Archive

WORKLIFE SOLUTIONS NEWSLETTER #01
A newsletter devoted to those who want to achieve more from their work and lives.
December 2004

Table of Contents:
1. Welcome
2. Wisdom Quotes
3. How To Want The Job You Have, Love The Job You’ve Got"
4. "The Joy Diet" by Martha Beck
5. Resources You Can Use
6. Closing Notes
7. A final word!

1. WELCOME
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Dear Readers -

I’m sitting on the plane, traveling from New York to New Zealand, and marveling at the miracles of modern technology. Not only am I overwhelmed that a little kiwi (supposedly a flightless bird) has flown halfway across the world to present a workshop on Passion filled work, but that technology also allows me to write this in inaugural newsletter to you miles high above land. It seems fitting that the first newsletter should derive its inspiration from the States. I had the great privilege of staying with a couple I had only met once before in Mexico – Joe and Gerry. Joe had been in Tower One that fateful September two years ago. He and others like him seem to have such resilience and an optimistic hope in the future of humanity that I too left feeling comforted by the American spirit and their ability to get back on their feet after such devastating events.

While in San Francisco presenting my workshop at the International Career Development Conference, I had the great pleasure to meet Dick Bolles – the best-selling author of “What Colour Is Your Parachute.” I was also fortunate to have heard his keynote speech and it was so inspirational on so many levels that I brought a tape recording of it. I’d like to share some of his wisdom with you now. In his opinion to manage your career in this age of rapid change and escalating uncertainty people need 3 core skills: 1) people skills – this requires not only increasing your self-awareness about the things that make you tick and those that push your buttons but also you must have a very clear idea about what you are looking for and why. But this alone is not enough, we are not purely independent people carving out a single existence but interdependent people who not only need the help and assistance of others. To be successful we must be offering something back to people that they need. Skill 2 then, according to Bolles, requires us to know other people better than they know themselves. Bolles argues that, “Career planning is never complete until we have learnt more about the people we rub shoulders with everyday,” The final skill career planners need today is to use their grapevines, or networks to maximum advantage. This often takes great courage, because the most valuable people are the ones who hardly know you at all. These are your weak ties as they are the people who do not move in your current circles, but if you are to get ahead then you need to strengthen your weak ties.

The tips which follow in this newsletter build on Bolles’s advice and I hope they provide both inspiration and practical strategies to your current career dilemmas that you may be experiencing.

Passionately and compassionately yours,

Cassandra


2. WISDOM QUOTES
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"To be satisfied with what one has, that is wealth. As long as one
Sorely needs a certain additional amount, that man isn't rich."
- Mark Twain



“You can achieve anything you want if you help enough
people achieve what they want.”
- Geoffrey Moss


“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves” -Thomas Edison

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.” G.W.F.Hegel – Philosopher

“A human being is not one in pursuit of happiness but rather in search of a reason to be happy.”
- Viktor Frankl, Psychologist

“The worst thing one can do is be aware of what one wants and not pursue it, to spend years regretting things never achieved or experiences never had”.
- Jim Rohn, Writer

“A man with no imagination has no wings” – Muhammad Ali
“If you don’t ask you don’t get” - Gandhi

“Where talent and interest intersect expect a masterpiece.”
- John Ruskin, Painter


“ Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
– Will Rogers












3. HOW TO WANT THE JOB YOU HAVE, LOVE THE JOB YOU’VE GOT
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What do Albert Einstein, Richard Branson, Sir Edmund Hillary, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Stephen King have in common? The answer is: They have all made a successful career out of doing something they enjoyed. Each one of these people credits their ability to take control of their careers and demonstrate initiative in part, to their personal and professional success. Splash this with a passion for what they do and you have a winning formula.

Webster's defines initiative as “the ability or attitude required to begin something“ and passion as "strong enthusiasm". We're all born with both the capacity to make positive changes and the ability to feel highly motivated and enthused about something. The great challenge is sustaining both action and reaction when it comes to our work.

A recent survey by recruiters TMP revealed that over 46% of people were dissatisfied in their current jobs, and another survey revealed that over 90% of people are not visibly pursing their passions. A young lady of 23 said to me recently, “ Isn’t it unrealistic to expect job satisfaction? Don’t you do want you enjoy when you retire?” Another man aged in his 50’s, said, “You go to work, you grit your teeth and you bear it.” Dissatisfaction if left to fester is a major cause of work related stress, relationship pressures, and ill health – both mental and physical. Yet so often the answers to peoples career remedies lies under their noses and are within their own power to control. Never a truer work was said than when someone said, “if it’s to be it’s up to me!” Yet, as one frustrated HR manager said to me recently, “The only time people tell us what they want is when they are walking out the door. If only they would tell as what they need, then at least we could try and work something out.”

How can you learn to create more satisfaction from the job you already have? Here are ten tips:



1) BE CLEAR WHAT YOU WANT
It's been said that if you don't know where you're going any path
will take you there. To change anything you need first to be aware of it, how to accept how it is, and how to determine how you want it to be. Spend some time getting clear about what you want. Use the power of visualization to bring your criteria for job satisfaction to the forefront of your mind. What are your goals, your dreams and passions? Think widely and holistically but thinking about your wider life in general. For example, perhaps your ideal job has more time flexibility so you can spend more time with the significant others in your life. You may like to “anchor” these visual and mental images and ideas in a journal or album. Draw, paint or cut out pictures from magazines that describe what you want your ideal care and life to look like. Dare to think big! Resist the urge to say, “that will never happen.” When you're clear what you
want, it’s easy to “problem solve” and to create solutions.

2) SCULPT YOUR DREAM ROLE
Job sculpting is a term that came out research by career theorists at The Harvard Business School. They encourage people to chisel way at their staid, linear job descriptions and tailor responsibilities, tasks, even remuneration to better meet individual needs – and both people and organizations all over the world are doing just that. First get clear about what parts of your current job you enjoy and which parts you would happily give away, and then focus on ways that you could have more of what you want and less of what you don’t. Below are some examples to get you started:

Jerry, hated working 9-5 so she went to her boss and asked if she could work more flexible hours as well as work from home every Friday, her boss was a bit skeptical at first but they agreed to trial it for 6 months and then review it. Jerry’s job satisfaction increased and so did her productivity. It was a win-win outcome and the arrangement is now permanent.

Ben wanted a pay rise but the organisation was going through a tough time. So he put forward a proposal to take his pay in annual leave and is now on 5 weeks annual leave instead of 2. He’d rather have the leave to enjoy his passion for windsurfing anyway!

Michael was a disillusioned lawyer until he found away to increase the time he spent helping people as opposed to billing for minutes of time and regurgitating the law. He identified a gap in the way his law firm inducted new summer recruits and designed a mentoring programme where he was responsible for mentoring new recruits and well as training mentors to be.




3) LEARN TO LISTEN AND TRUST YOUR INTUITION
We can’t always go on making one rational decision after another. Problem solving without intuition is like driving through life without a review mirror – you’ll never see the opportunities coming up for you. Intuitive information reveals itself more easily when you learn to quiet your mind through meditation or by simply sitting quietly and listening to some relaxing music. Ask your intuition questions such as, "How can I begin to bring more fulfillment into my career?" Or "What internal career moves could I choose that will be both fun and financially rewarding?" Intuition reveals itself in a variety of ways. There's no one right way to receive its wisdom. It may come in the form of a hunch, a gut feeling, an inner voice, an image or in a dream.


4) MAINTAIN AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Many people spent more time thinking and talking about what they don’t want, or don’t like rather than focusing on what’s good about their current situation. We make real what we attend to, so to experience more immediate satisfaction in your job send you critics on a holiday. Some practical ways to avoid this is to avoid the whingers at work, and only talk about what you do want to be real in your life. Drawing up a list of all the things you are grateful for as well as those you enjoy is a great way to inject some more passion into your working day. For example, Mary’s organization was going though change and everybody was really cross about the way it was being handled. At first Mary brought into this but she hated the way all the negative talk was making her feel and it was having a toll on her personal life. She drew up a list of gratitudes, which included the fact that she had a job – unlike many of her friends and thousands of unemployed people. Changing her focus in this way helped her feel better about herself, her situation and her organization and her changed attitude was noticed by her employers who offered her a promotion.



5) GET IN THE DRIVING SEAT
Some people are tempted to hold others accountable for their work satisfaction. Most find over time that those others can’t-or won’t- deliver what’s wanted and needed and they end up getting pretty resentful or despondent in the process. You’ve taken control before and you can do it again. You chose your current job, decided how long you wanted to stay, and you have the power and influence to improve your work. Accept that responsibility, complete with the challenges, and you’ll get more of what you want from your work and your workplace.




6) HELP SOMEBODY ELSE TO GET THEIR NEEDS MEET
Successful people in life also consider the needs of others when seeking their own successful outcomes. Not only does this way of negotiating have a feel good aspect but its also smart business practice. Helping others makes it easier for them to say “yes” to helping you. Most people are motivated by the WFIIFM formula to need fulfillment – make it your business to identify the “what’s in it for me” that will help those people who hold the power to help you. Really drill down so you know what motivates their decisions and structure your proposal accordingly. This might seem like hard work and a tad conniving…and it is. Nobody’s going to hand you what you want on a plate.




7) INCREASE YOUR VISIBILIY
Some of the most brilliant people I know go largely unnoticed because they don’t like to “blow their own trumpet”. Many of them are not “extroverted’ by nature and prefer to quietly go about their own business, doing what they do well. Whilst this is admirable, unfortunately many of these people are often railroaded or sidelined when it comes time for promotion or the assignment of new and more interesting duties. There’s a fine line between being big headed and being in the shadows. Assuming others will notice your efforts is a recipe for disappointment. The simple fact is that in organisations all over the world there are less people doing more of the work that nobody, even with the best intentions, can’t keep an eye on the achievements of all their staff members and fellow colleagues. Since when did it become bad manners to tell people what you have accomplished? In the immortalized words often attributed to Nelson Mandela: “It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, successful, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.” Nelson Mandela, Political Leader



8) IDENTIFY THE KNOWLEDGE YOU ARE GOING TO REQUIRE
No matter what it is you want to accomplish, you are going to need more knowledge than you have now. The basic rule of life is that to a greater or lesser extent, you have gone as far as you can go in your life at this moment with what you now know. Aim for continuous self-development because you need to take in more knowledge.

Identify the knowledge you need to acquire, what is it you need to know. Identify what the critical skills are that you will need to possess, e.g. the ability to sell your ideas and persuade others; how to develop and sustain confidence etc; or the specific experience you need to advance your career.

9) GET CHALLENGED, SET GOALS
It maybe that you have outgrown your current role or organisation. For many people under-utilising their skills can let to feelings of stagnancy, depression, frustration and anger. It has been said that we are creatures of habit so even through we know we want more it can be really hard to get up out of our comfortable but unsatisfying job. We all like to be comfortable, to do well and be well off, but the comfort rut’s a bit like wearing an old shoe – you just keep putting it on because it feels familiar. But in your heart of hearts you know you’ve outgrown it and it’s time to change. Being true to your self can be the most comfortable feeling of all but often takes great courage. Setting goals is a hugely powerful way of committing to action and achieving results. Many people find that their attitude toward their current situation takes a turn for the best when they start focusing on their preferred futures and taking incremental steps to get there.

You may find it helpful to draw a time line and begin with the end in mind by determining where you are now, where you want to be, and all the steps you need to tick off in order to get there.

As boaties know only to well: “unless you know where you want to head, no wind is favourable!”



10) WHAT COLOUR IS YOUR PARACHUTE?
Keeping all your eggs in one basket is a recipe for disaster (or an omelet!) Despite all the best efforts in the world, you may find that you just can’t get your needs met in your current job. The good news is, that you can start looking for alternative jobs while you already have a secure income. So many people quit their jobs out of frustration without having a back up plan, or get increasingly angry because their needs aren’t being met. The great news is that having identified what you do want, you are one step closer to the job you want.




NOTE: If you're interested in an audiotape of this topic, email
Resources@worklifesolutions.co.nz "Love it! Don’t Leave it! 20 ways to get what you want from work.” Priced at only NZD $40




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4. THE JOY DIET - 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life by Martha
Beck

Martha Beck, author of the best selling "Finding Your Own North
Star" and columnist for O magazine, delivers another useful and
sure-to-be-popular self-help guide. "The Joy Diet," designed for the
soul rather than the body, is composed of 10 steps that, once learned, are to be practiced on a daily basis to achieve greater fulfillment and a happier life. The ten menu items are:

* Nothing: Do nothing for fifteen minutes a day. Stop mindlessly
chasing goals and figure out which goals are worth going after.

* Truth: Create a moment of truth to help you unmask what you're
hiding -- from others and from yourself.

* Desire: Identify, articulate, and explore at least one of your
heart's desires -- and learn how to let yourself want what you want.

* Creativity: Learn six new ways to develop at least one new idea
to help you obtain your heart's desire.

* Risk: Take one baby step toward reaching your goal. The only rule
is it has to scare the pants off you.

* Treats: Give yourself a treat for every risk you take and two
treats just because you're you. No exceptions. No excuses.

* Play: Take a moment to remember your real life's work and
differentiate it from the games you play to achieve it. Then play
wholeheartedly.

* Laughter: Laugh at least thirty times a day. Props encouraged.

* Connection: Use your Joy Diet skills to interact with someone who
matters to you.

* Feasting: Enjoy at least three square feasts a day, with or
without food.

Reproduced with kind permission from Lynn Robinson.
Lynn A. Robinson, M.Ed. Lynn is one
of the America’s leading experts on the topic of intuition. Her most
recent books include "Compass of the Soul: 52 Ways Intuition Can Guide
You to the Life of Your Dreams" (Andrews McMeel, 2003) and "Divine
Intuition: Your Guide to Creating a Life You Love" (DK Books, 2001).
Lynn is a popular and widely recognized author and motivational
speaker as well as a columnist and the Intuition-At-Work Expert for
iVillage.com. Her free monthly "Intuition Newsletter" is available at
her Web site, http://www.LynnRobinson.com.









5 . RESOURCES YOU CAN USE
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The Passion Pack - If you would like to discover some more ways you can inject more passion and satisfaction into your career and life check out The Passion Pack – an inspirational self-development tool, developed by me to help people like you! For more details or to order one check out my website www.worklifesolutions.co.nz. It would make a great gift too.

Personal coaching – coaching can help you to get clearer about your goals and tap into proven strategies to help you achieve them. Check out my website for more information or contact me in person Cassandra@worklifesolutions.co.nz. I’d love to hear from you.

6 . CLOSING NOTES
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I LOVE TO HEAR YOUR SUCCESS STORIES. PLEASE SEND ME A NOTE! You can email me at: Cassandra@worklifesolutions.co.nz

GIVE A GIFT TO A FRIEND!
I appreciate your forwarding this article to friends and colleagues.


AUTO RESPONDERS

To receive information about my BUSINESS CONSULTATIONS send a blank
e-mail to: coaches@worklifesolutions.co.nz

To receive information about my PERSONAL CONSULTATIONS send a blank
e-mail to: coaches@worklifesolutions.co.nz

To receive information about my AUDIO TAPES send a blank e-mail to:
resources@worklifesolutions.co.nz

To receive the latest INTUITION NEWSLETTER send a blank e-mail to:
Newsletter@LynnRobinson.com


Copyright © 2003, all rights reserved. Permission is granted to
reproduce, copy or distribute this newsletter as long as this
copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is
attached.

The author of this newsletter is Cassandra Gaisford. Cassandra is a leading experts on the topic of passion and career success. Cassandra is a popular and widely recognised author and motivational speaker as well as a columnist and career expert for the Dominion Post. Her free monthly Newsletter is available at her Web site, http://www.worklifesolutions.com


6 . A FINAL WORD!
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Merry Christmas! I hope you have a fantastic and well earned break full of cheer! Laughter is a great tonic and rest is a great reviver! Thanks so much for all your support this year – it has been fantastic and I hope 2004 is your best year yet!