Now What?® Coaching
from Laura Berman Fortgang
Job hunting can feel intimidating at any age, even to an experienced career professional. Yet once you get beyond those initial feelings of having to put yourself out there again, it can actually be freeing to realize that because your criteria is different at this stage of your life, that in turn frees up the possibilities. Take a look at these examples and perhaps they’ll generate some ideas for you.
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
Speaking at a session of “Lives in Transition” a networking and support group north of New York City, I was inspired by the
resourcefulness of the participants. Many had started businesses or were charging for services to make money knowing that waiting for their respective industries to get back to hiring was not the smartest strategy.
It’s time to tell you about my “Little House on the Prairie Theory”. You see, for about a dozen years, I have not been able to shake the occasional vision of the aerial view of the town where the famous TV series took place. A long camera shot centered on the white church/schoolhouse in a dirt clearing that included the general store, the doctor’s office and a few other sundry buildings and businesses.
It was only a few years ago that I began to understand why I was seeing this image in my mind’s eye. I interpret its meaning to be a symbol for how we are somewhat moving backwards in time in the evolution of work. It’s coming around full circle. As more and more people are forced to reinvent, there seems to be a homecoming to varied skills, talents, gifts and strengths that are leading people back to selling their wares and focusing on their skill set the way an artisan would.
Does this mean that the best option in the slow recovery is to be in your own business? Not necessarily, but it does mean thinking like an artist when it comes to finding what is marketable about you. It may not be the same skill set that you’ve been making the theme of your resume. It may very well be something you loved in the past or that you do as a hobby or that is the sweet spot about whatever you did for employment in the past.
The key is leveraging that thing to make money. It may not be the same money you were used to, but it will put you on the path to recovery and only time will tell what else.
Martin B. did all the right things lining up his life as a young man to complete school and qualify for a corporate employee’s life. Having done so well compared to his family, he questioned his sanity when a job layoff had him considering other options for his future other than landing another corporate job. He thought he was nuts when he was fantasizing about making a career out of his love for the great outdoors. As luck would have it, someone he knew was selling a small resort in a mountainous area near by. He was not ready to invest so heavily but he also could not ignore the depth of the calling in his heart.
As I’ve seen with many people before, coincidences like the one above can scare the bejeezus out of people. Granted, there are many real considerations to making such a huge leap, but I cannot discount the timing of admitting to something you would love to do and having a possible opportunity suddenly pop up.
Martin started making more trips into nature and accepting invitations to travel that would keep him outdoors. The time in open space did a lot for reaching greater clarity and gaining resolve. No definite changes have happened yet, but I predict it’s just a matter of time.
I see more and more people being willing to make big changes to their lifestyles to live life doing something that is meaningful to them. Even if that’s not you, follow the clues to your next steps set out by those things that are truly unique to you. They are not in your life for no good reason. The reason is huge. It’s up to you if it’s compelling enough to take action on it.
Me and my wagon— we’ll be out in the Prairie waiting for you. After all, my name isn’t Laura for no reason.
by Now What?® Coaching Founder, Laura Berman Fortgang
Feeling stuck stinks. Nothing’s working. Everything weighs heavily on you and clarity just doesn’t want to come. As the anxiety grows and 
you try harder to make decisions or force answers, the worse things seem to get. So what do you do?
Here’s what I’d ask you to do. I’d ask you to take your mind off a problem that has no solution yet. I’d suggest that you do something that will increase your energy. Have some fun, exercise, pamper yourself in some way or do something just because you enjoy it. I’ll expect one of two reactions: Relief or more anxiety assuming you would feel hugely irresponsible not continuing to beat your head against the wall.
Let me explain what’s at work here. When your body is stressed and constricted, there is no flow. What does that mean? Your energy is being consumed by stress and not being free to draw your interest to places that will make a difference to your career transition. Your energy is blocked.
It comes down to an energetic equation. What multiplies your energy and what subtracts it? In other words, what energizes you and what drains you? Worry and struggle drain you. Creative, athletic, connective, loving, educational, or nurturing activities expand you and likely give you energy. As counter-intuitive as it seems to take your focus off of your dilemma before it is solved, it is exactly what can lead to the breakthrough you seek.
The end of the year is here. Time to unplug. It’s not a race to the finish line. If clarity is not yours yet, absorb the slower pace of the next several days if possible and use them to slow down, observe, be more mindful and look for clues. If you do know what’s next, set the stage for crossing over into another year by getting things in order so you can take action as soon as everyone is back at their desks. In either case, enjoy!
Happy Holidays and to ALL a very productive and meaningful 2012.
“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body. The more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.” Tony Robbins
Here is a short interview with Darcy Camden, as she reflects on her path to becoming a professional wardrobe stylist. Citing “learning to listen” as one of her biggest lessons, she advises those who want to build a lasting career to focus on long-term goals.
While it’s human nature to want to snap your fingers and be on the other side of change, relaxing into a long-term goal can be equally rewarding. Time goes by one way or another, so you might as well be working on something you care about. If time weren’t an issue, what goal would you sink your teeth into?
“How Finding Her Passion Led To A Career In Business Chic for Darcy Camden.”
by Kirsten Meneghello, Now What® Facilitator
Laurie is a “successful” attorney according to most people. She has earned an advanced degree, prestige as a lawyer, a good salary and is recognized as an expert in her field. Her co-workers and colleagues look up to her as a respected leader. But Laurie doesn’t feel that way about herself. She feels like an imposter at work and lately has begun to dread going to the office. She doesn’t like her work environment because she feels it’s not collegial and team-oriented. She feels like everyone is out for themselves and their own interests.
When Laurie called me, she was really down and feeling isolated. She knew this was not her dream job. But how could she justify walking away from a career at which she was successful? Through the coaching process, we started to unpack the difference between what others expected of her and what she wanted for herself. I find that many people in mid-life are in this same place. There is a lot of societal pressure to stick with a job or career when you are successful on the outside, even if you are miserable on the inside. If you are in this position and tell a friend you are unhappy, they will probably think you are crazy to consider changing jobs or professions.
Success is often measured by fame, an impressive title, having a big salary and a fancy car. But all of those are fleeting and leave you feeling empty in the end (sooner or later!). How you truly find success is to identify your unique purpose and bring your purpose to your work. When you are able to apply your special talents and passions on the job every day, it results in deep personal fulfillment and the satisfaction of contributing to society in a meaningful way. At that point, you will truly be “successful.”
So how did Laurie do this? She discovered through our coaching sessions that her life purpose was to provide solutions. She does this naturally everywhere she goes. For fun, she enjoys solving complex word puzzles and researching dense legal regulations. You might think to yourself, “What? That’s not fun.” It is to Laurie. She loves solving problems and helping others. She found that what made her current work environment so difficult was it did not allow her to provide solutions. In fact, finding solutions was actively discouraged. It was killing Laurie one day at a time.
Once Laurie got in touch with her gift to provide solutions, her perspective on her future career paths changed dramatically. She is currently defining what kind of job she is looking for next. It may or may not be in a legal field, but it will allow her to provide solutions every day and she is so excited. The best part is now Laurie does not define success by whether or not she wins a legal argument or how many hours she bills, but by how she is able to provide solutions every day. By identifying her unique purpose and finding a job at which she can apply her purpose, she knows that she will be successful no matter what she does.
Today’s article by Now What?® facilitator Kirsten Meneghello first appeared in Inspirational Woman Magazine and is posted on our blog with permission.
Some helpful thoughts here that may broaden your perspective on career change. In the Now What? career transition coaching process, examining your life story is often a pinnacle moment because it helps you connect the dots in a new way. Patterns and possibilities emerge that can only be detected in the context of your whole story. Once understood, the next chapter often writes itself.
“Career Transitions & Finding a New Work Identity.”
Special thanks to Britta Stromeyer Esmail, the author of today’s article.