Mid-Life Perception: It’s Your View That Counts

Written by Craig Nathanson


Continued from page 1
If we are lucky, there may be a brief section on suggestions for development. Be we’re hardly encouraged to follow our hearts. Development advice at work is geared toward whatrepparttar organization needs and wants us to do next – for them. A funny thing happens onrepparttar 106899 way to mid-life When we hit mid-life, we often stop caring as much about what others think of us. Instead, many of us start to focus inward so we can askrepparttar 106900 difficult but critical question: How do we feel about our selves and our work? Mid-life demands an honest self-assessment. Who are you? What is most important? What are you most passionate about? These arerepparttar 106901 questions we start asking. And if we aren’t asking these questions, we should be. The beautiful thing about self-assessment is that if you don’t like your own perspective of yourself, you change it. This is not so easily done with how others perceive you. Musts vs. should-haves Mid-life is a time to shedrepparttar 106902 external should-haves (I should stay in my corporate job. I should pursuerepparttar 106903 next promotion. I should move to a bigger house to convey my status.) and focus onrepparttar 106904 all-important “musts” for your life (I must do what I enjoy. I must take control of my life’ direction). So much of this relates torepparttar 106905 work we do. A strong self-image is essential to defeat bothrepparttar 106906 external “should-haves” and, more importantly, to put into motionrepparttar 106907 “musts.”

Murray and Heather did this when they sold their house and set sail on a new life adventure. Tamah and Bonnie did this by giving up “prestigious” jobs to follow their dreams. They all ignoredrepparttar 106908 pressure to do what they should have and instead foundrepparttar 106909 courage to do what they must. In mid-life, it’s your self-perception that countsrepparttar 106910 most and you’ll need a healthy one to create an even greater second half of life. Understand what your musts are, and steel yourself againstrepparttar 106911 onslaught of family, colleagues, and well-meaning friends who will pressure you to followrepparttar 106912 should-haves. It’s your life, and it’s never too late to start living it.

Craig Nathanson, The Vocational Coach, is the author of “P is for Perfect: Your Perfect Vocational Day. He publishes the free monthly e-zine, “Vocational Passion in Mid-life.” Craig believes the world works a little better when we do the work we love. He helps those in mid-life carry this out. Visit his online community at http://www.thevocationalcoach.com


TAKE THIS CAREER AND SHOVE IT -- IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!

Written by Ann Baehr


Continued from page 1
Change jobs internally Sometimes happiness is only a department away! If you work for a proactive company that posts job openings internally, this might berepparttar perfect opportunity for you to change careers while growing withrepparttar 105069 same company. Your career change can be very drastic if you have a supportive company that is willing to train you. Best of all, they might even pay for you to attend college to prepare you for that career change. If they don't post internally, keep your ears open to learn about new business developments within repparttar 105070 company. Speak with your human resources representative to inquire about career growth opportunities and what you need to do to make a career change internally. Create a position at your current company Sometimes you know better than anyone inrepparttar 105071 company what is needed. If you can put a business plan together to present to management illustrating how this new idea would benefitrepparttar 105072 company financially and logistically, you might succeed at creating a new position--or even a new department! This is a great way to do what you do best in a new capacity because you will berepparttar 105073 person who will determine whatrepparttar 105074 job description will be. Pretty cool! Transition to a new career by answering a classified ad Again, don't quit your job just yet. You are always more marketable when you have a job. If you are ready to take drastic measures to find overnight career happiness, you should have your resume and cover letter professionally prepared to answer those classified ads inrepparttar 105075 newspaper or online. Even if you are just exploringrepparttar 105076 possibility of changing careers, this is a good exercise to see how marketable you are (how much money you can make), develop your interviewing skills, and to learn about what's out there beyondrepparttar 105077 walls of your office cubicle! Go back to what you used to do--and love Sounds crazy right? How many times have you heard someone say, "I used to work doing such and such. It didn't pay that well, but I loved it." It is not uncommon to leave what we love because it doesn't payrepparttar 105078 bills. Money seems like everything these days. But, when we're unhappy, we know it's really not. We need to find a compromise--something we enjoy doing that will make us want to get up every morning so we can live that old adage that claims you'll never work a day in your life if you work at doing what you love.

Ann Baehr is a Certified Professional Resume Writer and President of Best Resumes of New York. She currently serves as Second Vice President of the National Resume Writers' Association. Her work has been published in over twenty resume and cover letter books by McGraw-Hill, Jist Publishers, and Adams Media. To learn more, visit Best Resumes online at www.e-bestresumes.com or email Ann Baehr directly at resumesbest@earthlink.net


    <Back to Page 1
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use