Work From Within - Newsletter

June, 2006 Newsletter

Susan Speaks at Stanford on Getting Unstuck

Have you been feeling stuck, immobilized, unsure of your next step in the world of work?

I have a great resource to share with you. On April 4, I had the pleasure of joining four other career coaches at Stanford's Graduate School of Business to share tips on getting unstuck.

We tackled tough transition questions including:

I’m not happy at work and I don’t know what to do. Help!
How do I get by financially if I’m making a complete switch in career?
My job is becoming too much of a drudge. How do I add creativity?
When do you use a coach, a mentor, a headhunter? How long will this career transition take?

Click here to watch the video and hear the expert answers.

What Keeps You From Pursuing Your Dream Job?

As an affiliated coach with VocationVacations, I regularly support people to "test-drive" their dream jobs.

VocationVacations ran a survey last month asking: "What is the biggest obstacle that stands between you and your dream job?" The results?

42% said Money

25% said Education/Qualifications

21% said Fear of failure

12% said Family (commitments, lack of support, etc.)

Do any of those apply to you? Click here for my suggestions to address all four of these apparent obstacles.

I know a thing or two about each of these obstacles. My personal dream, in addition to helping people navigate through transitions, is to be a writer. I've wanted that since I was seven years old! You can read about how I am dealing with my own worries, like:

How do I make a living at this?

What do I do with this self-doubt?

My stomach is in knots!

How do I follow this new direction? It's not very clear, but somehow it feels right...

If you're looking for your next career move, I invite you to read about my own meandering path , to finding and using more of my creativity in my livelihood. I hope it inspires you!

Wobbling Around, Finding Your Way

I'll admit, change can be scary. But staying in place is not usually the answer. Our bodies were designed to keep moving forward.

Here's an activity that can help you to find your way if you are feeling stuck in place. Read through the instructions first, then try this. (Please note, you are responsible for your own safety. Modify these instructions to take care of yourself)

Stand still, with your eyes closed. Begin to notice if you feel any movement. You may eventually feel yourself swaying. This is normal and natural. How does it feel to sway? Do you enjoy it? Does it scare you?

Now, open your eyes and deliberately sway - - side- to-side, front-to-back. How far do you go before you need to catch yourself? Do you need to take a step? When we take a step, that is a form of falling. So walking is really falling and getting balanced again.

How do you catch yourself as you walk? Do you allow yourself to bend? What happens to your upper body? Is this movement fun or scary?

Notice your attitude about moving ahead. It's reflected in your walk. How does your stability relate to this movement? What do you learn about your need for stability? What kind of movement would feel good to you?

I'd love to hear how this exploration affects you. Feel free to drop me a line. And thank you to Lavinia Plonka, author of What Are You Afraid Of? for inspiration for this activity.

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