| Your Guide to Navigating the Road of WorkDo | | | | unusual for adults to have experienced multiple |
| you feel that your life is an express lane and you | | | | careers in their lifetime and many jobs. The days |
| are driving blindly? Ever feel that way about your | | | | of staying in one place and receiving an award at |
| career? You spend most of your waking hours on | | | | the end are long gone. It is okay change lanes. |
| the thruway of work. Are you one of many | | | | First decide if you should improve where you are |
| people who are working in a job they are not | | | | or if it is time to move on. Look around and |
| satisfied with? Some wonder how they got | | | | observe your current work. Put on another pair |
| where they are in the first place; did they | | | | of sunglasses and see the view with a different |
| somehow miss a turn along the way? Many have | | | | lens. Could positive changes be made where you |
| lost their passion for work altogether, they arrive | | | | are? Are your perceptions true or tinted by your |
| each day on cruise control and return, gas tank | | | | self perceptions? Step back to get the bigger |
| emptied at the end of the day.Wish you had a | | | | picture. If you find the need for change, |
| AAA road map to guide you through your | | | | communicate what it is that you need. Want to |
| journey? Ever want to make a U-turn or take a | | | | be challenged, to be able to put your own |
| more scenic route? Life is full of transition, | | | | creativity into your projects? See if you can find |
| beginning a job, pursuing a career, making a | | | | better fulfillment right where you are, if not, |
| commitment to a relationship, having children, | | | | make a career change to something that is more |
| trying to balance work and family life and caring | | | | supportive of where you want to be.The key to |
| for aging parents. Our work affects our life and | | | | knowing if you should make a change is |
| our life affects our work, both are intertwined. As | | | | determining if you are happy where you are. Like |
| a result your career often has its fast lanes; it's | | | | a sight seeing tour, look around, take some notes. |
| off ramps, mergers and speed bumps along the | | | | What is working for you, what is not? What |
| way. Sometimes you might feel out of control, | | | | changes do you need to make? Write them down |
| ready to spin out at any time, other times you | | | | and make a commitment to make the changes |
| are in cruise control. Learning how to design your | | | | you need personally and professionally.As a |
| own road map and how to take control of the | | | | successful sales person in a high tech company |
| wheel can help you to navigate your lifetime of | | | | others thought I was happy, I was making a |
| career transitions. Learning the keys to a | | | | lucrative income, was well recognized in the |
| successful navigation can help you to navigate | | | | company and was on my way to being offered a |
| sharp turns, detour around accidents, and to | | | | headquarters management position. By then the |
| enjoy a smooth, safe ride.Chart your own course. | | | | speed bumps had come along. What do we do |
| Get to know yourself very well. The self | | | | with speed bumps? We slow down, we use |
| discovery process will prevent you from making | | | | caution, we look to the left and the right, and we |
| decisions that do not support your values, | | | | re-evaluate our position. For me, the speed bumps |
| interests and passions. Without self knowledge | | | | on my road where my children. On the inside I |
| you might find yourself "off roading" or worse | | | | struggled, I had a 2 year old and 5 year old at |
| yet, stuck. Use the tips below; they are the keys | | | | home and I wondered what it would be like to |
| to a successful ride to help you to identify your | | | | give up the mahogany board room meetings for |
| ideal work and to make it yourown. Being familiar | | | | a day in the sandbox. One November day I was |
| with what you really want in your life is like having | | | | on a ride at Disney and made the plans for my |
| the best road map in your glove compartment. | | | | exit. I gave my notice, leaving in February of the |
| I've learned, as a career coach, that many of my | | | | next year. My change was successful and using |
| clients simply lack the map:"I've been working for | | | | the tools in my navigational Guide, I was able to |
| years at this job but find I have less and less | | | | master staying home and then later return to |
| energy at the end of the day. I hate it. But what | | | | work effortlessly, choosing a different career that |
| else could I possibly do?""I chose this job because | | | | better supported my new work/life balance |
| it was a good fit for me at the time. I wonder if | | | | needs.4. Create your own roadmap: design your |
| it is possible to make a change. I'd like to work in | | | | ideal job or career: If you've decided to make |
| the community or for a non profit group but don't | | | | some changes you will need your own roadmap |
| have any experience in this area, can you help? | | | | to guide you. What do you really want out of |
| Can I make a change or is it too late?""I've been | | | | your life and what role does your work play in |
| at home raising my family and now I've like to | | | | that goal? Most of our waking hours are spent |
| return to the workforce, I am not sure what to | | | | working, why not do what you enjoy? Visualize |
| say about my absence? What transferable skills | | | | your ideal day, what are you doing? Where are |
| do I have?"I feel like I've missed my calling. I want | | | | you? Who is around you? What talents are you |
| to work at a job I feel passionate about.""How | | | | using? Are you in a corporation, a desk at home |
| can I make sure I get the next promotion?"You | | | | or at a small non profit group? You have a |
| have choices about your career destination; you | | | | meeting at 10:00, who is there and what are they |
| get to pick your journey. You deserve to have | | | | discussing? You get a phone call, what is it about? |
| work that is fulfilling, has meaning and uses your | | | | It is lunchtime, what are you doing? Now, 3:00 and |
| gifts. You also deserve to have a life outside of | | | | a call comes in, who is it and what do they want |
| work. Since 9/11 many professionals have made | | | | from you? How do you feel when you leave at |
| career changes to reflect their interests and to | | | | 5:00? What do you plan to do with your evening? |
| increase their work/life balance. We realized that | | | | Get a sense of the road that is the best ride for |
| our lives are too precious to spend it doing | | | | you. What types of jobs offer these attractions? |
| something we don't enjoy. My current clients | | | | Identify the work possibilities that you might want |
| include men who are turning from software | | | | to explore. Make a list of your job targets.A |
| engineering and project management to science, | | | | software engineer reported he was bored after |
| teaching, consulting and small business ownership. | | | | doing the same type of job for many years. He |
| Many women are making decisions to leave the | | | | wanted to start a part time business, one that he |
| corporate world to raise their families or to start | | | | could take into his retirement. We discovered he |
| their own businesses or to find something in | | | | enjoyed cooking. His ideal job would be to bring |
| between that allow them to balance a life of | | | | healthy cooking and a fun entertaining experience |
| childcare and elder care at the same time, all while | | | | to others. Within six weeks he established a |
| finding some time for themselves. A 2004 study | | | | business identity as a professional chef and is |
| conducted by the Center for Work-Life Policy | | | | contracted to cook at a corporate gathering in |
| indicated that 37% of highly qualified women | | | | one month. He looks forward to enjoying his new |
| leave their careers for a period of time, 58% | | | | career.5. Your Journey: Charting your course For |
| resort to flexible or part time hours. To | | | | Success: Without goals you are like a traveler |
| summarize, what are you doing to meet your | | | | without a destination, you don't know what |
| career needs? What decisions are you putting | | | | direction to go in and will not know when you |
| off? What improvements can you make in your | | | | have arrived. Like any journey there is a time of |
| own career?Your Guide: Before I hand over the | | | | departure, a period of time spent in "transit" which |
| keys to career navigation, let me explain why I | | | | can be disorientating and a point of arrival. Having |
| feel I am qualified to serve as your guide. In | | | | a clear sense of your journey will remind you of |
| addition to having extensive training in Coaching | | | | why you are traveling and will get you through |
| with specialty training in Career and Business | | | | the uncomfortable time of passage. Spend the |
| Coaching, I too have navigated several career | | | | time to research your options in the same way |
| changes. It is this personal experience that has | | | | you would visit a travel guide. Read the book |
| helped me to help others to take control of the | | | | "Working Identity" and realize that there may be |
| drive and to have a clear vision of the road. I | | | | many different types of careers for you, like |
| have over 25 years of working experience, | | | | unvisited cities, you don't know if you'd like it |
| having worked a number of years in Corporate | | | | there unless you learned more about it. Take |
| America in sales, marketing and management | | | | some professional career assessments to help |
| consulting in the information technology industry. I | | | | guide your options. Need to have additional |
| also took time to raise a family and became a | | | | education or certification for the work you want |
| community volunteer. I pursued a second | | | | to do? Take a detour, figure out how to take the |
| master's degree at age 40, worked as a | | | | coursework you need. Ask for directions, |
| psychotherapist and small business owner and | | | | network with others who have the job you might |
| then became CEO of my own coaching company | | | | be interested in. Ask to stop in for a visit, take a |
| and a partner Career Coach and Vice President of | | | | look around. Try on the idea of a new job like a |
| Marketing for a global coaching firm. What I | | | | new spring coat. Get a sense of how it fits. Keep |
| learned most from my own experiences and | | | | in the lane, write down your goals and take single |
| professional career coaching training is that you do | | | | daily actions towards making them happen. |
| have choices. You get to chart your course and | | | | Achievable goals are specific and measurable and |
| most importantly, you have to keep moving | | | | include what you will do and when you will do it. |
| forward to take action on your personal and | | | | Journal your goals and your progress.She was |
| professional goals. So gas up your tank and get | | | | unhappy in her work at the television station. |
| ready to go.The Keys to a Successful Ride:1. Give | | | | Everyone was so busy and focused she lacked |
| your Map a Name: Write your Mission Statement: | | | | the human connection she needed in her work. |
| Who are you really? What are your passions? | | | | She also wanted to feel that her work meant |
| What are your values, what motivates you and | | | | something that it helped others in some way. She |
| what gifts do you have that you want to share | | | | read Working Identity and decided to try out |
| with others? What is your personal brand, those | | | | other types of work. Her assessments confirmed |
| unique qualities that make up who you really are? | | | | that she was a helper and an educator, creative |
| What do you want out of your life? What do you | | | | and caring about others. She "tried on" the job of |
| dream of? Write your own mission statement for | | | | a early childhood educator by taking a course. She |
| your life and work by knowing yourself well. If | | | | tried out the career of a speech therapist by |
| you feel stuck, try to think of what you enjoyed | | | | talking to one, she tried out working with special |
| doing as a child, what did you want to be when | | | | needs children through a part time job, she |
| you grew up? Ask your friends what they enjoy | | | | researched, talked to people, observed and then |
| about you the most. Find your life purpose. When | | | | decided what she wanted to do. She will be soon |
| you do, write your mission statement for your | | | | enrolling in a Masters program for Occupational |
| work and your life. You will find that knowing your | | | | Therapy.6. Arriving at your destination: So, you've |
| life purpose will help you to make the career | | | | chosen your destination, you have a map and are |
| decision that reflects your values and uses your | | | | ready to begin your journey. Before you put your |
| talents.At age 62 she took the time to evaluate | | | | foot to the pedal you will need a full tank of gas, |
| her life and to reflect on what she really wanted. | | | | some beverages and tasteful snacks to keep you |
| She remembered that she really loved her | | | | energized on your journey. Know that there will |
| bohemian style life when she was younger and | | | | be bumps in the road and you might feel lost at |
| carefree. She compared that to her task oriented | | | | times. Trust that your instincts will set you back |
| life and her long list of accomplishments. Upon | | | | on course. Keep on the road and the mile |
| making this discovery she limited her proficient "to | | | | markers will quickly fly by. Arm yourself with a |
| do" list to only 8 items and replaced that time by | | | | solid compass, the resume that provides a |
| doing the things she loved, she started yoga, | | | | glowing review of your unique qualities and |
| walking daily and singing in her choir. Ironically once | | | | contributions. Set your goal to simply enjoy the |
| she did this she was also to get the job that she | | | | scenery, know you might have a number of |
| was seeking, switching from high tech to | | | | interviewing visits before narrowing your choices. |
| healthcare.2. Label your Main Attractions: A | | | | Communicate your "blue crystals" and become |
| successful ad campaign for Tide revealed its | | | | the ideal job candidate. Visit many places, meet |
| special "blue crystals", its unique selling point. What | | | | many people. Become an interesting tourist. Let |
| are you main attractions? What do you have to | | | | others learn from you. Then they will want you to |
| offer in talent, skills, education, gifts that make | | | | stay. Choose your destination, seeking the best |
| you unique? What are your successes? Write | | | | "hotel"; make sure you are getting the value in |
| down your CAR stories, tell the story of a | | | | return to the value that you provide. You deserve |
| Challenge you experienced, the Action you took | | | | only the finest of linens. Choose the nameplate |
| to solve the challenge and the Result that you | | | | that fits you best, define your working hours to |
| gained. Learn the art of self promotion. Do it in a | | | | allow flexibility for your many journeys and park |
| way that you are comfortable with, but do it. | | | | your car in the work you desire. Congratulations, |
| Making your attraction visible will keep it on the | | | | you have arrived. Celebrate yourself!Feel you |
| map; make it a showcase that everyone wants | | | | might need help in figuring out your destination or |
| to visit. If you practice this tool it will be easy for | | | | need a passenger to help guide you on your |
| you to use it in an interview or to gain the | | | | journey? Need to simply stop for directions? I'd |
| promotion you want. Take a moment to write | | | | like to learn more about your travel plans. Maybe |
| down your "blue crystals."I am working with a | | | | you simply need a professional career |
| woman in Boston who has a passion for politics | | | | assessment to help you to guide your course, or |
| and environmental issues. While she was able to | | | | maybe you want a partner to keep you |
| express her environmental interests in her | | | | motivated and on the road. Let's figure it out. |
| research at work, we both sensed that her voice | | | | Contact me to talk about where you are at and |
| needed to be heard in a bigger way. Once she | | | | where you would like to be.Don't forget to sign up |
| was able to turn down the volume of self doubt | | | | for the complimentary newsletter which is filled |
| and turn up her personal volume she became a | | | | with tips and snack items to help you on your |
| free lance writer and public speaker. She is getting | | | | journey, McLaughlin, CEO of Open Door Coaching, |
| paid for publishing her opinion and expertise and | | | | offers career and business coaching worldwide |
| has established a writing desk in her home, a rest | | | | from her Nashua, NH office. She is a certified |
| stop where she can freely write and let her voice | | | | Career Coach and licensed psychotherapist, |
| be heard.3. Take a look around: "Should I stay or | | | | member of the International Coach Federation |
| should I go?" Are you working at a job where | | | | and President of the local Business and |
| you don't enjoy the scenery anymore? Are you | | | | Professional Women's organization. Her signature |
| feeling like your gifts are not being used and your | | | | strengths are leadership, zest, loyalty, teambuilding |
| work is not appreciated? Do you have a tug in | | | | and gratitude. Her passion for life and ability to |
| the pit of your stomach when you leave for | | | | think BIG for those around her has helped her to |
| work in the morning, wishing you were at home | | | | help her clients get the lives they want by |
| instead? Are you concerned that your position | | | | creating the career they desire. Visit for a free |
| may be eliminated but are not being | | | | newsletter "Its All About the Journey" for more |
| proactive?How do you know when you really | | | | information on how to navigate The Road of |
| should be taking a more scenic route? It is not | | | | Work. |