My Lifestyle Career

Feeling Stuck? 6 Ways to Ignite Those "Aha!" Moments

I woke up today with a smile on my face.  After a long winter, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping and spring was finally in the air.  

Not surprisingly, my joy translated into a productive day; I tackled several projects I had been putting off and held an intense brainstorming session that resulted in key breakthroughs for a client.  It was one of those rare Mondays when everything just clicked.

Alas, not every day will be as invigorating as today.  But, my sunshine-induced "can-do" attitude was a welcome reminder that success is directly tied to emotional well-being.  When you feel good, you do good.

So, to help keep that feel-good spirit alive,  I compiled six ways to clear your clogged brain connections and create those "aha" moments -- even when the weather doesn't cooperate.  Enjoy!

1)  Quiet Yourself: In our 24/7 wired world, it is critical to periodically quiet your mind, silence the chatter and receive the emotional signals life is sending you. Depending upon your personal preference, you can use meditation, prayer or deep-breathing techniques to open up your thinking process.  Scientific studies confirm that people who consistently practice mind-quieting strategies, enjoy increased self-awareness and creative thinking.

2) Activate all five senses:  When you're feeling stuck, engage your whole body to help out your head.  Your endorphins will flow and act like roto-rooter for your brain --  helping you to "see" solutions that you never noticed before. Go for a walk.  Take a jog.  Better still, go for a walk on the beach on a sunny day; notice the feel the sand on your feet, listen to the pounding of the ocean waves and breathe in the smell of sunscreen on your skin.    If you're feeling daring, consider taking on a big physical challenge, such as a marathon, triathalon or The Race for the Cure.  Committing to a major physical challenge helps you to think big in other parts of your life -- you'll feel more optimistic, powerful and ready to conquer the world.     

3)  Rewire your brain:  Do you ever notice how you tend to do the same thing, the same way, every day?  You make the right side of the bed first.  You always eat the same cereal for breakfast.  You take the same route when you walk the dog.  While these habits (ruts?) make us efficient, they also lull our brains into complacency.  Fire up your brain by shaking up your "normal" -- take a different route to work, try out a new place for lunch, go to a lecture on a topic you know nothing about.  Varying your routine will help open up your thinking and ignite your creativity.   

4)  Engage Your Intuition: Sometimes you just can't think your way through a problem.  Next time you feel stuck, tap into the power of images and music to stir your soul. Indulge in a cultural activity. Go to a museum. Attend a concert. Listen to classical music. The visual and auditory stimuli can help open up your mind to new patterns and possibilities.  

5) Reconnect with your inner child: Children have a remarkable ability to dream big.  If you want to recapture the "can-do" spirit of your youth, recreate your childhood by engaging in some of your favorite childhood activities.  Finger paint.  Run down a hill.  Go for ride on a horse.  Create with playdough.  As silly as it sounds, letting go and allowing yourself to tap into your inner child can wake up senses that have been lying dormant for years.  

6) Take a Trip:  There is something very liberating about getting away from home.  You are removed from your daily distractions.  Your senses are awakened as you experience the sights, sounds and smells of a new environment.  You enjoy time to take walks or hold meaningful conversations with loved ones.  Even if you can't go on a full-blown vacation, just a day away from your normal environment can help you gain much needed perspective.

Finally, as you engage some of these strategies, don't forget to keep a notebook with you so that you can record your "aha" insights as they materialize.  You never know when you’ll get those fleeting, but powerful, "aha" moments of revelation. They can come in a dream, while on a walk or after taking a shower -- write them down do you don’t risk losing them! 

Reinvent Your Career: Lessons From Curious George

When I was little, one of my favorite book characters was Curious George.  As you may recall, George was a darling little monkey who was like a mini-magnet to mischief.

In one of of the books, George goes  on a hike with two other young children and is assigned the task of carrying the bag of marshmallows. He ends up ripping the bag and the marshmallows begin to fall out of the bag one by one. 

After several hours, the children realize they are lost in the woods.  Scared and hungry, they decide to stop and eat, only to discover their beloved stash of marshmallows has disappeared.  The kids are understandably upset with George. 

But then they see one of the marshmallows on the ground.  The first marshmallow leads to the next, and then to the next, and before they know it, the children are able to follow the path out of the woods and safely back home again.  All is forgiven and George goes from being the goat (or at least a bad little monkey) to the hero. 

All because he built a path out of the woods -- without ever being aware of it.

Although I hadn't thought about this story in years, it came back to me yesterday when I listened to Debbie Fay of bespeak presentation solutions deliver a speech about finding your true purpose in life (an awesome presentation, I might add).

Reflecting on her career path, Debbie explained that she never set out to become a public speaking coach.  But now looking back, she realizes that every one of her life experiences helped lead her, step by step, in that direction.  

Like George's haphazard path of marshmallows, the trail was built piece by piece.  It was not a straight line to success, but a winding adventure with stops and starts, triumphs and challenges. Her early involvement with theater helped her feel comfortable on stage.  Her experience as a teacher gave her insights into how to best motivate others.  The years she spent organizing the talent shows in her hometown taught her how to nurture talent and encourage nervous performers. 

She didn't always proceed confidently in the direction of her dreams, but like George, she had fun along the way.  Each experience became a stepping stone to the next, and over time, she amassed a collection of skills, contacts, and expertise that eventually led her "back home" to her intended vocation.

If you're feeling "lost in the woods" invest the time to discover the clues to your true path.  Take a page out of George's playbook and get curious about how the parts and pieces of your past fit together.  The clues are always there.  It's up to you to find them and follow the marshmallow road back to your authentic self.

Want a Lifestyle Friendly Career? 5 Questions to Consider

When it comes to designing a lifestyle-friendly career, my emphasis  is first and foremost on YOUR LIFE.  After all, I can't begin to help you design a great career until I understand what you want your life to look like.

Consequently, when I work with clients, we examine lifestyle goals from several different angles, exploring both the big-picture items and the day-to-day details that color your world.  

We start by identifying major lifestyle motivators.  For example, some of my "mom" clients need or want to find work from home or entrepreneurial options.  While many of these women, most of whom are highly educated and savvy, could earn more outside the home, their driving priority is to work around their children's school hours.   Other clients have looked to reinvent their careers in order to satisfy other lifestyle goals; such as a desire for greater "me-time" after retirement, a pull to work in a more socially conscious field or the wish to lead a less-hectic lifestyle.

Point  to Ponder: What are your primary lifestyle goals and objectives?  Do you need to work from home?  Are you looking to have summers off?  Are you interested in a portable career that would allow you to work from any where at any time?  Would your life be more fulfilling if you lived closer to family or were able to travel more? Do you need more flexibility in order to care for an aging parent or friend-in-need?

After naming the major lifestyle objectives, we dig down deeper in order to identify other elements critical to creating a lifestyle-friendly career.  We look at a range of topics, including:

1. Where do you want to work?  City or country? Corporate or small-business?  Home office or on-the road?  Are you interested in a career that allows you to work from a non-traditional location such as on a boat or while living on a farm?  When you think about your perfect office, how important are elements like good light, nice furniture and/or a cozy ambiance?  As lots of cubicle workers have discovered (much to their chagrin), our physical surroundings play an important role in our job satisfaction.
2. When do you want to work? Perhaps you are at a point when you're simply looking for a "little something extra" as opposed to a full career.  Are you looking for a career that will allow you to dial-back and work a part-time schedule?  Or are you more interested in maintaining a full-time income but want to explore career options that will give you greater control over your day-to-day schedule?
3. Who do you want to work with?  This is a biggie!  The types of people you work with has an enormous impact on career satisfaction.  Spend time thinking about this.  Do you prefer being around women or men, children or the elderly, a homogenous group or a culturally diverse crowd?  Think about the types of personalities you find appealing. Are you happiest when you interact with creative types, intellectuals, socially conscious folks or fashionistas?  Remember, the average worker spends 2000 hours a year at work.  That's a lot of hours to spend with people you don't like!
4. What activities do you want to make more time for in your life?  My clients often express concern that they don't get to spend enough time doing things they really enjoy.  Not enough time for family, exercise and travel are common complaints.  But the little things matter too -- a desire to read more books, visit more museums, enjoy some meaningful volunteer work -- the lists go on and on.  Fortunately, by picking the right career focus, there are opportunities to merge your favorite past times with your career.
5. What are the elements of your ideal (but typical) day?  Here again, the details matter.  I for one, need enough time in my day to exercise, prepare a healthy dinner for my family and have some time to read before the end of the evening.  Working from home in a "by-appointment" business provides me with the needed flexibility to meet those goals (at least most of the time).  Jot down a paragraph or two describing your perfect day that includes information about where you hope to work, what you wear, the types of people you are around and other non-work activities that you would like to blend into your day.

Putting together a vision for your life, whether you do so in writing or by designing a vision board, is a critical first step in moving towards a lifestyle career.  Once you know what type of life you want to lead, it will be far easier to focus in on the types of businesses, income streams and jobs that will best support your dreams.

Turn Work You Love Into Work That Matters

Are certain lines of work more admirable than others?

At first blush, the answer is an easy yes.  Feeding the hungry, healing the sick, teaching our children; all of these are examples of work that make a meaningful difference in our society.  We use descriptors like "selfless" "noble" and "caring" to describe people in these occupations.

There are few people who would dispute the value of these careers.  But, if we restrict our view of "good" professions to the obvious choices, and fail to see the subtle but important opportunities to make a difference that are possible in every vocational choice, we do ourselves a big injustice. 

Let me explain what I mean.

Last week I worked with a client who has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, a woman who has spent her career helping both children and adults to overcome their challenges in order to lead more effective lives.  She has worked with the elderly in nursing homes, alcoholics and children trying to overcome serious learning issues.  

By any measure, her contributions have been valuable and important.  

But as much as she has enjoyed her work, she is ready for a change.  And you know what she likes to do more than anything?

Shop.

In fact, she loves to shop so much that she is seriously considering going back to school to get a masters degree in a field related to fashion.  She found a program that really, really thrills her.  When she described the courses to me, the excitement in her voice was palpable.

But, one question keeps bugging her.  What will people think?  

After all, if you ask someone which field is more important, fashion or psychiatry, 99% of folks would probably answer the latter.  And, in many ways, they are probably right.  It is hard to argue that a great looking pair of shoes is more valuable than the ability to cure a new mom of severe post-partum depression.

On the other hand, if fashion is all fluff and no substance, why do we care so much about the way we dress?  Why do we pay such close attention to stars on the red carpet or critique the latest outfit sported by Michelle Obama?  Why do we pay millions of dollars each year to read about the up-and-coming trends in magazines?

Because it matters. 

• The teen who trades in her jeans for a prom dress that makes her feel like a princess, knows it matters.
• The new college-grad who stands up taller after trying on a great interview suit, knows it matters.
• The battered woman in the domestic violence shelter, who is reminded of her inner beauty after putting on a special new dress, knows it matters.

Any therapist will tell you that sometimes change needs to start from the outside in.  The right outfit can be as powerful as a good therapy session.

No field has a lock on making a difference in our world.  Every career choice has the potential to make the world a better place: 

• The event planner who organizes a family reunion that connects grandparents to their grandchildren, makes a difference.  
• The make-up artist who helps a shy teen feel beautiful by teaching her how to apply make-up, makes a difference .  
• The cake decorator who bakes a spectacular cake to thank a teacher for ten years of service, makes a difference.  

Each of these professionals makes a significant and transformative contribution through their respective endeavors.  

So if you've been hesitating to pursue your love of fashion or make-up or food or jewelry, because someone told you it's "not serious enough", get over it.  

Find a way to make your contribution count.  The world needs your talent and the time to start sharing it is now.  

  

Portraits for Haiti: A Priceless Fundraising Event

  

I have amazing clients. 

Not that I really needed to be reminded of this fact, but yesterday I received an e-mail from one of my clients that blew me away.  The e-mail came from Erica Lansner who is a professional photographer and photojournalist based in New York City.  Her photos (seen above) have appeared in numerous magazines, including Life, Sports Illustrated, Newsweek and the New York Times.  

Her work is superb -- you can check it out at  ericalansner.com

But, in addition to being a world-class photographer, Erica is an incredible person.  

While many of us talk about how horrendous the situation in Haiti is, Erica has decided to do something about it by donating her talents to raise funds for Haiti.  Between Thursday, January 28th and Tuesday, Feb. 2nd, you can schedule a 15 minute portrait session with Erica, including one 11x17 custom, archival print, for a minimum contribution of $100.  

100% of all funds raised will go to one of the following organizations; Partners in Health, Doctors Without Borders or the ClintonBushHaiti Fund.

If you live near NYC, this is an offer too good to pass up.  Do something good for the world and get a priceless portrait in return.

And, now here are the details:

Dates: Thursday January 28th through Tuesday Feb.2nd 11am-6pm (weekend included.) 

Location: 390 Riverside Drive, NYC

Schedule: Please e-mail Erica at erica@ericalansner.com to schedule a time.  She will schedule sessions on a first- come, first- served basis 

A Few Details: Children, adults, friends, relatives, groups of up to 3 people welcome. Just no pets. You choose which photo you’d like to have printed. Prints will be delivered within 2 weeks. CD of all of your photos and additional prints available for extra fee. 

To see some recent portraits: http://www.ericalansner.com/portrait and visit her website: http://www.ericalansner.com/

Digital equipment has been generously donated by Scheimpflug Digital for this project. http://theflug.com/ 

Assistance and cookies generously provided by Kate Attardo. 

Want to Reinvent Your Career? Pssst...Your Friends Have Something to Say

The other morning I was working with a client, a former nurse, whose background weights heavily towards the sciences and research.  In discussing her assessment, one of her dominant themes was that she is a helper.  She loves listening to people, analyzing their problems and offering suggestions to help make their lives better.  It is not part of her official job description, but it is what she loves to do and does well.

As we tossed around ideas about what types of careers might be a good fit for her, I asked her if she ever considered becoming a therapist.

Suddenly there was dead silence on the phone.

Fearing that I had totally missed the mark with my suggestion, I asked her again what she thought.

"Wow, that is weird," she remarked.

"Weird in what way?" I asked.

She went on to clarify that it was a weird coincidence.  Evidently, prior to beginning her work with me, she had asked several of her closest friends what type of career they thought would be a good fit for her.  Each of them had also suggested that she consider exploring her options as a therapist or a coach or some similar helping line of work.  

It's hard to ignore such consistent feedback.  Especially when it comes from friends who know you well. 

Friends see the real you.  Unlike your work colleagues who get to know the buttoned-up, professional veneer version of you, your friends get to see your natural self. The self who comes out when you are doing the things you want to do with the people you want to be with.  The goofy self.  The caring self. 

And yes, the sometimes unorganized, lazy, cranky, irrational, "I can't believe you can be so bitchy!" self too.

If you're blessed with good friends in your life, consider asking them, "What type of career do you see me in?"  

Their answers might just give you something to think about. 

Reinvent Your Career: Lemonade the Movie

If you've been laid-off...

If you know of someone who has been laid-off...

If you're  feeling stuck in your job...

This is a MUST-SEE movie. 

Here is the trailer -- the full thirty minute video can be viewed online for free through pleasefeedtheanimals.com or by purchasing the DVD on the site. 

Watch it. Learn from it. Pass it on.

 

Reinvent Your Career: The Clues in Your Clutter

I hate to clean.  But this past weekend I spent a good part of a beautiful Saturday organizing our basement.  While I can't claim I enjoyed all the sorting, cleaning and sneezing (who knew I had such dust allergies?)  I found the experience surprisingly rewarding. 

One of the best parts of this project was discovering long-forgotten hidden treasures; magazines I couldn't bear to part with, memorabilia from my college years, and favorite baby momentos (note to self: it was perfectly okay to throw away Juliana's hand painted baby bottle now that she just turned 19).  Each item brought back a flood of memories and emotions; souvenirs from distinct and different phases of my life.

Standing back and admiring my well organized piles, I realized that the stuff we accumulate in our lives is a 3-D representation of our inner selves.  What we choose to buy and what we choose to keep (long after we actually need the item) provides illuminating insights into our interests, hobbies and values.  

In my case:

Seeing my sorority initiation mug reminded me of the value I place on community and how I am most energized when surrounded by upbeat personalities.  

Reading through the papers I wrote while earning my masters degree in career development reminded me of how much I prefer practical solutions to theoretical musings.  

And that box of the still-not-used craft supplies, reminded me that it might be fun to make some time in my life to play with art.  Someday.  In my next life? 

Who knew a day of cleaning would turn out to be so enlightening.  Next time you're feeling stuck about next steps, treat yourself to a day of de-cluttering.  You might just uncover some nuggets of golden insights hidden in those long forgotten boxes.  

Reinvent Your Career in 2010: Appreciate Your Assets!

 

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone enjoyed a delightful holiday season. 

I love the fresh beginnings associated with January 1.  The new year is traditionally the time of year when we take stock of our standing in life, tally up our assets, and set goals for the coming year.  

When people take inventory of their career-related assets, they typically think of skills, work experiences, degrees and credentials.  But I maintain that your unique set of assets extend beyond your resume-friendly credentials to encompass all facets of your life.  The town you live in, the people you know, the stuff you've accumulated in your basement -- all of this can be leveraged to help you change careers or start your own business. 

If you're feeling stuck about what to do next, making a list of your assets can provide your career reinvention process with fresh juice.  As you compile your list, be sure to include:

1) Who You Know:  Your friends and associates can help your career reinvention by providing resources, support, counsel and job leads.  Spend several days brainstorming, writing down and expanding your networking list – you’ll be amazed at how many people you know who might be able to assist you:

• Business Associates: former employers, co-workers, vendors, clients and colleagues 
• Personal Contacts: Friends, family, neighbors, schoolmates, sorority or fraternity members, acquaintances you’ve made at church, temple, or through other community groups. 
• Service Providers:  Your hairdresser, banker, doctor, lawyer, real-estate agent, etc. 
• Online Community: Contacts that you have access to through online communities such as Facebook and Linkedin. 

Who are the people you plan to call on for assistance in 2010?

2) Where You Live:  Think about the unique aspects of where you live and how you might be able to leverage that for your next career move.  My town boasts an unusually good library, an easy train ride to New York City, free lectures on a variety of business related topics and a vibrant continuing education program -- all resources that I tap into to help me grow my business.  Other towns provide their citizens with different forms of benefits -- natural beauty, inexpensive real estate or a culturally diverse population.  

What are the unique features/services provided in your area that you can leverage to help your career reinvention?

3) Your Natural Gifts:  All of us are endowed with unique natural gifts and talents; a keen fashion sense, a wicked sense of humor, the gift of gab, unusual patience, a discriminating palate or a smile that lights up a room.  

Which of your natural gifts might provide the foundation for a new business or income opportunity?

4) The Stuff You Own:  Sometimes the stuff we own can hold clues to our next career move.  Do you have a collection of goods that could be sold on e-bay?  Could your love of cooking, as evidenced by your massive cookbook collection, be transformed into a catering business?  Maybe you have a fully outfitted home office that could be easily transformed into a small business headquarters or a house that could be marketed to the media industry for location shoots ?   

What does your "stuff" say about your career-linked interests and opportunities?

5) The Causes You Support:  Most of us belong to religious, community and/or cause-related organizations.  As you consider the groups you have chosen to affiliate with, either through membership or financial support, think about the types of issues or causes you might want to impact through your career.  

What types of businesses or organizations might be a good match for your value system?

Reinvent Your Career: Two Free E-Books

Here are two free e-books (you gotta love anything free at this time of the year!) that I highly recommend:

Looking for an Encore Career? The Guide to Finding Work That Matters:  A 28 page guide filled with useful resources, strategies and inspiration for anyone looking to transition into "work that matters."  Although this is targeted to people 50+, most of the information is age-neutral.

What Matters Now: An 82 page e-book featuring insights from major thought leaders across different disciplines.  This little gem, compiled by Seth Godin, is filled with ideas to think about (and do) as we go into the new year.  Topics covered range from fear to enrichment to excellence.  A quick but powerful read -- share it with your loved ones.  Might just be the key to producing a major "A-ha" insight that alters your career planning process.