The Career Life Coaching Newsletter

After a long stretch of winter here in Wisconsin, suddenly all the trees and flowers are blooming! The stone islands in the roads and the front yards of homes are full of flowering trees exploding in white, pink, red, lavender and magenta flowers! Trees that have been bare branches for months are alive with color. Everything is green and lush. Tulips and daffodils, lilacs and dandelions all popping open at once! How is it that the flora around us knows when to bud and blossom every spring? I wonder if within each of us is a seed waiting to grow and bloom into something too. I liken the imagery of blossoming and blooming to discovering work that engages your passions, talents, and love. Yes LOVE. Why shouldn’t we have and do work that we love?

I often hear the message from clients, "I don’t know what work I should be doing but I know it isn’t what I’m doing now." The path to obtaining fulfilling work requires us to look inward at our values, beliefs and passions and outward at how our talents, skills and knowledge fit into the marketplace. One of my favorite quotes is from Aristotle, "Where your talents and the needs of the world cross..lies your calling". How do we determine this? We need to ask lots of questions and do a bit of research. In the last issue of Career Cornucopia, we looked at the process of information interviewing people about their work to get insight about various jobs and occupations. If you’ve done some of that and have targeted an occupational area it’s time to focus on the next step--networking.

To germinate that seed within we need help from the outside, just as a sprouting plant needs support from the soil. Think of your network as your support system, your ground. Through the information interviewing process you’ve likely made a few contacts, obtained some referrals and already got your network started. How to keep up the momentum? Join some organizations. Let’s look at an example. If your talents and passions are, for instance, in building better work environments for companies, joining the Building Managers and Builders Association (BOMA) or the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) might be advantageous.

If you are thinking of launching a business as a consultant, join a consulting association, check out Business Networking International and contact other consultants whose niche may complement yours (this has great potential for marketing and building mutually beneficial referrals). Bottom line: find a professional organization in the field you want to pursue and attend a few events. Need help finding associations? Try the Internet Public Library site: http://www.ipl.org/div/aon/ and the American Society of Association Executives http://info.asaenet.org/gateway/OnlineAssocSlist.html. Go to your public library and ask the reference desk for the Encyclopedia Of Associations and other like publications.

Additionally, take a look at social and civic organizations. Attend your local Chamber of Commerce open house or business card exchange. These events are generally free to the public and you can meet lots of people in a variety of occupations. Love gardening? Attend some shows, exhibits, classes, and talk to others in attendance. Just by casual contact and curiosity you can learn a great deal and open up options for your future. The point is to find a group of individuals who can help you move into your chosen field. Most organizations let you attend a few meetings or events before requesting that you become a member. This gives you the opportunity to find an association where you will learn new things, enlarge your contact base, get inspired by their leadership and maybe even find a mentor! Often all you have to do is just show up and people will come and introduce themselves to you. Don’t let the fear gremlin stop you.

In a Japanese Garden by Charmiane Aserappa and Akiko Naomura

Be the still pool. Let your face reflect the glory, the wonder.
Be the dragonfly. Silent but joyful.
Be the bud. Prepare to blossom.
Be the tree. Grant Shelter.
Be the butterfly. Accept the riches of the moment.
Be the moth. Seek the light.
Be the lantern. Guide the lost.
Be the path. Open the way for another.
Be the wind chime. Let the breeze blow through you. Turn the storms into song.
Be the rain. Wash away, cleanse, forgive.
Be the grass. Grow back when you are trod upon.
Be the bridge. Reach in peace toward the other side.
Be the moss. Temper your strength with softness, mercy.
Be the soil. Bear fruit.
Be the gardener. Create order.
Be the temple. Let the Spirit dwell in you.
Be the seasons. Welcome change.
Be the moon. Shine through the darkness.
Be the pebble. Let time shape and smooth you.
Be the leaf. Fall gracefully when your time comes to let go.
Trust the circle. To end is to begin.