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home | services | about Dee | career quiz | resources | f.a.q | back issues |
Career Cornucopia 
Cornucopia: "an inexhaustible store, abundance" The Sandwich Effect My daughter is working on a freelance assignment for Wisconsin Woman, a Madison monthly magazine, on the “Sandwich Generation” – that is those of us in the boomer generation who are middle aged and dealing with both our children, many of whom still live at home, and the needs of our aging parents. It can be very challenging to be sandwiched between our parenting responsibilities and our responsibilities to our parents. There is a kind of Sandwich Effect occurring in the work world as well. Employers are feeling the pinch of economic conditions, like the enormous cost of providing employee health insurance benefits, coupled with wanting to provide good working environments and fair pay. They struggle to meet their financial goals and still keep their employees happy. Likewise workers get frustrated at increasing demands from employers to work longer hours without additional compensations, financial or otherwise. The sense of “keeping the nose to the grindstone” pervades the modern workplace. How do we as a culture, foster the individual’s need to have fulfilling, rewarding work and still stay competitive in the marketplace? Is there a way for people to parlay their talents, skills, and passions into a viable income earning career? I believe there is. As Marsha Sinetar in her book, To Build the Life You Want, Create the Work You Love suggests; “Invent a way to earn an income doing what you do best, while serving others, becoming authentic and fulfilling the highest standards of your vocation. This is spiritual work. It’s life’s assignment.” Do you feel sandwiched between what you want to do for work and what the labor market needs? You are not alone. The trick is to find a niche where your skills, abilities and ideas can best be utilized. Where is there a need that no one is filling? Do some reading and research. Look for indications of opportunities. In my work as a counselor at the UW Small Business Development Center I am often amazed at the variety of entrepreneurial endeavors people create. Does your community need a facility to care for your dogs during the daytime? Or daycare for elderly parents? Is there an abandoned K-Mart building that could be converted to an indoor recreation center or is there a need in your area for an errand running service? How about reliable transportation to take children from school to music lessons/sports etc.? These are all examples of real Wisconsin start-up companies. Sometimes we get a sudden burst of inspiration for a great business idea and other times we are moved by events in our lives to solve a problem. When her 5 year old child was let off at a wrong bus stop and no one knew where he was for many agonizing hours, Cathy Smith recognized a need to provide safer transportation for children. She convinced her husband to drive their van and transport not only their own children but others’ in the neighborhood. In 2003, having successfully grown her business from the family van to a fleet of 16 vehicles, Mr. Mom’s Transport Services, Inc. received the Dane County Small Business of the Year award. This is just one of many examples of people seeing a need they could fulfill and creating a successful business out of it. The question is; do you want to be the whole sandwich or just the filling in the middle? Whether you launch your own business or work for someone else, the key is to take action and move towards the work that calls you.
Choose What You Want in Life Choice. It's all about freedom--the freedom to pick one thing over another. Are you choosing what you want from life? "Oh no," comes the reply. "I can't because… I haven't got enough education. …I need to look after my family. …I don't have enough money. …I don't have the time." What's your excuse? The truth is that we have choice in every single moment of our lives. For those who are destitute, the choices in life are fewer. But the rest of us often think we don't have freedom when we simply haven't claimed our power to choose differently. How do you typically make decisions? Do you do so based on: shoulds – doing what you believe you should do. pleasing others – doing what others want or expect you to do. fear – choosing the safe route for fear of doing something different. habit and reaction – you don't even think about what you're doing--you've always done it this way? On the other hand, you own your power to choose when you decide on the basis of: desire – choosing something you want need – responding to deeper desires authenticity – you know who you are and what you stand for creative expression – you strive to be more. So how can you open to choosing differently?
Empowerment arises from the three Cs: choice, courage and change. They are yours to claim. You'll be astounded at how easy it will be to take charge once you've made up your mind to do so. You have the opportunity to create a future that's very different from your past. And remember: not choosing is also a choice. Reprinted with permission from www.higherawareness.com
Offering 20 personal development and spiritual growth programs
Free Talk: "Creating Work You Love" Do you feel trapped in an unsatisfying job? Are you tired of working long hours for someone else? Are you longing for meaningful work and freedom from tedium? Do you have a skill or talent to share with others? Do you have ideas for products or services but don’t know how to bring them into the marketplace? Did you know there are lot’s of businesses you can start with minimal money? In this presentation we’ll explore the answers to these questions and look at both the spiritual and pragmatic sides of Entrepreneuring. If you’ve ever thought about putting a service or product “out there” don’t miss this workshop! In addition, you’ll receive a packet of materials full of links and resources for starting your own business! Tues. July 19,
7-8:30pm at Mimosa Bookstore, Do you have a sense that there is something else you could be doing to earn a living? Have you ever thought about creating your own business or changing your occupation? Want some techniques to help you identify your unique blend of gifts and abilities and how they relate to the world of work? Then please join us! Through group brainstorming we’ll explore your vocational possibilities. Mind mapping, is a powerful tool that stimulates both sides of the brain. You’ll learn how this webbing technique can help you in everything from planning a vacation to developing a business plan. In this group activity, we will create a colorful flip chart sized mind map for you to take home, full of new possibilities for using your talents and skills in the work place. Tues. July 26, 6-8 pm at Invest in
Yourself Books, 6661 University Ave. Middleton Thinking about going into business? Spend one evening getting a clear picture of what it's really like to run a small business. Assess your own strengths and weaknesses as a business owner. Learn how to analyze the potential for your business. Discover what information you need and where to find it. You will learn how to answer these questions:
Mon. August 8,
6:30 – 9pm UW-Madison,
Grainger Hall (School of Business)
An Invitation for You: If you are an entrepreneur and would like some exposure, please e-mail me with your name, your company and its services or products, contact information and background info regarding how and why you came to be in business. Others will benefit from your experience and you will be featured in an upcoming newsletter. Here is the first featured entrepreneur: Sole to Soul Reflexology, LLC Anita Bartal, Certified Reflexologist Anita’s work experience includes teaching school, selling real estate, and several administrative jobs. She has had an interest in integrative healing and wellness for several years. After considerable research into various fields of study and certifying schools, she chose Reflexology, which she describes as; “the ancient healing art that uses a variety of manual pressure techniques on the hands and fee, which correspond to every part of the body. This natural, scientifically proven therapy reduces stress, relaxes the total nervous system, improves circulation and helps the body achieve optimal health.” “I’ve had a few sessions with Anita and I highly recommend the experience! “ --Dee
Why Aren’t You Your Own Boss? By Paul and Sarah Edwards and Peter Economy, Prima Publishing, 2003. www.workingfromhome.com Good question… great book! Filled with both practical information and inspiring stories, “Boss” encourages you to stop dreaming and take action and shows you how to do it! The subtitle is “leaping over the obstacles that stand between you and your dream”. If you’ve ever toyed with the idea of being your own boss, this book will help you do so.
Let Go and Live in the Now By Guy Finley, Red Wheel, 2004. www.guyfinley.com Many of us go through life without realizing that the problems we have are largely self induced. Guy takes us on a journey to uncover our highest Self and shows us how we can “let go” of the negative thoughts, feelings and self limiting patterns that we identify as our natural state of being. At the end of each chapter he provides a page of “key lessons for review” making the sometimes profound content easy to comprehend. In stock at Invest In Yourself Bookstore www.investinyourselfbooks.com .
“You don’t have to buy from anyone. You don’t have to work at any particular job. You don’t have to participate in any given relationship. You can choose.” ---Harry Brown “The final and most important decision in the process of finding the work you love is the decision that you have found what you are looking for. This means to definitely and unequivocally claim that you know what your work is. We are often afraid to declare what we really want because it puts us on the spot to do something about it. Yet for many, making this claim is the only step required.” ---Laurence G. Boldt www.empoweryou.com
Make this your year to GO FOR IT!
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UPCOMING EVENTS – Presented by Dee