The Secret To Career Resolutions

It is 2005 this weekend. It doesn't seem that long ago that a majority of the world was wondering about what would happen when the year 2000 arrived. We all survived and the Y2K consultants are now all "blogging" on to the next opportunity..The end of the year is a natural time to reflect and think about the challenges and the opportunities that you have gone through this past year. According to psychologist John Norcross 40% of adults have New resolutions. The three most popular are:

1. Loose weight
2. Quit smoking
3. Increase exercise

Here are some other interesting stats:

1. 75% are faithful for one week
2. 55% one month
3. 40% 6 months
4. 20% two years later

Goal setting and then perservering to achieve those goals can be a diffcult task. My experience has shown with goal setting in general and career related changes, is that you have to want the change. You need a particular benefit to the choices that you make. The goal has to be beyond yourself in many cases for it to stick. You need to identify support systems that will help you preserver and maintain some level of accountability.

If you are serious about your New Year's resolutions try the following sets to make sure that you can be one of the rare few that stick to them and make their goals a reality:

1. Write each one down. More importantly, write down the WHY. Have a plan. Be specific and descriptive but long enough that you won't lose focus. I think this is a majority of reason why goal setting often doesn't work. You need a "WHY". Goals are empty without the "WHY".

2. Tell the RIGHT people..By sharing your goal with the right people you can get support and accountability. Some of us need to put our stubbornness and pride aside and make sure that we have people helping us stay on track.

3. Make sure to CELEBRATE the little successes along the way...I know a person who bought a CD every time he went for a run. This may be a little expensive but it is what worked for him.

If you follow the above advice, achieving your New Year's resolutions should be a little easier this year. Remember not to be too hard on yourself. Maybe that should be your first resolution

The Wisdom of Charles Dickens

Well, this is a wonderful season and many faiths including mine, are celebrating the wonder of hope, love and joy at this time. Holidays are a time of reflecting and connecting with family. I also recognize that this can be a very dark time for some. Maybe you have had a very difficult year and you identify with the darkness of Scrooge from Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol.

If that is sounding familiar, remember the rest of the story. As Scrooge struggles through difficult choices and experiences, he emerges a changed man. As a result of this inward change, and the ability to see the world around him through different eyes, he wakes up to a changed life. It is a story of a resurrected man and a story of hope that wouldn't have happened if he wasn't influenced by those around him.

I think it is amazing how we can change our perspective through the help of others.

This is a busy time and we often get caught in all the "stuff" we need to buy, or bake, or wrap. Even though we may do these things for the people we love, don't forget the ways that we can change and help each other in profound ways. Often in life the best things really are free.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Why Does Stephen Covey Need An Eighth Habit?

Steven Covey, the 71 year old motivational speaker and author has found the need for a new habit. You may be saying "Sure, he needs to figure out a way to sell a new book!" Well that may or may not be true, however his first book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has sold more than 15 million copies since 1989 and has been translated into more than 35 languages. Fifteen years later Covey has a new book called The 8th Habit.

Why do we need to have an 8th habit? Because there has been a fundamental shift and we have moved from an industrial model to a knowledge worker economy. The 8th habit deals with the shift from effectiveness to greatness and is all about finding your own voice and helping others to find theirs.

Do you need some new career habits in 2005? One of the key qualities of most successful professionals is their ability to recognize change and their role within change. This is easier said than done.

One of my client's was speaking about the profound impact that this book has had on his thinking and recognizing his own need in doing something of significance. He is quite successful, however, at times his success feels empty. He is on the journey to finding a new chapter to his own voice.

Just like Steven Covey, our careers evolve. I want to help you find your voice for two reasons: #1-for you and # 2- for all the other people that your life impacts. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I don't buy that. Stephen Covey struck out from an academic career at age 50, over 22 years ago. Finding your own voice starts with looking.

Let me be your guide.



Along the Road with you...

How Do You Know When It is Time To Leave?

As the song says: You have to know when to hold'em and know when to fold'em. Well Tom Brokaw is folding them.

On December 1st the 64 year old stepped out of the lead anchor role for NBC news. He's been with NBC for 22 years and for the past seven years his show has been the number one rated program.

Tom started in 1962. From his first boss he learned that the "news is about what's happening in our community and about telling a story." Over the years, Tom evolved with the medium, but he never forgot those basics of his business. As a result, Tom connected with a broad range of Americans.

Tom has mentioned that writing his "Greatest Generation" books had a major impact on his career. Writing those books helped Tom define his identity outside of newsroom and in a sense prepared him for his own next chapter. A blend of self-identity, strategy and common sense has led him to the understanding that now is his time to move.

Deciding when to leave and when to stay are often difficult, unclear decisions. Often the unbiased, objective advice of someone you trust is helpful. Another part of making this kind of decision involves having a broader career strategy. Knowing what you need to achieve before you are ready for your next challenge is key.

At CareerJoy we understand the challenges involved in this kind of decision. Our coaches can offer you unbiased advice based on our experiences with hundreds of clients. We've also got the tools you need to begin building your career strategy.



Along the Road with you...

What If You Fail In Your Career? Lessons From Jeopardy Champ

This past week Ken Jennings had a very public failure. After 2700 correct answers, or rather questions, on Jeopardy, he made a big error. Now we all know who has 40,000 workers that work 4 months per year (it is not FedEX, H&R Block is the right answer). So Ken goes home with over $2.5 million.

I did some quick math and figured it out that Ken spent approximately 37.5 hours on television for the 75 shows. One standard work week. Not bad. That would work out to an annual income of $131 million dollars if he was able to keep up his hourly rate. However, like all normal human beings he eventually failed.

It is said that you learn more in failure than you do in success. As Thomas Eddison said, he had learned 50 ways not to make a light bulb. The 51st try he was able to use his previous "failures" to apply to the final breakthrough solution, one which we all really appreciate.

Ken was asked what he was going to take away from this experience and he answered, "during my life, I think I made a lot of safe and practical choices, I never took a chance or did something that for me would be a dream...being on Jeopardy has been that dream. You are much happier when you go for that long shot and play to your strengths instead of always doing the safe easy thing, I am grateful to this experience, if nothing else, for having taught me that".

So what is your dream? What could you do to start moving towards that dream? For Ken it was contacting jeopardy to start the process of becoming a contestant. He had to send in a letter and present himself as a credible contestant. I am sure there was much resistance to take this first step. Remember, it would have taken some time before he got on his very first show, but it was significant because it was his first action towards a whole new life.

Maybe it is time for you to take an action towards your goals. I

Action-Write down one goal that you haven't yet reached or even begun reaching for. Write down the first step you need to take towards that goal.

Now go and do it.



Along the Road with you...