Last night, I went to the gym. I almost didn’t feel like I had a choice. The non-stop rain here in the Bay Area is getting to my mood. Sorry, but I grew up in the Phoenix area. Still have desert blood in me. So when the clouds hang low, dark, and gloomy, I find it harder to stay upbeat. Getting my endorphins pumping gives me a boost of positive energy for at least 8 hours.

I heard the rain pick up at about 5:40 pm, and knew I needed to dash to my car to make the 6 pm spin class. With no traffic, the drive takes me 10 minutes, but in rush hour, it can be 15, and even 20 with bad weather. So I grabbed my backpack, filled it with biking shorts, a tank top, and a pair of socks, and figured I’d change in the dressing room.

Because the spin room holds only 20 bikes, you have to grab a number if you want a bike. I arrived and grabbed number 20. Whew. I’d made it. I was safe.

I changed my clothes, and then went to grab my running shoes (I still haven’t bought biking shoes, the clip in kind, despite some advice that I’d get more out of the class). “Where are my sneakers?” Hmm…oh…crap!

In my rush to get out of the house, I neglected to bring appropriate shoes. No, I was not going to try to bike in a pair of knee-high boots. Argh! My blood pressure started to rise. Just then, my friend Catherine walked up. She was leaving the gym. She wondered why I looked so steamed. I had not been in the sauna — the flush on my face was the tell-tale sign of anger. Catherine told me she would have given me her running shoes to wear, but she had been swimming and didn’t have any. I laughed at the thought. My shoe size is 4 1/2, but I can wear a 5. Hers is 8. Hmmm….

“Hey, why don’t you borrow my shoes?” came a voice moving around the corner. A very gracious woman, Michelene, offered her size 6 Sauconys. “You can cycle in these.” I realized I didn’t need perfect fitting shoes for pedaling, especially with the toe cages on the bike. I couldn’t believe her offer. My feet don’t get that smelly (well, the scent is just perfume to me…yeah, right…), but I was just incredulous. Michelene was firm and supportive, “I know how hard it is to not work out. Please, borrow these. You can leave them at the front desk and I’ll get them tomorrow night.”

“Wow, wow, thank you. OK, yes, having some shoes for the bike would let me get my sanity back. What can I do to thank you?” I asked.

“Just pay it forward.”

I think I had the most idyllic spin class, ever. I was high as a kite, fueled by the generosity of a stranger. I joined my gym because I found it more like a community, not just a place to sweat. Michelene proved to me that community works. She must know something about being a team player. I asked her for her business card so I could be in touch and thank her, and it turns out that she’s the Director of Sales & Finance for Parties That Cook. I was floored. I know about her amazing company. One of my clients has been dabbling in culinary explorations, and I suggested she check out Parties That Cook, which puts on corporate team building cooking events — they cook up camaraderie!

But I digress.

When I finished the spin class, I changed clothes and went to the front desk, “I have a very important favor to ask of you,” I told Julie, the assistant who manages the guests. After conveying what had happened, and how important that it was that the shoes stay at the front desk until Michelene picked them up, rather than going to the lost and found bin. Julie beamed and said, “You made my day with that story. I’ll call Michelene and let her know, right now, that her shoes are safe. That’s so generous of her. Wow, that’s really incredible.”

I know. I feel it in every bone in my body, every inch of my tissue. My heart is uplifted and is pumping much more smoothly. My head is clear.

Thank you, Michelene, for your kind spirit. You made my day.

Yes, I’ll happily pay it forward. And remind my dear readers to do so, too.

Hoping you’ll help someone else step up and make their best moves,
Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

Since 2001, I have been relaxing and unwinding from the tensions of life by listening to the ocean and studying with great teachers at the Esalen Institute, in Big Sur, California. I had to overcome a lot of resistance and false beliefs to allow myself to visit this place that now feels like a second home for me, an inviting oasis of calm and renewal.

You see, back in the mid-1990’s, I was running around as a management consultant, flying around on airplanes like in Up in the Air, living in hotel rooms, and spending too many days in in stress-filled board meetings. During that time, I first heard of Esalen. I honestly thought it was some kind of woo-woo New Agey place, filled with people wearing tie-dyed clothes and Birkenstocks. I was scared that the people who attended this place would be hippy-dippy dropouts from life.

I was wrong. When I finally went to Esalen for my first time, at the suggestion of a dear friend and fellow management consultant, I was delighted. I was recovering from a broken marriage, poor health, a family misfortune, and the demise of the dot-com where I had worked. All that trauma happened in five weeks, and I needed a break. Esalen offers all kinds of workshops, on topics from relationships to psychology to movement, arts, and creative expression. And the setting!  Dramatically situated on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean in scenic Big Sur, California, it offers mountains, ocean, and pure, clean air, given that it is pretty remote from any big cities. The closest major cities are Monterey and Carmel, about an hour’s drive north. This means that you enjoy a super quiet escape in nature.

Flash forward nearly nine years. After being a participant in over 12 workshops in the span of nearly nine years, I am honored to be teaching a workshop at Esalen this January, — it’s called “Crafting Careers That Truly Fit – How to Work from Within“. If you happen to be at a career crossroads, wondering “what should I do next in my career?” this just may be the workshop for you.

From January 15-17, 2010, you can join me at the gorgeous Esalen Institute, and in this interactive workshop, you will

• Illuminate what’s important in your future career
• Replace ill-fitting social norms about “work” with visions of what you truly desire
• Brainstorm ways to create meaningful work
• Get clear about your next steps to pursue work that truly fits you.

I  have a special GIFT for you! I’m thrilled to offer this workshop – and to offer a special gift to you if you register for the workshop by the end of 2009.  I’m including a 50-minute phone coaching session with me after the workshop, plus a deck of “Get A Move On!” cards.  You can get more details on this special gift here.

If you are craving clarity about what’s next in your career, and you want to get back in touch with yourself and craft work that truly fits you, then, I’d love to have you join us in beautiful Big Sur for this workshop.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the workshop, and I’ll be happy to help you see if it’s a fit for you.

Here’s to careers that fit!

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

Are you the kind of person who likes to start the New Year off making resolutions? Even if you’re not, you may be thinking, “You know, it’s time for me to get out of this crappy job and find something much, much better. You deserve it. If you’re feeling burned out or frustrated with your work, and you’re craving more meaning and fulfillment, it’s clearly time for a change.

But how do you actually make that career (and life) change?

Over and over again, people tell me, “I’ve taken career assessments (like Myers-Briggs) and I’ve done the exercises in What Color is Your Parachute? but I’m still stuck. I can’t seem to get moving!” Typically, they feel like something’s wrong with them. But that’s not it.

It can be hard to get moving when you feel stuck in your work. I know. I’ve been there. After my first year in management consulting, I knew it wasn’t for me. But it took me another four years to leave. I didn’t trust my instincts. I thought I was a wimp if I left — damnit I was going to muscle it out and stay, to prove myself to my colleagues. I wanted to show them that I was as good as them, as smart as them. In retrospect, that all sounds silly. But at the time, I was focused on how much effort I had put into getting into the job, including earning an MBA. I was “addicted” to the salary, the prestige, and even the frequent flyer miles (which were nearly impossible to use, because I had so little time to myself). Doing work that I was good at — but never really loved — well, I’d become an expert at that. Numbing myself out was so much second nature that I grew to expect the pounding migraines that seemed to come with working 80 to 100 hours a week.

When you do work that doesn’t fit for you, when you have to morph your true self to go to work every day…this takes a toll. You lose touch with yourself. You know you need to get out of the toxic environment, but you can’t seem to figure out what you want to do next. Or, if you know what you want to do next, you worry that you’ll never find or, or that you’ll wind up penniless or poor doing it.

So, let me share the good news!  If it’s time for a career change, and you can’t seem to get started, or you can’t seem to get clear on what’s next, there’s a way for you to get back in touch with yourself. And, you can do it in a gorgeous, relaxing setting, with an expert facilitator of transition, me, Dr. Susan Bernstein. OK, so I’m not exactly being humble here! And, you can get a special benefit just for reading this blog post.

January 15 – 17, 2010, just after the New Year, and just before the Martin Luther King holiday, I invite you to join me for “Creating Work That Truly Fits for You: How to Work from Within” at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur California. You really can plan your career future in a hot tub on the Pacific Ocean. OK, well, the workshop itself isn’t taught in the hot tubs, but you can visit the tubs between workshop sessions, and you can also eat delicious food, take morning movement classes that will truly wake you up, and you can indulge in massage as an added bonus.

And, to sweeten the experience, if you register for the workshop before January 1, 2010, I’m offering you a free 50-minute coaching session that you can use by February 28, 2010, PLUS a deck of the Get A Move On! cards I created, to help you get unstuck. That’s over $250 worth of bonuses! 

All you need to do to get that benefit is to email a note to tell me that you’ve paid for the workshop through the Esalen Institute. Drop a  me a note at info @ workfromwithin.com by December 31 to get this wonderful bonus.  To register for the workshop, simply go to this link for workshop details, and you can either register online, or you can can call the Esalen Institute at 831-667-3000 from 9 am – 7 pm Pacific Time Monday through Friday, or 9 am to 5 pm Saturday & Sunday. Or click here for more contact information at Esalen.

I’d LOVE to help you get clear about your future career. Imagine how great you’ll feel If you have questions about the workshop, please feel free to contact me.  I’d love to welcome you to the workshop and help you get clear. And, it would be great to sit in the hot tubs and chat with you during the breaks. What better, more relaxing, inspiring way to start your new year with a new, uplifting direction for your career and life?

So, sign up for the workshop NOW, and get your FREE 50-minute coaching session with me AND a deck of the Get A Move On! cards. Remember, you only have until December 31 to get this benefit, so call Esalen now at 831-667-3000 and register!  See you there!

Today, I heard from a new client who recently left a very stressful job, one that didn’t fit him too well. I’m writing about him because he’s a bit unique, in that he did a few things that are considered taboo:

(1) He left one job without another one lined up

(2) He didn’t immediately start looking for his next job — instead he first took a “pause.”

As I see it, this man is very wise. He took some time to relax, go to a beach, and unwind before embarking on the journey of creating work that truly fits for him.

He’s also counter-culture.  Why is he counter culture? continue

Last week, I introduced the new Get A Move On! cards. When you’re feeling lost, confused, or unsure, these cards that are designed to help you get “unstuck.” Each of the 52 cards (plus two instruction cards) features an image and a phrase, and these whimsical hand-drawn (with crayon and pen, by me, Dr. Susan Bernstein) images is meant to get you inspired and moving.

Each week, I’m  blogging about a different card from the Get A Move On! deck of cards. This week, I’ve chosen to share some wisdom about the card Shake It Up!

When you’re stuck, have you ever wished you could hit a big “reset” button?

What if I told you that by shaking your body, you could start over? You could create a “re-do,” a “do-over,” a chance to redeem yourself. That by moving and grooving your body in different directions, you could wipe the slate clean. As you bumped and gyrated, you could get unstuck from whatever unpleasant situation you find ourselves in.

OK, well, it may not solve all of your problems, but you can let go of a lot of tension by simply shaking out your body for a few minutes. It’s like a natural way to shift directions.

In nature, we see the enactment of “shake it up” all the time. Have you ever seen a dog get out of the water, and it just shakes itself silly? Of course, that’s to dry off. But it also marks the transition from swimming to the next activity. When horses whinny, they, too, are shaking something off. We humans shake, but mostly, we try to stop that action. Somehow, we’ve learned that it looks awkward.

A few years ago, I was in a car accident. Thankfully, it was minor. But it jolted me. It shook me up. I felt really anxious and confused. Who was at fault? What had happened? What should I say or do next? I was physically shaking. In the past, I would have tried to control that movement. But, because I’ve learned a lot about shaking as a natural bodily response that helps us lets things go, I gave myself permission to feel those quaking tremors. I knew my nervous system was resetting itself. So I told the others involved in the accident that I needed a minute or two to calm down before I could talk. I walked a few feet away, on the sidewalk, and let my body shake naturally. I was able to be composed and to speak coherently and think logically about next steps.

An experiment for you:

The next time you feel the need to shake something off -- an unpleasant encounter with someone, a disappointment, a confusion — allow your body to shake gently for 3 to 5 minutes.

Stand up and flail your arms and legs around. Shake your head and all your limbs. As you get accustomed to this, you can move move vigorously.

Who cares what you look like? If you do care, and need privacy, find a bathroom stall and move in there. Or shake your hand under a table in the heat of a high-stakes business negotiation. If that’s too apparent, wiggle your toes in your shoes. Moving this way can jolt you out of a bad mood or a tense situation.

What do you need to “shake up” in your life?

Notice what happens to you when you shake it up. How does your mood change? How does your mind shift?

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Life/Work Transition Expert
www.WorkFromWithin.com

More resources to explore

If you’d like to explore shaking in more depth, I suggest this book and this audio program, both from Dr. Bradford Keeney, who has studied the transformative practices of shaking all over the world. I’ve had the pleasure of learning from Dr. Keeney directly, and he shares amazing stories that blend science and shamanism. He’s wise and wild. Fun!

Shaking Medicine	Shaking – audio program

I feel like a Yiddishe momma — I just kvell.  I’m filled with pride to the point of tears.  I give myself a pat on the back!  And I do the happy dance!

After months of effort — planning, writing, getting guidance from a media consulant, a branding expert, and a graphic designer, and so on, and so on — the new Work from Within website is finally here! I’m thrilled to show you around!

Overall, the new website has more of an emphasis on what I call “embodied intelligence.” You see, with our world changing so much, it can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. That’s unsettling. I help you to find your source of calm, clarity, and confidence that is within you. That way, you can get unstuck and get moving and accomplishing.

Sometimes, raw intellect isn’t enough to guide you in the ever-changing world. You need to be able to trust your gut or listen to your heart. But how? When you develop your embodied intelligence, it’s like finding your inner compass, so you know how to navigate the world. My expertise in as a PhD in Somatic (mind/body) Psychology, combined with nearly two decades of corporate experience at companies including Intel and Accenture, allows me to bring you perspective and the practices that will help you navigate changes more easily.

I hope that you’ll explore the new Work from Within website so you can find all the resources I’ve created to help you breathe easier about the future, step into greater clarity about your next moves, and embody self-confidence from head to toe.

So, let’s take a visit together!

Let’s start by looking at the Home Page. You’ll see a great Flash animation that helps you get an overview of what Work from Within is all about…Life is more chaotic and uncertain than ever. How do you find your way in the world? Get free. Get clear. Get moving. It all comes together when you Work from Within.  You can read a description, too, and can explore new products (like the Get A Move On! cards) and catch up on News about Work from Within, like the October 10 & 11 workshop, Create Work That Truly Fits for You.

You’ll be able to find out about what Work from Within means, and the Work from Within Philosophy, more about me, Dr. Susan Bernstein.

The new website also features great new workshops and speaking engagements I have created. I’d love to host one for your organization, so just get in touch!

I’m reaching out to help more and more people and organizations with services to navigate work and life changes.  That means I’m offering individual coaching, corporate coaching, coaching for entrepreneurs, and even training coaches on the Work from Within practices and perspectives!  Check out these new services, and let me know if I can help you, too!

I’ve been mentioned in the media more and more, like the San Jose Mercury News, and love sharing my expertise widely, so if you are writing a story for the media, contact me on topics including:

• The psychological and physiological impact of work and life transitions (like layoffs, starting a new jobs)
• Tools for breathing easier about the future
• Ways to find greater clarity in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
• Practices for embodying self-confidence

I know that not everyone has the chance to work with me personally, so I’ve created tools so that you can get the best of my expertise, and you can listen and learn with me at your convenience. So the new website has a store, and you’ll find there:

• The best “get unstuck” tool ever – the Get A Move On! cards
• Guidance on going for your dreams – the Follow a More Authentic Career Path CD
• Activities you can do to find your new career – the Create Work That Truly Fits for You CD
• Tools to keep you positive and motivated in your job search – the Job Seeker’s Confidence Kit CD
• A 7-step process and 24 activities to help boost your confidence in interviews – the Interviewing Authentically workbook

Of course, the new Work from Within website has this great blog (OK, I’m biased!) and that’s full of great information. Additionally, I’ve created a wealth of resources for you to read articles on how to work from within, listen to interviews with me on issues about transitions, get recommendations on resources for learning more about the mind-body connection and transitions, and sign up to receive the Work from Within eNewsletter via email.

It’s a full body of work, this new website.  I hope you’ll jump in, explore. Let me know what you think of the new Work from Within website! Please do leave a comment, below!

Just like your body, the Work from Within website is ever-evolving!

Cheers!

Susan

Susan Bernstein, MBA PhD

Life/Work Transition Expert

www.WorkFromWithin.com

I’d love to write something more lofty today…but I’ve been touched by this quote for over two weeks, so I want to share it:

“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare
not venture that they are difficult.” – Seneca

This past winter, I found myself toiling and pushing myself.  Even feeling kind of depressed.  I’d rather be pulled to do work I love, to express myself, not depress myself.  Turns out that I was resisting the pull of my true love, the work that truly energizes me.  I was hiding it from myself, and making my life more difficult.

Thankfully, my dear friend, Karen Moss reminded me that I always light up when I speak in front of an audience.  She’s right.

So I am daring to venture more into public speaking over the coming year.  Hear me roar!  Actually, come hear me and learn how to Recraft Your Career from the Inside Out at the Bay Area Organizational Development Network’s 2009 conference May 2nd in Berkeley.

I’ll leave you with a question to explore:
If things are difficult for you, what might you venture into?  What adventure could you create for yourself?

Adventurously yours,

Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author
(hmmm…Speaker, Author & Coach?)

www.WorkFromWithin.com
Work From Within, LLC

Moms have more options than ever in terms of the ways to work.  And, that also means they face more complexity in their choices.

Fortunately, Sharon Reed Abboud is helping moms to lay out their choices, with her new book, “All Moms Work.” I met Sharon virtually through LinkedIn.  I can’t recall if she found my profile, or if we met in a her “All Moms Work Group,” honestly, but it doesn’t matter. We’ve been exchanging emails for a few months now.  A few days ago, I actually got to hear her voice across the miles in Virginia, near Washington, DC.  She’s a bit soft spoken and humble for someone with her talents in career advising and the wealth of knowledge she’s amassed about all the combinations and permutations open to mothers in today’s American workplace.

I want to recommend Sharon’s book to mothers, whether they’re working or staying at home, because you never know when when you might want to — or more likely, need to — go back to work. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, how do you stay current on workforce issues?  How do you decide when to go back to work?

And when moms decide to work full- or part-time, how do they juggle their lives?  How can they ask for flexibility?  And how do they maintain it?

Sharon has interviewed outstanding experts to gain perspective and shares the stories of inspirational moms who work full- and part-time for companies, and those who’ve started their own entrepreneurial ventues.  I see her book as a sort of “soup to nuts” complete approach to helping moms sort out the thorny issues of when, how, and where to work.

I’m not sure how much longer they’ll offer it, but Sharon’s publisher, Capital Books, is offering 35% off for pre-orders.  I’d encourage you to order now, so you can save.  But even if you miss out on the discount, Sharon’s got meaningful, totally useful advice to share with moms, to make your working life easier.

Here’s to all moms who work!
Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author
www.WorkFromWithin.com
Work From Within, LLC

This morning felt a little nutty, with a client emergency, a cell phone that kept dropping calls, and a washing machine that made an awful sound. In the midst of all of this, I realized I hadn't had breakfast yet! Ooops!  Ever had a day like that?  How did you stay upbeat?

Fortunately for me, I was able to stay positive and motivated because I had a phone call already planned with Kyra Cavanaugh, from Life Meets Work. We set up a time this morning to talk about what's happening in the economy, and why we think that there's actually a lot to be happy about and how people can stay positive and upbeat, even when the Dow is down.

We've had so much fun talking with each other over the few months that we've been acquainted, and realized we had a ton of inspiration and education to share.  So we planned to record a friendly conversation to share with our readers (now, listeners). 

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed sharing our ideas, which include:

• Opening up to new job possibilities, so you don't get locked in by your industry or function
• Finding flexible work options (Kyra reminds us that those are more attractive than ever)
• Doing what's important to keep your job or get a new one
• Ways to do contract work
• The positive good that's being created in our current economy
• The need for cooperation and community, instead of competition

We'd both love you to post your comments. This creates community, fosters conversation, and lets us know what else we can provide for you.

Happy listening!
Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author
www.WorkFromWithin.com
Work From Within, LLC

Yesterday, I spent a relaxing morning amidst the gentle rain and whispy fog at Green Gulch, a beautiful Zen retreat center near my home.  My friend, Tarra Christoff, invited me to hear author Marc Lesser give a talk about his new book, Less:  Accomplishing More by Doing Less.  Marc reminded me of the illusion that everything is permanent.  When the market for homes was going up, up, up, new home buyers were being told, "Don't worry about your mortage, house prices always rise."  And right now, it seems that the market psychology is all about how "it's just going to get worse and worse."

Well, a major tenet of Zen Buddhism is that the nature of everything is actually impermance. Everything changes.  Marc related a story of feeling a pain around his heart and feeling dizzy, like he would go unconscious, and leaping up from the couch.  His wife noticed this leap and asked him what happened.  He'd experienced pain, and in a flash, he evaluated his life, and realized he could die.  Luckily, Marc didn't have a heart attack.  But he did have a good reminder that we assume that we'll breathe one breath after the next.  But we might not.

I think this lesson of impermance is so important as we weather this economic uncertainty.  First, to know that everything changes.  So, eventually, the market will adjust upwards again.  And it will come down again.  It's uncertain when.  And that's unsettling

So, what do you do if everything can change in an instant?  Do you hide under a rock?

Well, I guess you could do that.  I've never understood how you hide under a rock, but I now know you can hide inside one — in a cave house.

But I'm off track here when I talk about hiding under rocks and in caves.  Distractions tend to accompany uncertainty, as you try to fish around for more certainty.  And, you see, my little distraction is a "head trip," meaning that I got my mind involved.  What I think is really crucial in standing strong and flexible in the face of uncertainty is to access your embodied intelligence.

"OK, Susan," you say, "Cut through the California New Age mumbo jumbo and tell me about accessing my embodied intelligence.  And how's that going to help me weather uncertainty?"

continue