The Time to Make a Job Change Has Never Been Better

In a poll conducted by Monster in July 2021, the statistics are clear, many workers are feeling unhappy and stalled in their current job. Here are the numbers:

• 86% of workers feel their career has stalled during the pandemic

• 79% of workers feel the need to push their careers further as the pandemic ends

• 80% of workers do not feel their current employer offers growth opportunities

• 49% of workers fully take on the responsibility for their own career growth, and another 49% expect their employer to play a part alongside them in career growth

According to an article in Fast Company, “While lack of childcare options and low wages are at the heart of many job vacancies, the other reasons people are quitting en masse are the same reasons people have always left their jobs: lack of flexibility and lack of opportunity—meaning, lack of work-life balance. The pandemic has caused a lot of us to refocus and reevaluate our priorities.”

The pandemic has caused a lot of us to refocus and reevaluate our priorities.

Your career path may seem challenging and uncertain right now but our book Time To Get Real! is designed to provide people with a way to intentionally control as much of their life and career as possible. The book posits that most individuals’ lives and careers are made up of 75% of what just happens to them, and the other 25% of what individuals make happen. Right now, you're going to be much better off if you reverse that and have 75% of your life and career controlled by you while the other 25% comes in over the transom. We can help you be intentional and take control.

Sign Up For Our New Online Seminar

Envisioning and Getting the Right Job for Me

Thursday, November 11, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Click Here To Enroll Now. $49

Whether you want more from your current role or want to change careers entirely, this Life and Career Planning seminar will help you get there!

During this 90-minute Zoom seminar, you will learn:

• What’s happening in the current job market

• What does this mean for you?

• How to decide what you want in a new job or career

• Should you stay where you are, or move to a different organization or job sector?

• Developing the strategies, goals, and objectives to get your new job

• The importance of developing your personal action plan

• Where to begin - starting your search

• How to monitor your progress

• Reaching out for help when needed

If there ever was a time, this is it!

• Don’t Procrastinate, Ride The Wave Of The New Job Market

• Invest In Yourself Now, Don’t Wait

Envisioning and Getting the Right Job for Me

Thursday, November 11, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Click Here To Enroll Now. $49

Webinar Attendance Is Limited

Those who sit idly by as life happens to them will not emerge from this current environment in as great a shape as they need to be. What do you choose to do? We are here to help.

The Seminar Presenters

This seminar is presented by Alex Plinio, President of Life and Career Planning LLC and Melissa Smith, Managing Director of Life and Career Planning LLC. Our firm, Life and Career Planning LLC was started by these two professionals, having experience in the business, nonprofit, government, and educational sectors. Although they served in academia, they are not academics. They are practitioners. Their experience helped them to recognize the acute need on the part of individuals, regardless of sector, for intentional life and career planning, and professional coaching. They understand it because they lived it. Their values and purpose in life are directed toward helping as many individuals as possible to gain what Alex and Melissa have already gained: a life lived intentionally, with purpose, and based upon values that are enduring and fulfilling. For the full bios of Alex Plinio and Melissa Smith, click on their name.

More About Life And Career Planning LLC

Our message to you is clear. You can be more in control than you believe and can achieve success and happiness. Our Life and Career Planning Model© is a market and time-tested guide to leading an intentional life. Following this model helps you take control, directing you through a strategic planning process leading to actions that result in personal and professional success. In addition to our model, Life and Career Planning offers high-quality resources among which are: our highly rated book Time To Get Real!, personal coaching, online courses, informative blogs, and direct contact for immediate need situations.

To buy the book, click here. Our book is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon

The Life and Career Planning Model© featured in the book Time To Get Real! offers a uniquely integrated approach that makes the life and career planning process so enduring and powerful. The book is not a feel-good tome that leaves the reader without much substance. Other methods for self-development or improvement may not require the effort contained in Time To Get Real! While there is an enormous need for coaching and counsel on life and career planning, achieving balance, and working toward personal success, no other book or process brings this experiential, comprehensive, and common sense approach. We know this because the Life and Career Planning Model© is market-proven and changes lives. Time To Get Real! provides essential life planning tools, including the very real need for financial planning to make dreams possible.

Join Alex and Melissa on Thursday, November 11, 10:00 am - 11:30 am for this time-sensitive, informative, and potentially life-changing seminar.

Click Here To Enroll Now

A Model to Help You Make Better Decisions

We all make decisions. They may be easy or difficult. Some don’t require very much thought but others can impact our life, our career, or other individuals who are important to us. For those decisions that have great meaning for our life and our work, it’s important to do the best possible job that we can in reaching conclusions that will be to our benefit.

At Life and Career Planning, we developed a decision-making process based on research of numerous decision-making models. Below is a graphic depiction of the process. Its application is not for the easy or day-to-day decisions we all make. We suggest using it when a serious life or career problem or opportunity arises. You will note that to make the best decision possible, your personal values, mission, and vision must be central to the decision-making process. Review the model and then review the case study we provide as an example.

Here is an example of how to use the Decision-Making Process.

 Case Study:

1.     Identify and Define Cedric is a very experienced and knowledgeable technology executive. He has been working for his company’s CEO for just over a year. He is upset and frustrated because the CEO, who is experienced in technology but not as much as Cedric, continually pushes back on Cedric when Cedric is taking independent action. The CEO wants to control a broad array of decision-making as applied in the technology arena. He seems to do it because he likes the field, rather than because it is necessary to get the desired results. Cedric likes the company and his position in it except for the fact that he and the CEO clash more often than not over Cedric’s independent role and the decisions he is making.

2.     Gather Information Cedric needs to spend time in self-assessment and reflection regarding his frustration with his boss’ micromanagement. He can also do some research about the technology job market to understand the viability of changing jobs.

3.     Create Alternatives

• Cedric can just continue to put up with the boss’ behavior and make an effort to not let it bother him so much

• Cedric can speak with this boss and let him know that he is frustrated with the micromanagement and suggest a period of time that the boss lets Cedric make the technology decisions and see if the boss can become comfortable with that arrangement

• Cedric can go to the head of human resources (HR) and see if they can set up a meeting with the boss to discuss the micromanagement. Maybe HR can have some influence

• Cedric can look for a similar position in another organization

4.     Evaluate Each Alternative

• Put up with the behavior: Cedric is feeling frustrated and undervalued and this is demotivating. This is tolerable in the short run but in the long run, Cedric can’t live with that level of stress and frustration. This is not a viable option for Cedric

• Speak with the boss: This risk here is that the boss may reject Cedric’s request to let him make the technology decisions and Cedric has now potentially angered the boss and his career situation is unresolved. On the other hand, the boss may be unaware of how this is impacting Cedric and may be willing to back off and let Cedric do his job. This seems like a viable alternative for Cedric

• Go to HR: While it might be helpful to have HR intervene with the boss, it also could anger the boss that Cedric didn’t address the issues directly with the boss. Cedric is a senior executive and should attempt to manage this himself first. This is not a first-choice alternative

• Look for a new job: There are many unknowns when changing jobs – Cedric might have to move, there is no guarantee that his relationship with a new boss would be a good one, and changing jobs may increase his commute. This alternative is most likely a last resort since Cedric should ask for what he wants where he is before going elsewhere

5.     Decide on an Alternative

Cedric decides to have a conversation with his boss. He prepares for the conversation by discussing the issue in-depth with a trusted colleague in another organization and plans a strategy for the discussion.

6.     Implement

Cedric makes a late afternoon appointment to meet with this boss. He has practiced how he will present the issue to his boss. Although he feels some anxiety, he calmly makes his presentation and suggests that the boss allow him to make all the technology decisions for 60 days, and then they will have a follow-up meeting to debrief and agree on how to proceed.

7.     Review the Outcome

Cedric’s boss has been unaware of how his micromanaging has impacted Cedric. The boss agrees to Cedric’s 60-day proposal. Cedric will need to revisit this step 7 of the Decision-Making Process after the 60-day period is over.  If Cedric is happy with the outcome, he has accomplished his desired outcome. If the boss reverts to his micromanaging ways, Cedric will need to repeat the process using the learning from the first alternative he chose and choose a different alternative.

For those decisions that have great meaning for our life and our work, it’s important to do the best possible job that we can in reaching conclusions that will be to our benefit.

Making better decisions is certainly important in one’s life as well as career. Of course, there is no more important decision than to determine your life’s vision, where it is that you would like to arrive and be the happiest person you can be in both your life and career. If you can do that, you will place yourself way ahead of the competition.

In our book Time To Get Real!, we provide the reader with a market and time-tested guide to help them lead an intentional life. The guide is the Life and Career Planning Model© which helps you take control and directs you through a strategic planning process leading to actions that result in personal and professional success.

The Life and Career Planning Model© life and the Decision-Making Process described above are tools that can move you forward in a positive direction. The Life and Career Planning Model© has been used in our coaching of individuals across all age groups. It works!

To buy the book, click here. Our book is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon.

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s vision and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. Our coaching processes and fees are both flexible to accommodate a broad spectrum of individuals. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

The Benefits of a Strong Corporate Culture

Being part of a positive organizational culture is important for your professional success and job satisfaction. If you work somewhere where the culture is a good fit, you’re more likely to develop better relationships with managers and coworkers and be more productive.

According to an article in Forbes, “To be effective, a culture needs to be embraced by everyone. When an employee sees that the company’s values are shared and rules are followed at every level, they feel secure and included and can be more productive in the workplace.

When employees feel supported in their surroundings, they’re more likely to be driven by a desire to understand new things. Daily routine becomes an adventurous journey where people can discover themselves and enhance their performance.”

Do Your company’s values align with yours?

In our book, Time To Get Real!, chapter 8 asks you to consider the company you work for and any organizations for which you volunteer. It doesn’t matter if you are working for compensation or freely giving of your time and effort in a volunteer activity, work is work. Whether it is a business, government, or nonprofit organization, a mission or purpose, values, and culture will exist within that organization. Aligning yourself with your organization, whether receiving compensation or not, is important for your own personal comfort and commitment.

Research has shown that when people match their personal values to the values of the company, employees are happier and more engaged.

Look at the mission of the organization for whom you work or volunteer. In the book, we ask you to compare it to what you have learned about yourself – values, purpose, life balance, etc. Does the organization's mission help to maximize your strengths while providing development opportunities? Does the mission conflict in any way with your own purpose or is it complimentary? Research has shown that when people match their personal values to the values of the company, employees are happier and more engaged. In addition, mission and values alignment is a quality that is common to high-performance organizations.

Corporate values represent the guiding principles of the organization’s culture. These values shape the culture of the company, which is represented by consistent, observable patterns of behavior in organizations. It is “the story” that is embedded in the people of the organization and that story is reinforced by the values and rituals seen every day.

For example, some organizations might focus on teamwork as a value. But, if staff members are highly competitive, don’t share information, or support one another on team projects, it’s easy to discern lip service is being given to this value. In other organizations, a value might be the development of human resources. That organization might have a substantial number of training programs, provide for rotational assignments, and have a tuition reimbursement policy. The values and company behavior alignment are more easily seen here.

What do you do if your values don’t align?

Think about this for your own situation and organization. Just as there is no perfect life, there is no perfect job. We are quite fortunate when we can get 80% of what we want in our workplace, and this, in turn, gives us the strength to handle the other 20%. If in your case you have a good match with your company on mission, values, and culture, see if you can get what you want where you are by tweaking one or two things to make it more comfortable for you.

If you are in a state of conflict and you are uncomfortable in your workplace, then have the courage to make the move you need to make to achieve your life and career goals.

However, if you are in a state of conflict and you are uncomfortable in your workplace, then have the courage to make the move you need to make to achieve your life and career goals. The Life and Career Planning Model© featured in the book Time To Get Real! will help you develop your plan to move forward in a positive direction.

To buy the book, click here. Our book is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon.

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s vision and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

Source: Ivanov, Vasiliv, 2020, ‘The Importance of Corporate Culture in a Company’s Everyday Operations’, Forbes, October 7

Is a Toxic Person Holding You Back?

Do you have a toxic person in your life? Motivational speaker Jim Rohn famously said that you’re the product of the five people with whom you spend the most time. If you allow even one of those five people to be toxic in their relationship with you, you’ll soon find out how capable he or she is of holding you back from obtaining your life goals.

According to a Ladders article about toxic people, recent research from Friedrich Schiller University in Germany shows just how serious toxic people are. “The study found that exposure to stimuli that cause strong negative emotions, the same kind of exposure you get when dealing with toxic people, caused subjects’ brains to have a massive stress response.”

If you allow even one of those five people to be toxic in their relationship with you, you’ll soon find out how capable he or she is of holding you back from obtaining your life goals.

 The article notes, “Whether it’s negativity, cruelty, the victim syndrome, or just plain craziness, toxic people drive your brain into a stressed-out state that should be avoided at all costs.”

The impact of toxic people

In our book Time To Get Real! we ask you to consider any negative or toxic relationships that you need to work on or move away from. It’s important to recognize that relationships can hinder or help an individual’s progress toward his or her best life. Negative or toxic relationships poison the efforts of an individual from moving in a positive direction.

Brian was a good guy who found he was constantly dealing with criticism from his older brother, Michael. Brian would periodically approach Michael for advice on various issues impacting his life. Michael consistently found negative aspects in Brian’s decision-making or behavior. He did not reinforce or applaud Brian’s positive behavior or decisions. He dwelled on the negative. This really bothered Brian. What should he do? What would you do?

In this instance and in many others that you can think of, we have an individual attempting to move forward in their life but hitting a roadblock in the form of a negative or toxic relationship. Whether it’s a friend, family member, boss, or spouse doesn’t matter. What matters is that this frustration in the relationship makes you feel negative, non-trusting of the individual, and concerned that you cannot share your true feelings or innermost thoughts.  

You can seek the advice and help of one of your positive key relationships. You can seek guidance from a mentor or coach. Living with a negative or toxic relationship should not be an option.

Avoiding Toxic People

Just as a positive key relationship can help you move ahead to your best life, a negative or toxic relationship can prevent you from making progress. Refuse to live with a relationship that makes you feel bad, turns you off, creates negative energy and stress for you, and doesn’t help move you along to your best life. You can seek the advice and help of one of your positive key relationships. You can seek guidance from a mentor or coach. Living with a negative or toxic relationship should not be an option.

To buy the book, click here. Our book is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon.

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s vision and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

Source: Bradberry, Travis, 2019, ’10 toxic people you should avoid like the plague’, The Ladders, May 16

Assessing your Strengths and Opportunities for Development

At a reunion of the Harvard Business School class of 1963, the alumni were asked to share advice as they look back over their careers*. There is much wisdom to be gleaned from their experience and perspective. A couple of the comments really stood out to us regarding personal and professional development.

Here is what George Mosher from the class of ‘63 had to say:

“Think through your strengths and weaknesses. Work hard with your strengths and work with other people to balance your weaknesses.”

And from Gerald Wolin:

“Make sure you truly know who you are, your strong points and weaknesses. A solid self-assessment is an important step in the right direction. Many of us do not do this to the full extent.” 

Identify your abilities and limitations

We explore this very topic of strengths and weaknesses in our book Time To Get Real! Chapter 7 looks at personal and professional strengths and areas of development and poses the questions, “What are your personal and professional strengths, and what plans do you have, or could you have to further develop your skills and abilities?” An individual can’t accept their limitations or assets unless they can identify them and be honest about them. What are your strengths and areas requiring personal development? How do you find out what they are if you don’t already know?

Much depends upon an individual’s focus on those strengths to acquire, build, or maintain them. In addition, individuals learn throughout their life, whether formally or through experience.

First, we understand that the strengths that an individual has can dramatically change over time. For example, the ability to play a specific sport may diminish. Other strengths, like being able to lead a large number of individuals at work, might increase. Strengths, identified as areas of specific power, energy, knowledge, skill, or intensity that one embodies and can rely upon, are different today than they were yesterday and could be different tomorrow. Much depends upon an individual’s focus on those strengths to acquire, build, or maintain them. In addition, individuals learn throughout their life, whether formally or through experience. We believe learning is life-long; therefore, personal development is life-long.

Prepare for the future

Personal development is defined by an individual’s actions, which improve awareness and self-identity and develop talents, skills, and potential. A company that Time To Get Real! co-author, Alex Plinio, worked for had a motto, “The future belongs to those who prepare for it.” This means that plans for your future can be better achieved if you develop the skills and abilities for who you want to become. In our book, you will take an honest look at areas that need or are desired for improvement. Have you performed a serious self-assessment? What have others told you about your performance, personality, and behaviors?

Plans for your future can be better achieved if you develop the skills and abilities for who you want to become.

Weakness and the need for personal development is a part of human nature. Many people are aware of their weaknesses and should remember that weaknesses can stop us from achieving our goals. We need to recognize our weaknesses so that we can surmount or manage them. You also need to understand that if weakness cannot be overcome, there are ways to help. For example, organizing your team at work and making sure those team representatives have strengths in areas in which you may be weak. Or at home, agreeing with family members that certain responsibilities can be divided appropriately.

Take the first step toward development

To initiate and sustain changes in yourself can take a day or a lifetime. The change that you seek can be made with grit and determination, but you have to mean it. And the only way to start is to start. Choose the area of development in which you seek change, commit yourself to that change, and take your first step. It will lead to the next. Remember, we can help.

To buy the book, click here

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s vision and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

*To read more advice from the Harvard Business School class of 1963, click here.

Finding More Joy in Your Life

Do you have feelings of joy every day?  During challenging times, joy can seem fleeting but there are ways to get closer to joy on a daily basis. 

It is easy to confuse joy with happiness, and although they are closely related and can occur simultaneously, these two emotions aren't identical. Happiness brings bursts of pleasure, excitement, or satisfaction, while joyfulness is a stronger, longer-term state that results in feelings of inner peace and contentment. 

"Whereas happiness can be easily manufactured, joy comes through setting up the right conditions for it to suddenly appear," says Forrest Talley, PhD., a clinical psychologist in California. "Happiness can be brought about by a good cup of coffee in the morning or a funny movie. Joy, on the other hand, is more difficult to cultivate." It can be a continuing process that takes time. 

Happiness brings bursts of pleasure, excitement, or satisfaction, while joyfulness is a stronger, longer-term state that results in feelings of inner peace and contentment. 

The benefits of feeling joy

And yet, it's worth it because of all the health benefits you get along the way. "Numerous studies suggest happiness and joy predict lower heart rate and blood pressure, as well as stronger immune systems, " says Susan Damico, M.A. director at the Devereux Center for Resilient Children. "Additionally, individuals who report having more positive emotions also have fewer illnesses, including minor aches and pains." Finding joy also leads to longer life spans, Talley says. Research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies found that happier individuals tended to live longer in 53% of the cases.

In our book Time To Get Real! we agree with the importance of focusing on joy. In chapter 2 entitled Joy, we ask you to look back on your life and consider what achievements and accomplishments gave you the most joy? What was the sense of accomplishment or joy you received from them? What are the discernable themes? And what is the importance of focusing on joy or happiness?

Where to find joy

Joy is derived in different ways for different people; however, we all know when we have it, we like it a lot and would love to keep it. Joy can come from various sources: your work, your interests, your family, your hobbies, things accomplished, challenges overcome, new experiences, and so on.

Joy can come from various sources: your work, your interests, your family, your hobbies, things accomplished, challenges overcome, new experiences, and so on.

To the extent possible, the more we can replicate in our lives and in our career that feeling of joy, the happier we will be. In our book, we ask you to write about several incidents in your life that produced joy. This is important when considering later aspects of the Life and Career Planning Model© and attempting to determine how to replicate those feelings through work and life. 

How to find joy

To buy the book, click here

We strongly encourage you to take the time to reflect on what brings you joy and then to actively seek to engage more with those sources. Reading chapter 2 in our book will help you with this.

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s vision and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

Source: Natale, Nicol, 2020, ‘How to Find Joy in Your Everyday Life’, Prevention Magazine, July 7

The Power of Your Purpose Statement

When teaching or coaching individuals, we ask that they write a statement that describes their life’s purpose or mission. For most people this is not an easy exercise. It requires thinking about all the dimensions of your life, your relationships, your work, your personal motivations, and in some sense your spiritual or humanistic beliefs. A personal mission statement offers clarity and gives you a sense of purpose. It helps define who you are and how you will live. Frankly, it’s much easier to write a description of a job you want than to answer the question – why am I here?

A number of years ago Alex Plinio, author of Time To Get Real! had the opportunity to work with Frances Hesselbein, the CEO of the Girl Scouts of America, who had been named as the best executive leader in the United States in business, nonprofit, or government fields. She talked about the need that people have for a hope beyond the change experienced in their daily lives. She said that the need was for an anchor, a purpose, which provided meaning for their life and their work. We believe everyone needs this, but few people take the time to think about it and to provide that meaning for themselves.

We believe everyone needs a specified purpose, but few people take the time to think about it and to provide that meaning for themselves.

According to a 2018 article in the New York Times, “Only about a quarter of Americans strongly endorse having a clear sense of purpose and of what makes their lives meaningful, while nearly 40 percent either feel neutral or say they don’t. This is both a social and a public health problem: Research increasingly suggests that purpose is important for a meaningful life — but also for a healthy life.”

How to develop a purpose statement of your own

Our book Time To Get Real! examines those key aspects of your life and career, which enable you to understand your life’s mission or purpose. For example, chapter 5 in our book will take you step by step through developing your own purpose statement. You are asked to answer a number of questions such as – To what am I committed and what do I consider as non-negotiable in my life? What are the experiences, feelings, people, and values that are important to me?

You are asked to answer a number of questions such as – To what am I committed and what do I consider as non-negotiable in my life? What are the experiences, feelings, people, and values that are important to me?

Purpose statements can be quite powerful in motivating a person toward their specific life’s vision. The statement can help with decision making in all aspects of one’s life. As Francis Hasselbein has observed, a well thought out statement provides an anchor in life’s sea of change.

Align your life and career plan with your purpose

We strongly encourage you to take the time to reflect and develop your own purpose statement. Aligning all the parts of your life and career plan with your purpose is like fitting the pieces of a puzzle together. It provides the opportunity to make your life better and helps you feel good about your place in the world. Let your purpose strengthen your resolve, help you to make decisions, and bring you a level of comfort.

To buy the book, click here

We recommend that in addition to reading our book Time To Get Real! and working through the Life and Career Planning Model© that it provides, consider some amount of personal coaching that can help you to discern and activate your life’s mission and move you toward the best life and career that you deserve. All Life and Career Planning LLC coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© and serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises. To inquire about working with a coach, click here.

Source: Khullar, Dhruv, 2018, ‘Finding Purpose for a Good Life, But Also a Healthy One’, The New York Times, January 1

Ready for a New Career?

According to a recent survey by the career site Monster, 95% of workers are currently considering changing jobs and 92% are willing to switch industries to land a new position. The pandemic has caused many people to reevaluate many aspects of their lives including their current careers. People are ready to see what else is out there.

But how do you know what career move to make? How do you make sure you are heading in the right direction?

The pandemic has caused many people to reevaluate many aspects of their lives including their current careers. People are ready to see what else is out there.

Getting Ready for Your Next Career Move

Our book Time To Get Real! provides a model that, if followed, gets you ready for that next career move. Chapter 10 in the book takes you through the process of evaluating your current position and uncovering just what your next position should look like. Previous chapters delve into the most important things you will need to know before saying yes to the next position. You are asked questions about your interests, your values, your desired work/life balance, your relationships, your financial needs, and so forth.

Once you have a clear picture of your needs and goals, you are asked to write a job description for the position you envision, noting the key ingredients of the work you want to do as part of your long career. The book provides you with clear examples and helps you create the necessary action steps to begin to move toward your next position.

Once you have a clear picture of your needs and goals, you are asked to write a job description for the position you envision, noting the key ingredients of the work you want to do as part of your long career.

Make the Best Decisions for Your Personal and Professional Life

Our recommendation is that you develop a complete life and career plan. Having this plan will allow you to make the best decisions for your personal and professional life so you can move forward to the life of your dreams.

We can help. Obtain the book Time To Get Real! (to buy the book, click here) and get started. You can also engage a Life and Career Planning coach who will provide a safe space for you to explore who you are, what you truly want in your life, and offer encouragement as you go. All Life and Career Planning coaches are experienced and certified in the Life and Career Planning Model© as shown in the book Time To Get Real! They also can coach you through the process of seeking your next position. Our coaching service is personal, and we serve as your accountability partner as you read each chapter of the book and capture your thoughts in the interactive exercises.

You can also watch this video of Alex Plinio talking about the job search process.

Don’t commit to that next job until you commit to your life and career planning development. To schedule a FREE introductory conversation with a certified Life and Career Planning coach, please fill out and submit the introduction form. You will be contacted within 24 hours. Click here to fill out the form.

The First Steps to Managing Your Finances Have Nothing to do With Money

When I was younger, I used to play video games. I would not consider myself at all a gamer by today's standards. We had a Nintendo 64 with game cartridges that you could still blow on to make them work. I used to love this Star Wars game called Rogue Squadron. You would fly around in an X-wing defending the Rebel base from the evil Empire. As you flew around, you would hit spots that would trigger cut scenes where the Empire would destroy buildings and you'd have to complete these side missions to complete the level. However, what was true of this game and many at the time was if you didn't see something happen - it didn't happen. So, in your multiple attempts at completing a level, you learned how to avoid certain areas to keep those cut scenes from being triggered. In other words, you didn’t want any surprises even though you knew that those surprises were just around the corner.

It seems like, in life, we've adopted a similar attitude. If we don't see something happening, it doesn't happen. It makes sense - we go toward things that give us pleasure and avoid the things that don't. But, in reality, things are happening outside our view.

Everyone looks at their bank account and wishes they had more

The truth is - almost no one grows up talking about money and it is seldom we learn about it in school. Everyone looks at their bank accounts and wishes they had more. Everyone thinks about all the decisions they could have made - how they could have started saving and investing earlier. Everyone at some point looks at things to come, whether it's immediate bills or future goals, and wonders “how I will do this?”

Everyone at some point looks at things to come, whether it's immediate bills or future goals, and wonders “how I will do this?”

We live in a world where it's effortless to swipe our cards and pay for things. We have built a world that much like the video game, so long as we don't see the mountain of debt piling up, it isn't happening. So long as the card keeps swiping, I can carry on with my day. We do this with all areas of life; how many people only see the doctor when they are sick? Only go to the dentist when their tooth hurts? Only get their car checked when the light comes on? Like the video game, we've learned to navigate our world while desperately hoping to avoid setting off any of those side missions. Like the video game, if I don't go to the dentist, he can't tell me I have a cavity, and therefore, I don't have one now and don't have to think about it. But, maybe, just maybe if I flossed every day, I could avoid the pain of a cavity.

manage your money Better

If you're reading this, there is a good chance you hit a trigger and now you want to figure out what to do. Here is some advice: the chapter on Financial Planning in the book Time To Get Real! is a gift. I found it important, and I know that it will help you to better manage your money.

First, as the Japanese philosopher, Musashi once said, "It will be difficult at first, but all things are difficult at first." We forget how difficult it was to walk at first, but now we do so without thinking about it. We forget how much we struggled with basic math, and now we exchange currencies and schedule times to meet without thinking about it. We forget how difficult it was the first time you met someone you liked, and now you're living with someone and maybe having a family. All things take time. The more you do something, the more comfortable you will become doing it. This also applies to money management and financial planning.

Second, let's deal with that c-word, comfortability. Most people I know are not comfortable with their finances. There is enormous anxiety over even talking about money or checking their bank account. Being comfortable or uncomfortable are emotional responses, which may be difficult to manage. Here are few tips I have learned:

1. We can be hurt more by our expectations than the action themselves. This is true in multiple ways. Sometimes, we are hurt more by our expectations of people's actions than the actual actions themselves. At other times, we are hurt more by our expectation of checking our account and having $5,000 than the actual action of logging in and finding we only have $1,000.

2. We are not robots that can switch emotions on or off. Human beings experience an array of emotions. From a very young age, we are told we need to control our emotions, which often translated to when we got upset, we were supposed to flip a switch and stop behaving in a way that didn't align with what someone else thought was acceptable. The psychiatrist, Viktor Frankl once wrote, "between stimulus and response, there is space." It's okay to feel anxious, angry, or whatever emotion you are feeling about your financial situation. When that happens, you can identify how you are feeling and choose how to manage that feeling. If you feel anxious, decide to take a deep breath and move forward. There are thousands of free resources.

3. You are not alone. Everyone should have a system of support, whether that's family and friends or professionals. Whether you realize it or not, there are a lot of people in this world who want to help you. The professionals can come from your bank, your investment or insurance company, or from a financial planner.

You are not alone. Everyone should have a system of support, whether that's family and friends or professionals. Whether you realize it or not, there are a lot of people in this world who want to help you.

Third, be okay with where you are today. You have to start from someplace and here today is the someplace. We live in a world of overstimulation and oversharing. It is so easy to compare yourself to others and think less of yourself because of it. Remember, you don't know their whole story, and quite frankly, it doesn't matter. Don't worry about the things you could have done or should have done. Just focus on yourself, and wherever you are in the process, be okay with that. No matter where you are starting, it is better than never starting at all. But start you must.

Finally, we don't all start at the same place - and you need to accept that. The world is not a fair and equal place. Every one of us is on our own journey. No one can travel that path for you. You have to accept that. You have to own that. You can’t rewrite your past, but you can be the author of your future.

There are a ton of books out there about money, personal finance, investing, etc. It feels like most people don't take advantage of those or are in a place to learn from them because of one of the things I've listed above. We've built a society that entraps people into addictions. If you found this article because of trigger points, like a check bouncing, not having enough money to pay your bills, etc., be careful not to fall back into those habits that led you here. It seems like many people do well for some time, start to see progress, and then fall back into those old habits like spending too much, saving too little, or impulse shopping. Get to know your triggers and follow your plan.

There are a ton of books out there about money, personal finance, investing, etc.

I hope this article was beneficial to you. If you take nothing else from it, remember you are not alone. There are many people - like the life and career coaches at Life and Career Planning - who can help you develop and stick to a plan that is right for you. So, show your strength and ask for help if you need it.

Guest Blog by Jason Khurdan

Jason is the Manager of Central Services, Rutgers Access & Disability Resources, Rutgers University. His role is to work with individuals with disabilities to ensure equal access at Rutgers. He specializes in Assistive Technology (AT) and leads a team that works with individuals one-on-one to recommend and implement various resources. In addition to his work with individuals with disabilities in higher education, he has previously owned his own non-profit, which mentored children in Newark from K-12. Jason is also a Certified Life and Career Planning Coach.

In addition to the work he does at Rutgers, he builds websites and does small business consulting. He has sat on many strategic planning committees for large publishing companies and previously chaired the group across the Big Ten, which focused on course accessibility.

In his spare time, he practices a Japanese martial art called Aikido, which focuses on creating harmony. When not on the mat, Jason enjoys 3D design and 3D printing. 

Click here to send us a message. We welcome your comments on this blog.

Follow us through our blogs and the book Time To Get Real! to your desired future. For in-person and telephonic coaching, click here to send us a message

Click here to purchase our book Time To Get Real!

Getting Real with Myself

As a child, one of the most common questions you are asked is, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Now, I completely understand the good intent behind this question, we want kids to dream and learn and imagine all of the possibilities for their lives. As a child, your view of the world is quite narrow, you only know what you can see or what you are taught. Because of this, doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, police officers, firefighters are all popular choices in an elementary school career day. None of these things seemed like they were for me, and I always felt uneasy about having a specific career be such a central focus from such a young age. Everything felt like it was about what are we going to do now to reach that goal. The focus was always on what you could do, what transferrable skills do you have. Honestly, this approach led me to believe there was something wrong with me. I couldn’t think of a job I wanted to do; I just knew that I wanted to do something to make a difference in people’s lives. What that was, I had no clue, and because my ideas were so abstract, I assumed they didn’t count. I continued on to high school and college, never really sure of my path, but just following the steps everyone else did, hoping I’d figure it out eventually.

I wasn’t completely aimless. I had some general ideas about what I cared about, but I struggled to ascertain what any of it meant. As the years went on, I went from high school to a very choppy college experience, always thinking that if I found the right school, the right program, the right community that I would figure out what I was supposed to do. I had a handful of very valuable experiences, but nothing that ever led anywhere I deemed as ‘real.’ Perhaps I would have if I was focusing on who I wanted to become rather than what I was going to do.

“As the years went on, I went from high school to a very choppy college experience, always thinking that if I found the right school, the right program, the right community that I would figure out what I was supposed to do.”

I wanted a different life

Fast forward past college, my search continued. This call center job, that marketing job, a human resources position, I tried to no avail, but everything felt off. I felt like I was just going through the motions, I was good at my work, but it never filled me up, and because I never felt fulfilled, I wasn’t bringing my best self to the table. I couldn’t access her when I was doing these jobs because these jobs weren’t bringing me closer to who I wanted to be. I didn’t want to just go to work for 40 hours a week to check a box, but I figured this was just what is supposed to happen when you grow up.

When we found ourselves in the middle of a pandemic, everyone seemed to be asking more questions of themselves. When we saw in such a stark way, just how precious life is, it caused me to pause and consider whether just putting my life on autopilot was my only option. I felt like I had tried so many things and none of them fulfilled me in the way that I was hoping. I kept thinking there had to be something more, and during this time I began interrogating my own thoughts and choices. I was presented with the opportunity to go through the Life and Career Planning model.

I will be completely honest; when I first saw what it entailed, my anxiety went through the roof. I was not used to putting my ideas for my future on paper because I honestly didn’t really have any idea what I wanted my future to look like, and that was terrifying. As I worked through the model, I became a different kind of scared. I had now put out into the world what I dreamt, and I could no longer hide from it or claim that I didn’t know what I wanted or that the things I imagined for myself weren’t even in the realm of possibility.

Changing the way I see myself

Each step built on the ones before it, and as I worked my way through, I began to see how connected everything in my life was. It helped me to identify things that truly matter to me and how I can best make an impact on the world. I have never felt comfortable with defining myself by a job title or what I do. I am also uncomfortable with creating a vision of who I want to be, but it’s the kind of discomfort that forces action. It’s a pretty powerful thing to take back your identity from what you believe you should be and focus more on who you want to be, what are your values, what brings you joy, how you relate to others. This model has changed the way I see myself.

“Each step built on the ones before it, and as I worked my way through, I began to see how connected everything in my life was. ”

I was daunted by the first chapter asking about interests, thinking I had none, but I soon learned that was far from true. I didn’t think the other things about me mattered until I figured out what the heck I wanted to do with my life. What I hadn’t realized was that those were the things about me that were going to help reveal my purpose. It also helped me to identify areas for development. As I worked through this model, I began to realize that my confidence was the biggest thing that was holding me back. The model forced me to write down and talk about my strengths and weaknesses in a way I had feared in the past. I have been learning to become less timid about what I have to offer. I may not have the experience that I had anticipated having at this point in my life, but I have had life experiences that have helped me become the person I need to be for what comes next. I am not a robot who can be automated to do specific tasks, and that is okay, processes can be learned.

Being less afraid of what comes next

When it came time to put it all together in my action plan, one thing was clear-- if I had taken this type of approach to my life when I was younger, I may not have spent as much time jumping around and feeling like there was something wrong with me. Rather than blaming myself for time lost, I decided I could leverage those experiences to help others through similar uncertainties. I began brainstorming ways that I could do this and decided that my action plan would include steps to reach young people who are at their own crossroads and help them to be less afraid of what comes next by putting them in the driver’s seat.

Nell Schreck- “Working through this model has not changed who I am, it has revealed who I have always been and given me the confidence to bring that person into the world.”

I am a human being who brings my lived experience to take a holistic view of situations, connects with empathy, acts with integrity, and is guided by purpose. As Glinda, the good witch says in The Wizard of Oz, “You’ve had the power all along my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.” Working through this model has not changed who I am, it has revealed who I have always been and given me the confidence to bring that person into the world.

Guest blog by Nell Schreck, Director of Operations, Legacy Teams

Nell has always been involved in supporting the growth of people. Her strengths in communications and social media have allowed her to connect at all levels within businesses. She is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Broadcasting and Communications. She also spent time at The Washington Center in DC where she did investigative reporting. Nell has a natural ability to ask the right questions and diagnose critical needs. Her attention to detail and passion for bringing people together makes her a great asset to Legacy Teams.

Click here to send us a message. We welcome your comments on this blog.

Follow us through our blogs and the book Time To Get Real! to your desired future. For in-person and telephonic coaching, click here to send us a message

Click here to purchase our book Time To Get Real!

The Life and Career Planning Course - Just for You!

Great news! Just a few weeks ago as a result of our partnership with Thomas Edison State University, a new course titled Life and Career Planning: Leading an Intentional Life was launched. More than 30,000 university alumni are being contacted and we are now opening the course to the public.

The book and the course provide numerous resources including the option for coaching by certified coaches at reduced coaching fees.

This is a self-paced, noncredit course that anyone can take. You need not matriculate toward a degree. It’s easy to register. Just click this link.

The course is priced to reach as many people as possible. The tuition of $249 includes the book Time To Get Real! written by Life and Career Planning LLC principals Alex Plinio and Melissa Smith. Individuals have already started signing up for this course. We hope that you will consider it since the Life and Career Planning Model© upon which the book is based was developed to help individuals wherever they are - early, mid, or later in their careers. The book and the course provide numerous resources including the option for coaching by certified coaches at reduced coaching fees.

“This course provided me with countless “ah ha” moments and as a result, I made some decisions that have balanced my interests, personal values, and relationships. At the end of the course, I had created a practical financial budget, career plan, personal mission statement and a commitment to live and lead my best life ever!”

— Apryl Roach

The Life and Career Planning Model© was developed to help individuals wherever they are - early, mid, or later in their careers.

So, there you have it, a wonderful book, a great course, resources, and coaching all available to you so that you can become much more intentional about what you want to do with your career and life. Remember, sailing your ship in these turbulent times requires a steady hand on the rudder. This course can provide exactly what you need to sail these choppy seas. We are always here to help.

For more information and to register, just click this link.