Vol 1 Iss 21

Another glorious weekend - the weather was perfect! Clear sunny skies, mild temperature and an ever-so-slight breeze. Saturday was our "last fling" on the Harley, we spent all day cruising in the mountains, just being outside.

Then Sunday was spent doing the typical fall things. I deadheaded the roses and raked leaves while Jim cleaned the gutters and put another coat of oil on the deck. We know that winter is not far away, so we're putting in our time to"batten down the hatches" in preparation.

Preparation for a career change can be like preparing for winter. If you are leaping into the unknown, whatever you can do to prepare will serve you well. This week's article is about how to prepare for the long haul, whether you have warning or not. And of course, the Career Tip has specific actions to take.

Let me know how it goes for you!

By the way, exchanging e-mails with my daughter in Japan has really highlighted for me the amazing learning that is taking place over there. Read about the impactful "hunger banquet" she and her team prepared for their last stay in Canada in Issue 5 of the World Smart Journal. Follow this link:

http://www.upwithpeople.org/pageinpage/2004studentnewsletters.cfm

Remember the story about the grasshopper and the ant? The grasshopper danced and sang all summer while the ant toiled to build its food stores to last through the winter. Along about January, who do you think was more comfortable?

Well, changing a career can be like that as well. If you're the grasshopper, you can spend your time daydreaming about how great it will be doing your dream job, and spend hours upon hours journaling and contemplating its terrific importance and meaning. You can visualize your impact on the world and the accolades you'll receive for fulfilling your mission.

I'm not saying these things are not useful - they absolutely are. The more clear you are about your values and the more you can see yourself living them, the more in alignment you will be and the more fulfilled you will be.

However, without planning and action, you're just whistling Dixie. If you are currently in a "day job," you'll want to carefully examine all the ramifications of quitting and when, and conversely, if you have separated from your "day job" involuntarily, then you need to assess your situation to examine your options.

In the Career Tips I have listed specific areas to examine with some creative thoughts on how to handle the action part of your transition

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

In October of the year,

he counts potatoes dug from the brown field,

counting the seed, counting

the cellar's portion out,

and bags the rest on the cart's floor.

He packs wool sheared in April, honey

in combs, linen, leather

tanned from deerhide,

and vinegar in a barrel

hooped by hand at the forge's fire.

He walks by his ox's head, ten days

to Portsmouth Market, and sells potatoes,

and the bag that carried potatoes,

flaxseed, birch brooms, maple sugar, goose

When the cart is empty he sells the cart.

When the cart is sold he sells the ox,

harness and yoke, and walks

home, his pockets heavy

with the year's coin for salt and taxes,

and at home by fire's light in November cold

stitches new harness

for next year's ox in the barn,

and carves the yolk, and saws planks

building the cart again.

Let me reassure you that your career change is not going to take forever. Think about it. You've found work before and you've managed your time and resources before. You've been around the block. You're just planning to go around a different block, and you already have the skills to make this change.

When making a drastic change, the first place anyone's mind turns is to money, because in our mind, money equals security. We all want to feel safe. Knowing that we can afford to make the change eases one level of anxiety.

What I want to you know, is that you will be provided for. If you are sitting at your computer with a full belly and you have roof over your head, chances are excellent that you have the resources to manage your change. It may feel a little squirrely, but really, you do have what you need already. And when you need something, it will be there for you. I'm not sure why or how it happens this way, but it does. I've seen it over and over again.

Now, to prove it to yourself, do this:

1. Figure out what you're spending. Track every penny. No kidding. Do this over a period of time - 3 months would be best so you can get a good average. Get your family to cooperate, have them track their pennies as well. Make it a team effort. You want to see where your money is going.

2. Divide your bills into two categories: Regular and Irregular. Regular expenses are things like your mortgage, the phone bill, cable, etc. Irregular are things like annual expenses such as home insurance, or doctor/dentist visits. If you plan to paint the house next summer, or the car needs a tune up, include that. You want to determine where your money needs to go.

3. Use a spreadsheet and estimate how much money you will need over the next 12 months. Include everything. You're not doing this for the IRS, you're doing it to create a life of meaning for yourself. Yes, it's hard work, but you only have to do it this one time, and isn't it worth it?

4. Get creative. There are two ways to increase your disposable income, one is to increase your income, the other is to decrease your expenditures. Examine every expense and see how you can get a lower interest rate, or buy less expensive. There are many resources on the web that offer amazing ideas on cutting your expenses. Take advantage of them.

5. Start looking at what your income will be. Ask those in the field what's reasonable to expect (don't fall off your chair). Come up with doable ways to supplement that. Things like a
"stop-gap" job, or a part time paper route might be just the little bit to help you through the swamp. It won't be like this forever.

6. Celebrate! Every time you reach a milestone, do something nice for yourself! Go to the flea market and find something pretty. Go to the library and check out a book or movie that has no redeeming social value. The celebration needs to work for you.

This is a simple process, but certainly not an easy one. Be sure you have support, whether you hire a coach or talk to your best friend. If you are in a serious relationship, that person needs to be on your side, though I caution you to not lean too heavily on them. Diversify.

Millions of people have traversed this path ahead of you. I'm blessed to have had some of them as clients, and I would bet you know someone who took a leap off a cliff and grew their wings on the way down. You can too.

Let me know how it goes for you!

Tonight, I'm excited to present my words of wisdom to the networking group, "LongNet," which is composed of job seekers in our local area. They meet weekly for job leads and encouragement.

Admission to the group is any one of the following:

2 job leads for someone else

2 cans of food for the local food bank

2 "I's" (new people)

Isn't that great? If you'd like more information on starting a group like this in your area, please feel free to contact me. I'm very enthusiastic about the positive benefits of being in a group while you are looking for work and would be happy to share what I learn.

For the full listing of workshops, visit www.forwardmomentum.com.

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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