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Community Blog: Brainstorming à la Mode
Transition Vs. Trauma
posted Thursday, October 15, 2009 2:56 PM
For many changes at work (whether it be a job loss or a new boss) are stressful. It’s important to distinguish if you are in transition or trauma to know what’s best for you.
Transition is a passage from one state, stage, or place to another. Trauma is a severe emotional, physical, mental, or psychic injury, wound, or state. Sometimes the symptoms of transition and trauma are similar (anxiety, sadness, agitation, shock, guilt, shame, worry) but trauma is deeper, chronic, immobilizing and more numbing. Transition can feel like a roller coaster with emotional ups and downs. You might feel like a loser one minute and winner the next. Your confidence can fluctuate from over-the-top to non-existent. Whether you are high or low, you do experience some kind of movement even if it's questioning everything or distracting yourself with excessive TV, exercise, food or computer time. The work in transition is equilibrium. Trauma is low energy state of powerlessness where everything seems to be moving but you. You may feel lost in a maze of overwhelming emotions where grief, confusion and disconnection settle in for a while. In this state of listlessness it's hard to know where you are much less how to get out. The work in trauma is healing. Both transition and trauma are doorways to transformation. If you are in trauma, you may explore working with a psychotherapist, grief counselor, healer, or body worker to heal the wound. If you are in transition, a coach can help you move in the direction of your dreams instead of your fears. Wherever you are in your career journey, please be gentle with yourself. When in doubt, consider Robert Frost's wise words, "The only way out is through." For more info: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/emotional_psychological_trauma.htm http://www.healingresources.info/emotional_trauma_overview.htm
Interviewing Tips from the "Corner Office"
posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:18 AM
The NY Times feature called the “Corner Office” provides great tips for interviewing from CEO’s.
John Chambers of Cisco Systems wants to hear about your results not all you can do. It’s the difference between saying, “I write good copy” and “My last blog generated an increase in web site hits by 25%.” He also wants to know about your failures because “all of us have had mistakes and failures.” Instead of responding, “I can’t think of one” which Mr. Chambers says, “immediately loses credibility.” Share a lesson learned or two. Then he “tries to figure out if you’re really oriented around the customer.” Do you speak in terms of how your work impacts the customer? What are the needs and aspirations of the customers of the position you are interviewing for? And finally, do you have good communication skills--especially listening. Do you interrupt or plan your next response? Are your questions standard or do they arise out of your conversation naturally? Maigread Eichten CEO of FRS, a maker of energy drinks “finds that a ton people don’t know that much about the company.” She’s looking for preparation. Do you know the successes and challenges of the company? The history? The mission, vision, and values? She’s also looking for passion. Do you exude competence? Have enthusiasm? Demonstrate ways you can add value? And finally product knowledge. She’s had a few people who haven’t even tried the FRS energy drink. “If they say that, the interview is over.” For more from CEO’s on interviewing go to www.nytimes.com and search “Corner Office.”
Find Work in Growth Sectors
posted Sunday, July 19, 2009 9:29 AM
Looking for a job? Nothing coming your way? You may need to transfer your skills or learn new ones to get back in the employment game. Explore these growing employment sectors from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
You may also want to investigate emerging fields like anything "Green" and sustainable energy or consider those dreams of starting your own biz (be sure you’ve got what it takes or are willing to do what it takes). Check out the following web sites to see if any new or different careers make your heart flutter: http://healthcareers.about.com/od/whychoosehealthcare/tp/Why-Work-in-Healthcare.htm http://www.wetfeet.com/Careers-and-Industries/Industries/Consulting.aspx http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/3312.html
Are YOU your job?
posted Friday, July 3, 2009 12:16 PM
Are you your job? Is your worth, self-esteem and security defined by the size of your paycheck, the hierarchy of your position, the status of your profession, or the clout of your organizational affiliation? If so, you may find career transition a challenge.
If we believe that who we are is what we do for a living, we give away our innate power. By unconscious agreement, we allow external forces to define us and control our fate. Internally, this causes the alarms to go off. Our emotional body gets scared because its safety and security is dependent on others. Our mind spins as it seeks to justify and prove our merit. Our body lowers its vibration to cope and depression sets in. Our spirit watches the madness, wondering when we'll realize that we are of value simply because we are breathing! Externally, we push away the very support we desire. Hiring managers resonate with our fear not our capabilities and miss meeting us. Colleagues pick up on our desperation and run the other way. Clients wonder why we are trying so hard and don't call back. The universe lines up with our unconscious beliefs and brings us the opposite of what we truly seek. A job may be an expression of you but it is not who you are. It may be how you contribute but it is not the only way. It may be the manner in which you pay the bills but it is not your worth. It may be how you learn and grow but is not your esteem. It may be how you apply yourself but it is not your essential self. To make the most of this gift of time, get to know and rely on your essential self--the part of you that has access to everything you need. For more on claiming or reclaiming your personal power, check out: www.ted.com (not the airline) Essentially You @ Work: A Career Transition Guideby Shawn Snelgrove available at www.amazon.com
What's Not Wrong?
posted Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:31 AM
What you focus on during your job search accelerates or delays finding and attracting work meant for you. Do you worry about what is wrong (how the economy sucks or you haven't had an interview in days) or can you breathe in what is right (Denver is #1 city poised for recovery)? Do you stare at a problem (you are out of work with bills to pay) or do you watch expectantly for an answer (www.indeed.com)?
Zen master, poet, and peace activist Thich Nhat Hahn writes, "We often ask, 'What's wrong?' Doing so, we invite painful seeds of sorrow to come up and manifest. We feel suffering, anger, and depression and produce more such seeds. We would be happier if we tried to stay in touch with the healthy, joyful seeds inside of us and around us. We should learn to ask, "What's not wrong?" I invite you to do the same. In the midst of your career transition explore, "What's NOT wrong?" Are you breathing? Is your heart beating? Can you taste, smell, hear, see, feel, and intuit? Do you have talents you were born with? Values that matter to you? Passions that interest you? Do you have a roof over your head? Food on your table? Friends to share with? Did someone share an idea today? Give you a lead? Help you out? Are the flowers blooming? Sun rising? Birds singing? This practice doesn't mean you ignore your problems or pretend they don't exist. You simply shift your awareness to sow solutions. Place your attention on what is not wrong and what you plant will grow! For more from Thich Nhat Hahn: www.plumvillage.org
Get Out, Get Creative
posted Wednesday, April 22, 2009 12:53 PM
It’s hard to stay motivated at your computer all day as you look for work. If you’ve ever worked on a creative project or labored over a problem you know the best ideas don’t always come while you are staring at your computer screen. They often come while you are in the shower, driving to work, or eating dinner with friends. This is because your pit bull left brain mind is freed from chewing on the problem so your emotional body relaxes and your creative right brain mind can be heard. Challenge yourself to “get out” for an hour a day to find (and be available for) some new and often surprising answers. Experiment with this 3-step process:
For more on ideas on accessing your creative mind:
Staying Centered During Career Transition
posted Friday, April 10, 2009 4:01 PM
 A common struggle during career transition (and life in general) is staying centered amidst the highs and lows of “good” and “bad” news. We swing between glee (“Yes, we’d like to interview you”) and frustration (“No, we aren’t hiring”). We are ecstatic when we get a lead and terrified when we hear the 6:00 news. We feel hopeful as we consider a new career then stuck as we face our bills. We are constantly out of balance on a teeter totter of emotional extremes; up and down, excited and depressed, optimistic and pessimistic.
This reaction to transition does five things. 1) It is exhausting so we lose our motivation and our nerve. 2) Our self-esteem becomes dependent on external circumstances so we feel lost and out of control. 3) We disconnect from the present moment so we miss opportunities. 4) We appear desperate instead of competent so we don’t attract good jobs. 5) We make short term, fear-based decisions that are not in best interest of ourselves or those we serve. If you’d like to get off this emotional ride to nowhere consider these daily practices to stay in your power as doors open and close. Do one thing each day to: Be Useful – Apply your skills. Volunteer. Offer to help someone. Perform a random act of kindness. Take a training class. Make a gift. Learn something new. Take some clothes to good will. Fix something. For more ideas, explore these inspiring resources: “Essentially You@ Work: A Career Transition Guide” at www.brainstormingalamode.com “Make Money, Not Excuses” at www.JeanChatzky.com “On the Money” at www.cnbc.com www.spiritualityandpractice.com “Three Marriages: Reimagining Work, Self and Relationship” at www.davidwhyte.com
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