Having just had another birthday, I am wanting to moan and groan and say, “not another one,” or “who likes to get older?” but instead I’m greatful for all the lessons and, I hope, wisdom that has come along with it.

Workwise for women, does age still presents problems?  It depends on the industry, some are more women-friendly than others, but women are making more headroads everyday, including making more salary than men in some jobs.  As an entrepreneur, there are at least as many, if not more, opportunities.

Betty Skelton shares this birthday month with me. She’s considered the “First Lady of Firsts,” a three-time women’s international aerobatics champion, she set two world light plane altitude records as a stunt flyer, she became the first female test driver in the auto industry and the first woman to drive an Indy car – hitting 145 mph in a beefed-up Corvette.  So if Betty, who was born in 1926, can do these things, then the only thing stopping YOU is YOU.

And if you think you’re too old to learn something new, begin a new life balancing practice, change your direction or integrate a discipline of self-coaching, it’s my belief each new age is an apprenticeship we must learn to live fully and find the many kernals of gratification within them, feeling neither sorry nor boastful for those who worry and try to rekindle their lost youth.  Instead, we can be positive examples, living the most of the gift of time that’s left.

Just like the initial exhilirating passion you feel in a new romantic relationship, once you become comfortable overtime with your job environment, the people you interact with, and the projects themselves, your passion for your job can seem less of a bonfire and more like a smoldering ember.  If you get unattached to having the big fire, you can settle in and enjoy the warmth and consistent pleasures of your accomplishments, big and small.

But if it’s not the like-new feeling you’re missing, maybe due to being unchallenged for awhile, you’re overdue to infuse innovation into your current work world.  A third possibility for the lost spark at work could be that you have exhausted your reservoir of talent for this job, it doesn’t fit you any longer, and it’s time you move on.

1.  Unsure if a job or career change is needed?  Before you abandon your work, sit quietly and do an honest assessment of what it offers.  Are there any new changes you can make where you are?  (I had a client who was sure extensive travel was required for her job and, being tired of it, she wanted to quit.  I coached her to ask about changes in this routine.  Her employer not only complied with her need for less travel time, but gave her a bonus to help teach another employee how to take on some of her responsibilities.)

2.  Is your current work unchallenging?  Give your job a new bolt of creativity.  There are many wonderful books on creativity, innovation and changing the way we think.  To mention a few, there’s Howard Gardner’s Creating Minds, An Anatomy of Creativity.   Roger von Oech’s many wonderful books and Tim Hurson’s Think Better book.  (I’ve led creativity workshops based on Tim Hurson’s book.  I’ve also taken several workshops on the subject of creativity and have my own book, The 3 C’s for Effective Living – Change, Creativity and Communication that gives you exercises to expand your creative thinking.) Get into a new idea-making mode and break up stale thinking. This could be just the thing to help you devise different avenues to take your work.  A workshop may also help you locate new contacts to explore working on a program or project for or with.

(more…)

Like O.J. Simpson at his trial, sometimes no matter how persistent you are to make the glove fit, your work just doesn’t fit you.

In a tough economic environment, it’s scary thinking of making major industry changes, (i.e. from a preschool teacher to a nurse), let alone changing jobs in your same field (i.e. from a piano teacher for kids to a piano teacher for adults). If you’re not in pain right now over your job and don’t have financial resources to be out of work for at least six months, I recommend you hold tight where you are until your finances will be supportive for a period of transition, you do know what you want, have the skills and talents to bring to the work, and have developed sufficient contacts to help get you the work.

But in the meantime, it’s time to find out why your job isn’t a fit for you and see if you can’t infuse it with new energy and interest to stay or begin the research process for a job change. Some key questions so you can make a list of your responses and begin to formulate a clear plan for your future action steps:

1. Was your job ever a fit for you? What are the best, the worst and the so-so parts for you?
2. Have you ever had some of the same positives (from #1) in other work you’ve done?
3. What specifically has changed and what can you be responsible for to improve your situation?

(more…)

If you’re looking to change careers there are several things that can get in the way of a smooth transition.  You want to be sure you address these areas, while not getting stuck or slowed down by poor preparation.   True, economics can play a role in available opportunities, but by your using a more focused and strategic approach, you’ll get faster and lasting results, beating out the competition.  Here’s a few key areas to assist you:

DO’S
1.  Update and make relevant for the job you seek, your resume, appearance, attitude, contacts list for possible introductions, personal and professional assessments, learning and training.

2.  Fully research what you would be doing in the new job, confident you are the right fit for it, and learn all you can about your customer, competitors, best marketing practices, the economic industry ranking and financial expectations, networking strategies and your most effective business development channels.

3.  Set up your support team.  Who will help mentor you?  Who will help position you?  Who will coach you?  Navigate into new territories with a select boat full of your best advisors and confidantes.

DON’TS
1.  Avoid unnecessary or excessive research of jobs sites, newspaper ads or job boards.  Cover the basics, but don’t overlook step one which is develop  a list of potential supporters, conveying your short blurb on your chosen career area and your top 3 qualifications for it.  Request specific support for introductions and ideas from them.

(more…)