How health care system works


The Road of Work: Keys to a Successful Navigation

Your Guide to Navigating the Road of WorkDoshould be taking a more scenic route? It is
you feel that your life is an express lanenot unusual for adults to have experienced
and you are driving blindly? Ever feel thatmultiple careers in their lifetime and many
way about your career? You spend most of yourjobs. The days of staying in one place and
waking hours on the thruway of work. Are youreceiving an award at the end are long gone.
one of many people who are working in a jobIt is okay change lanes. First decide if you
they are not satisfied with? Some wonder howshould improve where you are or if it is time
they got where they are in the first place;to move on. Look around and observe your
did they somehow miss a turn along the way?current work. Put on another pair of
Many have lost their passion for worksunglasses and see the view with a different
altogether, they arrive each day on cruiselens. Could positive changes be made where
control and return, gas tank emptied at theyou are? Are your perceptions true or tinted
end of the day.Wish you had a AAA road map toby your self perceptions? Step back to get
guide you through your journey? Ever want tothe bigger picture. If you find the need for
make a U-turn or take a more scenic route?change, communicate what it is that you need.
Life is full of transition, beginning a job,Want to be challenged, to be able to put your
pursuing a career, making a commitment to aown creativity into your projects? See if you
relationship, having children, trying tocan find better fulfillment right where you
balance work and family life and caring forare, if not, make a career change to
aging parents. Our work affects our life andsomething that is more supportive of where
our life affects our work, both areyou want to be.The key to knowing if you
intertwined. As a result your career oftenshould make a change is determining if you
has its fast lanes; it's off ramps, mergersare happy where you are. Like a sight seeing
and speed bumps along the way. Sometimes youtour, look around, take some notes. What is
might feel out of control, ready to spin outworking for you, what is not? What changes do
at any time, other times you are in cruiseyou need to make? Write them down and make a
control. Learning how to design your own roadcommitment to make the changes you need
map and how to take control of the wheel canpersonally and professionally.As a successful
help you to navigate your lifetime of careersales person in a high tech company others
transitions. Learning the keys to athought I was happy, I was making a lucrative
successful navigation can help you toincome, was well recognized in the company
navigate sharp turns, detour aroundand was on my way to being offered a
accidents, and to enjoy a smooth, safeheadquarters management position. By then the
ride.Chart your own course. Get to knowspeed bumps had come along. What do we do
yourself very well. The self discoverywith speed bumps? We slow down, we use
process will prevent you from makingcaution, we look to the left and the right,
decisions that do not support your values,and we re-evaluate our position. For me, the
interests and passions. Without selfspeed bumps on my road where my children. On
knowledge you might find yourself "offthe inside I struggled, I had a 2 year old
roading" or worse yet, stuck. Use the tipsand 5 year old at home and I wondered what it
below; they are the keys to a successful ridewould be like to give up the mahogany board
to help you to identify your ideal work androom meetings for a day in the sandbox. One
to make it yourown. Being familiar with whatNovember day I was on a ride at Disney and
you really want in your life is like havingmade the plans for my exit. I gave my notice,
the best road map in your glove compartment.leaving in February of the next year. My
I've learned, as a career coach, that many ofchange was successful and using the tools in
my clients simply lack the map:"I've beenmy navigational Guide, I was able to master
working for years at this job but find I havestaying home and then later return to work
less and less energy at the end of the day. Ieffortlessly, choosing a different career
hate it. But what else could I possiblythat better supported my new work/life
do?""I chose this job because it was a goodbalance needs.4. Create your own roadmap:
fit for me at the time. I wonder if it isdesign your ideal job or career: If you've
possible to make a change. I'd like to workdecided to make some changes you will need
in the community or for a non profit groupyour own roadmap to guide you. What do you
but don't have any experience in this area,really want out of your life and what role
can you help? Can I make a change or is itdoes your work play in that goal? Most of our
too late?""I've been at home raising mywaking hours are spent working, why not do
family and now I've like to return to thewhat you enjoy? Visualize your ideal day,
workforce, I am not sure what to say about mywhat are you doing? Where are you? Who is
absence? What transferable skills do Iaround you? What talents are you using? Are
have?"I feel like I've missed my calling. Iyou in a corporation, a desk at home or at a
want to work at a job I feel passionatesmall non profit group? You have a meeting at
about.""How can I make sure I get the next10:00, who is there and what are they
promotion?"You have choices about your careerdiscussing? You get a phone call, what is it
destination; you get to pick your journey.about? It is lunchtime, what are you doing?
You deserve to have work that is fulfilling,Now, 3:00 and a call comes in, who is it and
has meaning and uses your gifts. You alsowhat do they want from you? How do you feel
deserve to have a life outside of work. Sincewhen you leave at 5:00? What do you plan to
9/11 many professionals have made careerdo with your evening? Get a sense of the road
changes to reflect their interests and tothat is the best ride for you. What types of
increase their work/life balance. We realizedjobs offer these attractions? Identify the
that our lives are too precious to spend itwork possibilities that you might want to
doing something we don't enjoy. My currentexplore. Make a list of your job targets.A
clients include men who are turning fromsoftware engineer reported he was bored after
software engineering and project managementdoing the same type of job for many years. He
to science, teaching, consulting and smallwanted to start a part time business, one
business ownership. Many women are makingthat he could take into his retirement. We
decisions to leave the corporate world todiscovered he enjoyed cooking. His ideal job
raise their families or to start their ownwould be to bring healthy cooking and a fun
businesses or to find something in betweenentertaining experience to others. Within six
that allow them to balance a life ofweeks he established a business identity as a
childcare and elder care at the same time,professional chef and is contracted to cook
all while finding some time for themselves.at a corporate gathering in one month. He
A 2004 study conducted by the Center forlooks forward to enjoying his new career.5.
Work-Life Policy indicated that 37% of highlyYour Journey: Charting your course For
qualified women leave their careers for aSuccess: Without goals you are like a
period of time, 58% resort to flexible ortraveler without a destination, you don't
part time hours. To summarize, what are youknow what direction to go in and will not
doing to meet your career needs? Whatknow when you have arrived. Like any journey
decisions are you putting off? Whatthere is a time of departure, a period of
improvements can you make in your owntime spent in "transit" which can be
career?Your Guide: Before I hand over thedisorientating and a point of arrival. Having
keys to career navigation, let me explain whya clear sense of your journey will remind you
I feel I am qualified to serve as your guide.of why you are traveling and will get you
In addition to having extensive training inthrough the uncomfortable time of passage.
Coaching with specialty training in CareerSpend the time to research your options in
and Business Coaching, I too have navigatedthe same way you would visit a travel guide.
several career changes. It is this personalRead the book "Working Identity" and realize
experience that has helped me to help othersthat there may be many different types of
to take control of the drive and to have acareers for you, like unvisited cities, you
clear vision of the road. I have over 25don't know if you'd like it there unless you
years of working experience, having worked alearned more about it. Take some professional
number of years in Corporate America incareer assessments to help guide your
sales, marketing and management consulting inoptions. Need to have additional education or
the information technology industry. I alsocertification for the work you want to do?
took time to raise a family and became aTake a detour, figure out how to take the
community volunteer. I pursued a secondcoursework you need. Ask for directions,
master's degree at age 40, worked as anetwork with others who have the job you
psychotherapist and small business owner andmight be interested in. Ask to stop in for a
then became CEO of my own coaching companyvisit, take a look around. Try on the idea of
and a partner Career Coach and Vice Presidenta new job like a new spring coat. Get a sense
of Marketing for a global coaching firm.of how it fits. Keep in the lane, write down
What I learned most from my own experiencesyour goals and take single daily actions
and professional career coaching training istowards making them happen. Achievable goals
that you do have choices. You get to chartare specific and measurable and include what
your course and most importantly, you have toyou will do and when you will do it. Journal
keep moving forward to take action on youryour goals and your progress.She was unhappy
personal and professional goals. So gas upin her work at the television station.
your tank and get ready to go.The Keys to aEveryone was so busy and focused she lacked
Successful Ride:1. Give your Map a Name:the human connection she needed in her work.
Write your Mission Statement: Who are youShe also wanted to feel that her work meant
really? What are your passions? What are yoursomething that it helped others in some way.
values, what motivates you and what gifts doShe read Working Identity and decided to try
you have that you want to share with others?out other types of work. Her assessments
What is your personal brand, those uniqueconfirmed that she was a helper and an
qualities that make up who you really are?educator, creative and caring about others.
What do you want out of your life? What doShe "tried on" the job of a early childhood
you dream of? Write your own missioneducator by taking a course. She tried out
statement for your life and work by knowingthe career of a speech therapist by talking
yourself well. If you feel stuck, try toto one, she tried out working with special
think of what you enjoyed doing as a child,needs children through a part time job, she
what did you want to be when you grew up? Askresearched, talked to people, observed and
your friends what they enjoy about you thethen decided what she wanted to do. She will
most. Find your life purpose. When you do,be soon enrolling in a Masters program for
write your mission statement for your workOccupational Therapy.6. Arriving at your
and your life. You will find that knowingdestination: So, you've chosen your
your life purpose will help you to make thedestination, you have a map and are ready to
career decision that reflects your values andbegin your journey. Before you put your foot
uses your talents.At age 62 she took the timeto the pedal you will need a full tank of
to evaluate her life and to reflect on whatgas, some beverages and tasteful snacks to
she really wanted. She remembered that shekeep you energized on your journey. Know that
really loved her bohemian style life when shethere will be bumps in the road and you might
was younger and carefree. She compared thatfeel lost at times. Trust that your instincts
to her task oriented life and her long listwill set you back on course. Keep on the road
of accomplishments. Upon making thisand the mile markers will quickly fly by. Arm
discovery she limited her proficient "to do"yourself with a solid compass, the resume
list to only 8 items and replaced that timethat provides a glowing review of your unique
by doing the things she loved, she startedqualities and contributions. Set your goal to
yoga, walking daily and singing in her choir.simply enjoy the scenery, know you might have
Ironically once she did this she was also toa number of interviewing visits before
get the job that she was seeking, switchingnarrowing your choices. Communicate your
from high tech to healthcare.2. Label your"blue crystals" and become the ideal job
Main Attractions: A successful ad campaigncandidate. Visit many places, meet many
for Tide revealed its special "bluepeople. Become an interesting tourist. Let
crystals", its unique selling point. What areothers learn from you. Then they will want
you main attractions? What do you have toyou to stay. Choose your destination, seeking
offer in talent, skills, education, giftsthe best "hotel"; make sure you are getting
that make you unique? What are yourthe value in return to the value that you
successes? Write down your CAR stories, tellprovide. You deserve only the finest of
the story of a Challenge you experienced, thelinens. Choose the nameplate that fits you
Action you took to solve the challenge andbest, define your working hours to allow
the Result that you gained. Learn the art offlexibility for your many journeys and park
self promotion. Do it in a way that you areyour car in the work you desire.
comfortable with, but do it. Making yourCongratulations, you have arrived. Celebrate
attraction visible will keep it on the map;yourself!Feel you might need help in figuring
make it a showcase that everyone wants toout your destination or need a passenger to
visit. If you practice this tool it will behelp guide you on your journey? Need to
easy for you to use it in an interview or tosimply stop for directions? I'd like to learn
gain the promotion you want. Take a momentmore about your travel plans. Maybe you
to write down your "blue crystals."I amsimply need a professional career assessment
working with a woman in Boston who has ato help you to guide your course, or maybe
passion for politics and environmentalyou want a partner to keep you motivated and
issues. While she was able to express heron the road. Let's figure it out. Contact me
environmental interests in her research atto talk about where you are at and where you
work, we both sensed that her voice needed towould like to be.Don't forget to sign up for
be heard in a bigger way. Once she was ablethe complimentary newsletter which is filled
to turn down the volume of self doubt andwith tips and snack items to help you on your
turn up her personal volume she became a freejourney, McLaughlin, CEO of Open Door
lance writer and public speaker. She isCoaching, offers career and business coaching
getting paid for publishing her opinion andworldwide from her Nashua, NH office. She is
expertise and has established a writing deska certified Career Coach and licensed
in her home, a rest stop where she can freelypsychotherapist, member of the International
write and let her voice be heard.3. Take aCoach Federation and President of the local
look around: "Should I stay or should I go?"Business and Professional Women's
Are you working at a job where you don'torganization. Her signature strengths are
enjoy the scenery anymore? Are you feelingleadership, zest, loyalty, teambuilding and
like your gifts are not being used and yourgratitude. Her passion for life and ability
work is not appreciated? Do you have a tug into think BIG for those around her has helped
the pit of your stomach when you leave forher to help her clients get the lives they
work in the morning, wishing you were at homewant by creating the career they desire.
instead? Are you concerned that your positionVisit for a free newsletter "Its All About
may be eliminated but are not beingthe Journey" for more information on how to
proactive?How do you know when you reallynavigate The Road of Work.



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