|
Issue 130 |
December 7, 2005 |
|
Prefer the text version? Change Your Subscription
Changing Course is dedicated to helping you: ~Live Life on Purpose ~Work at What You Love ~Follow Your Own Road | |
Inside Today's Issue Featured Article What is in a Name? When it Comes to Discovering Your Dream Job, the Answer May Be "Everything" Featured Resource Building Your Mega Speaking Empire Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses Guest Article Overcoming the # 1 Obstacle to Achievement Holiday Gift Guide View From the Other Side Resources for A Change |
|
|
A good name, like good will, is got by many actions and lost by one. ~ Lord Jeffery |
|
|
What is in a Name? When it Comes to Discovering Your Dream Job, the Answer May Be "Everything"
By Valerie Young Perhaps you've heard the jokes about the garbage collector who refers to him or herself as a "waste management engineer." But there's a lot going on behind this seemingly humorous self-titling. For one, the sad fact is, the person actually doing the job rarely gets much, if any, say as to their job title. That's not to say that everyone should necessarily get to decide on their title. I mean, how many CEO's of XYZ company can there be? But then again, if asked, wouldn't it be interesting to see what the people doing the work would come up with? Not only that but there's a lot of personal power in naming yourself as African Americans, long referred to as colored or Negroes, can attest. Some would dismiss this kind of renaming with the belittling and vastly overly used charge of "political correctness." Yet, when we consider the garbage collector/waste management engineer, we see that the renaming exercise is simply the very human need to reclaim one's dignity. As kindred spirit Barbara Winter and I were talking on the phone one day, she happened to mention that she was having a wonderful time hand painting her business cards. Intrigued, I asked her to send me one. What I noticed first was the spring green and brown speckled firefly dancing across nearly translucent paper. How fun! But what I loved most about Barbara's card was her title: Visionary-in-Chief. Since gradually transitioning from my corporate job to running ChangingCourse.com, I was never quite able to come up with a title I really liked. "Web site owner" felt dry and not terribly descriptive of what I do. Since I am, by choice, a solo entrepreneur supported by several wonderful freelancers, President of ChangingCourse.com sounded a little silly. Barbara's self-titling inspired me to come up with a new title of my own. I wanted something that reflected my original dream which was to somehow work from the comfort of home helping others realize their own dreams. That's how I came up with the title of "Dreamer-in-Residence." What if you could create your own job title? What would it be? Would it be working for your current employer but doing different job functions? Would it be in a whole new career or field? Would it involve working for yourself? Say your dream was to work with children. If you aren't yet sure what form that work might take, you could create a more general title like: Enhancer of Children's Joy and Spirited Learning. If you love the idea of refurbishing and selling old cars, your title might be Clunk King (or Queen) Extraordinaire. Hey, that's what Linda Cobb, the self-described "Clean of Queen" did to distinguish herself from other cleaning tip experts and her books are now best-sellers! I always liked General Dwight D. Eisenhower's title prior to his being voted into the truly unique title of President of the United States. During World War II, Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces. Now THAT'S a title! Imagine the garbage collector/waste management engineer, customer service rep, sales manager, or recently downsized person being the Supreme Commander of Waste Relocation, the Supreme Commander of Customer Joy, the Supreme Commander of Selling Great Stuff, or the Supreme Commander of Me, Myself and I? If someone handed me a business card with any of these titles on it, the first thing I'd do is smile; then I'd want to know more. Ok, so your boss would never go for something as fun as that. But what if you had business cards made up with your ideal job title just for yourself. You could carry them around with you as a motivational reminder that, while you are working in one place now, you are very much in the process of moving toward another more fulfilling work/life. What else can you buy for under $30 that will bring you so much pleasure? So why delay? Pick your own title and put it in print. When you choose your own job title, you'll find you may begin to feel entitled to be it! Just for this week I am: Valerie Young, Supreme Commander of Possibilities P.S. I poked around the Internet a little and found a nifty site whose logo is, "Because the best business cards are the ones you create yourself." They make it really easy to design your own very own personal card on-line. Check them out at BusinessCards.com P.P.S. I also found a site offers free business cards on selected templates or 25% off your first order. Learn about these offers at VistaPrint.com About the Author Off the beaten path career counselor, Valerie Young, abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at ChangingCourse.com, offering free resources to help you discover your life mission and live it. An expert on the Imposter Syndrome, she's presented her How to Feel as Bright and Capable as Everyone Seems to Think You Are program to over 30,000 people. Find more articles written by Valerie at ChangingCourse.com/articles/ |
|
|
There is really no insurmountable barrier save your own inherent weakness of
purpose. |
|
|
Featured Resource
Everything You Need to Launch Your
|
|
We need
to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing
ship. |
|
|
The Changing Course Newsletter Copyright 2005 Lisa Tarrant, Editor Valerie Young, Publisher info@changingcourse.com www.ChangingCourse.com 7 Ripley Road Montague, MA 01351
|
|
All About Your Subscription You're welcome to forward this newsletter in its entirety to other dreamers. If someone sent this to you, don't depend on your friend for this great information. Get your complimentary subscription by emailing subscribe@ChangingCourse.com Please do not reply to this message. Subscribe or Change Your Address: ChangingCourse.com/ezine.htm Previous Issues: ChangingCourse.com/archives/ |
|
|
|
I have
learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has
reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to
succeed. |
|
Upcoming Workshops & Teleclasses
Tele-Seminar for
Travel Lovers: Join this first ever Tele-Seminar and learn travel secrets designed to fund your vacations and make you $100,000 or more a year as you explore the world like a VIP.
In the past, people have paid $1,597 to hear these travelers speak, and learn their secrets for mastering just one of these travel tools. But, today, you're invited to discover their secrets for mastering all three of these tools... for less than $20. You'll learn: How to make a six-figure income as a traveler, living anywhere you want in the world... How to get pampered in paradise, then profit from it... How to make $12,600 on a four-day trip... Why your hometown is a $700/day goldmine if you know these secrets... and more... For more information about The Fund Your Vacations Tele-seminar, click here for details: TheTravelWritersLife.com |
|
Courage is the price life exacts for granting peace. ~ Amelia Earhart |
|
After
several friendly battles about "who had enjoyed the best and most
vacations," five savvy travelers finally agreed to meet -- for the first
time ever -- on December 13, 2005... to discuss the three tools they use to
consistently fund and profit from their vacations. |
Guest Article Overcoming the # 1 Obstacle to Achievement
By Laura K. Bryant
It’s Not What You Think Ask anyone the number one obstacle to getting things done, and the answer is usually: “I just don’t have the time.” My hope is that people come to recognize a “lack of time” for what it truly is: An excuse. It’s the story you tell yourself when you’re not willing to make something enough of a priority to take the time.
It’s OK for something not to be a priority in your life. What’s not OK is to lie to yourself about it and say you don’t have time. This lie has kept many from achieving their dreams.
So, What is the Number One Obstacle? The number one obstacle to achievement is not making a true decision to achieve. The word decision is Latin in origin with de meaning “from” and caedere meaning “to cut.” To decide literally means to commit to an outcome while cutting yourself off from any other possibility; there is no other option than to succeed.
Most people I know say things such as, “I’d love to start my own business,” or “I really need to lose weight,” or “I’ve been dying to read that book.” These are not decisions at all. They’re the things you might get done…when there’s enough time…someday.
Making the Decision It’s easy to make a decision when you know: 1) What you want in life AND 2) Who you need to be to get what you want.
Action Exercise
Look to create the person you truly want to be. What would that take?
The Only Way to Succeed When researching those who consistently succeed, you’ll find they do four things:
Action Exercise Decide to do something within the next 6-12 hours that will move you a step closer to getting what you want. Make the commitment now, schedule it, and follow-through. All it takes is a true decision.
About the Author
Laura K. Bryant is a speaker and author of, “Trust Yourself to Transform Your Body: A Woman’s Guide to Health and Weight Loss Without Diets.” She combined her over 20 years of research in health and fitness, her passion for empowering women, and what she learned from her own 40-pound weight gain and subsequent loss to form her business, Inspire Fitness, designed to help women create their own customized plans to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Visit Laura at TrustYourselfToTransform.com.
|
|
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all. ~ Dale Carnegie |
|
Holiday Gift Guide
Give the Gift of Change
with the Changing Course
Save 15% on Every
Item in the
Holiday Gift Giving Guide
(ChangingCourse.com/cmd.php?ad=177958)
|
|
|
View From I received this email from one your fellow traveler’s on the road to right livelihood:
"Today with serious
doubts I drove 30 miles to downtown Chicago and enrolled in the Digital
Photography Program at the Harrington Institute after wanting to study
photography for many years. I am 52 years old.
According to a survey conducted by workplace consultant Sharon Jordan-Evans, co-author of Love ‘Em or Lose ‘Em: Getting Good People to Stay, when asked to rank 20 job characteristics in order of importance, workers under 41 ranked flexibility as one of the top 10 reasons to stay with an employer. Those in the boomer generation chose instead a desire for meaningful work.
|
Resources for A Change Financial and Marketing Support for Socially Conscious Entrepreneurs Civic Ventures, a San Francisco nonprofit, wanted to support older business people, professionals and entrepreneurs who want to use their knowledge and experience for the greater social good. So starting in June, the organization will award $100,000 each to five social entrepreneurs aged 60 or older who are making a positive contribution to their communities through their work. An inspiring case in point is the International Senior Lawyers Project which matches experienced U.S. attorneys with human rights, domestic violence, disability and other legal needs in developing countries. To learn more or to submit a nomination, go to LeadWithExperience.org. In a bid to showcase its talent, mega ad agency Leo Burnett is seeking a worthy non-profit that needs a marketing campaign. The initiative, which the agency dubbed Packaged Goods, is aimed at giving a big marketing and visibility boost to an unknown entrepreneurial organization that has the potential to become as well-known as Habitat for Humanity. Deadline for applications is December 20th. Learn more at PackagedGood.org. Kiplinger’s Dream Job Contest Want to pursue your passion? Check out the December issue of Kiplinger’s magazine (Kiplinger.com). In it you’ll read about some inspiring people who changed course to work at what they love. People like world-renowned sand sculptor John Gowdy, personal chef Susan McCabe, photographer and workshop leader Rich Wagner who helped design AWAI’s Turn Your Photos into Cash course, and others (including yours truly). And be sure to enter Kiplinger’s Dream Job Contest where you can win $5,000 in cash, a state-of-the-art Sharp computer system, and extensive counseling from career change and business start-up consultants. Winners will be flown to Washington, DC in April to consult with experts and will also have the opportunity to meet with celebrity mentors. Total prizes are valued at between $16,500 and $21,500, depending on optional services selected. Application deadline is January 6th, 2006. Learn all about it at Kiplinger.com/dreamjob. Love to Cook? Do you dream of meeting a celebrity chef? NBC’S “Today” show is looking for families who love to make breakfast in the morning before starting a busy day on the go. If you are a mom, dad, or teen who is the chef of the household and does the majority of cooking in the family -- we want to hear from you! And if your child absolutely loves cooking and has a favorite celebrity chef they would love to meet, we want to hear from them too! The deadline for all submissions is Monday, December 19th at 5:00 pm EST. Complete details at msnbc.msn.com/id/10242051/ | |
| ||