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Q and A with the Vocational Coach
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(March-2003)Each month, we'll select 10 questions to post and share and archive the prior month as well Craig; I have been just given a promotion as a result of layoffs in my group. The problem is the salary increase is only 5 % and the new time commitment will take away whatever free time I had after hours which I use for my hobbies and relaxation. The other problem is I have been thinking lately and I don't like what I do any more. I feel so lost. I mean, what do I do. I need the income right now Clyde Dear Clyde, Don't feel alone. So many organizations reward a person's hard work with small increases and more hard work without even thinking to ask the question, ''is this actually the work this person wants to do? Is the pain of not getting to do your hobbies greater then the pleasure of the 5 % increase? Write on a piece of paper how your life will be different with each option e.g. taking the promotion or declining it. Your answer will become clear! Craig
Craig, I read your site and get inspired. Unfortunately, I am really afraid to try anything new. My parents taught me that risking change is something that would hurt my family. My husband works and I work part-time. I am so sad. I want to go back and work full time so we can afford some perks in life we deserve yet I look at my two small children and wonder how they will be affected. I keep thinking about what you write about. I know I am not passionate about the work I do. What do I do? Thanks.... Sue Dear Sue, I can tell you are passionate about one thing and that's your children. Spend your time and energy with your passions and you will live a healthier, happier life. When you do so, your passions become YOUR perks! Craig Craig, I want to change jobs to follow my passion but I need to make 80K a year and my passion will pay me around 50K? What do I do? Thanks Brian Dear Brian, Well, let's see...how about getting 2 40,000 a year jobs and adding them again? It's comes down to a combination of practical and dreaming exercises......For example, what is your minimum cash flow that you require each month. Then, you need a solid plan to make that number. If your new idea only pays a little over half of what you need, then your plan should revolve around how to make up the difference with other activities which are linked to these passions. I bet once you get rolling, you will see and get many new ideas to make up the difference. You'll need to have a 6month-1 year set of financial resources which is what I recommend to get you through until your activities take off. Most people get scared off by the gap and never take the risk and as a result never experience the passion! Craig Craig, I am 54 years old and currently don't really like what I am doing. My health is now failing but my plan calls for me to follow my vocational passion when I turn 60. Does that make sense to you? Pat Dear Pat, Nope, it does not make sense since you asked. Six years is a long time to waste in one's life at any age especially over 50. I believe you have NOW the wisdom and internal resources to follow your passion. Why wait? Craig Craig, Why do so many people wait so long to either identify or follow what they want to do in life? Betsy Dear Betsy, Let me read between the lines. Why have you waited so long? I am sure you know the reasons most people use; finances, upbringing, risk etc Each person however must examine their reasons and decide whose direction in life they wish to follow and why. There will always be excuses from others on why one shouldn't follow their true passions. It all comes down to whose steering your ship of life. Craig Craig, I took the Strong inventory and Myers-Briggs tests recently which gave me results that I don't like with regards to where my vocational skills are. What should I do? Wayne Dear Wayne, With any assessments, just look for patterns. Compare these patterns to your internal knowledge and wisdom to get the best answer for you. When in doubt, go with your own internal test. It will be more accurate Craig Craig, My company doesn't have a career development program. We are supposed to be responsible for our own development. I don't like my job any longer. How do I start to do my own development? Alice Dear Alice, Translation: Your company like many others has decided there is no ROI in having a career development program or as I like to say, the lazy way out. The good news is you can now launch your own life development (I don't like the words career development as it is so limiting) and figure out what you need to do right now to move closer to your true passions. In your free time, what do you day dream the most about if only you had the time or money or skills or permission? There's your answer.... Craig Craig, I am a high tech engineer but my passion is in making toy cars. I must admit I can spend hours doing this and times seems to flow. I am actually not very good at the cars. Is it a pipedream to make this my new vocational passion? Steve Dear Steve, I find that it is easier to gain the abilities in something once one has the interest vs. being good at something but not having the interest. Life can be a pipedream. This is a wonderful thing. If you can dream it, you can become a magnet for your dreams! Craig Craig, My headhunter keeps calling me for various jobs. For some reason, I can't get myself to call this guy back. Why do you think I am doing this and losing all these potential opportunities. I really need the money now Kyle Dear Kyle, It's clear to me, your inner self is working overtime to protect you from accepting another one of those JOBS which pays the rent but not your spirit. While the rent does need to be paid, the landlord doesn't care where the money comes from. It's time to switch headhunters and hire YOURSELF to find the next opportunity! Craig Craig, It's been a long week. I commute 4 hours a day to get the privilege to work another 9 hours a day at things which are not meaningful. The problem is I have a family to support? Jon Dear Jon, Not sure how you can support your family mentally once you get home. I bet I can find you any night after 8pm collapsed somewhere at home while your kids wish they had a dad to help them with their homework or just talk. Support includes both financial and emotional support. Sounds like you are out of balance. What can YOU do NOW to defeat the commute and the job? Get creative! Craig
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