The Springtime of Your Career
Rick Jarow, author of Creating the Work You Love, introduced many of us to the notion of career seasons. When we're struggling with a career, we're most likely to think of winter. At some point a career change (or other transition) feels like being buried under a coat of ice, hibernating through long, dark days. Hopefully we learn to see the beauty of winter -- sun on the snow, clear air, the bare outlines of trees denied their leafy cover-ups.
Spring gets promoted as a time of new beginnings -- and it's a fragile season. Buds appear on trees, only to become leaves in a matter of days. Cherry blossoms, forsythia, and daffodils seem to last just long enough for us to learn their names.
Spring also brings energy. Here in New Mexico, we're blown about by winds. The dog races around the park like a young puppy and the cats spend hours bird-watching.
Spring can be harsh. Frost can crush the brand-new blossoms and a sudden snow will take care of next summer's harvest.
And you can be fooled. Just when you think it's safe to shut down your heating system, pack up your parka and begin a joyful summer of shorts-and-a-tee, you get a cold day. The dog is thrilled -- but you're not.
You probably see where I'm heading with this. Often clients seek out my coaching services after a long, hard job search, or a long dry period of seeking customers for a new business. They've glimpsed a taste of success: a few nibbles to the resume, a few customers who seemed happy but then disappeared. They're really ready for summer.
Spring can be harder than winter. After slogging through ice and snow, you're ready for warmth! I remember living in cold climates -- Alaska, Connecticut, Manitoba -- when a gray, cold spring seemed like the last straw. We deserve more!
Inevitably, we do move on because the earth turns and life goes in cycles. Longer days bring more sunlight to fight the frost. Icicles start dripping and then one day we notice they're gone and a dandelion sprouts on the front lawn. At last!
Your experience of spring depends on where you lived up to now -- literally and metaphorically. By midlife, some people have experienced only summer. The first winter can be terrifying. You don't own a parka and have no idea how to shop for one. Boots? Gloves? Where do we start?
If you've been there before, it's easier to believe spring is coming -- and you've learned some tricks to protect your fragile new growth.
Need an extra boost to get through spring -- your own or the season's? Talk to people who have been there. Find a coach or counselor. Join a new group. Take the dog for an extra long walk. Devise your own Spring Festival. And keep looking for glimpses of summer every day -- even when you've had to pull an extra sweater out of storage.
Exercise: I recommend keeping a record of spring. Write down the changes you see -- and the dates. When do you first notice a snowdrop or a dandelion? When does the ice start to melt? How are you responding? How does this spring compare to the last one? And put aside your record in a safe place -- to read the next time spring comes around.
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:50:53 GMT Got $700 Billion? Sweat the Details - New York Times
New York Times - The bailout plan gives Henry M. Paulson Jr., the Treasury secretary, three broad choices in buying assets. By ALAN S. BLINDER THE House of Representatives was against the bailout bill before it was for it. US firms up plan to buy into banks to stem crisis Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:39:07 GMT Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut - New York Times
New York Times - In Hartford, Crystal Pretzman of Willimantic, Conn., celebrated the State Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:13:08 GMT US space tourist set for blast-off - Reuters
Reuters - By Maria Golovnina BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - US video game magnate Richard Garriott will blast off into space aboard a Russian spaceship on Sunday watched by his father, a NASA astronaut who went into space at the height of the Cold War. US space tourist set for launch Russian space chief reassures US partners Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:10:50 GMT YouTube to play full TV episodes with ads - Afterdawn.com
Afterdawn.com - Google has announced that it will begin offering full-length TV episodes through its YouTube platform beginning this week, thanks to a content deal with CBS. YouTube to Offer TV Shows With Ads Strewn Through YouTube beams up Star Trek for long-form video, prominent new ads Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:13:12 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Finn Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT World is united to tackle financial crisis, IMF says - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By Rex Nutting WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Financial policymakers from 180 nations around the world are united in their resolve to tackle the financial crisis, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, head of the International Monetary Fund's policy committee, ... G7 nations face going cap in hand to China Finance officials comments at IMF meetings Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:23:46 GMT GOP Officials Hope for Stability From McCain - New York Times
New York Times - By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ELISABETH BUMILLER Republican leaders across the country said Saturday that they were worried that Senator John McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy and settled on a clear message ... Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally Obama needs 75 percent turnout in Philadelphia, says Rendell Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:23:47 GMT More Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Are you thinking about switching careers? If you are, you're... Read More There has been a lot of hullabaloo recently about the... Read More Most of us interact with our co-workers on a daily... Read More The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and... Read More Many people never consider entering the cleaning business because of... Read More Your resume is your sales document. It tells the world... Read More Why Career Advice Is So ImportantChoosing a career presents a... Read More Retirement might be the answer when you ask yourself "why... Read More When you want something, the best way to get it... Read More Far too many people underestimate the importance of resume cover... Read More Have any of these situations happened to you? Forgetting your... Read More How good are you at standing up for yourself?Do you... Read More Finally! Your youngest is in school and you are ready... Read More Learning how to type a resume may feel like a... Read More Feeling overworked and underpaid? If you're starting to feel like... Read More 11 Commandments For Smart Negotiating1 - BE PREPARED. The... Read More Strange jobs? How do we define that? Years ago I... Read More First of all, to fully understand and appreciate the answer,... Read More Have you ever wanted to become a computer consultant, but... Read More Networking is still known as a great job-search strategy, yet... Read More People react very differently to the waves of change that... Read More Most people would agree that the concept of a job... Read More Getting a job is not just about your performance in... Read More Difficult Relationships at Work - How to Influence the UncooperativeWe... Read More I'll define what I mean by these terms. "The Controller"... Read More
Adsense
websites
Switching Careers - 7 Key Steps
Occupational Health and Safety - Stress and Workaholism at Work
Job Trap; Relationships with Co-workers
Dynamic Pre-Hiring Practices
From Cleaning Lady to Entrepreneur: How Your Cleaning Business can Benefit from the Images
Resumes OR CV : Get That Job
Top Career Advice ... More Choices and A Better Way of Life
Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
Stop Whining and Ask For What You Want!
Beat the Crowd with Winning Resume Cover Letters
How to Overcome a Bad First Impression
Speak Up: Your Job Is At Stake!
Professional Moms: How to Get Ready to Re-Enter the Workforce
How To Type A Resume For Employers
How to Ask For a Salary Increase and Get Your Raise
Great Salary Negotiation Tips
Strange Jobs Still Pay The Bills
What is Absolutely the Best Day to go on a Job Interview?
How To Become A Computer Consultant
Create a Network and Catapult Your Job Search
Career Success: Take Charge of Your Career
Careers-Changing Jobs: The Fantasy of the Ideal Job
Job Interviews -- How to Follow Up Effectively
Difficult Relationships at Work - Dealing with Workplace Conflict
Is Your Job Search Guided by the Controller or the Controllee?
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Discontentment in the Workplace
While more people are finding employment, more employed workers are... Read More
Resume Formats ... The Hidden Pitfalls
Deciding on a resume format is the first major decision... Read More
Job Hunting Tips: Containing Anxiety
It hangs from the ceiling above your bed while you... Read More
Day Trading ? The Ultimate Work-From-Home Job?
Ever dreamt of giving up the daily grind? Want to... Read More
Work Is A Four-Letter Word
I can hear the jokes already and most of them... Read More
The Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Should Avoid In Contacting An Employer
There are numerous tools and resources available to guide job... Read More
Prepare for YOUR Future now --
All Presidential candidates (before and after) make all kinds of... Read More
Overcoming the 7 Roadblocks Women with Families Face Making Career Changes
Family is the driving force of our lives. You need... Read More
How To Stay Calm in Tryng Times
That's not you? Great! Bad habits are hard to break... Read More
Career Success Through Self-Marketing
Marketing shouldn't be limited to advertising companies. Finding a job... Read More
Confidence Is Critical to YOUR Success....
Make EYE contact when you look at another person. Look... Read More
Business Experience is YOUR Security Cover
Some may want to interpret "independent" to mean WITHOUT others.... Read More
Dynamic Pre-Hiring Practices
The pre-hiring process can be a challenge. Much time and... Read More
Loving What You Do
Man is a social animal and survival is his major... Read More
Learn How To Succeed At Career Fairs
This career article will give you some great tips on... Read More
Work In Dubai
Dubai is home to an exciting, diverse, multi-cultural blend of... Read More
Job Interviews -- The Four Worst Objections You?ll Face and How to Deal with Them
Dealing with tough questions and objections is an essential part... Read More
Job Offers and Pay Negotiations
When you first get the job offer it will often... Read More
Use Job Search Hacks to Get Hired Faster
Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with... Read More
What To Do When A Co-Worker Turns Nasty
A friend of mine laments that work would be great... Read More
The Group Interview
Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up... Read More
Thank-You Notes: An Integral Part of Your Career Design
There is one little practice that is vital to generating... Read More
An RX For Your Résumé
Whether you are an accountant, virtual assistant, or a corporate... Read More
The Career Athlete: What It Takes to Manage Your Career
Managing your career, just like managing your life, requires preparation... Read More
How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview
Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are... Read More
Careers, Jobs & Employment |