Sunday Newscape Magazine

“I just don’t know what to do.” I heard this from a new friend recently when we were talking about how she might find a new job. She’s not in jeopardy of losing the one she has now, she’s just through with it. Been there for years, mastered every aspect, pushed the limits of expanding her role. For her, staying longer is a form of suicide…slow, but just as deadly.

 

Over coffee I asked her what she wanted next. She wasn’t altogether sure. She wasn’t just looking for a new employer – she needed a new focus. But, she had no idea how to define what would make her happy. And that was the problem. How could she go shopping for a new adventure if she couldn’t even visualize it for herself?

 

She knew all the wisdom of searching within for what really makes her happy. But, the hard part was trying to fit what she loved into a job description. She came up with things like, “I love to help people. I like to solve problems that make their lives better. I like to work in a team and pool our skills to accomplish our common goal.”

 

She did what many of us are doing who are looking for a more fulfilling career. She defined it according to what she wanted to experience rather than what kind of company or industry she wanted to work for. Made it rather tough to go job hunting when what she was looking for wasn’t in the job title. They wanted skills, she wanted quality experiences.

 

So, I told her about a plan that I’m using to come up with ideas for marketing my workshop Living in the Question. Can’t say I invented the idea, but I’m sure planning to use it. I’m not a marketing hot shot and I also know that the market for my work is out there. I just need to find them…or help them find me! But, how?? After lots of thought, I’d come up with very few ideas – none of them excited me. So, I decided to invite others into the process.

 

 

 

I looked through each and every name in my Outlook database. Since there are over 800 people listed, you can image how long that took. If they were out of town, I moved on to the next person. What I wanted to do required them to be local. As I read each potential name I asked, “Do I think this person could offer some unique ideas in how to market my workshop?” If yes, I added them to my list. By the time I finished I had 80 names representing all ages, genders, professions, and interests. A good diverse group!

 

Then I sent them all an invitation to come play with me. I told them what I was doing – writing a book and creating a companion workshop. I told them a little about the content and that I’d love to have them help me brainstorm some ideas on marketing. I told them that it would be a few hours in the evening on a week day. I thought that might blow some of them out of the water – giving up personal time – but 49 people responded with excited yeses! I was overwhelmed by their generosity. Some of them barely knew me!

 

Because so many people planned to come I split them up into three different evenings. I wanted to keep the groups small and intimate. Good energy and lots of opportunity for everyone to share

 

I shared this plan with my career-changing friend and asked her, “Why don’t you try something like this and let others offer their ideas to you. You could tell them what makes you really happy and then ask what jobs they know of that would support what you’re looking for.” She’s thinking about who to invite right now. 

 

What I learned with this attempt to get help is that people are more generous than you might think. They genuinely want to help and just aren’t often asked. If you’re stewing in helpless indecision and confusion, all you have to do is reach out. Help is there, wisdom is there, experience is there. 

 

What are you puzzling over? Where are you feeling lost? What help could you use? Look around you…resources are everywhere waiting to be tapped. You don’t have to travel this life alone. Yes, the decisions are yours, but there’s no rule (or wisdom) in cutting yourself off from the input and perspectives of others. Think about it, your answers could be closer than you imagine!

 

In Joy: Karen                (c) Karen Wright - http://wrightminded.com