Is it just me, or do you also see more people getting fed up with frustrating work where they are not appreciated, to opting for much more meaningful work? 

Are you one of these people?  Or would you like to be?

Recently, I felt a pang to connect with people who, like me, have crossed over from a life in Corporate America to doing work that’s more meaningful.  So, I posted a question on LinkedIn (one of my favorite tools for making meaningful connections) looking for such kindred folks, and heard back from a number of people, including Sumya Ojakli. 

Sumya is a branding maven with a wealth
of branding experiences from places like Snowball.com and GoldenBooks Family
Entertainment. She’s the person who
helped re-introduce Pat the Bunny to the world, infusing “emotional branding” into
this sweet character. Much like me, Sumya reassessed
and simplified her own life. She’s currently running her own
company, Evolution and Strategy, helping individuals and companies to
brand themselves more effectively in today’s changing marketplace.

Between us, Sumya and I know plenty of corporate folks who’ve ditched the cubicle, the
office building, and the “grind” of corporate life made major transitions.  Some have become massage
therapists, Reiki practitioners, psychotherapists, shamans, or naturopaths. 

According to Sumya, there are five types of people who are
making major career changes related to the healing or helping arts. Looking at the world this way helps me to understand some of the phenomena I am seeing in the world.  I thought you, my genteel readers, might be going through career changes yourselves, and might gain some insights by looking at these categories.  I’ll start with posting about one today, and then go through four more types over the next few days.

(1) MAXXED OUT:  Professionals who are
wanting to make a change in their lives, because things
have gotten to be “too
much.” They are traveling too much
and working too much. Often, their health
is not good, and they experience breakdowns in their bodily systems. Along their road back to health, they meet a
practitioner who empowers themselves to do the curing for themselves. These professionals are indebted to the healing
practice they have discovered. So they
want to bring the cure to others and spread the word.

Some of these professionals pare down their
work and practice their new-found healing on the side. Others leave their prior career to do healing
full-time. Sumya sees this trend
particularly among lawyers, many of whom leave large firms to start their own
firms, discover that’s still stressful, and decide to change direction. Sumya told me of a lawyer who became an
acupuncturist. For this woman, the
switch to even a very basic law practice was too much. She sold her apartment, pared down her life,
and is much happier. Makes sense.

From Sumya’s view, professionals are the toughest sale and
hardest to make the career transition. Often,
self-fulfillment means walking away from their former profession, which can
feel like letting go of what seems to be a safety net and a life preserver. But, as I know, when your career is killing
you, you often have no choice but to let go of what looks safe to take the new
path. That’s certainly been my story.

From what I’ve learned from coaching professionals, making
this sort of radical career change takes place slowly. If this life path compels you, and tugs at
your heart, then you put one foot in front of the other long enough, making
little changes, until you’re finally in a new life. You might first take a sabbatical, or do
part-time work. You might take a class
that leads you to a new interest, and pursue that interest in parallel with a
new, easier job. These are just a few
paths. Success in the new life rarely
comes overnight, but rarely is success defined as it used to be. After running around on airplanes, staying in
meetings until all hours of the night, and slaving over projects that
ultimately get killed, having time to yourself feels like success. Being able to see friends feels like
success. Taking a mid-day walk — as
Sumya does — feels like success.

At the same time, money generally feels less important. Whoa, Nelly, not unimportant. Just not acquired for its own sake. In the
“old” life, money was acquired “to be safe,” and now, you recognize that safety
comes from having your own inner assets and using them. Often, professionals start paring down, getting
rid of possessions (not everything!) that feel unnecessary.  Discovering and becoming involved with the simplicity movement can bring camaraderie and ease.  Money coaching can also help to reveal and heal underlying issues with inner and outer prosperity.

Do you relate to this type?

If you’ve made the transition already, what helped you navigate the changes? If you’re in the midst of making this kind of change, what’s your experience? And if you’re contemplating this type of change but feel stuck, what holds you in place?

What questions do you have about this type of change?  I’ll do my best to respond…I’d love to help you find work and a life that truly fits for you.  And, more on the other four "types" of meaning-filled career changers in the next two editions…stay tuned!

Constantly in change,
Susan

Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author

www.WorkFromWithin.com

Work From Within, LLC

Why am I talking about LOVE in a posting about work?

Yes, Valentine’s Day is this week.  But that’s not the only reason. 

You see, I want to fundamentally change the conversation about work, so that work is seen in a much more positive, uplifting light. 

I
think "work" has a bad rap.  A negative connotation.  For many people,
"work" is a dirty four-letter word. 

Is that true for you?

Work, labor, job, career, or vocation.  Take your pick.  If these words conjure up images of toiling and feeling miserable, it’s time for a change.  Just think how much more positive the world would be if people
loved their work. How would your life change if you were doing work
you love? 

Khalil Gibran wrote, "Work is love made visible."  What did he mean by this? 

As I see it, he meant that if we are to spend our waking hours in a
pursuit, it ought to lift our hearts.  Great work has the capacity to
connect to us to our passions.  With work that we love, we fall into
that state that Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls "flow," being focused and energized and totally immersed in what we are doing.  What activities put you in the that state?  You know, when you’re absorbed, totally present to the reality right in front of you, and full of energy?  Isn’t that just a lot like being in love? 

While you are busy buying chocolates and roses for your sweetie this
Valentine’s Day, I also encourage you to check in with your own heart
about work.  When you think about your career, do you feel
heavy-hearted or light-hearted? 

If you find yourself feeling heavy-hearted about work, take a moment to ask yourself…

• Does my definition of work allow for ease, fun, joy, abundance,
  and prosperity — all at the same time?  (If not, I encourage you to
  change the way you view work!)
• Does my current working environment support me in expressing
  what’s important to me? (If not, how might you make changes so that
  you’re moving in the direction of your heart’s desire?)
• What would I need to shift to in order to make work more an expression of what I love and care about? (And how can you take just one teeny weeny step in that direction?)

Our world needs passionate people who are alive and on fire about their
work.  What small action can you take this Valentine’s Day to
contribute your love in your work?

Lovingly yours,
Susan

Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author

www.WorkFromWithin.com

Work From Within, LLC

Are you thinking of changing jobs in 2008?

Why do it alone? Please, I think you’ll feel better with some vocational
guidance counsel. Enjoy this Monty Python
skit before you start the search.  If nothing else, you’ll enjoy a good laugh!

And, let me assure you, what you see in this hilarious sketch is not what it’s like
to work with the vast majority of career coaches!

But here’s a quiz for those of you thinking about a career switch. See how much you know about getting guidance
for you career. Watch the video first. Then, see if you can find at least four mistakes the chartered
accountant made in his career change, and four good things he did to benefit himself and his career change.

(1) MISTAKE: He let the
so-called “experts” advise him about which job in life he was best suited for. Yep, most of us will fall for interviews by
experts and aptitude tests. This is a
great example of giving away your power. You really do have the answers within
you about the direction that will suit you, if you’re willing to stop and
listen to yourself.

MEGA MISTAKE: The
poor chartered accountant also was looking for “the” job, instead of looking
for the general direction to move in next. You would get pretty caught up think there’s some ideal to pursue. Such thinking often closes off otherwise fine
options. He’d be better off opening up
possibilities.

(2) GOOD MOVE: Smart
career changer– standing what he wants! When the vocational guidance
counselor told him that the ideal profession for him was “chartered accountancy,”
he was clearly ticked off. He let his
energy rip! “I want something exciting
that will let me live!” Yes, yes, yes,
that’s what we all want. And he was
willing to state it boldly.

BONUS POINTS: He
ranted and raved about how his current accountancy work was “dull, dull, dull…so
desperately dull, tedious, and boring.” Getting
out your frustration about your current work can be really positive. Even anger about a crummy job, when channeled
properly, can get you mobilized for action, instead of sitting around doing nothing. 

(3) MISTAKE: Oooh, boy the chartered accountant let an
expert say bad things about him. Not
helpful. The vocational guidance
counselor gives a personality run-down to our poor chap, a veritable feast of
negative labels, “The report says that you are an extremely dull person”…and he
goes on to call the job seeker “unimaginative, irrepressibly drab and awful.” Aaak! That should have been a clue to run for the hills, and get away from the
negativity. (Besides, the accountant
seems sooo much more alive than the guidance counselor…maybe the guidance
counselor needs to start doing accountancy!)

(4) GOOD MOVE: Our
accountant friend stands up for himself, again! (He doesn’t tell the counselor to "buzz off," so maybe he’s just British and polite).  He says he wants a “new job, new life, new meaning to my existence.” Yes, yes, yes. And he deserves it. So do you! More and more people are standing up and demanding this from their
lives, and finding ways to make it happen. It’s a matter of listening to your interests, your passions….your
energy!

(5) GOOD MOVE: Boldly expressing desire!  The
dapper accountant, when asked, “Have you any idea what you want to do?” replies
that he wants to do “Lion taming!” Full
force, unabashed. He wants to go for
it. Such energy and excitement helps him get clear, even if he’s bound for some other work before taming lions.  The drab, dull vocational counselor
tells him, “It’s a bit of a jump” and suggests he should work his way there via
banking. Well, OK, sometimes it’s good
to get some experience before making a huge move. But really, the guidance counselor put the
k’bosh on the accountant’s energy. Shame on him!

(6) MISTAKE: Not knowing about the job.  OK, so
when asked about his qualifications for lion taming,

“I have a hat” is probably
not going to cut it. Even if that is a
neon hat from Harrod’s (I’d love to see that one!). And then, it appears our friend the job
seeker is a bit confused. Um, he’s got
the lion mixed up for an anteater. A little different, wouldn’t you say?

This is an instance where a VocationVacations
experience would let our job seeker test drive his dream job. I’ll check in with Brian Kurth and see if
they’re adding lion tamer to their new VocationVacations. It’s pretty amazing to be able to try out being
an Alpaca Rancher or a Shoe Designer (hey, I helped a Vocationer who has become
a shoe designer himself!) or a Wine Maker.

(7) GOOD MOVE. One step at a time.  Once
he learns more about what lion taming involves, our job changer accepts the
idea of making the transition “via easy stages.” Probably for the best. We don’t want him to get clawed to pieces,
eh?

(8) MISTAKE:  Getting paralyzed into inaction.  Our man
didn’t let the vocational guidance counselor contact someone in banking to make
a contact, even though he described banking as “Travel! Excitement, Decisions! Thrills!” He quashes his excitement too early, because it’s a “big decision” and
goodness gracious, he wouldn’t want to “jump into it too quickly.” A phone call to discuss it? No obligation? Just some networking? This is an instance where I am absolutely drawn
to want to help the dear accountant. Time
for teaching him some tools and techniques for working with faulty beliefs, and
for powering up his attitude. Maybe it’s time for him to start using The Secret  in his career!

So, how’d you do on the quiz? I hope you aced it!   

And, if you’d like to avoid these mistakes in your job search, I welcome you to get in touch.   

Happy job hunting,

Susan

Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author

www.WorkFromWithin.com

Work From Within, LLC

PS – A big thanks to Drew Schnierow an amazing artist and fellow 5Rhythms dancer, for telling me about  this
hysterical video!

I’m passionate about helping people to find work that moves and inspires them.  Vanilla,
boring jobs, where you’re just "going through the motions" don’t wake
me up and turn me on.  I want a melange of flavors, work that tastes of
excitement, learning, energy, growth.  

My own journey, from the world of MBA-driven management consulting

and marketing, to the world of somatic psychology and coaching people
through transitions has been full of bumps, turns, and twists.
It’s the "unconventional" path, not the "beaten" path.  My own roadtrip
of change has not been pre-planned in a Fodor’s guide, but is more the
meandering exploration.  Sure, I have some rides I know I want to take
– for me, that’s public speaking, creating products, connecting with
really interesting, inspiring people. 

And, I’m now clear that I want to help people who find themselves
saying about work, in a very frustrated way, "Is this all there is?  There’s GOT to be something more meaningful, right?"  I want to assist people who are at a place I knew all-too-well 10 years ago…the place of saying, "When I’m honest with myself, this work doesn’t fit anymore.  But, it’s hard to tear myself away from the money, the perks, the prestige, the certainty…"

I have helped many people make that transition.  That degree of change is not like going from being a marketing manager to the VP of Marketing.  It’s much more about moving into work that moves you, which I’ll talk about in a moment.  It’s about listening as much to your heart and your gut as your mind.  In fact, it’s about turning down the volume of that chattering mind, that traffic jam of little cars, each saying, "ooh, turn left, there’s a promotion!"  "No, turn right, there’s a new company…"  but you fundamentally drive in the same neighborhood all the time.

Let’s leave the cars behind.  I care about people who are butterflies, as I have been (over and over again, I now realize).  Who sense that it’s time for a bigger metamorphosis in their careers.  Time for doing something that aligns with who they really are.  Time to crawl into the cocoon and look inwards, instead of looking outwards.  A time of listening to "want to" instead of "should" voices.  A time of trusting self instead of societal conventions.  A time to transform from just serving the company to serving self and humanity.  A time to break through old beliefs and create a new world of work, one that fits, rather than force fitting to what someone else expects. 

I’ve supported many people through this change.  A Hollywood assistant who is becoming a doctor.  A PR executive who is acting and becoming a voiceover talent.  A frustrated former scientific type who didn’t want to work in a way that stifled his lifestyle, and is now coaching others to create a healthy work-life balance.   A management consultant who is now an entrepreneur with an innovative and fun business idea (but I’ll have to shoot you if I tell you all about it…).  You get the idea.  Big change.  Change that takes guts.  Chutzpah.  Or at least a true inner desire. 

One of the things these people all have in common is that they truly wanted work that would move them.  They were committed to finding it and embodying what really matters to them.  They had the courage to follow their hearts and guts, even through the occasional fits of "oh, gosh, am I making a giant mistake?" or "will this really work out?" 

So, beyond my own client base, I wanted to know what moves and inspires people in their work.  So I posted the question on LinkedIn.  I thought I’d share some of the responses I got.   In most cases, these are partial quotes, so if you want the whole enchilada, please bring your fork and knife and check it out on LinkedIn Questions.  These are the responses that moved me…

*******
"having the opportunity to contribute, create and coach in my work. All energizing and enjoyable activities for me." – Ray Miller -  Energy expert, educator, award winning sculptor.

"For me it is about having a sense that what I do is valuable, useful, helpful to other people." Richard Schlattmann Training Director at Elanx, Inc.

"I freelance, and I love it because I set my own rules and my own
schedule. But what moves me to do what I do (that is,
editing/copyediting)? I love books!"Amanda Pepper Independent Writing, Editing & Publishing Professional

"My highest values in our working mission statement are learning and
service. I love to learn new things and I love feeling that people find
value in what I have to offer."Pat Wagner Management consultant and trainer with Pattern Research, Inc.

"Personally, one of my greatest joys is helping others. Right now that
is exactly what I do in both of my positions. I teach fashion design
(what could be more fun than that!) and two of my students are
attending one of the top design schools in the country. My other
position is a small business counselor in which I help businesses who
have a problem of some sort. I have such pride in both areas when I
feel I have really helped them reach their goals."Luanne Mayorg Coordinator, Business Counseling at College of DuPage

"In my work as a branding and visual strategist to artists,
photographers and other art-based businesses, the most exhilarating
thing for me is enabling my clients excitement about their OWN work." Allegra Wilde Visual Strategist + Creative Director /  Branding For Artists

"My current role finally aligns my desire to be part of something that
can change the minds of people about products, sustainability, and the
notion that something ‘green’ does not have to be dull and boring. Stephen Davies Material Program Manager at Tesla Motors and Presido School of Management candidate

"For me it is the moment when someone on my team "gets it". They have
gotten a lesson I was trying to teach them or have synthesized multiple
lessons and have moved forward. It is seeing someone I hired be
promoted years later and knowing that I had a part in their success. It
is seeing my team gain momentum and develop a confidence that they are
good."Ron Hurst  Manager, Teacher, Coach

"I like being able to solve tricky problems with creative solutions. I
like feeling that my work makes a difference. I like feeling like I can
be the best at what I do. And I like getting paid not only to do my
work, but paid more if I am successful."Gabe Ramuglia Owner, Vtunnel.com

"Mentoring the terrific people on my team, and watching them succeed." Steve Raschk Consumer Electronics Business Leader

"Creating something new and aesthetic is absolutely the greatest joy I
can imagine. Let it be a new song, a photo I take or video or sometimes
a few words, the process of figuring it all out from the basic
inspiration to the point of presenting it to others is already worth
everything." Andrea Gerak Singer

"I LOVE MY "WORK"
I am a financial planner and what I do has the capacity to help people live abundantly."Saundra Davis, Financial Planner & Business Consultant

"I love what I do, which is consulting with nonprofit organizations on
marketing and communications. There are two really great things about
this work: 1) Working closely in a team with like-minded people to do
something that matters. The bonds we form are powerful. 2) Seeing my
work make a positive impact in people’s lives. Knowing I am part of
something that is good for others makes my life better too."Bonnie McEwan Owner, Make Waves: Impact Marketing for Nonprofits

"Celebrating my coaching clients’ successes with them. Knowing I am
living out my life purpose: creativity, renewal, discovery and
development, as I partner with clients’ to discover and live out
theirs. And that their peace in joy in doing so spreads to others." Marilyn O’Hearne, Master Certified Coach

*******
Inspiring responses, eh?  Look at how much joy people get out of helping others and making an impact.  People love being creative, solving problems, making a difference.   This uplifts me.  I hope it uplifts you, too!

Sooooooo…..what MOVES and INSPIRES *YOU* in YOUR work?  And, if you’re in work that doesn’t move and inspire you, what keeps you there? 

I’d love to hear from you!  And, you can help set others in motion by sharing your experiences. 

Are you tired of hating your job?  Do you want to create a career that you love?

One of the most enjoyable ways I know to create a life that works for you — including your career or livelihood — is to utilize The Secret.  Lately, so much of my attention has been on integrating The Secret into my life, and sharing this life-affirming practice with others. 

At it’s core, The Secret implores us to understand that we attract experiences into our lives.  If we find that things we’re not as healthy as we want, don’t have the relationships we want, dislike the job we have — these are instances where we need to look inside and see what energy we are putting out.  Basically, our energies are matched by others, so when we are thinking negative thoughts, we tend to get negative experiences.  Vice versa, too.  When we think positive thoughts, we tend to get positive experiences.

In my last posting, I explained the Law of Attraction and how it works in your career.  I’d like to go deeper with that and highlight a companion law, the Law of Deliberate Creation. 

The Law of Deliberate Creation implores us to look at what is happening in our lives, and to notice whether we feel more positive or negative about it.  We’re standing at a crossroads, facing a choice in how we react, in how we create the energy that attracts our experiences.  If we’re not getting what we want, the good news is that we can make a choice to gradually shift our thoughts, so that we feel better and attract more positive people, circumstances, and things into our lives. 

Of course, it would be incredibly taxing to monitor our thoughts all day long…."What am I thinking now?  And now?  And now?"  OY!  Just taking the energy to do that would probably be exhausting, and when you’re drained, it’s hard to get what you want.

The simple way to monitor your thoughts is to pay attention to your emotions.  Your emotions act as an internal guidance system.  Start to notice and feel those — they give you the feedback you need to know whether or not your thoughts are in alignment with what you are wanting.

For example, let’s say you want to work with people who are positive, happy, upbeat.  You notice that when you are around a certain person in your office, you feel angry.  Instead of blaming that person, notice your emotions.  "Hmmm.  I’m angry.  That’s not what I want.  What’s the next-best feeling I can have?"  Sometimes, that feel is "flat, neutral."  I’m not expecting you to fall madly in love with the person who seems to provoke anger in you.  You might choose to walk away from the person.  You might choose to tell yourself, "Hey, I didn’t like what that person did, but I’m hurting myself by staying angry.  I think I’ll go for a quick walk and cool off." 

If you’re feeling something negative — something that feels bad — consciously choose to move your focus to something else that feels good.  It’s like deliberately taking another road.  It might be that you get out of the office for a moment, call a friend, work on a project you like…just shift the energy and attention.  You’ll feel emotionally better.  Then, you’ll be sending out positive emotions.  By shifting your energy, you re-ignite your ability to attract more positive experiences. 

So, what do you do when your emotional guidance system tells you that you are in negative territory? You can change your circumstances and the dialogue in your head and begin experiencing things more positively. This is deliberate creation — deliberately attending to your emotions, enhancing your thoughts and experiences, and getting more of what you want.  Then, you have the energy for re-focusing on what you DO want.  Bring that vision to mind as clearly as you can. 

Do you want learn more about this process of deliberate creation? The book I love most for sharing tools and techniques for shifting our thoughts into a more positive zone is Esther & Jerry Hicks’ book, Ask and It Is Given.  I have read many, many books about positive thinking over the years, including those by Norman Vincent Peale, Maxwell Maltz, and others.  However, the Hicks’ seem to have found a simple yet profoundly powerful way to relate to what we really feel and think in a given moment, and show us ways to transform that energy into something more positive. 

I wish you well with creating a career — and a life — that deliberately meets your deepest desires.  Let me know how it goes for you!

Would you like to create a more satisfying, energizing livelihood?  You can!  One tool to help you is the Law of Attraction.  I love introducing this to clients, and I’m happy to share it with you.

The Law of attraction basically states that your thoughts matter.  And, your thought are matter.  Yep – they are a form of energy.  Well, before we create something we think about it.  Like let’s say you want a new job.  Your thoughts focus on this.  If you didn’t want a new job, one wouldn’t just drop into your lap.  You’d find yourself searching for opportunities on job boards.  You might start networking with friends.  You might even find that people tell you about great jobs even before you ask. 

The Law of Attraction first implies that when you think and when you speak, that magnetic energy creates something.  And, that energy attracts people and circumstances into your life.  Have you ever noticed that you are thinking of a friend, and then all of a sudden your phone rings, and it’s your friend!?!  Well, Law of Attraction would say that your thoughts created that call.  You had an energetic vibration, and your friend was magnetically pulled in, because his or her vibration matched yours.  It’s the idea that like attracts like. 

Or, perhaps you have seen that when you are having a good day, everything goes your way.  And, when you’re having a bad day, nothing seems to go your way, right? 

So, according to The Law of Attraction, you manifest in your life a mirror of your internal thoughts and emotions.

The Law of Attraction implies two major premises: 

1. If you want something, but you don’t yet have it, your thoughts and feelings are not aligned with your desire. 
2. If you have something that you don’t want, your thoughts and feelings are aligned with the very thing that you don’t want.

OK.  What does this mean, in a practical sense, for your working life?

Let’s imagine that you hate your job.  Your boss regularly screams at you.  You find the building where you work downright drab and ugly.  Payday is never close enough and the check is never big enough.  I could go on and on, but you get the general idea.

Law of Attraction would imply that you created those circumstances because of your thoughts.  What?  Excuse me?  Are you blaming me?  Well, no.  I know, I know, that whole premise might sound absurd.  But, if you’ll pay attention, you’ll notice that when you keep thinking negative thoughts, you attractive negative people and circumstances. 

Some people might say, "Well, tell the boss she’s mean" or "Decorate your workspace."  Those would probably take a lot of effort.  It’s generally quite hard to change other people and easier to change ourselves.  So, if you’re hating your circumstances, you need to envision the working situation you do want, rather than the one you don’t want.

In fact, by saying "I don’t want this crummy boss" or "I don’t want to work in this awful building," you are setting up the circumstances to keep the crummy boss and the awful building.  Why?  Because our brains don’t really understand "no" and "don’t" when it comes to what we’re envisioning in our future.  Additionally, according to the Law of Attraction, whatever forces align to make things happen, they really don’t know what to do with requests that are phrased with what you don’t want. 

So, imagine that your requests are like talking to a waiter in a restaurant.  You order, and tell the waiter, "I don’t want the crummy salad."  So, what does the waiter do?  Does he start bringing everything else on the menu?  No.  He asks, "Well, what do you want?"  Oh, you say, "I’d like the banana split."  You need to do the same with your work.  Get clear about what you do want, not what you don’t want. 

So, turn things around:  "Oh!  I want a supportive manager, a beautiful work environment, and great compensation."  How does it feel to say that?!  Aha!  Better, right?

This process is not just Pollyanna-ish positive thinking.  Not at all.  It’s about knowing and envisioning what you do want.  Getting clearer and clearer about that.  When it comes to your working situation, it’s much easier to shift your circumstances when you’ve clarified what you do want. 

Even small shifts in your clarity can help bring relief and change.  And, lest you’re prone to start putting the pressure on yourself, saying, "Oh, gosh, I need to know that I want a job at XYZ Company with the title of Such-and-Such Manager," hold your horses!  You can state whatever little things you do know.  And, if you’re wanting more clarity about what you want in your working life, just ask for that!  Imagine, envision, and play with pictures in your mind about this new life.  Let it be fun!

So, try it out as an experiment for yourself for a week.  I’d love to hear how Law of Attraction has worked for you in your working life.  Please send back your comments! 

Law of Attraction has helped me to attract new clients, and to really feel upbeat, energized, and excited.  I’ll be sharing about two more "companion laws" in the next week or so.  For now, I invite you to play with the Law of Attraction, and share your comments here!

Here’s to your positive attraction,

Susan

People often call me saying "Help me find a new job." Yet, when I probe deeper, I discover that some people are really interested in other forms of working, but they may not yet know about alternatives.

I think many of us were trained to "get a job." However, there’s more than one type of livelihood.

I often help people to find new possibilities for the way that people can earn a living. For some people, getting a job is confining. For others, it spells freedom.Let’s explore ways the five working options to create a career that fits you…

Get a Job Most of us have jobs. We work for other people. This can be a great way to gain experience, to be part of a community, to be supported with resources. And, more and more companies are getting hip to employees needs. Companies in Fortune Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Places to Work include Google, who offers free food, onsite car washes, oil changes, haircuts, language lessons, and much more. This means that employees can save time and learn.

With a job, you know when you are getting a paycheck. That can provide peace of mind. I helped over 200 people to land jobs last year, at companies ranging from McKinsey to Frog Design to Yahoo, and in interesting roles in marketing, finance, and corporate social responsibility. But a job’s not for everyone.

For some people, getting a job has a downside…so another option is to Work on Contract or Freelance. In this form of work, you network with people who value your skills, talents, abilities, or knowledge. You find short-term contracts that allow you to "show your stuff." There are organizations like MSquared that act as brokers for short-term consulting projects. It can be fun, and this option also has its challenges.

Be an Entrepreneur. Yet another way of working is to create your own venture. An adventure! I know this first-hand. It can be purely exhilarating to craft a business that lets you be self-expressive and build something from scratch. You could also buy a franchise. You’re the boss. What hurdles do you have to cross in being your own boss?

Take on a Project. This option is so often overlooked! I want to distinguish this from finding a paid project or contract. If you’re trying to answer the question "what’s next?" in your career, and money is not a burning issue (you’ve got savings), consider designing your own project. Find an issue or a subject that really entices you. Then, find a problem waiting to be solved, and start investigating. One of my current clients is doing this. He’s a father who loves government and loves his kids, and wants to organize information for other dads about civic events they can do with their kids. In doing this project, he’ll wind up learning about publishing, politics, dads, and much more. Read about the ups and downs of this approach.

Do the Hybrid Thing. Finally, there’s the blended approach, putting together some of each of these options to make a living and make a life. There’s a wonderful book by Barbara Winter, Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love, that might be for you.

I wish you work that works for you!  Here’s a chart so you can compare the five ways of working

And, please join me for a FREE teleclass, Increase Your Self-Worth & Your Net Worth on Wednesday, February 21, 12-1 Pacific.  Register now online and get the call-in details!

Working 9-5.  Ah, yes.  For some of us, that is but a dream.  As I’ve said before, all too many Americans are so caught up in work that they don’t know how to get unraveled from it.  I know this, firsthand.  I used to work a minimum of 50 hours a week, and often much more like 70 or 80 hours.

I rarely hear the word "workaholic" anymore.  Do you?  I think that overwork has become the norm.  It’s hard for us to know when to stop working, as we are linked to the office by our devices.  And, even when we turn off the laptop, it’s hard to turn off the spigot of thoughts about work.  That faucet is always leaking obligations. 

Well, I’m no advocate of killing yourself for your job.  Far from it.  I’m a much bigger advocate of living a balanced life, of placing value on what’s important, and building a life that nurtures your heart and soul.  And, yes, that nourishes you with abundance in the things that matter most.  Relationships.  Health.  Time. 

So, let me suggest that if you are suffering from over-scheduling and time famine, it’s time to TAKE BACK YOUR TIME.  Take Back Your Time is a major U.S./Canadian initiative on Tuesday, October 24 to challenge the epidemic of overwork that now threatens our health, our families and relationships, our communities and our environment.

The Take Back Your Time idea is to encourage businesses to maintain the 40 hour workweek, so that they are giving their people time for renewal and time to connect with people and projects outside the workplace.  As I see it, Take Back Your Time advocates a return to authenticity, to simplicity, to human connections.  It’s not that you can’t be human at work.  But beyond a certain threshold of hours, work can become dehumanizing.  That’s the case when we’re too exhausted to have a real conversation with another person, so we veg out in front of the TV or we go shopping or we eat or (you fill in the blank with whatever habit you have for unplugging from work). 

Take Back Your Time Day is on Tuesday, October 24.  You can find over 50 suggested ways to take back your own time on the TBYT website.  What will YOU do to take back your time?  Me?  I’m helping to educate you.  Oh, and I think I’ll connect with some friends and let them know about this — maybe we’ll do something radical and simple, like taking a walk together.

Which one is it?  Work or Prison?

A friend of mine sent this to me…not sure of the source, but boy, it speaks to me!

Do you have the feeling that work is boxing you in, keeping you down? 

I know a lot of people who want to break free!  Even if the pay is great, they feel creatively pent up.  Is this you?

*******************************
IN PRISON……….you spend the majority of your time in a 10X10 cell.
AT WORK…………you spend the majority of your time in an 8X8 cubicle (how confining!)

IN PRISON………you get three meals a day.
AT WORK………..you get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it.

IN PRISON……….you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK…………you get more work for good behavior. (the curse of being good at your work!)

IN PRISON……….the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK…………you must often carry a security card and open all the doors for yourself. (feel locked in!)

IN PRISON……….you can watch TV and play games. (fun!)
AT WORK………..you could get fired for watching TV and playing games.

IN PRISON………you get your own toilet.
AT WORK……….you have to share the toilet.

IN PRISON……….they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK…………you aren’t even supposed to speak to your family. (and even if you can call them, you get no privacy in your cube!)

IN PRISON………all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required.
AT WORK…………you get to pay all your expenses to go to work,and they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners. (unfair!)

IN PRISON……….you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK ……….you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.

IN PRISON ……..you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK………..they are called managers.

Now get back to work!

*******************************

Is your work really a prison? 

What are you doing to break out? 

Some people have the courage to buck conventional wisdom and listen to their own inner guidance.  They don’t get caught in what’s "supposedly right," nor do they find themselves keeping up appearances.  I really admire these kinds of people.  Do you, too?

Today, my friend Jan wins the Prize for Following Inner Guidance!  Why?  She turned down what sounded like an amazing job.  She was offered a position with a real estate company in Southern California that uses all of her skills in training, organizing, managing logistics.  She met the man who would be her manager and he was a great guy, smart, motivating.  During her second interview, they talked compensation, and it was outstanding, well into six figures. 

Jan asked the company to give her time over the weekend so she could reflect about the job.  Her brain told her all the reasons this was the perfect job for her — the money, the organization, the type of work she does with ease and grace.  The chance for promotion.  It did sound exciting.

But something told her, "No."  Part of it was location.  Jan lives in Northern California, and this would require moving to Southern California.  The company agreed to pay for her to move, including for movers to box up all her belongings.  Thinking about having the company cover moving costs made her happy — temporarily. 

And yet she felt discord.  Her stomach was flip-flopping that cloudy morning.  Something was holding her back.  Little things, like thinking about finding a new supermarket, a new nail salon. 

She told me the clouds parted (literally), and somehow, when the sun came out, her choice was shiny clear.  Nope.  Not taking the job.  She loves the Bay Area, loves spending time with friends, hiking, being outdoors. 

And, she’s been percolating a service that uses her talents.  She’s already testing it out with friends and former work colleagues.  It’s still in the fledgling stages, and yet signs are promising.  This could really be her livelihood!  She’s being asked by her new "friends as clients" to do the kind of work she loves — planning, organizing, strategizing, giving marketing advice.  It’s time for exploration, to test the waters and experiment and even play with this new concept.  Jan’s still immersed in those energies, and not ready to give up yet.  To me, she’s courageous, daring, and open to what emerges on her path. 

Yippee!  A fellow traveler on the road of the unknown, taking a journey of attuning to what feels right. 

I think many of us crave the kind of meaningful, growth-filled experiences that Jan is seeking.  We’re the type who feel drawn to take a host of such life-stretching experiences.  We put a heck of a lot more value on such experiences.  A job-job just doesn’t have the same appeal.  The problem with many job-jobs, for us experience-seekers, is that we get to grow some, but we mostly feel mostly boxed-in, limited in how much we can grow.  We prefer the ideas of crafting our own careers, answering creative itches , and finding our own rhythm. 

I’m buzzing with excitement for Jan. She has the the courage to say "no" to something that seemed good, and "yes" to something that seems a little scarier, but darned great!

Wanna join her?