One of the things I haven't talked a lot about in the Blog is my husband's career and what's happening there. He's been a freelance writer working primarily in the video game world for over a decade. With a change in that industry, his career has changed too. He's been seeking meaning in his career for a long time now. Meaning that he wasn't getting from the video game world. A few years ago, he started volunteering with Boards of Directors for organizations he cares about and our school. He learned a lot about the non profit world directly and that helped augment the knowledge osmosis he experienced being around me and my non profit pursuits all these years.
So, to make a long story short, he was offered a grant writing job with a non profit he cares about. It is a regular, on-going, stable job. It has benefits. It looks a lot like the jobs I used to do- lots of rewards that don't show up in the paycheck. We have now flipped roles and hopefully we don't flip out.
In this new economy, we've faced facts that our earning potential is decreased right now. Since we are specialized, finding jobs that are a match has been one issue. Then we have to factor in that these roles don't pay like they did five years ago. We're not sure what the future will hold in terms of income levels, but we know that the past is over. Time to center into 2010 and what we have in the here and now.
I'm earning money writing now which makes it official- I'm a writer, among other things. I get to be the freelancer now and find myself again professionally as a forty-something mom of three.
I'm excited that Bill is the one doing the desk job this time and that I get a chance to see what I can do is I have some space to flex my wings. Having a consistent income will surely help me process!
He starts next week and then I get to see how to make the puzzle work. The good news is that, after both of us out of work for a year, we're still alive and kicking. We made it through and now we just have to keep plugging away and be patient and persistent. Whew.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Getting the priorities straightened out
Earlier this year, when faced with some job opportunities that didn't meet my needs, I started to think about what criterion I would use for evaluating potential jobs. My top three priorities were:
1. Work from home (or flexibly in an office)
2. Justify my LA lifestyle
3. Use my skills and background well
I said no to a few opportunities along the way and I feel like I'm better off for it. My gut tells me that if I can just hang on long enough everything will work out as planned. I took a leap of faith and now I have to keep trusting that it will all work out fine. That's not easy to do in this economy with three kids and a husband who has a career in about the same boat as mine.
But we've worked it through this far and we're fairly stubborn people which is a trait I'm planning to exploit now.
In evaluating my next moves about the job opening I am considering now, I've had to re-think my priorities. My career has been dedicated to the non profit sector and yet now I find myself with twenty years of experience yet unable to find a role that allows me financially to keep my family where we are now. As I see it in the present, I may have to transition our of the non profit sector in order to survive in Los Angeles. When Bill and I originally made our career choices together over 15 years ago, we were in a different space and time. He was going to be a wildly successful writer and I was going to have a fulfilling career in the non profit world where I felt I was making a difference.
I've been taking progressively responsible roles since I started working and I like learning on the job. My positions have neatly segued so far and now I am here a year after my last role ended wondering which way to go.
In 2010, with parts of our plan come to fruition and others not, and with the changing tides of the world we live in, we've had to re-evaluate what we think might work. And we have three kids under 10 years old who need us in many ways.
I recently found a piece I wrote in 1993 as if I was forty years old. I'm forty years old now. My twenty four year old self pretty much nailed it, although I think I had nicer clothes in my vision earlier and we had two kids rather than three. It was a romanticized version of exactly what I created in my life. Reading the pages where I detail out how I thought it would all turn out is very interesting for me now. I'm finding lots of clues in here about how to get myself back on course. I'm sure I'll be talking more about parts of it in blogs to come.
My twenty four year old self thought I would be getting into politics at this time in my life which is true. She thought I would be running for public office. I don't see that happening any time soon, but I would be interested in working in politics. I'm jotting down that clue for my present self. I also said that I will have won awards for my community service which is true.
I also thought I would have two best selling children's books by this time in my life.
Hunh.
In other goal work I did around the same time, I reflect that I wanted to learn how to write grants so that I could write grants for my children's school one day. My mother in law had offset tuition for her children at private schools by working for them. This seemed like a good strategy to me as a young person who liked working with kids and wanted to have children of my own.
I saw myself growing and writing grants for my children's school. That's one thing I definitely did accomplish. My children are fortunate enough to attend an amazing Charter school and so tuition has not been a factor for us, for which I feel very fortunate. I have worked for Charter schools writing grants and I consider it part of my path to help the grant world in Charter schools as much as I can. I really like empowering others to write grants. That fills my cup more than about anything else does.
One of the things that's hitting me about my career is that my "mission centered" career in the non profit world has been somewhat external to me all this time. My career, spanning educational programs, Habitat For Humanity, volunteer coordination at CSUN,program design, development consulting and grant writing has been varied and broad. As I developed in my career, I realized that I wanted to impact children more broadly that my original idea out of high school which was to become a special education teacher. I've done that in my career through the roles I've taken.
In 2010, however, I am a champion not only for broadly impacting programs but also for my own three amazing children. I put my mission centered career into how I live my life. Since I left my job recruiting and managing volunteers and became one myself, I've grown immeasurably.
I am involved in politics and impacting children broadly through my work as a parent and advocate for Charter schools. I watch LAUSD meetings for fun now and I enjoy being an involved, informed and active parent. That's giving me what me career used to give me.
That brings us back to 2010 and my need to get this figured out in the present. I'm hoping that my renewed zest for finding options turns up some interesting tidbits this week. My plan is to hit the books and puzzle out my transferable skills and what I'll willing to do about them.
I'm also looking to clarify my objectives as per my priorities outlined above. I think I need to get more specific to get what I want out of my next steps. I also have to find my zen and trust that what I need is going to happen for me. This is a delicate balance right now.
1. Work from home (or flexibly in an office)
2. Justify my LA lifestyle
3. Use my skills and background well
I said no to a few opportunities along the way and I feel like I'm better off for it. My gut tells me that if I can just hang on long enough everything will work out as planned. I took a leap of faith and now I have to keep trusting that it will all work out fine. That's not easy to do in this economy with three kids and a husband who has a career in about the same boat as mine.
But we've worked it through this far and we're fairly stubborn people which is a trait I'm planning to exploit now.
In evaluating my next moves about the job opening I am considering now, I've had to re-think my priorities. My career has been dedicated to the non profit sector and yet now I find myself with twenty years of experience yet unable to find a role that allows me financially to keep my family where we are now. As I see it in the present, I may have to transition our of the non profit sector in order to survive in Los Angeles. When Bill and I originally made our career choices together over 15 years ago, we were in a different space and time. He was going to be a wildly successful writer and I was going to have a fulfilling career in the non profit world where I felt I was making a difference.
I've been taking progressively responsible roles since I started working and I like learning on the job. My positions have neatly segued so far and now I am here a year after my last role ended wondering which way to go.
In 2010, with parts of our plan come to fruition and others not, and with the changing tides of the world we live in, we've had to re-evaluate what we think might work. And we have three kids under 10 years old who need us in many ways.
I recently found a piece I wrote in 1993 as if I was forty years old. I'm forty years old now. My twenty four year old self pretty much nailed it, although I think I had nicer clothes in my vision earlier and we had two kids rather than three. It was a romanticized version of exactly what I created in my life. Reading the pages where I detail out how I thought it would all turn out is very interesting for me now. I'm finding lots of clues in here about how to get myself back on course. I'm sure I'll be talking more about parts of it in blogs to come.
My twenty four year old self thought I would be getting into politics at this time in my life which is true. She thought I would be running for public office. I don't see that happening any time soon, but I would be interested in working in politics. I'm jotting down that clue for my present self. I also said that I will have won awards for my community service which is true.
I also thought I would have two best selling children's books by this time in my life.
Hunh.
In other goal work I did around the same time, I reflect that I wanted to learn how to write grants so that I could write grants for my children's school one day. My mother in law had offset tuition for her children at private schools by working for them. This seemed like a good strategy to me as a young person who liked working with kids and wanted to have children of my own.
I saw myself growing and writing grants for my children's school. That's one thing I definitely did accomplish. My children are fortunate enough to attend an amazing Charter school and so tuition has not been a factor for us, for which I feel very fortunate. I have worked for Charter schools writing grants and I consider it part of my path to help the grant world in Charter schools as much as I can. I really like empowering others to write grants. That fills my cup more than about anything else does.
One of the things that's hitting me about my career is that my "mission centered" career in the non profit world has been somewhat external to me all this time. My career, spanning educational programs, Habitat For Humanity, volunteer coordination at CSUN,program design, development consulting and grant writing has been varied and broad. As I developed in my career, I realized that I wanted to impact children more broadly that my original idea out of high school which was to become a special education teacher. I've done that in my career through the roles I've taken.
In 2010, however, I am a champion not only for broadly impacting programs but also for my own three amazing children. I put my mission centered career into how I live my life. Since I left my job recruiting and managing volunteers and became one myself, I've grown immeasurably.
I am involved in politics and impacting children broadly through my work as a parent and advocate for Charter schools. I watch LAUSD meetings for fun now and I enjoy being an involved, informed and active parent. That's giving me what me career used to give me.
That brings us back to 2010 and my need to get this figured out in the present. I'm hoping that my renewed zest for finding options turns up some interesting tidbits this week. My plan is to hit the books and puzzle out my transferable skills and what I'll willing to do about them.
I'm also looking to clarify my objectives as per my priorities outlined above. I think I need to get more specific to get what I want out of my next steps. I also have to find my zen and trust that what I need is going to happen for me. This is a delicate balance right now.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Evaluating options- when is any job a good job?
When the year turned, I starting noticing more opportunities popping up again. Recently we were contacted by an old friend with a current job in a non-profit for a cause we care about. Grant Writing jobs are hard to come by in this climate. So seeing a actual grant position caused me to feel happiness. Then I saw the salary and needs of the position and I felt defeated again. This is a position that either Bill or I might consider, but neither of us was planning to hit an office again full time any time soon (we've hung on this long, after all) and the salary associated with the responsibilities involved is very low. It isn't an easy position to handle and it doesn't really pay what we need. Uh oh. There are other benefits to the position ( including health care which is exciting), but all of these things need to be weighed out now. We have some thinking to do. When do you say "when?"
One of my friends who had been unemployed for a while was recently hired at for half of what they earned before. The comment on the matter was "twice as much as unemployment."
So using that logic, it is twice as much as nothing which is where I'm at considering I didn't qualify for unemployment benefits because I had most recently been an independent contractor.
In theory any job is a good job right? I went back to my "Just say no" blog and reviewed my main criterion for decision making at that point. This fits one of my three main criterion because it is a good match for my skills. While the position is not from home, it isn't as far away from home as some non- profit jobs want to be and there may be flexibility to work from home at some point. My third criterion, however, is that my job needs to justify living in LA. This role definitely serves the people of Los Angeles and so that adds some emotional connection for me. But financially living in LA, I have to figure out how to make my own life work before I can help others right now. With Bill not working steadily either, a position that is full time plus at a low pay rate that doesn't help us keep our lifestyle now is scary.
But any job is a good job really, right? Maybe I'm being too picky? Maybe I should suck it up and take a job I would have been awesome at 15 years ago when I was more focused on my career? Maybe I should be happy to be getting a paycheck. I'm not sure how to feel here.
Much to consider here in clan Maxwell. The good news is that more little gigs and opportunities have been happening for us this week. I'm taking it as a good sign that the phone ( and inbox) are ringing. It does make me feel better to see things coming back again. Non profits are starting to think clearly again about planning and realizing where they fit in the new economy. The video game world where Bill often dwells is starting to lurch back into business after the great freeze on game development of 2008-2009.
Feel free to comment. I'm trying to sort through the choices and you are welcome to chime in. I'm sure it will be an interesting weekend of discussions here.
One of my friends who had been unemployed for a while was recently hired at for half of what they earned before. The comment on the matter was "twice as much as unemployment."
So using that logic, it is twice as much as nothing which is where I'm at considering I didn't qualify for unemployment benefits because I had most recently been an independent contractor.
In theory any job is a good job right? I went back to my "Just say no" blog and reviewed my main criterion for decision making at that point. This fits one of my three main criterion because it is a good match for my skills. While the position is not from home, it isn't as far away from home as some non- profit jobs want to be and there may be flexibility to work from home at some point. My third criterion, however, is that my job needs to justify living in LA. This role definitely serves the people of Los Angeles and so that adds some emotional connection for me. But financially living in LA, I have to figure out how to make my own life work before I can help others right now. With Bill not working steadily either, a position that is full time plus at a low pay rate that doesn't help us keep our lifestyle now is scary.
But any job is a good job really, right? Maybe I'm being too picky? Maybe I should suck it up and take a job I would have been awesome at 15 years ago when I was more focused on my career? Maybe I should be happy to be getting a paycheck. I'm not sure how to feel here.
Much to consider here in clan Maxwell. The good news is that more little gigs and opportunities have been happening for us this week. I'm taking it as a good sign that the phone ( and inbox) are ringing. It does make me feel better to see things coming back again. Non profits are starting to think clearly again about planning and realizing where they fit in the new economy. The video game world where Bill often dwells is starting to lurch back into business after the great freeze on game development of 2008-2009.
Feel free to comment. I'm trying to sort through the choices and you are welcome to chime in. I'm sure it will be an interesting weekend of discussions here.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Changing Careers for Dummies- time to get bookish
I spent several years working in the Career Center at CSU, Northridge and more years beyond that counseling students about how volunteerism can impact career choices. I dispensed a lot of career guidance wisdom. My own career seemed pretty straight forward and was rolling out like good cookie dough. And then something went wrong with my recipe and now I find myself as a career changer at age 40 with 3 kids and a complicated lifestyle. Now I have to practice what I used to preach.
Armed with library books, websites, a white board with dry erase markers and lots of paper, I'm going to tackle my career changing dilemmas and look at some of my friends who seem to be in the same boat. In my case, I took a leap of faith when I left the stable state job and I'm still leaping away. What's hung me up was that my recipe went awry when I didn't count the economy tanking into my timeline. My husband's career took a huge hit in the last few years as well just when it looked like his plans were on track. I've had to face facts that my consulting career will need a little more time to get where I need it to be in order to support my family. Plus my niche market for the type of consulting I do in in a special place right now. Time for a new plan, new niches and broader approaches to what I do. Time to get busy.
My opinion of career exploration is that any process is a good one. I went to library and listened to friends and came up with a few books to get myself started. I'm looking for structure.
I want simple forms that help me understand how to fix the problem today. There are people who have formed their careers around career development and have figured out a thing or two.
I looked for systems that seemed easy to use. I would love to see the 2010 version of Parachute, but I don't want to invest in a hard cover at this time. Maybe after I wade into the 2006 library version, I'll be inspired to pay the $28 to buy the current book. There are chapters in the latest addition that talk about finding a job in hard times. Ironically, this version is not available yet at our libraries in LA. Whine. I'm having problems figuring out how to easily link into the library database, so I've found the books on Amazon just in case you want to make a purchase.
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2006 version- Richard Nelson Bolles. This is what I'm working from checked out at the library. I'll be referring to this book a lot in the coming blogs as I figure out what tools will help me.
Here's a link for the 2010 version I found on Amazon for a soft cover modern version at a great rate. YAY! I may have to buy it and then see where that gets us. http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262555857&sr=8-1
For now, I'll be using the 2006 library option since I'm trying to go about this the low-budget way whenever possible. It would be handy if the library carried the version with the "hard times" section, eh?
I'm also reading and using book "Do What You Love For the Rest of Your Life- a practical guide to career change and personal renewal" by Bob Griffiths, also checked out from the LAPL.
I like the tone of this book and am finding many of the chapters and practically minded tools appealing. I think I'll be doing worksheets from various books as I progress. For now, I am enjoying reading this one and soaking up the positive perspective on gaining a sense of personal renewal with my career. Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/What-Love-Rest-Your-Life/dp/0345441397/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262556343&sr=8-1, but I found it in the library on-line at http://www.lapl.org/.
My last book stack entry into the mix is "Changing Careers for Dummies" by Carol L. McClelland.
This book sums up my experience right now. I feel like a dummy being in my situation. I didn't expect to land in this position when I took my leap of faith, yet here I am. I have to do something and this book distills my next steps into bites I can handle. I also enjoy the humor and easy to read format. Here's the Amazon link for this one:http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Careers-Dummies-Carol-McClelland/dp/0764553763/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262556489&sr=8-1
I'm looking forward to getting started with these books this week and getting myself back in action and focused on what I need to do next. I'll be blogging about what comes of all that and I hope you'll share your own career process stories here. Thanks!
Armed with library books, websites, a white board with dry erase markers and lots of paper, I'm going to tackle my career changing dilemmas and look at some of my friends who seem to be in the same boat. In my case, I took a leap of faith when I left the stable state job and I'm still leaping away. What's hung me up was that my recipe went awry when I didn't count the economy tanking into my timeline. My husband's career took a huge hit in the last few years as well just when it looked like his plans were on track. I've had to face facts that my consulting career will need a little more time to get where I need it to be in order to support my family. Plus my niche market for the type of consulting I do in in a special place right now. Time for a new plan, new niches and broader approaches to what I do. Time to get busy.
My opinion of career exploration is that any process is a good one. I went to library and listened to friends and came up with a few books to get myself started. I'm looking for structure.
I want simple forms that help me understand how to fix the problem today. There are people who have formed their careers around career development and have figured out a thing or two.
I looked for systems that seemed easy to use. I would love to see the 2010 version of Parachute, but I don't want to invest in a hard cover at this time. Maybe after I wade into the 2006 library version, I'll be inspired to pay the $28 to buy the current book. There are chapters in the latest addition that talk about finding a job in hard times. Ironically, this version is not available yet at our libraries in LA. Whine. I'm having problems figuring out how to easily link into the library database, so I've found the books on Amazon just in case you want to make a purchase.
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2006 version- Richard Nelson Bolles. This is what I'm working from checked out at the library. I'll be referring to this book a lot in the coming blogs as I figure out what tools will help me.
Here's a link for the 2010 version I found on Amazon for a soft cover modern version at a great rate. YAY! I may have to buy it and then see where that gets us. http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2010/dp/1580089879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262555857&sr=8-1
For now, I'll be using the 2006 library option since I'm trying to go about this the low-budget way whenever possible. It would be handy if the library carried the version with the "hard times" section, eh?
I'm also reading and using book "Do What You Love For the Rest of Your Life- a practical guide to career change and personal renewal" by Bob Griffiths, also checked out from the LAPL.
I like the tone of this book and am finding many of the chapters and practically minded tools appealing. I think I'll be doing worksheets from various books as I progress. For now, I am enjoying reading this one and soaking up the positive perspective on gaining a sense of personal renewal with my career. Here's the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/What-Love-Rest-Your-Life/dp/0345441397/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262556343&sr=8-1, but I found it in the library on-line at http://www.lapl.org/.
My last book stack entry into the mix is "Changing Careers for Dummies" by Carol L. McClelland.
This book sums up my experience right now. I feel like a dummy being in my situation. I didn't expect to land in this position when I took my leap of faith, yet here I am. I have to do something and this book distills my next steps into bites I can handle. I also enjoy the humor and easy to read format. Here's the Amazon link for this one:http://www.amazon.com/Changing-Careers-Dummies-Carol-McClelland/dp/0764553763/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262556489&sr=8-1
I'm looking forward to getting started with these books this week and getting myself back in action and focused on what I need to do next. I'll be blogging about what comes of all that and I hope you'll share your own career process stories here. Thanks!
Friday, January 1, 2010
On the hunt: 2010 and time to find my inner career cougar
I've been watching the show Cougartown a lot recently. Go ahead and laugh, but I am getting somewhere with this. While I'm not single and ready to mingle as a forty-something mom like the main character is, I am forty and facing big life changes. The lighthearted look at transition really appeals to me right now. I like thinking about how to be more empowered and bold. I'm ready to begin the actual hunt for the new career path. I've accepted that my past is over and now I have to be present in my circumstance and do my thing. I am a Career Changer in the worst economy of my lifetime, with three kids and a need to be mission centered in my career. Ruh-roh.
Here's my agenda for the next few weeks to getting myself aligned with where I am now (which can look very swirly sometimes) and returning back to the game of being an income earner.
I'm interested in income a lot these days, but I don't want to blow my ship totally off course either. I keep trying to play my circumstances smart and I can see myself in ten years saying "wow, that sucked and here's what worked for me to get through it." But this is one map that makes itself as you go along and the career landscape is changing fast in 2010.
Here's my self-help regimen for Winter 2010 to get my career hunt back on:
1. Books! The library has a pretty good selection of career related books. For best choice of titles, I suggest looking on-line and placing a hold to go to your local branch. I've been soaking up a lot of books lately. I'll be blogging soon about my process with the "What Color is Your Parachute" series and other books like "Changing Careers for Dummies." What matters, in my opinion, is that any process is probably good process. You need a plan to succeed and then if that plan fails, develop ( yet another) plan to work it out. Most career books offer practical steps to get answers. Since I'm just swirling around the questions, I need a way to get to the answers.
Writing things down and brainstorming work well for me. I also like to write some of my process and then burn it to let go of that intention. So I'm going to grill myself until the timer of my Easy Bake oven goes off. Lots of planning to do to get myself where I want to be. Books are a good place to start. Actually do the work they suggest and you'll probably be better for it.
2. Clothes! Having a plan is important with clothes and "the look."
This is where I wish I looked like Courtney Cox for my own hunting purposes.
I have shoes older than my children. My eldest is almost 10. I spent my professional office years at a university where I had event related polo shirts as a uniform most of the time. I worked at Habitat for Humanity before CSUN and so my wardrobe has never been well developed. I would wear jeans all the time if allowed. But jeans are not going to get be hired in this economy. At least not doing the types of jobs I need to be taking on in order to support my family.
My dad and his wife just bought me a bunch of clothes for professional use. I found stuff that really suits who I am now and also says "2010 modernly dressed woman" and not Oprah's "frumpelina." The shoes are an outstanding issue yet to be resolved. I'll be posting about my adventure in clothes later too. Having a plan is what is really important with clothes and "the look." I can't afford to go buy a lot of anything right now. So I have to shop smart, hunt for bargains and be open minded. But I also don't want to look crazy in the latest trends.
However I get to the goal, I need to design my look around the job I want and find a way to make that happen.
3. Connect and communicate! Since I'm working off-road with my career now, I need to keep talking and connecting with people in my life. You never know where opportunity may find you or how your past may connect to your future. It does get old to keep talking about my career woes at family functions and in social occasions. It's not a bright, fun topic. However, learning to frame the madness in my life around communicating with others has helped me understand where I am in the modern day, 2010. I've learned that sounding like an Eeyore gets you "ho hum" results while sounding like a Tigger gets you positive feedback ( and occasional confused looks.)
My plan is to keep talking about my career till somebody directs my time by making me an income earner again. The more I talk about it, the more clarity I gain about what may work for me. Trying to be positive while talking to others has taught me a lot about how I might steer my ship. I have to find a positive way to communicate to people when they ask "what kind of job are you looking for?" or "what do you do?" It's my role in this puzzle to be positive and open minded, but I also have to start naming my intentions to other people or I'll never get anywhere.
Whew. Welcome 2010~
Three is enough tips for me today. I'm gonna go get my career cougar on now. Time to get focused and find a way to make all of this work. Whoot!
Here's my agenda for the next few weeks to getting myself aligned with where I am now (which can look very swirly sometimes) and returning back to the game of being an income earner.
I'm interested in income a lot these days, but I don't want to blow my ship totally off course either. I keep trying to play my circumstances smart and I can see myself in ten years saying "wow, that sucked and here's what worked for me to get through it." But this is one map that makes itself as you go along and the career landscape is changing fast in 2010.
Here's my self-help regimen for Winter 2010 to get my career hunt back on:
1. Books! The library has a pretty good selection of career related books. For best choice of titles, I suggest looking on-line and placing a hold to go to your local branch. I've been soaking up a lot of books lately. I'll be blogging soon about my process with the "What Color is Your Parachute" series and other books like "Changing Careers for Dummies." What matters, in my opinion, is that any process is probably good process. You need a plan to succeed and then if that plan fails, develop ( yet another) plan to work it out. Most career books offer practical steps to get answers. Since I'm just swirling around the questions, I need a way to get to the answers.
Writing things down and brainstorming work well for me. I also like to write some of my process and then burn it to let go of that intention. So I'm going to grill myself until the timer of my Easy Bake oven goes off. Lots of planning to do to get myself where I want to be. Books are a good place to start. Actually do the work they suggest and you'll probably be better for it.
2. Clothes! Having a plan is important with clothes and "the look."
This is where I wish I looked like Courtney Cox for my own hunting purposes.
I have shoes older than my children. My eldest is almost 10. I spent my professional office years at a university where I had event related polo shirts as a uniform most of the time. I worked at Habitat for Humanity before CSUN and so my wardrobe has never been well developed. I would wear jeans all the time if allowed. But jeans are not going to get be hired in this economy. At least not doing the types of jobs I need to be taking on in order to support my family.
My dad and his wife just bought me a bunch of clothes for professional use. I found stuff that really suits who I am now and also says "2010 modernly dressed woman" and not Oprah's "frumpelina." The shoes are an outstanding issue yet to be resolved. I'll be posting about my adventure in clothes later too. Having a plan is what is really important with clothes and "the look." I can't afford to go buy a lot of anything right now. So I have to shop smart, hunt for bargains and be open minded. But I also don't want to look crazy in the latest trends.
However I get to the goal, I need to design my look around the job I want and find a way to make that happen.
3. Connect and communicate! Since I'm working off-road with my career now, I need to keep talking and connecting with people in my life. You never know where opportunity may find you or how your past may connect to your future. It does get old to keep talking about my career woes at family functions and in social occasions. It's not a bright, fun topic. However, learning to frame the madness in my life around communicating with others has helped me understand where I am in the modern day, 2010. I've learned that sounding like an Eeyore gets you "ho hum" results while sounding like a Tigger gets you positive feedback ( and occasional confused looks.)
My plan is to keep talking about my career till somebody directs my time by making me an income earner again. The more I talk about it, the more clarity I gain about what may work for me. Trying to be positive while talking to others has taught me a lot about how I might steer my ship. I have to find a positive way to communicate to people when they ask "what kind of job are you looking for?" or "what do you do?" It's my role in this puzzle to be positive and open minded, but I also have to start naming my intentions to other people or I'll never get anywhere.
Whew. Welcome 2010~
Three is enough tips for me today. I'm gonna go get my career cougar on now. Time to get focused and find a way to make all of this work. Whoot!
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