Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart! (Confucius)

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"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." - - Henry David Thoreau

Managing a Graceful Exit (June 2008)

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Reinventing Yourself (November 2007)

True story . . . While standing in line at a local coffee cafe, two people exchange answers to the "how's it going?" question with each other. One says, "Things are  awful, my business is in the toilet." The other says, "I just got laid off from my job, I don't know what I'm going to do."

What's the upside to outcomes like these?  An opportunity to "learn and grow" from what happened (acknowledge it accurately) and then move on. 

What better time to take a step back and choose an opportunity that actually fits your skills?  This is no time to dwell on all the "what-if's".  Instead, channel that energy into exploring possibilities for that "next thing to do".  The best thing you can do is get right back into the game and be a player, and this time you might even choose a whole new game if you wish. 

While you plan your way back into the game, remember to set aside time to "improvise your life" and reinvent yourself.  It's amazing how fast your life runs away from you, use it wisely.

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Leveraging Innovation (July 2007)

Today, new times continue to require new techniques. Being innovative in your career and business has more to do with your ability to embrace change than your ability to adapt a particular technology. It's about creativity and risk . . .

Driving the value of your career or your business requires a certain amount of "pushing the envelope".  Defining those new boundaries in your career or business will require creativity and new perspectives.  To manage the risk involved, first assess whether your career or business is ready for innovation.  Ask yourself, can you afford to be an industry leader?

If so, then make sure you have the infrastructure in place to absorb the change you plan to implement.  For instance, when planning a major change make sure you have secured the financial support to sustain yourself through the period of change.  Doing so will help you cover advance education/training costs for yourself or staff, handle start-up costs for a new business or product, or live without an income for a period of time.

Be mindful of the details in your actionable plan and make small "course corrections" along the way.  Continuous assessment and improvement is the key to making innovation work.

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Are You a Radical? (April 2007)

I have a nosey hound who thinks he can fly. Not literally but, whenever he leaps through the air with the greatest of ease he's being his "ultimate self".  Do you practice being your ultimate self? If so, you may be a practicing careerist.

"Careering is the profound, and glorious, and terrifying, and absurdly difficult but infinitely rewarding process of transforming your current self into your ultimate self." - - Sally Hogshead, author Radical Careering

Being your ultimate self may not be an easy thing to do.  For one thing, you may not even know who/what your ultimate self is.  If you've had a very successful career, you may even have mistaken your work identity (the who/what that others have identified you as "successful" in the work place) with your ultimate self.  But because nature moves you in a certain direction (no matter what control you think you have), I believe everyone has the opportunity to discover their ultimate self; maybe even more than once.

It starts with your attitude:  Do you approach new challenges as opportunities?  Do you forge ahead with energy and optimism?

It continues with your skill set and the way in which you handle it:  Do you continually find ways to expand your skill set?  Have you identified a new skill that would enhance your job and career?  Will you develop it in the next six months?

Then, it moves into action:  Are you someone who follows through with plans to improve?  Do you confront problems with the mindset that you will solve them?

And, finally there is accountability:  Do you take full responsibility for your career?  Are you someone who owns every choice that you make?

The thing to remember is that your career is a lifelong journey; made up of stepping stones, each leading to the next.  It's a process, not an event.  It requires determination, patience, and fortitude.  And, when done with the right attitude; it feels a lot like flying!

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Career Changers, should you stay or should you go?

You've worked long and hard, mastered your craft and have become an "expert" in your area of specialty.  After reflecting on your career, you realize that it is no longer aligned with your purpose in life.  Now what?

Because a career is a journey, planning your career should include a marketing plan as well.  Part of your marketing plan should outline how you will maintain marketable skills.  This is essential during your career for both advancement within your current company, and to help you excel when you decide to take that "next step" and venture out.

Decided to stay?  Make a lateral move:

If a move up in your career is not viable at your company, consider a lateral move within your company to expand your business knowledge and experience while maintaining your company-specific knowledge.   A lateral move is an excellent opportunity to learn the business from a different perspective.  This is a great way to add dimension to your career; broaden your repertoire with multiple specialties, while building your expertise as a generalist in your industry.  For instance, if you are currently an Information Technology Director with excellent business acumen, relationship and communication skills; you could consider applying for a senior management position in the Marketing Department as a business/IT liaison.  You would be leveraging your technology acumen while learning how the business runs from the marketing perspective.  This experience will broaden your choice of opportunities in the job market and help avoid being pigeon-holed into only technology positions.  Contact Lorraine for more information lorraine@rwcs.biz.   

Time to go?  Make a graceful exit:

Whether you consider a step-down, lateral, or advanced move to another company; make a graceful exit.  That means, prepare, plan, and be discreet.  Preparation and planning are especially important if you hold a senior position with your current employer.  It will only reflect on you positively if you prepare and plan for a smooth exit transition.  Having an exit strategy in place long before you plan to leave will help ensure your graceful exit.  Of course, you will share your resume (which you have been keeping up to date all along so there is no need to rush an updated version) and tell a few key friends and industry colleagues that you're looking.  All the while; being discreet and respectful.  After all, you will probably need key references from those you are leaving behind.  Contact Lorraine for more information lorraine@rwcs.biz.

20-plus years in your current career?  Don't get pigeon-holed:

If you want to venture into new territory and try something different in your next job, lateral moves during your career can build enough diversity into your skill-set to reduce the likelihood of being pigeon-holed into limited opportunities.  For instance, working only for Fortune 100 companies during a 20-plus-year career may be considered impressive, until you want to venture into a start-up opportunity.  Don't be surprised if you're perceived as someone who would not be a good fit for a start-up's entrepreneurial environment.  But, if during your 20-year career in the corporate arena; you've worked at small, medium, and large companies; then you may be perceived as being somewhat adaptable.  Contact Lorraine for more information lorraine@rwcs.biz.

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Last modified: 08/18/08