"Vision without action is a daydream
Action without vision is a nightmare"
Japanese proverb
Written by Joy Broughton, Career & Life Coach
Millions of Americans die of heart attacks every year.
And most of those heart attacks happen Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. That’s
the bad news. The good news is that people are waking up all over the
country. They are fed up and no longer want to drag themselves out of
bed in the morning to go to a job that they hate.
We now have more information about choices and options, how to find our
purpose, and books written to show us how find the work we are here to
do. If you are one of those people who hates their jobs, take heart! No
pun intended. Here’s a couple of things you can do. Remember you
have many options. First, sit down and start to write. Your first homework
assignment is: Write all the things you don’t like about your job.
Sometimes it’s easier to get in touch with what you want by a process
of elimination. So many of us settle when we don’t have to. Second,
make a list of all the things you liked doing in your previous jobs.
Then, make a list of 25 accomplishments you’ve had in your lifetime.
They don’t all have to be professional. They can be personal too.
When I did this exercise the first time, one my favorite accomplishments
was: "I raised an incredible human being." Then right next to
each accomplishment, list what skills and talents you used in order to
achieve each accomplishment. Soon, you’ll start to see a common
thread throughout this exercise. Now, this is important. You can’t
do this exercise alone. Ask someone who is positive to help you. You can’t
see yourself as objectively. So, it's important to do this exercise with
someone else. What’s a walk in the park for you, isn’t for
someone else. You’ll start becoming aware of those talents you have
and how special they are when you hear a friend say, "I wish I could
do that. You do it so easily." We take for granted those things
we do well. The 25 accomplishments exercise is important because this
is truly what represents you in the world. You’ll find yourself
talking about these things as you network, conduct informational interviews,
and actual interviews.
Now you’re more prepared to write down what you really want. Give
yourself time to do this part. Make a list and revisit the list over time
to make sure that what you’ve written is what you really want. Be
careful what you ask for, you might get it. One of my clients asked for
"A more challenging manager." And she got the boss from hell.
Choose your words wisely and put a lot of thought into this exercise.
Finally, if you find that you’re having trouble getting started,
do yourself a favor and hire a professional coach. The coaching profession
is booming right now. Interview a couple of them and then pick the one
who is right for you. It usually costs $300 to $600 per month, and coaches
suggest a minimum of 3 months to achieve your goals.
There are few things more important than your work, and how you feel about
it. Find out what makes you happy. Find out what your purpose is. Create
a plan and start on your career path, asking yourself, "What
will I leave on this planet Earth?"
Biography:
Joy Broughton, a corporate staffing manager for 20
years with experience in sales, advertising and personnel, brings a wealth
of personal and professional skills to her work as a LIFE COACH. She has
a sterling reputation for helping hundreds of people find their passion,
and move into their highest good and purpose. In a gentle and powerful
manner, Joy will help you discover your passion and live with purpose.
