Figuring out what kind of work you want to do is not easy or straightforward. If you have the courage to explore, a spirit of adventure and a good dose of motivation, you can discover what work, works for you! A long time ago, one question that used to trip me up in job interviews was - where do you see yourself in five years? Frankly, five years at the time seemed like a very long-range plan. I was not inclined to think about long range career building, having benefits or a retirement plan. I just sought out interesting work where I could make a difference. And, earn a good salary! Many influences shape our attitudes about work. Our early family experiences, our circumstances and expectations, our desire to be a someone or a something, the amount of financial and moral support we receive and, of course, our own personal qualities, temperament and preferences. The kind of work we look for, the jobs we take and the careers we nurture are influenced by tolerance for risk and uncertainty, combined with a unique combination of needs and desire for:
Everything listed above, serendipity, good and bad luck, all intersect and collide over the typical forty-odd year working life. Work has its ups and downs - we love it, like it and sometimes just endure it. And when work isn't working for us, we need to find other ways to feel satisfied, fulfilled and accomplished. Or, we need to find new work! Do you have any stories to share about how you discovered your work? Keep you posted, Coach Minda Contact me: minda.miloff@sympatico.ca Johnny Paycheck - You can take this job and shove it, 1980
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Years ago I participated in a writer’s workshop in Guatemala, hosted by a successful author. Sessions took place on a patio under a thatched roof overlooking a mountain lake. Memorable setting.
And while the lessons were many, I remember one in particular every time I sit down to write a blog, an email, or a note to a client:
But the workshop leader did a good job of weeding. She pulled dozens of cliché driven sentences from the stories we’d written and wove them into a seamless monologue that went on and on – and said nothing fresh or insightful. At first I was flattered to hear one of my sentences used, then chastened as I realized, along with my workshop mates, how flat it all sounded. So I now work mightily to avoid clichés when writing and speaking. It’s not easy! This is especially difficult given my tendency to half-remember clichés. I once suggested in a decisive manner at a conference table that we “separate the riff from the raff” when I meant, in cliché-speak, to say, “separate the wheat from the chaff.” Ouch. The nub of it all is clarity. What does one really think and feel, and what are the words that clearly express those thoughts and feelings? When I hear clichés I start probing – weeding the conversation – till I hear a fresh and personal take on the subject. Clichélessly yours, Coach Minda Who has the time? I guess it depends who you talk to.... but the professionals, stay-at-home parents, businesspeople and university students I work with say it is almost impossible to properly carve out time for work, family, school, exercise, social time and treasured private time.
At the end of the day or week, there seems to be still so much left undone. People are under pressure to produce, deliver, win, sell, heal, fix and tweet! The chronic sense of falling behind and being late, the rushing here and there, the missing sense of satisfaction and pride from having done something well, not to mention the endless interruptions and distractions, are leaving people tired, stressed and frustrated. Being productive, accomplished, successful, competent and fulfilled comes at a high cost. During the early years of working and raising children, I was preoccupied with how to save time. The second the children were out the door in the morning for school, I tore through the chores of running a home. I prided myself on being efficient and fast. I saw time as a valuable commodity and I managed it carefully. The complexities and frustrations of the TIME PROBLEM are widely felt. Striking a perfect balance seems out of reach and there is no single fix. The way we manage our time is shaped by many influences:
Here's my simplistic take on how you can better protect and manage your time:
Or, you can always call me for coaching! Keep you posted, Coach Minda |
My family, relationships, movement, nature, flexibility of mind, exploration of alternative perspectives & openness are central to my life.Archives
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