Recently I talked to someone who said, "I hate my job."
"What would you do if you won the lottery?"
"I'd work in Europe." She didn't hesitate.
"So your real question is, 'How can I find a way to live
comfortably in Europe?'"
A few suggestions:
(1) Write down your dream every single day.
Some coaches recommend hanging a card in your office where
you can see it every day. Others suggest making a collage
around your dream -- a highly powerful technique.
(2) Google the web, testing different variations of the words.
"Work in Europe."
"Americans working in Europe."
"How can I get a job overseas."
(3) Broadcast your intentions.
Tell every single person you meet, "I am looking for ways to get
a job in Europe."
Don't listen to advice. Instead, listen for information, facts,
and experience. When a friend says, "I know someone who..." get the
name. Second-hand information can be misleading.
Turn away the nay-sayers
and wet blankets.
You'll be surprised at the responses. In my experience, the most helpful
tips will come from the least expected source.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
New career? Read between the lines.
"There's going to be a shortage of managers in my field," Marilyn says, bouncing with optimism. "It was in tonight's paper..."
Hmm... Let's read between the lines. Will Marilyn's city experience the shortage? Are there unwritten rules about who gets hired? Will companies create incentives for their boomer retirees to remain? Or will they try to attract new hires?
And how long will this shortage last? Brad entered grad school when there were 5 openings for every new graduate in his field. Three years later, the ratio was 5 applicants for every opening.
Your challenge: Develop your unique opportunity forecast.
(1) Create your own research program.
The best career coaches and consultants advisors will give you tips on researching specific opportunities, not just raw advice.
(2) Invest resources to learn transferrable skills and become marketable within your own field. These days, marketabililty is the new security.
(3) Keep your Plan B handy.
Your Plan B might be as simple as a stash of cash or a willingness to work outside your field. You might take courses in entrepreneurship and internet marketing while you are still employed. See my ebook on money management for life transitions.
Finally, play to your strengths.
Avoid choosing a direction because "it's growing" or "there's a need." Square pegs just don't last long in round holes...and sometimes they get squashed when they try.
Right now we have a shortage of nurses and other health care professionals. But I've met nurses who deserted the field to become textbook sales reps and building managers. You'll find doctors running internet businesses and lawyers driving trucks.
Conversely, I keep meeting people whose interests and talents opened doors they would never have found if they just followed a play-it-safe strategy.
Hmm... Let's read between the lines. Will Marilyn's city experience the shortage? Are there unwritten rules about who gets hired? Will companies create incentives for their boomer retirees to remain? Or will they try to attract new hires?
And how long will this shortage last? Brad entered grad school when there were 5 openings for every new graduate in his field. Three years later, the ratio was 5 applicants for every opening.
Your challenge: Develop your unique opportunity forecast.
(1) Create your own research program.
The best career coaches and consultants advisors will give you tips on researching specific opportunities, not just raw advice.
(2) Invest resources to learn transferrable skills and become marketable within your own field. These days, marketabililty is the new security.
(3) Keep your Plan B handy.
Your Plan B might be as simple as a stash of cash or a willingness to work outside your field. You might take courses in entrepreneurship and internet marketing while you are still employed. See my ebook on money management for life transitions.
Finally, play to your strengths.
Avoid choosing a direction because "it's growing" or "there's a need." Square pegs just don't last long in round holes...and sometimes they get squashed when they try.
Right now we have a shortage of nurses and other health care professionals. But I've met nurses who deserted the field to become textbook sales reps and building managers. You'll find doctors running internet businesses and lawyers driving trucks.
Conversely, I keep meeting people whose interests and talents opened doors they would never have found if they just followed a play-it-safe strategy.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Finally, it's over: WNBA Finals
What a series! I watched every one of the WNBA final games.
Not as time-consuming as may appear: I watch everything on
DVR and fast-forwarded through all the commercial breaks.
As a long-time Diana Taurasi fan, I was thrilled to see
Phoenix take it away. I love the Mercury style and the way
they really seem to have fun with basketball. Of course it's
a job but they never forget it's a game, too.
Why did Phoenix win? They wanted it more. Even the Detroit
Shock said so, at the press conference. The coach said it.
The leading players said it.
From the beginning of the season, Diana Taurasi had that gleam
in her eye. This would be *their* year. They've got a strong
group of players. They've got a coach who knows how to win (and
who's being recruited for an NBA job - at age 68). So in a
sense it was now or never.
They lost Game 1, on their home turf. Oh well. Detroit is bigger.
They were champions last year.
They won Game 2 by 30 points.
They lost Game 3. Not by much.
They won Game 4. By ONE point. And a sheer grit.
They won Game 5 by a comfortable 16 points.
According to their reporter, the pre-game planning session was all
about fine-tuning the small stuff.
It worked. And now we get to move on to something else for the year!
The WNBA is not what it used to be. Women are getting more athletic
earlier. Sue Bird, a star point guard at UConn (she was two years ahead
of Diana Taurasi), said she never saw players like these when she was
in college. She's referring to 4 women on the USA team who have at least
one more year in college before turning pro.
Now, if they could just get decent coverage in the media...
Not as time-consuming as may appear: I watch everything on
DVR and fast-forwarded through all the commercial breaks.
As a long-time Diana Taurasi fan, I was thrilled to see
Phoenix take it away. I love the Mercury style and the way
they really seem to have fun with basketball. Of course it's
a job but they never forget it's a game, too.
Why did Phoenix win? They wanted it more. Even the Detroit
Shock said so, at the press conference. The coach said it.
The leading players said it.
From the beginning of the season, Diana Taurasi had that gleam
in her eye. This would be *their* year. They've got a strong
group of players. They've got a coach who knows how to win (and
who's being recruited for an NBA job - at age 68). So in a
sense it was now or never.
They lost Game 1, on their home turf. Oh well. Detroit is bigger.
They were champions last year.
They won Game 2 by 30 points.
They lost Game 3. Not by much.
They won Game 4. By ONE point. And a sheer grit.
They won Game 5 by a comfortable 16 points.
According to their reporter, the pre-game planning session was all
about fine-tuning the small stuff.
It worked. And now we get to move on to something else for the year!
The WNBA is not what it used to be. Women are getting more athletic
earlier. Sue Bird, a star point guard at UConn (she was two years ahead
of Diana Taurasi), said she never saw players like these when she was
in college. She's referring to 4 women on the USA team who have at least
one more year in college before turning pro.
Now, if they could just get decent coverage in the media...
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
"It must be right: it's in the newspaper!"
An article in the Chronicle of Higher Ed suggests that
articles and reports of labor shortages might be a hoax.
Read the article here.
A bit strong...but not by much. I've been saying for
years: those cheery predictions about "shortage of managers
means boomers will get jobs" is a farce.
Companies will go through amazing contortions to avoid
hiring anyone considered "older." In some cases, that means
older than 35.
Newspapers and magazine editors know their own reality:
upbeat features will attract readers.
Recently I was interviewed on the topic of moving to small
towns. I presented positive and negative views.
For example: sure, your housing costs may be lower. But when
you go on vacation, you might travel a longer distance to
get to an airport -- and it will be a regional airport with
much higher air fares. When you need medical attention, the
nearest specialist might be hundreds of miles away. And
there's no craigslist if you want someone to clean your
house or finish your floors
The reporter called back to say, "I was told to put a
positive spin on this article. Can you think of any more
good things to say about small town life?"
For my own mini-ebook on small town life:
Go here.
articles and reports of labor shortages might be a hoax.
Read the article here.
A bit strong...but not by much. I've been saying for
years: those cheery predictions about "shortage of managers
means boomers will get jobs" is a farce.
Companies will go through amazing contortions to avoid
hiring anyone considered "older." In some cases, that means
older than 35.
Newspapers and magazine editors know their own reality:
upbeat features will attract readers.
Recently I was interviewed on the topic of moving to small
towns. I presented positive and negative views.
For example: sure, your housing costs may be lower. But when
you go on vacation, you might travel a longer distance to
get to an airport -- and it will be a regional airport with
much higher air fares. When you need medical attention, the
nearest specialist might be hundreds of miles away. And
there's no craigslist if you want someone to clean your
house or finish your floors
The reporter called back to say, "I was told to put a
positive spin on this article. Can you think of any more
good things to say about small town life?"
For my own mini-ebook on small town life:
Go here.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
New careers? Or newly popular?
Today's Wall Street Journal headline article noted that displaced auto workers have been transitioning into health care. Many study nursing, while other popular fields include dental and radiology support staff.
That reminded me of what I read in Marc Freedman's book, Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life". A fifty-year old woman changed careers to become a nurse.
And in the dog park, I just met a very sharp young woman who has one of those jobs where she travels around the US (and maybe the world). She had just returned from six months in Hawaii. Currently working in Seattle, she's moving again to be closer to her family for the Christmas holidays.
For anyone who's in the 35-50 age range, and maybe even older, nursing would be a good choice if you're seeking flexibility, freedom and job security...and if you honestly like the work.
Other popular mid-career careers include librarianship. Two trends make this field attractive to those IT experience. First, it's become more information science than book cataloging. And programs are available through distance ed, with limited time in residence.
That reminded me of what I read in Marc Freedman's book, Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life". A fifty-year old woman changed careers to become a nurse.
And in the dog park, I just met a very sharp young woman who has one of those jobs where she travels around the US (and maybe the world). She had just returned from six months in Hawaii. Currently working in Seattle, she's moving again to be closer to her family for the Christmas holidays.
For anyone who's in the 35-50 age range, and maybe even older, nursing would be a good choice if you're seeking flexibility, freedom and job security...and if you honestly like the work.
Other popular mid-career careers include librarianship. Two trends make this field attractive to those IT experience. First, it's become more information science than book cataloging. And programs are available through distance ed, with limited time in residence.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Play To Your Strengths
We've all heard that success comes from building on strengths,
while in fact most of us focus more on weaknesses.
Marcus Buckingham makes a strong case for building on strengths.
For instance, Buckingham suggests we keep a record of activities for
a week. Strengths have 4 signs:
Success: Do you get meaningful results
Instinct: Do you eagerly look forward to the activity? Are you drawn
to it so strongly you can't resist doing it?
Growth: Do you feel strong as you engage in the activity
Need: You feel fulfilled after the activity: a need has been filled.
What if you have the I,G and N but not the S?
That, says Marcus, is what we call a hobby.
If you have S's but no I, G or N, you can get drafted for
activities and jobs where you're good but lack interest.
Successful people, says Marcus, spend most of their time
playing to their strengths.
I would agree, although I think you have to plan for
turning your strengths into marketable skills. I also
think the marketplace rewards certain strengths more
than others.
But it's a compelling message and a point to ponder.
while in fact most of us focus more on weaknesses.
Marcus Buckingham makes a strong case for building on strengths.
For instance, Buckingham suggests we keep a record of activities for
a week. Strengths have 4 signs:
Success: Do you get meaningful results
Instinct: Do you eagerly look forward to the activity? Are you drawn
to it so strongly you can't resist doing it?
Growth: Do you feel strong as you engage in the activity
Need: You feel fulfilled after the activity: a need has been filled.
What if you have the I,G and N but not the S?
That, says Marcus, is what we call a hobby.
If you have S's but no I, G or N, you can get drafted for
activities and jobs where you're good but lack interest.
Successful people, says Marcus, spend most of their time
playing to their strengths.
I would agree, although I think you have to plan for
turning your strengths into marketable skills. I also
think the marketplace rewards certain strengths more
than others.
But it's a compelling message and a point to ponder.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Mid-Life Boomers Going Back to School
This morning ABC's Good Morning America featured a brief segment on boomers going back to school. Some of their advice was OK: consider community colleges for flexibility, then distance learning for maximum flexibility.
I have taught in several distance learning programs. Please, please investigate carefully! Many promise flexibility, but you need to understand what that means.
Usually you get flexibility because you don't have to attend classes. So you can work on your assignments at 5 AM or 5 PM.
Sometimes you get to defer deadlines for projects. But don't count on it. Some universities will not allow you to submit late papers for any reason. Nearly all have time limits.
I would ask 2 questions:
(1) What's the grade distribution? If most people get A's, your university may be accredited but you won't be taken seriously.
(2) What have the program's graduates done? Have they remained in their current jobs? Changed careers? Gotten licensed, if applicable? Wish they'd gone somewhere else?
If you can't get access to alumni, put away your credit card.
More: Back to School for a Mid-Life Career Change
I have taught in several distance learning programs. Please, please investigate carefully! Many promise flexibility, but you need to understand what that means.
Usually you get flexibility because you don't have to attend classes. So you can work on your assignments at 5 AM or 5 PM.
Sometimes you get to defer deadlines for projects. But don't count on it. Some universities will not allow you to submit late papers for any reason. Nearly all have time limits.
I would ask 2 questions:
(1) What's the grade distribution? If most people get A's, your university may be accredited but you won't be taken seriously.
(2) What have the program's graduates done? Have they remained in their current jobs? Changed careers? Gotten licensed, if applicable? Wish they'd gone somewhere else?
If you can't get access to alumni, put away your credit card.
More: Back to School for a Mid-Life Career Change
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Talking back (LOUD) to the Wall Street Journal
On Friday I was horrified to read this dress-for-success article (it's available online - at least for now):
http://tinyurl.com/2udkhs
Designers Push Fashion Elegance: Will Fashion Follow?
By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan.
Friday, August 31, 2007.
According to designers (and presumably the Journal), fall elegance includes a matched suit with a knee-length skirt, gloves, a hat (hat?!) and my personal nemesis: 4-inch heels.
We are in the 21st century. Hasn't anybody told the author and the WSJ what high heels can do to your feet, back, stress and general health...not to mention that some women have feet that were never designed for those shoes?
Inside my own sneakers, my feet are shaped like little rectangles. I wear men's Asics, 7-1/2, on the recommendation of a podiatrist after I started getting blisters and corns from traditional shoes. I had trouble walking and exercising.
My Asics feel great. In a perfect world I would never have to wear any other shoes, ever. In this world, you get taken seriously in comfy shoes only if you're a cop, a nurse or a nun.
If you want to be a ballet dancer, you acknowledge you need a certain body type. Wrong feet? Sorry - go for modern, jazz or tap.
And if you want to be a well-dressed business woman, according to the fashionistas you'd better pass the foot test too.
Maybe we need some solid research on the long-term health effects of high heels. Foot and back injuries are notoriously hard to treat. Who pays the medical bills of these women? Do all of us have higher insurance premiums as a result?
What's next for women: a fashionable cigarette?
http://tinyurl.com/2udkhs
Designers Push Fashion Elegance: Will Fashion Follow?
By Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan.
Friday, August 31, 2007.
According to designers (and presumably the Journal), fall elegance includes a matched suit with a knee-length skirt, gloves, a hat (hat?!) and my personal nemesis: 4-inch heels.
We are in the 21st century. Hasn't anybody told the author and the WSJ what high heels can do to your feet, back, stress and general health...not to mention that some women have feet that were never designed for those shoes?
Inside my own sneakers, my feet are shaped like little rectangles. I wear men's Asics, 7-1/2, on the recommendation of a podiatrist after I started getting blisters and corns from traditional shoes. I had trouble walking and exercising.
My Asics feel great. In a perfect world I would never have to wear any other shoes, ever. In this world, you get taken seriously in comfy shoes only if you're a cop, a nurse or a nun.
If you want to be a ballet dancer, you acknowledge you need a certain body type. Wrong feet? Sorry - go for modern, jazz or tap.
And if you want to be a well-dressed business woman, according to the fashionistas you'd better pass the foot test too.
Maybe we need some solid research on the long-term health effects of high heels. Foot and back injuries are notoriously hard to treat. Who pays the medical bills of these women? Do all of us have higher insurance premiums as a result?
What's next for women: a fashionable cigarette?
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Encore Performance: An interesting metaphor
Marc Freedman's book, Encore: Finding Work That Matters In The Second Half of Life targets baby boomers who want second careers that "matter," i.e, that make a difference. These days, as people live longer, retirement no longer makes sense.
The "encore" title creates an appealing metaphor - the idea that we've finished the plan performance and yet are not ready to leave the stage. At first I thought, "Wow - I wish I had come up with that title for some of my own work."
But think about it. Performers give encores to please the audience. Encores are gratuitous extras - we love getting them but we don't feel cheated if the performers simply pack up and go home. Symphony orchestras typically choose crowd-pleasing pieces that send everyone home with a smile.
I love encores myself. But performers know they've got another "real" show tomorrow and the day after that. To think that you're nothing but an encore for the rest of your life...an extra, a crowd-pleaser, but with no real show tomorrow?
Books like this one are actually dangerous because prospective employers think, "Oh, they're older boomers. They don't care about rewards and promotions. They're not forward-looking."
For his Encore, one former teacher put away his graduate degrees and decided to be a greeter at Wal-Mart. Is that a career that "matters," as the subtitle promises?
Thanks but no thanks.
The "encore" title creates an appealing metaphor - the idea that we've finished the plan performance and yet are not ready to leave the stage. At first I thought, "Wow - I wish I had come up with that title for some of my own work."
But think about it. Performers give encores to please the audience. Encores are gratuitous extras - we love getting them but we don't feel cheated if the performers simply pack up and go home. Symphony orchestras typically choose crowd-pleasing pieces that send everyone home with a smile.
I love encores myself. But performers know they've got another "real" show tomorrow and the day after that. To think that you're nothing but an encore for the rest of your life...an extra, a crowd-pleaser, but with no real show tomorrow?
Books like this one are actually dangerous because prospective employers think, "Oh, they're older boomers. They don't care about rewards and promotions. They're not forward-looking."
For his Encore, one former teacher put away his graduate degrees and decided to be a greeter at Wal-Mart. Is that a career that "matters," as the subtitle promises?
Thanks but no thanks.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
The New Career Change
Penelope Trunk, author of The Brazen Careerist, has identified some principles of career management for the 21st century. See
http://tinyurl.com/3dznst
I think her 5 principles are very wise, but some of her preliminary comments are simply not accurate because they are way too general. For instance, she doesn't encourage readers to seek advanced degrees, but sometimes having those letters after your name will give you access to a job you wouldn't have otherwise. If you return to school after working awhile, and choose your program wisely, your networking opportunities will be enhanced as well.
When it comes to tactics, it's hard to generalize. For instance, I encourage clients to avoid posting resumes online. Few people actually get hired from online job posts and of course you risk being discovered by your own employer.
But an acquaintance, following her own intuition, posted her resume online. A former colleague recognized her name and invited her to apply for a position at his new company.
http://tinyurl.com/3dznst
I think her 5 principles are very wise, but some of her preliminary comments are simply not accurate because they are way too general. For instance, she doesn't encourage readers to seek advanced degrees, but sometimes having those letters after your name will give you access to a job you wouldn't have otherwise. If you return to school after working awhile, and choose your program wisely, your networking opportunities will be enhanced as well.
When it comes to tactics, it's hard to generalize. For instance, I encourage clients to avoid posting resumes online. Few people actually get hired from online job posts and of course you risk being discovered by your own employer.
But an acquaintance, following her own intuition, posted her resume online. A former colleague recognized her name and invited her to apply for a position at his new company.
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