Johnny Carson Gets the Last Laugh

This week Johnny Carson 79 died of emphysema. He was the host of the The Tonight Show for over 30 years (yes, there was a guy before Jay Leno). Ed McMahon was his sidekick although he was perhaps better known as the guy who is going to send everyone of us a cheque for a million dollars in the sweepstakes draw.

Johnny's first word's when introduced by Groucho Marx with weak response from the audience was "Boy, you would think it was Vice President Nixon". He had a terrific run and really set the pace for the late night talk show format. However like all good things Johnny's final parting words during his last show on May 22 1992 was "And so it has come to this. I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I have found something I liked to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it. I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight"

It does make me think of a couple of things. For one, when he retired, he retired. He didn't do the Oscars or other things celebrities may move on to. Instead he went on in his private life. Perhaps it was because he had nothing else to prove. He was not hanging on looking for fulfillment. He had had his career and had gotten everything that he wanted to get out of it.

He sounds lucky doesn't he? Well, I think he created his luck. He had the talent and the ability and he followed through on doors that opened for him and was prepared for taking advantage of opportunity. One of the components of a fulfilled life is meaningful work. If you work is meaningful you will leave a legacy and walk away with a sense of completion. I see this in my clients everyday and not one of them is a talk show host...

"Heeeeere's Johnny"

X To A as an Entrepreneur

Becoming and entrepreneur-from X to A. You might be saying "Don't you mean from A to X?" well not for Richard Kays. This past summer while I was in Prince Edward Island, I met Richard. He is the owner of the Avonlea Bookstore in Summerside. Avonlea is a great used bookstore 2 minutes from the ocean. Richard used to work for Xerox, but after a few years he realized that he wanted to do something for himself. The Avonlea bookstore was for sale and the rest they say, is history.

Richard became an entrepreneur from X to A!

"You don't do it for the money" Richard says. Before he bought it he spoke with a number of other book store owners and really liked what he saw and heard. He found a business that met his professional and lifestyle needs and he has been running a successful business for a number of years. The important part is that it was the right move and it has been great for him and his family. Summerside is a beautiful small town on PEI that is close enough to everything on the Island, yet small enough to be self contained and have a great quality of life.

Sounds nice doesn't it? Maybe being a business owner is right for you too. If you are thinking of going this direction, you need to start with these three questions:

!. Are you an entrepreneur?
2. What are the best options for you and your family?
3. What steps do you need to take to start?

Becoming an entrepreneur is not for everyone, but if you want to find out if it is right for you, or if you are sure and you are ready to make the transition we have a program to get you started.

Are You In The Right Environment?

I am not sure if you have heard, but Maggie is feeling not so well lately when it comes to both her life and her job. She has been showing all the typical signs of depression including boredom, lack of appetite, irritability and increased aggressiveness. This problem has only been getting worse over the past few years.

You see, Maggie is a 22 year old 9,120 lb elephant from Zimbabwe. The only problem is that she is living in Alaska. In fact she is Alaska's only elephant (surprise) and she is residing in the Alaska Zoo. In an attempt to boost her mood, the Zoo has some creative plans. This summer they plan to build a $100,000 treadmill unlike any other. It is 20 feet long and 5 feet wide-not exactly something you would find at Fitness Depot. The treadmill is one part of a $500,000 new elephant house that includes a 1600 square foot barn. Obviously there is a lot of controversy over this issue both pro and against this idea from a variety of perspectives.

So here's my theory. Poor Maggie would be better roving around in Africa. Get her a ticket. I am thinking Virigin's business class (so she can stretch her legs and get good grub) Maybe she could even get to watch the Lion King during her flight. I predict in less than 6 months she will be a happy elephant.

So here's my point: elephants work best in the environments that elephants are naturally created for. So the Question is: what is the environment that is best suited for you? Some clients struggle with thinking they need to change careers, when really they need to change companies. That is what my advice would be for Maggie. She needs a new employer with an environment better suited to her. Don't always look for the complicated solution. Isolate the key problems within your environment and if you are struggling with that, don't get like Maggie, just ask us! We can help benchmark what environments are best suited for you, and create a plan to help get you there.

How To Get Your Career Swing Back..By Tiger Woods.

Tiger Woods is the #1 recognized professional athlete in the world, but lately he's been struggling. For the past year he's worked with golf swing coach Hank Haney. I'm always amazed that even the best of professionals need a coach. These people are at the top of their game and yet, when they struggle, they still benefit from expert objective advice.

A few weeks ago, Tiger Woods got his swing back. Before the Japanese tournament, Tiger Woods hit two shots where everything that he and Hank had been working on came together. Those two shots were critical for him to push through his problems and win the tournament. Tiger had proven to himself, and the world, that he was back on track.

Tiger's coach said he was "just trying to help Tiger's game." In 2005, if you're struggling in your career, let CareerJoy help you get your swing back. You never know where this journey could lead you, especially if you are willing to evolve and allow others to assist you.