Q&A with the Coach

Author's Note: Fridays will be free Q&A with the Career Coach!
Got a question? Email us at careerhotline@traversesolutions.com

Q: I have lived and worked in Washington, DC for the past 10 years. I love my job at a well known, large non-profit, which has been great for my resume and has helped me grow my network. I was recently promoted into a writing and editing position that is giving me great experience and more opportunities, but I have been with my employer for almost 7 years and am itching to try something new and make a change. I have this feeling that I have "been there/done that" in DC for too many years. How can I get over my fear and start doing something about it instead of thinking about it (all the time!). - Writer/Editor, Non-Profit Organization

A: Making change takes courage, and it does take time. While I've seen people pack up and sell everything on Craig's list to move to the city of their dreams (without a job!) it pays to think through your next move, as you have been doing. What will start draining you - and others - is if/when you have talked and talked about wanting or desiring something without the action behind it. One way for you to get started is to put some things down on paper. For example, what is it that is prompting this desire for change? For some it is part adventure/part living life with no regrets. For others, it is a bad manager or the feeling that they have gone as far as possible within their organizations. What is it for you? Once you have explored this, write down what you want your life/career to look like, from your physical environment and surroundings to what you do with your personal time outside of work. Transferring your thoughts to paper makes you DO something, and takes the paralysis out of ongoing thinking.

Once you have your initial thoughts on paper, start putting some action behind them. Give yourself deadlines and stick to them - your commitment to making change will strengthen and trust me, those around you will notice the difference!!

-Ellen

Q & A with the Coach

Author's Note: Fridays will be free Q&A with the Career Coach!

Got a question? Email us at careerhotline@traversesolutions.com.

Q: My current employer allows me to have a very flexible schedule and my commute is only 20 minutes, but my prospective new employer is offering $30,000 more per year and a schedule that would be much more rigid. It also adds an additional 25 minutes to my commute. Should I take the offer with the prospective employer? - Executive, Public Affairs Firm, Washington, DC

A: This poses an interesting question: more money, or sticking to your values? If quality of life is high on your list then leaving for more money and working within stricter guidelines, not to mention a longer commute, might not be worth the additional cash. Company values, recognition and making a contribution are high on the list of reasons why people choose to stay (or leave) their employers. More money, surprisingly, is much lower on the list.

Assess what you have going for you now and what's important to you in a job before leaving for more money. What is it you need to have to be happy? If a short commute in a major metropolitan area and flexibility are in your top 5, you have your answer!

- Ellen

We want to help! Email us at careerhotline@traversesolutions.com to have your career question answered.

New Year Predictions

Anyone watch Montel Williams and his recurring guest psychic, Sylvia Browne on New Year's Eve? No? Me neither (although my husband did, which prompted me to write about this subject and no, he is not an avid fan - he was waiting for his car to be fixed).

I hear Sylvia dished out prediction after prediction with rapid fire for lucky audience members. Imagine getting such clarity on your future in mere minutes!

I have read time and time again that the "unknown" is something humans want cleared up pronto so that we can know - with certainty - what our lives will look like. And wouldn't it BE great to know the exact day you will finally land the right job after endless searching....how you will be affected when and if your employer conducts a layoff or reorganization...or what career is next when your job becomes unbearable. Clairvoyant, do tell!!!

After navigating my way through my own career crossroads (which was plenty painful at times), I finally learned to appreciate the journey and the learning experiences that come with not knowing what lies on the other side. I realized that by going through it, I had life lessons and experiences that would prove to help others gain confidence that they could do the same.

So if you are tempted to stop pursuing a new business idea...promotion....job.....career....life dream, ask yourself why. More importantly, remind yourself that only you can truly make things happen, and that fortune tellers are better left to daytime talk shows.

Oh! And don't forget....career coaches can't see into the future, but they excel at helping you get the future you want!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy 2008!!!

January 1st means a fresh start, new hopes, and plenty of resolutions. Most goals and new year ambitions focus on aspects of self-improvement, from losing weight to eliminating debt. The prospect of a brand new year to get it all done conjures feelings of motivation and excitement at the possibilities ahead.

If this year your goal is a new career...a promotion or new job...a better salary or higher quality of life, then here are some questions to help you set more focused goals in 2008. (Note: It is my goal to update my blog more regularly this year so I can better support you!)

• What do you want from your career? More money? Greater satisfaction? A new challenge? (Be as descriptive as possible)
• What is most important to you? What are your values? What motivates you? Gets you out of bed each day?
• What do you have to contribute that is unique? What are you good at? What do you naturally do well?
• What is stopping you from reaching your career goals? What blocks or obstacles have been preventing you from reaching your dreams?
• What 2 steps could you take right now to change your situation?

It's important to remember that we usually know what we have to do....it just takes getting out of our comfort zone, staying motivated and on track in order to produce the results we are looking for.

If you need more help from a career coach who specializes in helping people enjoy greater career satisfaction, contact me today to register for your 2008 Goal Setting Session! info@traversesolutions.com.