The Career Life Coaching Newsletter

It’s “Back to School” time and I’m wondering, what are you doing for yourself in terms of learning new things? Is there anything you’re curious about? Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? How about learning to make homemade breads, jewelry or Holiday gifts? Ever think about taking Swing Dancing lessons, learning to play the guitar, or studying martial arts? Consider taking a workshop or mini-course, check out classes at your local YMCA, University or Community College. You may discover you have a talent that could become a pathway to a new career! Perhaps you’ll find that you have real ability in woodworking, flower arranging, photography, desktop publishing or some other creative endeavor that is potentially income producing. At the very least, you’ll meet some new people and expand your network. Open yourself up to new opportunities. Who knows what may come from a little “back to school?”

Futurists have suggested that, in this millennium, we are transitioning into a nation of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and self-employed individuals, each with our own personal “brand.” For many, the traditional 9-to-5 jobs with their defined roles and responsibilities in the hierarchical system of typical corporate structures are becoming an increasingly unattractive way to earn a living. This seems to be particularly true of people in the 20-30 age group. Since my daughter graduated from college and returned to Madison, I have enjoyed picking her brain about her views on the world of work. Much has been written about the X and Y generations; their buying trends, entertainment preferences, fashion styles, and techno savvy-ness, and their reluctance to focus on a traditional career path. They aren’t hustling to replace their retiring boomer parents in corporate life and government service.

We can all remember being asked as children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer changed every time I was asked that question. Now people ask me “so what kind of work are you looking for?” I guess that means I’m a grown-up now. Except my answer still changes every time I’m asked.

The truth is, I don’t want a job. I want a lifestyle.

I don’t want to separate my time out into work time vs. the rest of my life. And I don’t want to just work to earn money. I want to contribute to the world by doing things I love to do, and have the money that comes in turn be there to support me. But the aim of my work isn’t about the money; it’s about the work itself. The money is important, but secondary. It’s what allows me to keep doing what I love to contribute to the world.

In interviews that I’ve been on, I’ve often been asked to “describe my dream job.” Well, it would be part writing, part music, part teaching, part art, part yoga, part healing work, involve some travel, a flexible schedule, and I wouldn’t have a boss to report to (maybe a couple of mentors would be helpful) nor an office I had to be at, though I’d probably have some office space to use when I wanted. I’d be able to set my own schedule, be around for my kids (when I have them, someday in the future) and I wouldn’t mind putting in 60 hours of “work” because it would all be satisfying to me and helpful to others. (Needless to say, that’s not the answer I actually give potential employers. If I heard that, I wouldn’t hire me, either. I say something about flexibility and creativity and independent work...)

This is the reason I say I’m looking for a lifestyle instead of a job. I don’t want there to be this great separation between time spent doing what I enjoy and time spent working. This probably means working for myself, and multiple streams of income. Considering everything I listed above, it means learning how to keep organized, learning how to market myself, and being aggressive about getting it all going.

I think many of us are finding ourselves turning away from the 9-to-5 paradigm. There’s no reason for it anymore, when we can go into business for ourselves and be successful doing whatever it is that we love to do. What better way to contribute to the world is there than by doing whatever it is that we do best and enjoy most?

Think about it. Consider how much easier it would be to devote time to your work. Think about how much better, more efficiently, and more effectively you would do your work if you felt satisfied by the contributions you were making. Imagine having control over your work, your schedule, and your priorities.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live your life in such a way that you were always living it, and never felt that you were “working” while at the same time contributing your gifts to the greater good and in turn being enabled and supported for it? Think about what you would do. Write it down. And then make it happen.

“I was a long distance telephone operator for AT&T before I made the move to attend massage school. Massage was something I had wanted to do for a long time. I loved receiving it for one, but what truly drew me to massage is so subtle, for some reason it made me feel capable and I can't really explain why. I think the attractive thing about owning my own business was not having to take orders from someone else. In hindsight I can see how arrogant that was. Running a business takes a lot of work and a lot of belief in your self and what you are doing. But it is worth it! My life has changed...I don't count the minutes I have left until the end of my day; in fact my days fly by. Bodywork is something I have a passion for and that feeds my spirit.” --- Sandra

Sandra’s mission statement is: “Achieving a high degree of well being in one's life means finding balance between work, home and play. It means taking care of one's self so that you have the energy to do all that you want.”

Thurs. Oct 6^th 6 - 7:30pm Invest in Yourself bookstore
6661 University Ave. Middleton Please call (608) 836-1706 to reserve

Wed. Oct. 12^th 7- 8:30pm Mimosa Bookstore
260 W. Gilman St. Madison Please call (608)256-5432 to reserve

Maybe you’ve thought about starting a business and talked yourself out of it because it seems too overwhelming. Or, are you a solo entrepreneur struggling to do it all; the day to day operations, accounting, administration, advertising, public relations, sales and marketing, research and development etc.? The truth is, we can’t do it all ourselves. We live and work as part of a community. Why not collaborate? Come to this FREE talk and learn: how to create a powerful support team, collaborative marketing and advertising techniques and more!

Are any of you interested in Myers Briggs Personality Type, MBTI® and it’s applications? Consider this full day workshop:

Tips & Tools for Engaging Learners with Type with Katherine & Elizabeth Hirsh

When: Fri., October 14, 2005 8 – 4pm
Where: UW-Madison Grainger Hall, 975 University Ave., Rm. 3180
Cost: $75 (early bird), $90 registration after 10/3
7 CEU: Available for NBCC, APA, MBTI
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch buffet included

Please go to: www.personalitypathways.com/Mapt-workshop.html for more information and registration or contact Dee.

The Translucent Revolution by Arjuna Ardagh

“There is a growing phenomenon happening throughout the world, a gentle but profound revolution in human consciousness. It is something that has been experienced directly by millions of everyday people from all walks of life and the numbers continue to multiply exponentially. The breakthroughs they have experienced are startlingly similar and are marked by a new sense of well-being, increased joy in life, diminished fear, and a natural impulse to serve and contribute to the world in a real way.”

That overview was enough to hook me into purchasing this optimistic and helpful book. I particularly liked the chapter about the changing face of business in the U.S. The author conversed with over 1000 people globally in compiling compelling stories of individuals’ awakenings to a higher level of conscious being. In addition to sharing stories from such folks as Byron Katie, Neale Donald Walsch, Barara M. Hubbard (www.evolve.org ), Peter Russell (a personal fav of mine! See www.peterrussell.com ), Eckart Tolle (The Power of Now), Ram Dass, Paul Ray, Phd (The Cultural Creatives) and many others, Mr. Ardagh provides “nudge” exercises to assist the reader in achieving a different perspective if not higher consciousness.