[Great Career Tips] Email Writers and the Wall Street Journal

"Infamous Email Writers" headlined an article in today's Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, February 21, 2006, Marketplace Section, page B1). A young attorney named Dianna Abdala rejected a job offer by email. She wasn't very gracious as she reported the job would be neither "fulfilling" nor suppportive of her lifestyle. Abdala's potential boss, one Will Korman, expressed dismay. He had already ordered business cards for her. Ms. Abdala wasn't a bit repentant. As a lawyer, she declared, he should not have relied on an oral agreement. And while I'd never urge my readers to be rude, I have to give this round to Ms. Abdala. Suppose the tables were turned. Mr. Korman could have changed his mind for any reason - or for no reason. He could have called to say, "Sorry, no job." Or he might even have waited till Ms. Abdala showed up and then jumped up fron behind her desk, yelling, "Surprise!" She'd have a tough time proving the existence of an agreement. True, employers rarely default on oral agreements. But it happens. I once worked with a university colleague who learned the hard way. He accepted a job based on a verbal offer. He quit his job. A week later, the administrators called. It seems there was a little mistake about the salary. Could he take a ten percent cut before he even started? Needless to say, that man's career was nasty, brutish and short. So while I usually admire the WSJ and its writers, this time I say they've got the emphasis wrong. The point of the story isn't Ms. Abdala's ungracious email. It's her employer's unbusinesslike approach to human resources.

[Career change tips] Priorities vs. Focus

Consultants and coaches constantly urge us to, “Focus! Stay with one project at a time. Don’t get distracted.” Usually that’s good advice. But sometimes it makes sense to run on two tracks. And sometimes you have no choice. (1) Exploring a new career or business? During the exploration phase of a job search, I recommend keeping several irons in the fire. You might be considering careers in marketing or consulting – and wondering if you should return to school to become a lawyer or librarian. Following one trail to the end may take weeks, even months. If you arrive at a dead end, you’ll have nothing to show for your efforts. So make career search your priority and focus your efforts in this direction. But you’ll probably have to juggle two or three specific searches. (2) Natural multi-tasker? Some people need to jump back and forth between activities to keep from getting bored and restless. Often gifted and creative clients report this pattern. If you’re getting things done, you may have found your natural work style. But if you have half a dozen half-finished projects, you need to raise a red flag. Once again, think priorities. Are you spending most of your time on your most important projects? Or do you get distracted by non-essentials? For instance, if you’re just starting a new business, you may work on multiple projects, but all serve your main goal of getting yourself established in the market. (3) Job requirements? Some careers require multi-tasking. Within one week, a college professor might (a) teach an introductory overview course, (b) lead a graduate seminar on a narrow topic, (c) design a research experiment, (d) revise a paper for a journal, (e) give a talk to a community group and (f) participate in committees to recommend procedural changes. And they’re also advising students, planning next semester’s class and...well, you get the idea. Similarly, a lawyer may supervise interns, teach a class, appear in court, take a deposition and conduct research. If you thrive on variety and can keep a dozen balls in the air, you’ll love these careers. But if you need to focus on one project at a time, you may find yourself on the road to a new job. I know some professors who couldn’t teach an introductory course in the morning and then conduct serious research in the afternoon. They tended to leave the profession. Bottom Line: Choose a way to use your skills to support your preferred style. Look up every so often to see if your style is working – based on what you’re accomplishing, not on what “everyone else” is doing. This article comes from my ebook Your 21-Day Time Management Makeover Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., offers consulting and resources to midlife professionals who want to change careers, master corporate politics or take a break for school, sabbatical or self-employment. Click here for a list of services

Book Review: Career Comeback

Career Planning Book Review: Career Comeback by Bradley Richardson Order here. As a career consultant, I'm on the lookout for books to recommend to my clients. Career Comeback passes the test. One preliminary note: The cover refers to failed business ventures, but this topic does not appear to be covered. Publishers, not authors, usually write cover copy, so we can't fault Richardson. I believe you'd have to make major adaptations to these 8 steps if your business goes south. The most valuable information comes in the first half of the book: dealing with being fired. I agree with just about everything Richardson says. He's one of the few authors to recommend sitting down with a financial planner right after you talk to your family. His advice on dealing with an employer after being fired is very sound. And many will find the exercises useful: Review what went wrong -- in and out of your control. So mostly I like Steps 1-4 of Richardson's 8-step program. Step 5 ("Find out what matters to you") is a good start, but I think Richardson underestimates the degree to which we identify with our professions. "You're still the same person" strikes me as one of those irritating, useless bromides. Many of us will be branded as an "ex" for a long time and will have difficulty losing that identity, no matter how hard we try. And the experience of losing a career we love can change us in deep ways. "One role is temporarily diminished while another moves into its place..." won't help those who identify strongly with a profession. And your other roles will be affected by job loss. Friends view you differently. You may not be able to afford the activities you enjoyed with your friends and family. Some arts organizations actually encourage high-level volunteers to leave when they no longer hold jobs. Steps 6 and 7 - "Find your next move" and "Find your next job" -- are necessarily oversimplified because they're single chapters on topics deserving a whole book. "Go back to an old job" is possible but not likely, and you'll be in a one-down position. And downshifting to a smaller company probably won't hurt your career - but it might. I disagree most strongly with sections on testing. If you're unemployed and money is tight, skip the tests. At mid-career, they'll almost always show you're best qualified for the job you have. And most career tests are so unreliable they shouldn't be used for guidance. The section on hiring coaches and counselors needs to be expanded. Many "career coaches" have little experience with careers, except their own. Some offer expertise; others have "training" in asking questions and helping you "find the answers within you." And you have to decide if you agree with value systems like "law of attraction." The fee range quoted for coaches and counselors is low. I think you should expect to pay a minimum of $125 - $250 for a single session, which often includes follow-ups. I do know of some coaches and counselors who offer lower fees and frankly, you get what you pay for. Packages cost less and (as the author correctly says) are more helpful. And to choose a consultant, I recommend reviewing his or her website, brochures and other writing. Invest a few bucks in an e-book before signing up. Coaching organizations do not "verify skills." I once tried to report an "accredited" coach's unethical conduct. Both coaching school and ICF refused to get involved, let alone take the coach's name off their "recommended" lists. Step 8, "back on track," is quite good, especially sections on buyer's remorse and admitting you made a mistake. I would add that a return to work, following a long break or layoff, could be the perfect time to start working with a career coach. Learn from experience and make a good first start. I don't think we ever make a "complete comeback." We simply make progress. And, as I noted earlier, we're different. Despite these quibbles, I'd recommend this book to clients and website visitors who need to go from Setback to Comeback. You could do a lot worse. Order here. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Get my free Report: "Why most career change fails (and how to write your own success story" Get your report here!" Get your 21-day Extreme Career Makeover How Job Search Really Works

[Great Career Tips] Just Moved and Miserable? 5 Strategies to Reconnect to Your Dream

You're ready to move: start a new business, change jobs, change locations. You made the decision. But three months later, you're wondering, "Did I make a big mistake?" We tell ourselves not to expect a "happy ever after" ending...but let's face it: that's what most of us want! So here are five tips to reconnect with your dream. 1. Review your reasons for moving, changing jobs and/or starting a business. Are you moving for “a lower cost of living” or “to be closer to family?” Clients who move for these reasons tend to call about a year after they make a change. They’re not enjoying their new lives, they say. They spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to escape on weekends and take long, long vacations. And often (though not always) families find they get along better with more miles between them. Clients who realize they’re following someone else’s dream tend to be the most frustrated. Maybe your mentor wanted you to follow her footsteps or your family always saw you as a business success. The happiest life-changers are guided by their own inner compass, even when the wind changes. 2. Give yourself time. Clients sometimes call to say, “I moved six months ago and I don’t know anybody!” Or, “I started my new business and still choke on the words, ‘self-employed.’” Researchers find most newcomers need at least two years to feel settled in a new home. Getting used to the “self-employed” identity can take three to five years. Before you move, and during the early stages, practice saying, “I am a...” Ideally, wait to move until you feel comfortable and proud. If you continue to choke on the words, maybe it’s time to reconsider your goal. Some people never get comfortable saying, “I am a writer,” or, “I live in New York.” Others just need more time. 3. Go slow when you’re new. This recommendation is probably most important to your success. You’ll be invited to join professional organizations, clubs and neighborhood groups. Say no! Go to meetings as a guest – at least five or more times. See if you feel comfortable after the first encounters. People are almost always friendly with strangers. You’re a novelty! But after a few meetings, you’ll be treated differently. You may find people warm up after awhile. Or conversely they may reveal they have different values and approaches to friendship. Once, right after moving to a new city, I joined a group that seemed professionally useful and also friendly. Later I learned that most meetings were held in a place that’s very difficult for me to reach. Because I missed so many meetings, my membership was a waste of time and money. One client volunteered at her new Humane Society. She had loved her work for a similar group in another city. To her dismay, the new group held very different values about adoption and “who would make a great dog owner.” She resigned after three months and felt awkward when she ran into members of the organization around town. 4. Make time for something meaningful. Go back to why you moved or changed careers. What were you hoping to achieve? Are you following your own promises? Let’s say you moved to a city because you wanted to be able to attend symphony concerts or football games. Are you following through? Or are you too busy to enjoy what brought you here in the first place? Or you changed careers to have more time with family. Are you working through dinner, although you no longer need to put in face time? Why make a change if you end up where you started – overworked and frustrated? 5. Have a confidante on call. Inevitably, you’ll have a Day of Frustration. Most likely you’ll find yourself in a place where you absolutely, positively need to keep quiet. You probably didn’t get much sleep the night before. You feel like sharing your feelings with whoever’s around. Get out your phone and dial a number you chose ahead of time: a trusted friend, a family member, even a consultant or coach. When you’re new, it’s important to project an image of “Everything is wonderful,” no matter what. After a few months (or years), you can begin to join the chorus of local feelings, like everybody else. Based on Cathy Goodwin's Guide to Relocation Making the Big Move and Your 21 Day Extreme Career Makeover More Reports to Download Contact Cathy Goodwin.

[Great Career Tips] Surviving a Career Midlife Crisis

Q. After several years, I finally left middle school teaching, a career I had come to hate. Now I feel like a failure. My skills mean nothing to the business world. I have considered becoming a librarian, journalist or social worker, but I can’t afford to return to school. And I need a job immediately. A. The skills to change careers are not the same as the skills to manage a career. Many of my clients feel a little uncomfortable when they ask questions about the job hunt. “I should know this, shouldn’t I?” But why should they? And why should you? Maybe the last time you job-hunted, you were in your twenties, right out of college, bright-eyed and eager. You probably had fewer responsibilities. Most certainly your identity wasn’t tied up in a profession. But now you’re over thirty-five. You’ve gained some stature. Calling strangers to ask for advice seems…well, different. You’re peers of those who are sitting across the desk, although you may come from a different field or industry. You’ve got some obligations. Travel four days a week? Move a thousand miles? Your family – especially the children – may have some thoughts on the subject! And if you’re single, you still may want to live near friends and family, not to mention "make sure the dog will be welcome." So congratulations on beginning the career change journey. You can look forward to reaching your destination you'll love -- but expect a few intermediate stops along the way. Your first stop: Career change takes time, energy and financial resources. So get what I call a perch job. Think of birds perching on a wire when they migrate south for the winter: a place to rest till you can start moving to your real destination. Some organizations (such as Starbucks and Patagonia) offer benefits if you work as few as 20 hours a week. Second stop: Once you’ve covered your basic needs, take time to explore each career option in greater depth. The fields you describe are very different from one another. Even within each field you'll find major differences. A social worker can have a private practice, work in a hospital, or work for any one of hundreds of agencies, public and private. Talk to at least six people who are employed (happily or otherwise) in each field. Ask how they started. Don’t ask for advice: ask for experience. Third stop: Learn to speak the local language. These days, when you take a job, you’re joining a tribe, with its own culture. Even if you’ve been in the field ten years, your next company’s culture may differ dramatically. As a newcomer, you’ll have to earn what consultants call “idiosyncrasy credits,” the right to break rules and defy norms without getting penalized, formally or informally. When you try to sell yourself to a new world, you need to talk, walk and look like a native. When you communicate in the language of your target career – whether it’s business, nonprofit, education or legal – you’ll be taken more seriously. People rarely change careers because they dislike the work. They usually reject the culture they’re required to assimilate in order to do their work and use their skills. Finally, if finances are tight, investigate low-cost career change resources in your area. Some nonprofit agencies offer counseling. And if you find yourself getting seriously depressed, your first priority should be a visit to a qualified, licensed mental health provider. Yes, you can find a new, satisfying career – not overnight, but sooner than you anticipate. Good luck with the journey. Article Based on Cathy’s Irreverent Job Search Guide Click here to learn more. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a published author, speaker, and career/business consultant to midlife professionals who want to transform career breakdown to career breakthrough. Download a Fr*e Report: Why most career change fails (and how you can write your own success story). Click here!

[Great Career Tips] Leaving your job with tough love

As a career consultant, I mostly hear from clients who have experienced involuntary job loss: layoffs, firing, industry change, company bankruptcy and more. But more often my clients find themselves in the happy position of accepting a new job and saying good-by to a current employer. Surprisingly, many tell me they’re nervous about telling a current boss they’re leaving.

Here's the advice I find myself offering over and over again.

1. Give the exact amount of notice required by your company policy – and no more.

Every so often someone feels sorry for the company, so they stick around an extra week (or even an extra month). Inevitably, they begin to feel like a fifth wheel.

2. Do not accept any job-related calls after you leave unless you have a written consulting contract.

The amount of notice required should have been determined as a business decision: the cost of paying an employee who will be departing versus the benefits of keeping the employee’s knowledge.

If your manager miscalculated, then he needs to bear the cost. If your company needs additional help and you do not experience a conflict with your new job, I suggest you offer to work as a paid consultant with a contract.

3. Study your current and future company policies regarding disclosures and no-compete agreements.

Some companies are extremely proprietary about their process and their people. Once you resign, you may have to leave the workplace immediately. Or your new company may prefer a complete break from your former employer.

4. Resign to your boss in person, if at all possible.

Phone is second best. And tell the boss before you tell anyone else – even your best friend or golfing buddy.

5. Expect your boss to be professional.

Clients often fear the boss’s reaction. However, bosses rarely are caught by surprise. Good bosses are happy to see their employees move ahead. Thank her for the opportunity to learn, which has led to your newest and most wonderful career move.

6. Thank your boss and your coworkers, even if you hate everybody and can’t wait to leave.

You may regard them more fondly through a haze of memories than a glare of office lighting. And you know you’ll need references and goodwill.

7. Decline a counter-offer.

Recruiters consistently tell me, “Sixty percent of those who accept a counter-offer are gone in six months.” If you do decide to stay, get a written job contract.

Exception: A few companies and industries actually demand proof of an outside offer before offering you any kind of internal raise or reward. College professors often work in this environment.

8. Treat the exit interview as a business formality, not a therapy session.

When a Human Resource professional asks why you are leaving, be upbeat and positive: “for a better opportunity.” Talk about how much you loved the company and your job. You never know where your comments will turn up, mangled and misinterpreted.

9. Resist entreaties to share the details of your future position with anyone.

Occasionally someone will try to assess your salary or other information “so we can stay competitive in recruiting.” Helping your company recruit is not part of your job and anyway, do you really believe this?

10. Focus on your new opportunity – not your past company.

Once you’re gone, you’re history. The very same folks who loved meeting you for lunch will barely remember your name a week later.

Finally, if you haven’t changed jobs for awhile you may be in for a shock. Your first day in a new position can be a real eye-opener!

[Great Career Tips] First Day on Your First Job in Ten Years

You spent ten years with one company. Now you've switched to a new organization - and possibly a new career. Your challenge is not only to learn but also to release old patterns that won't serve you well here.

Here are seven tips to help you master this transition.

(1) It's been a long time since you had a "first day on the job." Maybe you're left alone with a stack of manuals to read. Or you're expected to resolve a crisis, while strangers scream at each other, using jargon you don't understand.

Both these scenarios are typical for newcomers. Neither signals a need to jump ship.

(2) Your number one challenge: Be strictly professional. Do not share any concerns or misgivings about the job. Even if your boss appears to be breaking a written promise, tread carefully. The only acceptable answer to, "How's it going?" is, "Wonderful!"

(3) If you are making a dual move - job plus relocation - you're "onstage" with everyone you meet in your new community. Your next-door neighbor may be your boss's cousin.

(4) In today's market, your new employer probably had to go to bat for you before you even arrived on board. You may never learn how you got here. Maybe you displaced a long-time employee or your boss's rival wanted to hire someone else.

Spend your first six months collecting data. Interpret with caution, preferably with the help of an outsider who can offer perspective.

(5) Maintain old contacts and begin at once to expand your network. Thank everyone who has helped you. Let them know that, while you are ecstatically happy, jobs can be unpredictable.

(6) Begin to build your future. Set aside funds for your next adventure. Use your company's resources to build skills, earn a degree and generally make yourself more marketable every day.

(7) Find a mentor who can be trusted not only to keep your story confidential, but also to challenge your beliefs and offer an experience-based perspective. Wet blankets and cheerleaders may not be your best choices: you need objectivity.

Many people find that hiring a coach, consultant or mentor can be a wise investment at this time. If you can avoid even one angry outburst or indiscreet remark, you will save thousands of dollars by keeping your job and maintaining a "promotable" image.

Your first six months will be critical to your success. I urge everyone to keep a journal, so you can look back to see how far you've come. Someday you'll be the old-timer, welcoming the new employee, watching to see what she's made of.

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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. works with midlife midcareer professionals who want to change, advance or transform their careers. Download Why Most Career Change Fails and How You Can Write Your Own Success Story.
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

[Great Career Tips] Employee gifts to managers

Q. I am a manager with eight direct reports. I received a couple of Christmas gifts this last season and don't know how to handle the situation. Should I give them back? What can I say?

A. Begin by digging a little deeper.
Why are these employees sending gifts? Was there a custom from their previous department? Are they your best or your worst employees?

I wouldn't hurt their feelings or make them feel bad. Instead of returning the gift, can you either share with the whole group (as Eric suggested) or donate to a charity? You could say, "I realize I should have clarified our policy on gift-giving." And send out a memo as soon as possible.

When I was a college professor, students (especially those from Asia) often gave me gifts. If the course was over and the student was from another country, I sometimes felt I had to accept. But I tried to educate students: the best gift
to a professor is a nice letter of appreciation with copies to the dean and maybe VP-Academic Affairs.

And a neighbor who's a police officer shared a funny story. In Seattle, cops pay for all their food and coffee. They do not accept freebies. A new officer from the South breezed through the Dunkin Donuts without paying, just waving a thank you. Her supervisor had to call to explain, "We don't do that here. You have to go back and pay."

She wasn't being mean -- she just assumed that was the custom. And your employees may feel the same way.

However, inappropriate gifts can be a warning signal. In one university where I was teaching, a married couple showed up to interview for two positions. As is customary, they were invited to an administrator's home for dinner. Afterward they sent a lovely floral arrangement.

This gesture was highly inappropriate and not at all customary. The couple was hired and went on to become the greatest trouble-makers in the department's history.

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
Author, Career/Business Consultant, Speaker
"Why most career change fails (and how to write your own success story)"
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

[Great Career Tips] Plan for January 2007

According to a recent New York Times article, psychologists find that introspection can be counterproductive. Sometimes a “gut reaction” can actually be more accurae than analysis.

“Don’t Think Twice – It’s All Right” by Timothy D. Wilson, first published December 29, 2005.
http://tinyurl.com/bxz5y

According to this article, we shouldn’t think “why,” but “what” and “how.”

And according to other research, writing down goals and dreams can help us get closer to making them happen – or realize we don’t really want them after all.

So let’s start with the “what” and consider the “how” in future issues.

1. Imagine that it’s December 31, 2006. You are writing a letter to a good friend. You write, “I had a great year. I am especially happy with these three accomplishments...” And list them.

2. Imagine it’s March 21, 2006. You are talking to some friends in a social situation. They ask, “How’s your year going?” What would make you say, “It’s been a great year so far.”

3. List one skill you’d like to develop in 2006 – business or personal.

4. List one educational program you’d like to try – a mentorship, university or continuing education program. How can you take a taste before committing: a single class, an interview with current participants, or ...

5. List one activity you’d like to do – just for fun.

Finally: What do you absolutely, positively not want to put off till “someday.” Travel to a specific place? A career change? Finally getting around to writing your book? Starting your own business?

Because this year may be the best “someday” you’ll have.

Happy January to all. Send me your answers and you’ll get a personal reply! I can’t coach you (obviously) but I will acknowledge and perhaps suggest resources.

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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. works with midlife midcareer professionals who want to change, advance or transform their careers. Download Why Most Career Change Fails and How You Can Write Your Own Success Story.
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

When decisions are tough, the tough (sometimes) get going

The toughest decision of all: Get out or get going!

By Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.

Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never give up! When a basketball team is down by 20 with 30 seconds on the clock, the players never stop working. Spectators might be filing out, and the winning team might be deep into the bench, but the game goes on.

If your game is a business or a job,you won't hear a whistle to signal the end of the game. If you keep going and win, you may gain a lifelong prize. If you keep throwing good money and energy into a losing cause, the whistle can blow for unemployment or bankruptcy.

"Should I keep going?" is one of the most difficult questions for anyone, including career counselors and coaches. There is no single answer, but here are some ways to focus the question.

1. How did you get into the situation? Were you encouraged by a spouse, parent, friend or mentor? You have a better chance of fulfilling your own dream than someone else's.

2. Is there a little voice in your head that whispers, "Maybe you should be doing X instead?" Listen up, as the sports coaches say, especially if you can put a name on "X" ,and if you've been playing this game awhile. That "little voice" may be your intuition speaking.

3. Does your new venture refuse to go away? If you try to leave your job, do you find yourself getting caught up in a new project or rewarded with a new promotion?

One speaker, accepting a local "Entrepreneur of the Year" award, told the audience, "I hated this business. I tried to sell it but nobody would buy me out. I was forced to fix it up and, in the process, found success."

4. What is the universe telling you? Are you getting customers? Is your progress considerably faster or slower than your peers and competitors? Has anything clicked into place for you, seemingly without effort? To interpret these messages, tune in to your own intuition.

5. What is your own historical trend? Do you tend to give up too easily or hang on too long? Often career coaching can help you identify career patterns and decide if you want to make changes.

6. Are you still having fun? A loss of enthusiasm can be temporary, especially if you're fatigued or have just experienced a setback. Long-term discouragement will create negative energy and ultimately destroy your career or business.

7. Must your decision be either-or? Can you continue a business part-time with a manager? Can you look for a new job but also start a business? Multi-tasking can fragment energies but also offer unparalleled opportunities. It's a key transition skill.

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career consultant. She works with midlife, midcareer professionals who face challenges relating to career change, career advancement, and moving from the corporate world to independent solo-preneurship.

Why does most career change fail and how can you write your own success story?
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

[Career coaching tips] How to kill your own career change program in cold blood

Time for a change. Maybe you’re forced by a layoff or industry shift. Or you’re just reaching your own personal end of the line.

The most common ways I’ve seen clients sabotage their moves are slow planning, fast action and taking the middle too seriously.

Slow planning: These days career planning (which includes decisions about leaving the corporate world for a business, sabbatical or school) is year-round and never-ending. How can you become more marketable? What options will be open if you move to a new city or retire? How can you create a Plan B in case your comfortable life gets interrupted?

Some clients call me when they hear an early whisper of change. We begin to plan early and usually they find a new job faster than they anticipated. But others wait till they’ve been laid off and they’ve used up a good chunk of severance and savings. Now they’re under pressure. So they often end up sabotaging themselves with ...

Fast action: When you’re feeling scared or pressured, it’s easy to grab the nearest opportunity that appears to be a life raft. Sometimes that’s a good idea: a hastily-accepted job often becomes a doorway to your dream. But a hastily-chosen option usually creates new challenges. You move to a new city because “living costs will be lower” or “there are more jobs,” and now you’re stranded. You hire a service that promises fast results or sign up for a training program that costs a lot and delivers little; now you’re exhausted and depleted your reserves.

Taking the middle too seriously: Between your current life and your Dream Career lies a territory called The Middle. I distinguish two kinds of Middle Jobs: a perch job and a bridge job.

You take a perch job because you need money. Like birds resting on the high wires during migration season, you need a place to land until you can get moving in the direction you want to go. So you might serve cappuccino at Starbucks, clerk in a retail store, or teach a class here and there. You might even opt for self-employment as a cat sitter or get a real estate license.

A bridge job gives you skills and contacts to move to your dream. You want to move from engineering to marketing. Your engineering job disappeared so you grab a marketing or sales job. Maybe the pay is lower or the conditions less than ideal, but after a year or two you get to write “Marketing” on your resume and go for the gold.

Sometimes a perch job becomes a bridge job, or vice versa. Sometimes a Middle Job morphs into your ideal and you realize you’ve reached the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, even while you thought you were caught in a thunderstorm.

But don’t take Middle Jobs too seriously. I’ve watched career changers detour to company politics and special projects on jobs that should have been treated lightly. Or they turn down a Middle Job because “it’s not exactly what I want.”

Ninety percent of the time, you’re better off with a job than without one. Just do enough to get by, get a reputation for being nice and friendly, and stay focused on your goal.

No goal? You’re more likely to stumble across one while you’re doing something – anything – rather than sitting on the couch, introspecting and filling out “who am I” forms. Serendipity has become an accepted term in mainstream career management articles. And that calls for more action than assessment.

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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a published author, speaker, and career/business consultant. She coaches
midlife professinals who want to win the First Inning of their Second Career. 
Download a Fr*e Report: Why most career change fails (and how you can write your own success story).
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

[Midlife Career Mentoring] responding to an attack (or not)

Recently "Jim" sent me this email:

"My coworker just went on the attack! He sent around messages suggesting that I had dropped the ball on a big project, with copies to my boss and other senior managers. Our company culture places a high value on building consensus and avoiding conflict. So I don’t want to seem argumentative but I want to make sure the decision-makers get the full story."

Jim wanted to write a detailed response. He muttered about hiring a lawyer -- and sometimes that *is* a good idea. But first, I suggested, here are some general considerations:

1. Rise above insulting communications, if at all possible.

Most of the time, you’re ahead of the game if you take the high road. (Hmm...did I just mix a metaphor?)

Let’s face it: if your manager is going to take the word of a coworker (or supplier or customer) against yours, you’ve got a much greater challenge. Maybe it’s time to begin exploring new opportunities.

But sometimes you cannot afford to ignore a message. If you’re supplying a service as an outside vendor, or if you’re accused of unethical or illegal practices, you probably need legal advice.

2. Respond affirmatively, not defensively, if you respond at all.

Unless you’re competing to be Donald Trump’s Apprentice, you’ll usually lose points for finger-pointing. Focus on accomplishments.

3. Discover the reality of the situation.

What has the sender done in the past? Have similar situations arisen? How have they been handled? What was the outcome?

It’s not likely – but possibly everyone who has ever tangled with “Bob” ends up losing her job. Or “Elsie” tests everyone who’s new to the department. Or “Ken” wanted his cousin to win the account.

4. Decipher the hidden message.

When you get any negative business communication, your first question should be, “What’s really going on?” You can never assume, “Disaster!”
nor can you assume, “No big deal – this will go away.”

If you’re not sure, brainstorm with an outsider, especially if the stakes are high. Choose a coach or consultant who will ask you tough questions, encouraging you to view the challenge in a new light.

5. Focus on your future, not current distractions and feelings.

Are you picking up skills to become more marketable?
Will this business relationship enhance your credibility and lead to more lucrative options?
How can you create a new career path that will be meaningful and satisfying?

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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., coaches midlife professionals for the First Inning of their Second Career: business, retirement, new career moving, or enjoying more of what you have.
Fr^e report: 5 Reasons Most Career Change Fails (and how to write your own success story)
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copy and your weekly Great Career Moves Ezine

Ready...set..get inspired for your midlife career change

You started out enthused...and now you wonder why you wanted a business in the first place. Or you entered graduate school and now the program seems boring and the classes run together in your mind. Or you began writing a book and you’re bogged down halfway through. Who wants to be a writer (or an artist or entrepreneur) anyway?

1. Why did you embark on this goal in the first place?

Are your reasons still valid? You’ve changed. The world has changed. So maybe now you’re looking for a different path.

I recommend extreme caution before abandoning a goal. But I also encourage clients to invest energy in exploring new possibilities.

Or maybe you got sidetracked. Your original business model called for working three days a week, but you’ve hooked up with a program based on “eighty hour weeks for the rest of your life.”

Good grief. Time to return to the drawing board and design a plan that works for you.

2. Are you following your own dream?

Many of my clients admit they’re following someone else’s dream. Sometimes they’re following a parent’s wish. Sometimes they’re doing “what everybody expects me to do.” And some business owners actually realize they’re implementing their mentor’s ideal business model – not their own.

3. Are you dragging yourself through a step-by-step plan that seems to go on forever?

Return to the idea inspired action: whatever moves you toward your goal, without useless detours, usually with a feeling of ease. In her best-selling book, Excuse Me: Your Life is Waiting, Lynn Grabhorn warns against “heigh-ho silvering,” action that makes you feel busy but gets you nowhere. See
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/amazonbks.html#grabhorn

Maybe you’ve inadvertently chosen the rocky path to climb your own personal mountain. Read a map or hire a guide: you may find a smoother path or even (my favorite) charter a helicopter for the rest of the trip.

More on inspiration:

Your 21-Day Time Management Makeover
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/timebook.html

Robert Middleton’s new program emphasizes the power of intention for businesses – an unusual follow-up to his web tools guide and infoguru manual.
http://tinyurl.com/3sv83

If you liked this article, you’ll love collaborating with Cathy on the First Inning of Your Second Career whether your goal is to survive office politics, take your career in a new direction or consider a Big Break: self-employment, sabbaticals or school.
Discover the 5 reasons most career change fails (and how you can write your own success story).
http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

Midlife career change means looking at time a new way

Have you read any of those know-it-all Time Management books, where you can revolutionize your life and end procrastination with just a few simple steps? Yeah, right. Doesn't work for me either. I wrote my own Time Management Makeover because I believe that we each face time challenges for different reasons. Why do you need to get organized (and maybe you don't)? Why do you need to make the calls or read these files? When you know why you want something“ -- and you really want it -- often your energy and focus come naturally. But sometimes we need a way to fit a new project into a busy schedule. In my experience, one size does not fit everyone. So I've come up with the notion of a Time Management Profile. You need to make time for a special goal: writing a book, researching a new career, marketing your services. What works for you? 1. Swiss Cheese or Chunks Swiss Cheese people find holes in their day - “ ten minutes here, half an hour there. They concentrate easily and actually get something done while waiting for lunch. A Swiss Cheese person says, "I will work on this project for 15 minutes a day -- consistently. And eventually it will get done." Chunk people need a whole afternoon, maybe even a whole day, to get something done. The Chunk person says, "I will devote every Thursday afternoon to marketing." 2. Desktop or Filing Cabinet Desktop people like papers spread all over a desk. They tend to have visual memories so they reach into a pile and find whatever they need. They look cluttered but they are functioning efficiently. Filing Cabinet people demand a clear desk. "A sign of an organized mind," they say, as they slide documents neatly into folders every evening. 3. Weekly Updates or Grand Finale Weekly Update people like systems for accountability. They enjoy calling a coach or friend to report on how much they've done and they will stay focused because they know they will be reporting in. Grand Finale people often become dysfunctional when faced with demands for interim reports. They rebel and stop checking in. "Just give me a deadline," they say. "Stop looking over my shoulder!" So...who's right? Well, everybody, actually. What's important: Understand your style. Don't bother trying to change because you probably won't. Some psychologists believe the brains of Desktop and Filing Cabinet people are actually wired differently. If you're a chunk person with a filing cabinet mind who likes weekly updates, you can keep project notes in a file folder that you explore once a week. But if you are a Swiss Cheese person with a Desktop mind and a Grand Finale motivation style, you will get everything done...at your own pace. I encourage readers to have fun with this one. How can you make your style work for you? Let's say you're a Swiss Cheese with a Desktop Mind. You can set up little piles of projects on your desk. Your "To Do" list might be a set of stickies. If you are a Weekly Updater, you can report on how you moved the piles around. Grand Finale people feel rewarded when they move a sticky from one pile to another...every day. Most important: Don't waste time with an accountability coach if you're a Grand Finale type -- and hire one at once if you are a Weekly Updater. Don't berate yourself over the state of your desk if you are a Desktop person; if the Fire Marshal leaves you alone, you're doing fine. And don't try to master those 15-minute maneuvers if you're a Chunker...or waste a Thursday afternoon fidgeting if you're a Swiss Cheese. RESOURCES: Download Your 21-Day Time Management Makeover. Contact Cathy Goodwin.

Midlife Crisis Career Planning: Your Second Career Game is Not Played in a Straight Line

Recently I sent a message to my ezine list, offering a new low-cost series of group programs. One reader wrote back, "I need a career change, but I'm hesitating to sign up. I've already been to two coaches. One coach said, “Just take action and get motivated.” Another administered tests confirming what I already knew." Sadly, when it comes to careers, everyone’s an expert. My good friend “Brian” (who’s had one career since graduating from college forty-three years ago): “If you’re not happy, you should just talk to your supervisor.” My client "Angela's" spouse: “Just do something – anything! You’ve had plenty of time to decide.” My former neighbor, wagging her finger at me: “What’s the big deal? It’s just a job. Tell your clients they’ll be fine if they just change their attitude.” Reality #1: Career change takes tim -- two to four years. What do you do in the meantime? You choose a perch job or a bridge job. Perch job: Think of birds taking a migration break, bouncing on the high wire. You’re not committed to this job and you probably wouldn’t want to stay forever. But you can stop long enough to pay the bills while you search for your next major move. Bridge job: Your job that gets you closer to a new goal. Maybe you can test your next life. Perch jobs can become bridge jobs and vice versa. Reality #2: Career change is more like a game of “hot and cold” than a straight line. Remember the children’s game: “You’re getting hot...no – you’re moving away – getting colder...” That’s how career change really works, based on published research as well as my own experience. Let’s get real. If your career advisor had a test that could figure out “the perfect career for me,” he wouldn’t be sitting in a stuffy little office discussing your options. He’d be sipping iced drinks on a beach in the Bahamas and taking day trips on the family yacht. Reality #3: Career change is more about action than introspection. You can’t play “hot and cold” unless you’re moving around. Internet searches tend to yield outdated and biased information. Make connections. Talk to people...and then more people. But don’t confuse focused activity with mindless running in circles. When I work one-to-one with clients, we customize plans. On your own, start with professional groups (not service groups like Rotary), your alumni office, and adult ed classes. Reality #4: Sometimes the grass really is greener. Many people get richer and happier after they change careers, businesses and/or residences. Reality #5: Talking to your supervisor (or your colleagues, business associates and customers) is a really, really bad idea. Share your feelings and your vision only with a trusted, confidential source who is completely unconnected to your professional life. Remember “Brian" -- one career for almost forty years? He is a really good friend but we don’t talk about careers. When someone just doesn’t get it, I recommend changing the subject to dogs, cats, basketball, and the magnificent fall weather. Your friendship and your career change will both benefit. Contact Cathy Goodwin. Free Great Careers Ezine -- and download 2 bonuses.

Midlife crisis career planning: How does professional career change really happen?

A few weeks ago, I was chatting with some new acquaintances in my new home town of Seattle, Washington, where we just moved in August. When we talked about my career website, someone asked about career planning. “Frankly,” I said, “the research shows most people choose careers by serendipity. They start doing one thing, and it leads to another, and another...” “No way! I think most choices are planned.” So we went around the room. “Liza” began training for a Second Career in social work. As part of her program, she was required to take classes in drug and alcohol counseling. To her surprise, she found the work fascinating. She went on to take more courses and eventually got certified. Now she works full time in the field. “Tom” decided to take some classes because his wife’s job entitled him to free tuition. Since he was interested in teaching, he took an education course, which turned out to be about program evaluation. He decided he liked statistics. Eventually, he completed a doctorate in educational assessment and now holds an administrative job with a school district. So, someone asked, does this mean an end to career counselor? “Some would say yes,” I said. “But I think the key is becoming aware of opportunities and welcoming serendipitous events. What I mostly do is encourage purposeful planning and action.” And, of course, often an outsider can tell when something’s clicked. What seems to be a detour often turns out to be the main highway...or vice versa. Mainly we’re finding that career changers do not follow the traditional model: identify your strengths, find a perfect match and move to a target like a homing pigeon. Under this model, careers tend to get stalled: we wait to learn about ourselves and often never get past this step.