successfully in a corporate environment.  Marissa hesitated before jumping into another Master’s program, but her genuine interest and passion for the field helped her conclude that it was the right move.  After completing the program and looking back now, Marissa is happy with her decision and with her new career as a therapist.  Her career plans continue to evolve.

So that’s one way to look at it: that time passes quickly and it’s highly likely that taking action in a direction that interests you will pay off.  Moreover, you may not need to wait until you complete the degree or certification in order to start working in the new field in some capacity.  If you’re still unsure about whether to enroll in a particular program, take a few introductory courses to test the waters.

A final thought to consider is that if you are like Joanna, a woman who describes herself as an educational junkie –she loves to learn and would take courses all the time if she could– then you will want to check yourself before handing over that tuition.  Joanna came up with questions to ask herself when evaluating training programs:  Do I really need this credential in order to do what I want to do?   How will it help me move forward?  Will I enjoy this program?  Will I get my money’s worth?  By asking these questions or similar ones, you can get to the bottom of your motivation and ensure that you’re not just telling yourself you need another credential as a way to avoid moving outside your comfort zone.  You may already possess all the credentials you need to move forward.

Tomorrow’s post will have more information about continuing education programs.  We also recently posted a related article about internships as a way to transition careers.

Now What? Q &A: Help Others to Help You

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Today’s question came from a caller from New Jersey during a recent Community Call and is answered by Ginny Kravitz, Deputy Editor.

Question:

I’m working my way through the Now What? program and am on Chapter 11.  Can you elaborate on what it means to “correct the behavior” of people in your life who are trying to be supportive but say things that aren’t necessarily helpful? 

Answer:

Chapter 11 is about setting up a support team, something that can make all the difference when you are getting ready to make a big change in your life.  A movie scene from Jerry Maguire comes to mind when Jerry says to Rod, “Help me help you.”   One way you can help people who are on your support team to help you is by getting specific and informing them of exactly what would be helpful vs. not so helpful.  This can also mean asking someone to stop doing certain things.

For example, if you have a friend who likes to jump right in with advice and what you really need is for someone to listen without trying to fix things for you, you’ll need to tell your friend.  You can say: Linda, sometimes when I share a challenge I’m having, rather than solving it for me, what I’m really looking for is for you to just listen because that helps me process what I’m saying.  Is that something you’d be willing to do?

It’s important to note that some people will respond positively to your requests and others might not.  At that point, you can assess whether that person is really someone whom you can count as part of your support system.