Vol 1 Iss 16

It's Thursday afternoon, and I'm right in the middle of planning a trip. We decided, with only a week or two notice, to load up the camper and head to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and do some flyfishing in Montana and Idaho next week. Of course I kept thinking "I have plenty of time to map this out"..... (Oh you silly girl!)

Have you ever had to plan a complex trip with lots of variables in only a short amount of time - while still carrying on with the rest of your life? I've been scrambling for maps and making phone calls to Forest Service people and campgrounds all morning.

I think a job change can sometimes be like that You suddenly realize NOW is the time, and you are looking for direction and insider information and calling in all those favors. There are a few things I've learned through this process that can help. Check out the article below for my thoughts, and Career Tips for some ideas on scramble mode.

In the meantime, think of me by a river with a big rainbow in my hands and in my heart. That's where I am today. I sincerely hope you have a chance to get away this summer to a restful place, filled with rainbows.

P. S. If you missed the chance to vote for my son's band, Tenpenny, here is the link:

http://www.hardrock.com/promo/cabowabo2004/voteList.asp

If you download the MP3 to listen to them, that's my son playing the jammin' lead guitar.

He Rocks! Thanks for supporting Tenpenny!! (and pass it on...)

When I sat down last night, after a trip to AAA to get tons of maps and guidebooks, there was no clear plan of where to go. All I knew was that I want to go someplace "pretty" with occasional opportunity for flyfishing. Montana was the general direction, but really no plans other than that.

With that in mind, I started my research. This morning I hit the phone to see what was truly possible. With the knowledge I gained, and the resources I've gathered, I roughted out a plan. The roads are marked on the map, all the campgrounds are identified, as well as the Forest Service roads where we can pull off and camp for free. The mileage is counted and I know how far we can go each day. We'll be back in plenty of time. That's Plan A

I also have enough information to know that if Plan A bombs, then there's plan B. If plan B isn't good, maybe it's because there's a new adventure waiting for us that wasn't on the map. We won't know till we get there.

Sitting at your desk, suddenly realizing that a change has to happen NOW, you may be in the same fog I was. Where do you start. Here are the steps I followed:

1. Begin with the end in mind. What is the experience you want to create for yourself in your career and work? If ultimately you want to work from home, you'll want to look for a career that would allow that; if not now, then eventually. All things being equal, it is much easier to find a job similar to the one you have. How does it serve you in the long run?

2. Survey the landscape. If you're not clear about your skills, abilities and desires, how will you know what direction to point toward? There are resources to help you learn more about yourself (hiring me as your coach is one). You also need to know the realities of the economy and business trends. Many people have found delightful opportunity during the same economic times their colleagues were touting doom and gloom. Change creates opportunity.

3. Choose your first step. If you decide to pull out of your driveway and head for New York City, why worry if all the lights are green before you start? Your first step is to get in the car and start the engine. When you're planning a career or job change, it is useless to fret over how it will end. You rough out the plan, determine the first step, then take it.

4. Employ proven tactics. We know networking and talking to people who are doing what you want to be doing is the absolute best way to move forward, so why are you slaving over the commas in your resume? Posting your information on the internet is effective maybe 5% of the time, so why are you spending hours searching there? Do what works.

5. Stay open. Opportunity has a way of showing up as chance events and serendipity. You're sending out the message that you're ready for change, so rest assured, things will change. It might even be what you planned for. More likely, there will be a turn in the road that puts you exactly where you need to be. Be open enough to see it.

I invite you to integrate the ideas in Career Tips to help you pay attention to your behavior and actions to help you stay focused while you are scrambling. This will serve you in the long run.

As a Career Coach, I can be your partner through this process. Please contact me at debra@forwardmomentum.com for more information!

We love each landscape

as if it were a part

with its waterless beaches;

even the craters of the moon—

those blistered rocks

we christen with the names

Limbs of trees we say,

and it is more than a metaphor we mean

when we take the river

Just saying the words "Scramble Mode" puts me in a frantic frame of mind and scatters me like leaves in a sudden gust. There are ways to maintain order and serenity while you are searching for the next unknown step and here are a few:

Create a system to capture ideas. When you're scrambling, things get lost. Carry a notebook or something to gather all the random thoughts. Sometimes just the act of writing it down is enough to cement it in your mind.

Maintain two records on your contacts. One contains the contact information and a record of all the times you spoke to that person with notes jotted down about the conversation (best done as soon as you hang up the phone.) The other is a calendar that reminds you when you promised to contact that person again.

Keep your promises. Especially to yourself, and also to your contacts.

Give your search respect. Declare a specific place in your home devoted to it so you can keep your things accessible. Using the dining room table that must be cleared off every night for dinner won't work. If you have to set up a card table with a phone nearby, do it. Your search deserves its own space.

Take care of yourself. Watch your excesses (sugar, caffiene, nicotine, alcohol, TV, etc.) When a person is under stress, they tend to intensify their self-destructive habits. Counteract it by getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of water, nourishing your body and exercising.

Create support. Join a job club, hire a coach, and make a deal with your best friend that they will not hang up on you when you're venting. Have someone to help you celebrate your wins. Reward yourself appropriately.

Accept yourself as you are and be grateful. All is well.

I'm excited and pleased to annouce that I have begun a new partnership with Hyland Hills Recreation Center in Westminster, CO. For those of you wondering when I would again be teaching "Help! I Need an Different Job" and "The New Retirement Landscape," these classes are upcoming in September and October.

Because of my traveling, I will be publishing the details on my website upon my return, so stay tuned.....

You are free to use material from Moving Forward! in whole or in part, as long as you include complete attribution, including a live web site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear. The attribution should read:

"By Debra DeVilbiss, CPCC, of Forward Momentum, LLC. Please visit Debra's website at http://www.ForwardMomentum.com for additional articles and resources on creating your right livelihood."

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