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Got Hope?

As you might expect, it is a busy time to be a career counselor. I cannot recall ever being this busy in July. During the summer, people are typically off enjoying the outdoors and they put off making any big career decisions until the fall. This year, it seems that nothing is as it used to be.

In early March, as the pandemic was beginning to take hold of the country, fear became a dominant emotion. Health concerns and financial worries left me wondering how I would be able to bring hope to my clients. I did a deep dive into the topic of hope and came out of the experience feeling a renewed sense of peace.

I am a positive person by nature. I tend to see the possibilities in challenging times and typically enjoy figuring my way around the obstacles that pop up. For me, life is a lot like crossing a creek. Which rock looks stable?  Should we go this way or that?  What if I fall?  Wow, this water is running fast. Maybe I need to rethink this path entirely and look for another trail.

I rarely let myself become immobilized by fear. I am willing to take a risk and see what happens. I like to take action. It is so much easier to push a moving train onto a new track. Imagine trying to move a train that is parked at a standstill. Much harder. So, I keep plugging along, skipping from rock to rock, switching courses as needed even when the going gets tough.

When the pandemic became the obstacle, I found myself at a standstill. I felt like a parked train. Heavy and stuck.  If I was unsure how to move forward, how could I coach my clients through this uncharted territory? It is well researched that hope is key to making a successful career transition. If I was feeling hopeless, how on earth could I help others find a sense of confidence and optimism?

During the deep dive, I discovered something. Hope is so much more than donning a pair of rose-colored glasses and forging ahead. Hope is definitely not a sense of blind optimism. Real hope comes from understanding the seriousness of a situation and reckoning with it.

My clients are facing lay-offs, furloughs and company closings in the midst of a pandemic. Unemployment is at an all-time high. These are serious challenges. Hope has come from being willing to look at the challenges they are facing head on without flinching away.  As I have held space for my clients to explore what is happening to them personally in context of world events, they have begun to see glimmers of hope.

Some found hope that they could finally pursue a career that suited them. Others have discovered they absolutely loved working from home and want to find new ways to do this.  Clients are exploring all new industries in which to transfer their talents.  One hopeful client recently purchased a restaurant and is launching a reopening for 2021. The new and the next is beckoning.

I held space. I looked into darkness along with my clients. I gently asked, “What is your biggest fear right now?” Then we looked at their fears without flinching away. We analyzed the situation and did some calculations. It is better to go this way or that? It was in this process of reckoning that even the biggest fears started to appear just a little less daunting.

If I had been handing out false hope, I think many of my clients would still be stuck. Being realistic about the situation allowed for planning to take place. Forward motion began to happen, and so many of my clients are well on their way to creating new chapters.

Sometimes I provided hopeful ideas and suggestions. I am good at brainstorming and pathfinding. However, the truth is that the clients themselves who are showing me the way across the rocky stream. They are the ones doing the brave work of figuring their way forward.  I have the honor and privilege of observing the resiliency of the human spirit. For every bit of hope I have provided, it has been returned to me a hundred times over during the past few months.

You may be facing a fork in the road in your life or in your career right now. Taking the road less traveled may seem like a foolhardy way to go.  These are dire times, don’t ya know?  However, if not now, when?  When will you find the courage to explore new ways of living and working?  The courage to forge a new path will not come from blindly stumbling your way forward.  It will come from taking a good hard look at the perils that lie ahead, making a plan and going for it.  Hope happens when face our fears not when we pretend that they do not exist.

 

 

 

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Career Goals – Creating the New and the Next in 2020

The new year is a perfect time to clarify what you want more of in your personal and professional life. Change begins by setting clear goals and creating action plans to turn those desires into reality. The following steps can help you to realize your 2020 dreams.

Clarify the Vision

Begin by reflecting on what worked well during the past year and acknowledge your successes. From there, identify opportunities for improvement. Where did you lose focus and live with less intention than you wish you had? The goal of self-reflection is to come up with a clear vision for what you most want to achieve in 2020.

Set Goals

Based on what you envision, come up with three specific goals that will bring your dream to life. For each goal, identify the specific steps necessary to reaching your objective. Break down your goals into daily habits and time-based actions. Set mini milestones and track your progress towards your bigger purpose. Re-visit your goals on a weekly basis to remain focused.

If you are a visual person, you might use a mind-map approach. Write a goal in the center of a piece of paper and draw lines that radiate from the center to identify the various steps that will be required to meet that goal.  Some people are more linear and prefer timelines or Excel spreadsheets.

Use the approach that works best for you and follow the same process for each of your three goals. Success is enhanced when we write down our goals, identify the specific actions required, and create clear timelines. We then need to transfer tasks and action steps to a calendar or planner.

Identify Obstacles

When we set goals, it is helpful to consider what might get in the way of our success.  Then we can plan ahead for how to stay the course. Sometimes external forces get in the way but most often we are our own worst enemies.

Carefully consider the internal obstacles that might impede your forward motion.  What personal thoughts, beliefs, and habits are most likely to keep you from meeting your 2020 goals? Then make proactive plans to avoid getting in the way of your own success.

Know Your Why

Let’s go back to your vision for a moment. People who make significant changes or accomplish big goals are often very clear about WHY they want something. They understand the deeper value of their goals so clearly that they can taste it, touch, it, feel it.

Setting goals with “the end in mind” is powerful because it helps us focus on the deeper WHY of our goals while simultaneously being action-oriented in the short-term. It keeps us motivated on a daily basis as we work towards creating the future of our dreams.

Share Your Dreams

Talking about your goals with others increases the chance of success. It can take courage to share your deepest desires.  Surround yourself with people who will support you in achieving your goals and steer clear of nay-sayers.

Final Thoughts

If you continue to do things exactly as you have been, what will be different about your professional and personal life at the end of 2020?

If that question fills you with a sense of dread, take heart. Change is possible.

Write down your goals, track progress, and celebrate milestones. Revisit your goals regularly with weekly planning sessions. Share your goals and dreams with trusted allies.

We create the new and the next when we continually set and work towards meaningful goals. Here is wishing you a year of personal and professional inspiration! Happy 2020!

 

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Nurture Your Creative Thoughts

I recently walked through the Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor sculpture museum in New York’s Hudson Valley. It took my breath away. Imagine extremely large sculptures carefully placed among vast meadows and forests. It was a magical blend of nature and art that beckoned me forward to discover what lay beyond the next vista.

Whenever I am awestruck, I like to remember that what I am experiencing began as a single thought or idea. Like a seed, it grew into something big and amazing.  Note: “Big and amazing” do not do this place justice. The magnitude and magic of Storm King is hard to describe.

As a career counselor, my mission is to help people listen to their thoughts, tune into the whisperings of their hearts and minds, and nurture their creative seeds of inspiration. Whenever I see a client grappling with whether or not to follow their dreams and bring an idea to fruition, I am energized. I feel a deep yearning to see the dream come alive – for the client but also for the countless other lives that will shift as a result.

I fervently believe that every one of us has a special gift to offer. Not all clients are ready – emotionally or financially – to take creative risks. Some are simply overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. Yesterday, a client shared a dream of becoming a documentary filmmaker. I know deep inside my belly that this client needs to make films – not just to fulfill his own dream but to inspire real change. And, lucky me, I get to help tend and nurture this little seed of creative hope. Yep, I have the BEST job in the world!

Books like “Bursts of Brilliance” by Teresa Funke, “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron and “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert provide tools and inspiration for people who need help tending their creativity. I find each of these authors compelling!  They keep me hopeful and provide tools as I support the creative souls that find their way to my career counseling practice. You can also check out the book I helped co-author with the talented Carol Eikleberry:  The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People.

In “Bursts of Brilliance” Teresa Funke offers tactical advice and emotional support to inspire creative living and working. It is clear she has faced all sorts of fire breathing dragons along her own creative journey. She has dealt with inner demons and external forces intent on snuffing out her creative spark. I picture Teresa Funke in a superhero cape handily keeping the dragons at bay so she can put her heart and soul into the next project.

So, what is YOUR next project? What little whisperings do you need to listen to today?  What seeds of inspiration could use some nurturing? Just like Storm King, your brilliant offering will begin with a single thought. Tune into these thoughts and then be ready to take tiny baby steps to bring your unique dream to life.  The whole world will be brighter and better if you do.

 

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LinkedIn – Get Found and Stand Out

Having a strong LinkedIn profile used to be good idea….now it is a MUST.  Of course, not all industries utilize the platform to the same extent. For example, police officers, lawyers, medical professionals, and teachers tend to prefer to keep lower profiles. However, most professionals find LinkedIn to be a necessary part of their professional identity and presence.

It is easy to understand why when you consider that over 90 percent of recruiters supposedly utilize LinkedIn to search for qualified candidates. I recently landed a nice little contract gig after being found on LinkedIn. Sweet! LinkedIn is also a great way to build and maintain a rich professional network.  Finally, LinkedIn helps us stay on top of industry news and trends.

Lose the mindset that LinkedIn is a job search tool.  Consider your profile a personal website that allows you to track your professional experience, education, accomplishments, publications, recommendations, key skills, certifications, industry activity, target company list, and your network of connections.

Most recruiters admit that they will pull up your profile before giving you a call.  If your online profile is not clear and consistent with your resume, you may find yourself in the B pile.  If you have zero recommendations or your profile is way out date, the recruiter will likely move on to a candidate who takes more pride in their online presence.

The Top 10 Profile Elements

The following are necessary in order to stand out and get found:

  • A nice headshot…not one with your dog – unless you are a veterinarian.
  • Headline….120 characters of searchable job titles….not your current job.
  • A well written 2000 character, keyword rich, summary.
    • Personalize this and don’t sound like a resume robot!
  • Current and previous work experience with bulleted details.
  • Personalize your LinkedIn URL.
  • Complete your Skill Section with at least 30 relevant skills listed in proper order.
  • 50 plus connections (Better yet, aim for 500)
  • Education and Training
  • 3-5 Recommendations
  • Join 20 plus groups and follow 50 plus companies.

The 10 Minute a Day Approach

Keeping your profile up to date and fresh AND spend time on LinkedIn each day going through your newsfeed.  Liking, commenting and sharing posts help develop your personal brand.  Actually publishing an article is another way to boost your presence and become a thought leader in your industry.

Spend 10 minutes a day making connections, commenting on interesting articles, and following new companies. This helps LinkedIn understand you. If and when you are in job search mode, LinkedIn will be a much better resource in terms of positions it recommends and how well you show up in recruiter searches.

Be 10 times more Brave

LinkedIn has actually proven to be a really powerful tool for me and for many of my clients.  Actual relationships are formed and developed from LinkedIn. Different careers are explored and new positions are landed – all as a result of reaching out to people.  Not everyone will respond to you in the way you wish but some people will!

Respond quickly to any requests that come your way and take any lack of response in stride. Make your outreach personal and avoid sending off generic connection requests.  Add a short note.  Take time to read someone’s profile and highlight what you have in common when you request a connection. Be courageous as you reach out. No one gets far alone.  We need each other and LinkedIn is platform that allows us to find support and give support.

Social media is here to stay and LinkedIn remains the go-to professional networking platform.  Make your profile sparkle and find ways to connect that feel genuine and authentic.  While social media is not a replacement for face to face relationships, LinkedIn can help us connect in real ways to people we might not otherwise be able to meet.

 

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Are You Suffering from Burnout?

Burnout is generally defined as emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. A tell-tale sign of burnout is what I refer to as the “Sunday Evening Blues” – a feeling of dread that hits you when you realize that you need to go to work the next day.

If you well up in tears and begin to cry when you talk about your work, you are likely grappling with more than a mild case of job dissatisfaction. Burnout doesn’t just happen overnight – it evolves over time.

Burnout begins with feelings of apathy, cynicism, and disillusionment. If unaddressed, these feelings can morph into more serious issues such as fatigue, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse. Really severe cases can lead to complete breakdowns that require hospitalization.

It is much easier to treat mild burnout, so it is important to recognize and address early warning signs. The following questions can help determine if you are experiencing burnout.

  • Do you struggle to focus on tasks and priorities?
  • Is your performance suffering?
  • Have you lost a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction in your work?
  • Are you inpatient or irritable with customers or colleagues?
  • Do you feel anger and resentment about the way decisions are made?
  • Have you mentally “checked out” and sit silently in meetings or planning sessions?
  • Are you using food, alcohol, or drugs to numb out?
  • Do you suffer from insomnia, headaches, stomach pains, or other physical ailments?
  • Have family and friends commented that you just don’t seem like yourself?
  • Have you stopped doing hobbies or activities that previously brought you joy?

These are some of the ways that burnout manifests but what causes burnout? Causes run the gamut from poor job fit, dysfunctional work cultures, work-life imbalance, mis-matched organizational values, lack of control, chronic stress, and social isolation at work. In my experience, it is rarely a single issue but a combination of factors that lead to burnout.

Studies show that people in “helping professions” such as teachers, counselors, and nurses can be especially prone to burnout. Other factors often associated with burnout include monotonous work, rigid schedules, and jobs that offer little freedom or autonomy. Burnout can simply be the result of working too hard and playing too little.

It is imperative to explore the underlying causes of one’s burnout before making drastic changes. Since the causes can vary, there is no single prescription. For many people, a whole new career will make sense. For others, a job change to a better fit culture might do the trick. Sometimes, a commitment to improved self-care and professional counseling are most helpful.

Once you recognize that you are experiencing burnout, the following steps can help you on your journey to recovery:

  • Identify the root causes of your burnout.
  • See your medical doctor to rule out physical health problems.
  • Consult a counseling professional to address emotional issues.
  • Consider options and take steps to improve your current situation.
  • Address any related time management or organizational skills.
  • Adjust work habits to include short breaks and resist the urge to take work home.
  • Commit to improved self-care including diet, exercise, and sleep hygiene.
  • Socialize more and connect to people outside of work.
  • Explore new career options that align with your interests, skills, and core values.

Regarding those tears I mentioned earlier, they signify distress and sadness. Some people seem to accept burnout as an unavoidable or normal part of working. Don’t give up hope! It is possible to recover from burnout and regain a sense of purpose.

Rather than dismissing your pain, tune in and listen to what you want and need. Through self-exploration, you can then begin to create ways of living and working that are more satisfying and sustainable. If we take our suffering seriously, burnout can become a powerful catalyst for rediscovering our true desires and making meaningful change.

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