Maybe you have a job, but you don’t enjoy your career. On the other hand, maybe you’ve lost your job and you can’t bear the thought of going back to the same old stuff.  It’s a tough economy. Should you make a change now?  How?

Nicholas Lore,  author of the bestseller Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success shared his insights about this topic in a recent interview with me.  Take a listen to the interview to benefit from 30 years of his coaching experience.

Click here to download…

In the meantime, here are a few highlights from our discussion:

• Don’t delay designing your future career just because of the economy. At the same time, it’s good to be practical. Keeping a job that pays the bills until you determine your best career fit is a smart idea.  If you’re out of work, you may need to seek another job in your current career area to earn income while you create your new path.  Regardless of your employment status, it can take two months or more to explore not only what you want to do, but also what fits well with your skills and abilities. If you prepare yourself, you’ll be ready to make a switch when the economy improves – or even sooner – when that great opportunity suddenly arises.

• Face your fears. The biggest hurdle most career changers face is their own internal dialogue.  You have the power to manage your fears by investigating them and transforming them into actions.   Listen to the interview to hear more about Lore’s perspective on this.

• Create a vision and become a career detective.  Use online resources and books  (my professional opinion is that Lore’s offerings are terrific) or a career coach to help you get insights and determine not only what you desire, but how your abilities fit in the world, and what actions you might need to take to enable your next move.

• Don’t let circumstances rule your world.   For example, Lore finds age doesn’t matter. He has countless happy clients who prove that you are never too old to do what you love (within reason – after all, becoming a rock star at 60 may be possible, but it’s pretty unlikely).  Even if your intended field is shrinking, Lore says that when you really want something and you have talent for it, you can find a way to make it happen.

• Build your network. One of the best ways to change careers is by developing relationships with decision makers who can possibly hire you into your new field.  Once you’ve decided what you want, creative marketing and networking can land you the job.

• Go for it!  Lore contends that if you only have one life to live, don’t settle for a career that’s not as big as you are.

For more information and free resources, check out Lore’s awesome website www.therockportinstitute.com and his coaching company, The Rockport Institute, founded in 1981.  For a DIY approach, look into Lore’s two worthwhile books, Pathfinder and Now What?  The Young Person’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect Career. If you already own a copy of Pathfinder, take note, an updated edition is due out this winter.  Personally, I can’t wait.

In the meantime, best wishes for career happiness and much success.

What if failure was not possible? What would you do? Chances are you know the answer to this question, because for most of us, when we take fear of failure out of the picture, our dreams become palpable.

Think about it – you can completely eliminate the possibility of “failure” by never again using this word to describe the outcome of anything you do!  What if you substituted “effort and outcome” for “attempt and failure” language?  How might that change your life?

Consider the famous story about Thomas Edison.  As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked him, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” What if after his 500^th try, Edison had classified the effort as a failure and canned the project?

I’m not suggesting that you give up your goals or your dreams…you need a vision of where you are headed, but I do suggest that you try giving up “judgmental” language and instead think, “What is the outcome of my effort and what did I learn? What should I do next?”

In that way, you can reawaken your dreams and get unstuck!  Here’s an example:  “I dream of running a marathon, but I’ve never run a step in my life.”  Probably, if I tried to run 26 miles tomorrow, I couldn’t complete the task, but, I can think about my efforts and my results over time.  So, when I start to train by jogging 10 minutes a day for the next two weeks, I don’t think, gosh, I failed to run 26 miles. Instead, I think, “I am learning to run a marathon.”  I might learn that after two weeks, I can run 13 minutes; and in four weeks, I can run for 20. I’m always looking at my effort and my results, and I ask, what is the next step I can take to get closer to my goal?

If you apply this kind of thinking to any area of your life, your work, your relationships, your health – whatever – positive action will enable you to move forward toward your dream.  Take the challenge.  Try eliminating the word “failure” from your vocabulary for just one week … maybe a month… maybe forever,  and see what happens!

I grew up hating competition, probably because I was taught that if you aren’t the winner, the best you can be is the first loser.  According to my impossible family guidelines, it was as impolite to win, as it was shameful to lose.  One of my parent’s favorite sayings, “You just can’t win,” clearly and ironically sums up a key message of my youth.

Good news.  I’ve come to understand that “healthy competition” is possible, something many other people have understood for a long time.  I believe that healthy competition means that you grow and challenge yourself to be better than you were before.  It’s also an opportunity to learn from others. A competitor’s accomplishments can provide a benchmark for performance and sometimes inspiration to take action.

I re-experienced this recently when my blog was entered into a Best Coaching Blog competition.  Competing with other terrific blogging coaches, I ask myself, what if I don’t win?  The answer is no big deal.    At the same time, in the name of “competition,” I’m increasing readership and learning how to improve the blog.  So just engaging in the process is valuable for me.  In fact, I’ve noticed that my “competitors” are cool people who I want to know.  After all, we share a common vision.  We all value helping others to lead happier, healthier lives.

On the other hand, I’ve witnessed what a bummer it can be when competition is an end in itself.  A “winning is all that matters” perspective is often a shackle instead of a magic carpet ride.  Basing our self-worth solely on winning, or constantly comparing ourselves to others can be hazardous to the soul.  Competing with myself (like what did I learn? or, how can I get better at this thing I love doing?) has been way more productive for me and has resulted in happier outcomes. Check out the movie “Bridesmaids” for a funny but sad look at the way we humans can contort situations when we measure our self-worth by constantly comparing ourselves to others.

I guess competition is like most things in life. In and of itself, it isn’t good or bad, but rather its meaning takes shape by how you play the game.

Love to know how you handle competition.  Is it working for you?

Here are two excellent resources that when woven together, create a powerful primer for leading excellence and innovation.  The first is a video by Daniel Pink about motivation, (thanks to Peter D. for sharing this with me!) and the second is an article from the New York Times about the extensive and thorough internal work Google did to determine how to create better managers.  

In short, Pink believes that flourishing organizations have a purpose model:  they empower their team, and combine challenge and mastery with making a contribution.  These organizations understand that to motivate employees beyond  basic tasks, autonomy is required.  In his video, Pink sums it up with, “They treat people like people”. 

According to the New York Time’s article, Google’s research found that what employees valued most were even-keeled bosses who made time for one-on-one meetings, who helped people puzzle through problems by asking questions, not dictating answers, and who took an interest in employees’ lives and careers.  (Hmm, sounds to me  like reinforcement of Pink’s thesis to treat people like people.)  

Furthermore, Google  found that people typically leave a company for one of three reasons, or a combination of them. The first is that they don’t feel a connection to the mission of the company, or sense that their work matters. The second is that they don’t really like or respect their co-workers. The third is they have a terrible boss. In fact, Google found that a manager’s impact on employee performance and how they felt about their job was greater than any other factor. 

So, if you want to understand  more about  motivation and leading innovation, check out Daniel Pink’s fun and informative video.  To learn how to implement some of these concepts in your supervisory role, check out Google’s list for eight good managerial behaviors, which I copied from the NYT’s article and listed below in the order of importance.   Enjoy and happy leading!

Google’s Rules

1)      Be a good coach

• Provide specific, constructive feedback, balancing the negative and the positive.

2)      Empower your team and don’t micromanage

• Balance giving freedom to your employees, while still being available for advice.  Make “stretch” assignments to help the team tackle big problems.

3)      Express interest in team member’s success and personal well-being.

4)      Don’t be a sissy: Be productive and results-oriented

• Focus on what employees want the team to achieve and how they can help achieve it.
• Help the team prioritize and use seniority to remove road blocks

5)      Be a good communicator and listen to your team

• Communication is two-way: you both listen and share information
• Hold all hands meetings and be straightforward about the messages and goals of the team
• Encourage open dialogue and listen to the issues and concerns of your employees.

6)      Help your employees with career development

7)      Have a clear vision and strategy for the team

• Even in the midst of turmoil, keep the team focused on goals and strategy.
• Involve the team in setting and evolving the team’s vision and making progress toward it.

8)      Have key technical skills so you can help advise the team

• Roll up your sleeves and conduct work side by side with the team, when needed.
• Understand the specific challenges of the work.

Here’s the link to the full New York Times Article:   http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/business/13hire.html for your reading pleasure.

Six feet tall, and nearly 300 pounds, Chris Golden had a problem. He realized he was morbidly obese, that diabetes ran in his family, and that none of the programs he invested in over the last ten years had helped him to lose weight and to keep it off. On his 40^th birthday, while considering lap band surgery, his wife goaded him into taking a gym class – and there, his story takes a turn.  An inspired teacher/“coach” spotted Chris in her Turbo Jam class and took him under her wing.  She believed that Chris could get fit, and he believed that she could be right.   On that day, Chris’s journey toward better health began, fueled by connection and accountability. 

Chris Golden, Fitness Coach

The approach Chris took is not rocket science.  With the guidance of his coach, he started with a natural meal replacement drink, adopted a sensible nutrition plan using a web-based fitness management program, made a commitment and started exercising consistently.  He also made some life changes.  Having realized that his job was making him unhappy, he went out and found a new one.  This helped to alleviate some of the emotional causes of overeating for Chris, a root cause not to overlook! Four months after taking his first class, Chris has dropped 40 pounds and added a part-time career as a fitness coach to his full time gig.  “I am so excited about the impact; I just want to share it with everyone.”  In fact, click below to hear Chris’s inspiring story and helpful insights about his journey into and out of obesity.  He’ll give you tips and tools that may help you on your path to improved wellness.    

You can also check out the fun HALF WAY video he made to track his progress at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyDgf8eaUmE . 

So why, after all this time, did this approach work for Chris? There’s a lot of research and literature on motivation, but sadly, there is no magic bullet.  While each of us makes change in our own way and time, there are some key points in this story that may help you in your quest to make a change.   

As I see it, here are the steps that enabled Chris to move forward:   

• Chris developed awareness of his situation and hope for the future by connecting with a trusted, supportive guide, his coach.
• Chris then identified the vision of the person he desired to be.  (Slim, fit, healthy and energetic)
• The coach helped Chris to analyze his current situation and to determine the behaviors and the choices he was making that were not helping him to create his vision. (e.g. You want to be lean and fit, which of your behaviors fight that outcome? Could it be job situation, lack of exercise, eating highly caloric foods, etc.? What could you do differently?)
• Chris worked with the coach and used a planning website to identify new behaviors and to commit to those behaviors, one-step at a time to accomplish his vision.  (meal plan, exercise plan, goals)
• Chris became part of a supportive, like-minded community that continues to encourage him and reinforce his new, healthy behaviors.

In short, it took awareness, analysis, goals accountability, new behavior and support to make change occur. Many of us set goals, but forget to list specific behaviors to help us to reach those goals.  We also often lack on-going support that helps us to keep motivated. 

This is not to say that all change has to happen this way, but this kind of approach can be helpful and is apparent in a variety of effective wellness programs (in-person and on-line).  A coach is not always necessary, but may serve as a guide while assisting in accountability, problem solving and lending overall support. 

 If you’re interested in the specific program that worked so beautifully for Chris, it’s “BeachBody.com”  - an online program that tracks progress, builds meal plans, gives you access to workout videos, meal replacement products like “Shakeology” and provides support from a like-minded community.   Or, you can work directly with Chris. Visit his site www.goldenbodiesnow.com  or e-mail him at cgbigdaddy@gmail.com . (Of course, don’t forget to check with your doctor before trying a new wellness program!) 

 Most of all, be happy; be well.

Cory A. Booker is the mayor of Newark, New Jersey’s largest city and he is my hero.  In a time when heroes (political and sports figures in particular) are nose-diving off their pedestals like Lemmings, this guy appears to be the real deal. He spoke at a conference that a close friend of mine attended, and wowed him so much, I just had to check him out for myself.  Now, I’m wowed too.   Booker believes that each of us can make positive change happen in a big way, and he is clearly devoted to doing so himself.  The City of  Newark is reaping the benefits of his labor and so are those, like myself who are watching and learning from the way this man works.

Educated at Stanford University and Yale Law School, Booker received national attention in 2002 during his first unsuccessful run against longtime incumbent Mayor Sharpe James.  A documentary film called “Street Fight,”  (nominated for an Academy Award), looks inside the campaign, and gives us a glimpse inside Booker’s determination to fight hard and clean even when the going got very dirty.  It seems to have paid off: Booker was elected in May 2006 and easily won re-election in 2010

There are at least ten reasons that Booker makes hero status in my mind, here are five:

1)      He’s an amazing leader.  I’ve worked many places in my life, and great leadership is hard to come by.  Booker delivers – he’s clear and he’s  honest.  His agenda is his city’s agenda, not his personal gain.

2)     He walks the talk. He  lives in the Newark projects so he can be in the community of the people he represents – would you?

3)     He first seeks to understand, rather than first be understood: So far, crime in Newark is down  dramatically – about 21% .  Booker helped achieve this goal by riding with the police every night until 4 a.m. looking for  firsthand knowledge of the issues so he could better solve them.

4)     He has a vision; sets a direction, clearly communicates it and sticks to it.

5)     Last  but not least, he’s a nice guy.  He appears genuine, engenders a sense of team and community and takes time to thank and to  inspire  those around him.

So, if you haven’t heard of him, check out the video to get a taste of what this man is all about.  It will be ten minutes well spent – because at very least, he is an amazing and inspiring speaker.  I apologize that this video promotes a speaker’s bureau, but I chose it because I believed it delivers the best Booker profile in the least amount of time.

Nobody’s perfect, so I’m sure there are Booker detractors out there who have compelling arguments , but in my book, this guy is cool.   He makes me want to stand up and be better, and for me,  that’s more than good enough.

More info: http://www.corybooker.com/

Genius & Joyful Bobby McFerrin

Yesterday, I had the privilege of seeing genius at work: Bobby McFerrin’s matinee performance at the Boston Symphony Hall on March 21 was amazing.

McFerrin created contagious joy as he shared his vocal inventions and invited us, the audience, to collaborate in the role of back-up orchestra.  In a way, McFerrin, well-known singer and conductor really didn’t sing as much as he played.  And we, as if we were all talented and obedient children, gleefully played with him, enjoying the simplicity of our own voices.

You may remember him as the guy who sings “Don’t Worry – Be Happy” as I did before attending this performance.  I knew that he used his voice, his microphone and his body as his primary instruments – but I did not know that he would so completely engage and entertain a few thousand people for two full hours doing just that!   I highly recommend that you visit his YouTube postings and his site bobbymcferrin.com to get a glimpse of what he offers – because I can’t find right enough words do justice to the experience.

However, I do want to comment on the inspirational lessons I learned by observing a creative craftsman at work.  McFerrin has transformed the art of vocal improvisation to a renowned art form.  Because he was generous enough to answer audience questions post performance, I was able to ask him how he discovered his art.  I was fully expecting that he had accidentally happened upon it.  But no – first he conceived of it and then he spent six years transforming his vision into action.  I am paraphrasing, but essentially, McFerrin said that at the age of 27, when he decided to go from pianist to singer  – he had a vision that he wanted to be able to improvise vocally in a similar way to what he had seen Keith Jarrett, composer and pianist, achieve on the piano.  He told us that he learned to listen and observe very carefully, and after working at it for six years, he was able to craft a vocal performance skill that began to meet his expectations.

Lesson number one for me:  Great accomplishments and art, (even if you have some genetic talent) often takes work and vision!  Serendipitous that also that same day, the New York Times reviewed a book called “The Genius in All of Us” by David Shenk. Reviewer Annie Murphy Paul sums up the book’s concept, “…think of talent not as a thing, but as a process; not as something we have, but as something we do.”  Further support for this principle is also evidenced in Daniel Coyle’s book “The Talent Code.”  The book’s subhead says it all, “Greatness Isn’t Born.  It’s Grown. Here’s How.”

I find these are thought provoking resources for those of us who dream of doing great things.

Lesson number two for me:  To allow maximum creative flow, I believe one is best served by being completely present and comfortable in one’s own skin.  McFerrin’s improvisations and connection with the audience are astounding.  Imagine how different that experience might have been had McFerrin been consumed by fear or worry?   I don’t believe he could have delivered.  I also don’t believe that the audience would have felt the joy that radiated through our hearts had that been the case.  Such a state of relaxed being can be learned and there are many paths to get there.  Any mindfulness practices, such as meditation or yoga are often helpful.  In some cases, therapy or life coaching may also assist.  Check out this link http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/home/index.aspx for additional information about mindfulness.

While I may never be a genius and my mindfulness is a work in progress, many thanks to Bobby McFerrin for providing a great afternoon and the inspiration to keep practicing my way toward greatness.  And in the meantime, per his direction, I won’t worry – and neither should you.

This year, I gave up sugar.  After reading a lot of research on this topic, I decided that it was best for my body.  Another reason?  Because sugar was my go-to binge food for a feel-better fix.  As I decided to leave corporate America to become a life strategist and writer/publisher, I had a vision that I wanted to feel really good and energetic so that I could manifest a successful business.  Plus, it just doesn’t do for a life coach to engage in never-ending sugar binges, now does it?

So, on January 1, 2010 I decided to go cold turkey on any food that contained sugar or sugar in sheep’s clothing, (like fructose or corn syrup) in the first five ingredients.  At first, it was awful.  At 3 PM every day,   I would walk over to the candy jar and stare.  Right after dinner, I longed for that sweet finish to my meal, like a heartsick lover.  The good news is that by cutting out my main binge food, I was able to really see my emotional eating cycle.  Instead of asking myself “What do I want to eat?” I started asking, “What is eating me?”  Oh yes, it was a struggle, but I was ready to take it on.  I had my vision: be strong, healthy, energetic and authentic for my new endeavor. 

I started to substitute tea and coffee for dessert, not always the most healthful choice, but in the process I found a new addiction: an awesome (not cheap) white tea called Youthberry from Teavana.  I also dumped out my sports drinks and tried coconut water.  Research suggests that coconut water provides similar carbs and hydration that sports drinks do, only without added sugar!   Sadly, for me, I think it tastes yucky, so I’ve switched back to water. 

Why else did I do it?  While there are some studies that disagree, there seems to be significant evidence linking sugar to disease.  In their book, “You, The Owner’s Manual”, authors Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz note that too much sugar in the diet can lead to diabetes and has a direct negative impact on your arteries.  Many sources, including Gary Taubes’ book “Good Calories, Bad Calories” also suggest that our bodies cannot handle as much sugar as we consume in modern American society.  if you look at my post A Sweet Little Nightmare… on December 29 2009, you will find more research and can see that there is a long list of foods we eat that contain sugar, including crackers, soups, tomato sauces, cereals and other processed food.  So most of us are already consuming way more sugar than we need.  I figured that at the ripe age of 50, I just don’t need any more health risks– and frankly, I just feel clearer when I don’t eat as much sugar.

It’s now March and I am doing very well.  I eat about 95% less sugar than I did a year ago.  I mostly refuse dessert, but if a good friend prepares a special sugary treat for me in honor of an occasion, I’ll eat it and smile.  Every now and then, when I truly can’t live without something sweet, I’ve found that a couple of dark chocolate almonds sprinkled with sea salt and turbinado sugar from Trader Joe’s satisfies that need. (I’m sorry if you don’t have these stores in your area, they are great!) 

I feel better and I have managed to take off (and keep off) about three pounds – while weight loss wasn’t my goal, it’s cool because now my skinny jeans fit.  I also believe I have better energy. Here’s what else I’ve learned:

1) When I am motivated by a vision, I am more successful at achieving my goal.

2) Changing just one food group in my binge area helped me to dramatically decrease bingeing in general; and  

3) Just because it’s good for me, doesn’t mean that I like it. (Like coconut water, for instance.)

This was a tough change for me, but I was ready to do it.  What changes are you ready for and do you think a vision will help keep you motivated?

Happy New Year!  I found myself very tired on New Year’s Eve.  Upon reflection,  I realized that not only was the year over, but also a decade -  one in which I moved three thousand miles, lost loved ones, survived being the mother of a teenager, changed jobs three times and reinvented a marriage.  No wonder I’m tired. But today, I feel energized. It’s a new beginning and I have a vision.

I considered setting the usual set of New Year’s resolutions, but instead, this year, I started with a vision.  What’s the difference you ask? Well, most of us actually set goals when we set resolutions.  For example, “I will lose five pounds and fall in love by spring.”  That’s fine on January 1, when we are recovering from the holidays and are all gung-ho – but after about four weeks, these kinds of resolutions may start to look like a long to-do list; which in turn may start to resemble dull, burdensome obligations! 

A vision however, feels richer and more alive to me than a goal. It contains emotional meaning.  I really like the way yogi Bo Forbes describes “vision” in her Yoga Journal article “Stuck in a Rut?” http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/1318?page=3 

“When we create a vision for our new pattern, we must give it a life force more vital than the old one. We need to convince ourselves that it is real. We use our senses and emotions to bring it to life: What does it look, smell, or feel like? The more we visualize (and experience) the new pattern, the more real and compelling it becomes.”

I find that I can get excited about my vision.  Consider:  “I am healthy, thin, strong and fit and enjoying a fabulous love life,” verses “I will lose 5 pounds and fall in love by spring.” 

Working with a vision, I can literally see myself already achieving my goals in my mind’s eye. I feel it, I see it, I believe it.  I envision it!  My dream of myself motivates me. Now that I am motivated, I also set specific, measurable goals to help my vision come to life, such as:

• Consume 50% less sugar, salt and caffeine weekly than I have in the previous three months
• Work out vigorously three times a week, 45 minutes each: swim, bike or run
• Identify and attend social events once a week with fabulously interesting men and women who share common interests with me

Get the idea? 

So why not skip the vision part and go right to the goals?  Well, when February rolls around and I am losing steam on the goals, I return to my vision. When I can see who I am in that vision and how I feel, it is very compelling to stay on track with my goals. Envisioning gives my goals life and keeps me working until I get results that will make me feel oh-so good.