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Another client has been a successful consultant. But he plays only a peripheral role in
development of organization. He would like to be more intricately involved in a company, so that he can influence direction and contribute more fully. Someday, he would love to own several small gift shops and be able to leave large metropolitan area where he now resides.
An accomplished attorney in a small southern town realizes he is out of place in this conservative environment and wants to relocate to a larger metropolitan area. Although he understands that he initially may have to take a job in legal field, he looks forward to time when he can explore work that more completely draws on his strengths and is more fulfilling.
Recently I got a call from a person who works for a large financial consulting firm. She stated that she is no longer willing to work for a company that asks her to compromise her values. She continues to be committed to her colleagues, but is no longer committed to company.
An unemployed former CFO in his mid fifties realizes that his goal is not to find "perceived" security with a firm that will provide a salary and benefits. Instead of continuing to look for a company to hire him, he now intends to rely on his own resourcefulness. He plans to open his own public accounting office in a small town where his services are needed.
These people have several things in common. It isn't that they don't want to work hard anymore. They do. All of these individuals desire a change in lifestyle that would allow them to work hard to achieve their own goals in environments that value integrity. They want more control over their lives and their work.
Defining Success
How do we go about defining what is important to us at this time? How do we define success for us at this time in our lives?
There are many ways to start exploring this process. My clients rank in importance a list of 18 values (priorities). I also provide them with a balance worksheet to help them identify areas of imbalance and to develop a plan of action steps to achieve more balance, satisfaction and happiness in their lives.
I offer my clients an exercise by Coachville.com that recommends completing following statement in three different ways: "I know how successful I am by how....."
Another exercise is to identify time in your life when you felt most successful and happiest. Describe what you did during these times and common themes that recur throughout best times in your life.
Sometimes we reach a point of no return, a point where we are just not going to settle for work and a life that leave us feeling stressed, unappreciated and unfulfilled. When that time comes there is no turning back, and we must find courage and determination to move ahead. Like Dr. Zhivago, we need to commit ourselves to something absolute, something that we feel in core of our being - something that will not change with latest business fad or decline in stock market. Then we can define what we need to feel successful and happy, and develop an action plan to get there.
Deborah R. Brown, MBA, MSW D & B Consulting 3475 Lenox Road, Suite 400 Atlanta, GA 30326 Voice: 404-240-8063 Email: Debbie@DandBconsulting.com Fax: 678-530-0661 Web Site: http://www.DandBconsulting.com
Debbie Brown is a career and human resource consultant and coach. Debbie earned a BA and an MSW from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Georgia Tech. She specializes in career coaching for professionals, entrepreneurs and attorneys. She can be reached at:
D & B Consulting,
Voice: 404-240-8063 Email: Debbie@DandBconsulting.com Web Site: www.DandBconsulting.com
