What To Stop Doing In Your Career

Early this year I was reading a magazine called Wallpaper. It is a design magazine and January's issue was all about design awards. As I was perusing the magazine, something caught my attention. It was an ad that said: "Stop Running, Start Walking".

I thought this was an interesting concept. Wouldn't running get me there faster? In a way, walking seems less valuable, although I say that as a runner.

I have done some mental digestion on this, and one of the things I have observed in our career coaching is the concept of running. I often notice when we first meet clients that they seem to be doing a lot of running around. Reading books, online tests, chatting with people, etc. They seem to be literally chasing answers in an attempt to be pro-active, only to feel more confused and more frustrated.

Make life easier on yourself

1 You have to stop running

2. You have to start walking

Life is funny that way; you have to stop to start.

Stopping doesn't mean you forget about finding answers but rather you need to stop your current strategy and start a new strategy to find the answers that you need. Start a new plan that is intentional but not intense. This may be as simple as taking a blank piece of paper with your morning coffee and letting some of your thoughts start to flow into words.

Did you ever notice how going for a nice slow walk allows you to notice things that have been there the whole time but that you never saw before?

along the road with you...

Are Some of Your Tools Missing?

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Originally uploaded by CareerJoy.

Not long ago, while scanning the Popular Science magazine (you know, the magazine where we are all going to fly cars around and go to the moon for lunch etc.) I saw a fantastic advertisement for Ace hardware. The ad had a picture of a typical tool bench with an assortment of typical tools: wrench, saw, paint brush, electrical tape, and a person.

Yes, a person. They had taken one of their employees and digitally placed her on the tool bench. The headline said. "Good advice is the best tool".

Recently, I read the column of a famous industrial psychologist. He was responding to the question about which assessment tools are the best in determining an employee's fit. He said that there is nothing that beats a thoughtful conscientious discussion with a trained expert. That is something no tool can replace. Just like the ad said.

Of all the tools that are on your career bench, the best tool is what a trained expert can share with you through their experiences and training. Nothing can beat it. I often say that my pipe wrench is no good without Al my plumber using it. I have a lot of nice tools but Al can make them sing. He can fix the problem quickly with little mess and get us on our way. Great tools AND great advice.

Any career problems you need advice on-we here to help.



Along the road with you...

Is Your Work GRRRReat

Every morning millions of us sit down to eat breakfast and marketing 101 is there to stare back at us from across the table, even before our mind has awoken.

However, this is not true for everyone. At around 6:30am one fall morning in 1989 Chris Leamon had come home from working all night in the lab. Sitting with his wife in his student apartment, he entered his morning routine. He grabbed a bowl, some milk and his trusted Frosty Flakes. At this time he was working on his PHD in Chemistry from Purdue University. His mother had died of cancer and this had led him on a career journey to find chemotherapeutic drugs with less side effects. As usual, he was scanning the box and looking at ingredients. For some reason that morning he had a "aha" moment. Folic acid. For some reason that hit him in a unique way.

Chris said "I knew it was it" this was the key to mark cancer cells in a specific way, enabling a specific type of drugs to fight tumors. It just goes to show that you never know where eureka moments will occur. I believe that Chris's hard work in the lab enabled this possibility, however, his openness and curiosity in other areas of his life led to the answers he was searching for. Keep your eyes and ears open and as Chris said:

"I have had lots of eureka moments in the lab, but none as great. That breakfast redefined my career and my life"

Eureka is available.



Along the road with you...

Where Are Your Talents Taking You?

Recently I was looking at some research about The Julliard School. For those that are not familiar, the Julliard School is one of the world's premier conservatories and is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Some of the great musicians of our time have graduated from this school. In 1994 there were 44 instrumentalists that graduated that year. Two of the graduates are currently concertmasters with the Metropolitan opera. Others, such as Gwen Appel who played the clarinet at Julliard, is now a diamond grader and saleswomen for Tiffany Jewellers.

Here is what some of the Grads are doing now:
Software engineer
Music Therapist
Insurance Underwriter
Network Engineer
Fitness trainer
Art Museum bookkeeper

Nora McInery who graduated as a violinist is now in PR with Time-Warner Inc. she said "there were a lot of hours, a lot of sacrifice to get where I was, at a certain point you have to decide is this what I want?" What many have learned over the past 10 years is that it takes more than talent to be successful.

For many such as Nora and Gwen, understanding this has been part of their journey towards a different life than they expected, both still play, but only as amateurs. Some of the graduates have moved beyond their identity as a musician, while others have had a difficult time in transition and have struggled with letting themselves evolve.

Julliard's president quoted about the research said "They come in as 18yrs olds, talented and focused, but at the same time they are becoming you adults and finding themselves in ways that may not have anything to do with music" "We provide the tools and the experience, however there are no guarantees"

No matter how talented you are there are many issues that come with the career journey. It is important to constantly allow yourself to evolve and grow both personally and professionally. If you are unsure of what your talents are, consider taking steps to uncover them-you never know what they might lead to!