Being positive and being at peace will help maintain your energy levels and support your self-esteem which will help when it comes to networking and applying for other opportunities.

Take a new notebook (as expensive and as beautiful as it can be) and write down your answers to the following questions:

 What do you enjoy in your present job?

What does your job give you?

What are you grateful for in your current work?

What are you achieving at work now?

How could you increase your contribution at work?

If there were one thing you could improve, what would it be? What’s stopping you?

What opportunities are there for developing your role at work?

http://electricpulp.com/corporatecasualty/

How did you do?

I have been gathering information from my survey on job satisfaction and now I want more detail.

Do you know someone who fits the description?

Maybe YOU are one of these women?

Get in touch - rosalyn@rosalynclare-coaching.co.uk - to schedule an interview. As a ‘thank you’, you can receive a 30-minute kickstart ‘Design Your Escape Route’ coaching session - at no charge.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Rosalyn

I wrote about something similar a year ago on changing perspective.

So, how about giving it a go?

ACTION CHALLENGE: Pick an area in your life in which you feel stuck. Get a new page in your notebook or PDA and list the characteristics of your current perspective. How do you think and feel about this problems right now? Now as you look at what you have written, do you like this perspective? Do you want a change?

Then either use the ‘Unsticker’ tool or choose another perspective. I invite you to try standing up and physically moving to another point in the room, then looking at the situation from this new perspective. Perhaps - what would a child say about this problem? Or if this problem were a item of clothing what would it be? Ask yourself - what is possible?

If you find yourself going back to the thoughts and feelings of the first stuck perspective gently bring yourself back to the new again. Then repeat with another perspective and another physical move. The physical move is a trick to help your brain to think that something new is about to happen and be more welcoming to new thoughts. Try as many times as it takes for you to see your problem in a new way with a clearer way forward.

How did you find that? Post your comments and experiences below.

It’s only 12 questions and mostly multiple choice so very quick to answer! (Names will be kept confidential and no contact information is requested)

Survey for women working in a corporate setting:

http://rosalynclare.jobsurvey.sgizmo.com

(And one for those who have already left that corporate environment

http://rosalynclare.jobsurveyleavers.sgizmo.com)

Many thanks for your help.

If you would like to receive the results, there’s a sign up form at the right of the screen.

We are used to the notion of putting up with things. “How are you?” “Can’t complain” “Mustn’t grumble” “Could be worse”

And as a (British) race I sometimes wonder if we like to have something to moan about.

Tolerations can drain so much energy that we haven’t enough left over for the things we really like to do. Like a couple of very small stones constantly in a shoe, or the feeling of being slightly spiked by a cactus.

What am I tolerating?

I recently came to realise that the voluntary work I was doing was draining my energy and eating into precious time I didn’t really have. I tolerated it for the good of the young people and the good of the project. Sounds a bit pompous, doesn’t it?! And then one day I noticed that I didn’t know all the names of the young people. and I’d asked one volunteer what she did 4 times… I started to question who was benefiting from me doing this work. I certainly wasn’t. And maybe the project wasn’t either.

So I left. At a good time, to minimise inconvenience and nevertheless I left.

This spurred me on. To get a quote for some decorating which I haven’t got round to in such a long time. To finally recycle my old microwave and toaster which had been sitting in the boot of my car. All those things which caused irritation and depleted precious energy, as I noticed them.

And, more challenging, to re-examine some friendships which were more than slightly one-sided,

To make room for the life I want to lead.

To allow energy to be spent on relationships and my business and family and the things that matter to me.

ACTION CHALLENGE: write a list of ten things that you are tolerating. Tackle one a week and notice the change in your energy levels.

And, a more challenging question - is your job a toleration?

“This Tortoise is such a dull, heavy creature!” said the Hare.

“Not really dull, but he’s heavy for sure,” said the Rat.

“And you, Rat,” said the Hare, “Not so heavy, but just as dull. You are worse than either of us. Nothing but average. Average weight, and average smarts.”

Butting in, the Tortoise said, “Just because the Rat is average doesn’t mean he isn’t capable of great things. It is up to him to decide to do great things, just like one as heavy as me.”

“I completely disagree,” said the Hare. “You are what you are. We can’t change who we are. I, for example, am speedy, and you both are sluggishly slow.”

“We’ll see,” said the Tortoise, “I’ll run with you both for a wager.” Then he looked at them all. “Done,” said the Hare, and they asked the Fox to be the judge.

As the Tortoise, the Hare, and the Rat talked about the details of the race, the start and finish-lines, and strategy at their contest, a crowd of Rats began to gather around to see what all the fuss was about. (And to have something to gawk at while loitering.)

When the starting gun finally fired, the Tortoise began a steady jog, even as the Hare scampered far, far ahead.

But the Rat simply stopped a few steps from the starting line when he saw the amazing speed with which the Hare hopped along. “What’s the use?” he said, “I can beat the Tortoise, but never would I catch that Hare! I have better things to do, like digging through garbage-cans. There is the easier prize, one I can taste-a nice, leftover piece of meat or bread.”

Now, meanwhile, the Hare laid himself down midway in the course, and took a nap. “No worries,” he said, “I can catch up with the Tortoise when I please.” But it seems he overslept himself, for when he came to wake, though he scuttled away as fast as possible, the Tortoise had slogged along to the post before him and won the wager.

The crowd of Rats was left scratching their heads as to why the race had gone that way. Dejected, they scampered away again to their Rat-lives, back to the old “Rat Race” with their heads hanging low. Their representative had not even made the effort. He did not decide to even try at racing. And the same is true for Humans. Slow and Steady wins the race, but never entering the race is a sure way to lose.

If you want to quit the Rat Race, you will have to join the Human Race. You will have to try. You will have to put yourself to the test. You will have to decide your fate rather than letting the world make decisions about YOU.

(copyright http://doctorpaul.net/)

This is an extract from a book of the same name, which challenges us to start… Have you entered the race or are you dangling your feet in the water? Give me a shout if you want support to dive in.

And one of the songs I heard repeatedly over that time had the above line.

“This life is more than just a read through” - quote from Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

I used to get my friends to listen out for that line. One of the drivers of the overland truck we used had (it seemed) very few CDs, so we often heard the album this is on.

Whilst I was travelling, I felt my life was not a rehearsal, not just a read through, but I was really living. Some of that was being somewhere beautiful. Experiencing new things. Seeing new places, new countries. Going to a St Patrick’s party in a multi storey car park in Buenos Aires. Jumping off a bridge on a bridge swing. Horse riding through the Andes and through the lush green landscape of Ecuador. Lots of lying in hammocks. And drinking Cuba Libres.

And a long way from rush hours and having to bill my time by the 15 minute slot (will be familiar to lots of you!).

It was also about fulfilling a long held dream. There were lots of practical reasons not to go off backpacking in my ’30s. Lots of more sensible things to do with the money, maybe. But following that dream - and having a great time - made me feel alive. Extra alive!

We only have one life to live right now here on earth. Whatever our beliefs about an after life.

I feel alive right now too. I’m very excited about the work I do with people. Helping them to overcome the fears and insecurities that stop them living the life they really want. Coaching has helped me personally in many ways and I love to see others make changes too.

ACTION CHALLENGE: Do you have dreams? Dreams of starting your own business, living in France or taking up the clarinet? Let me encourage you to listen to your heart rather than that negative gremlin on your shoulder. I have two suggestions. Firstly find someone who will believe in your dream to support you. Secondly, identify one thing you could do this week which would move you closer to that dream and take that baby step.

Well, maybe it was just a ledge. But I am scared of heights, so it was a big deal. A big leap, in fact.

It was an exhilarating moment. Instead of a clamber into the river via the rocks, I decided to jump in the deep end. I was completely determined and ended up being the first of our tour group to jump. Once in the water, I was proud of my achievement and happy. I had conquered fears and felt free.

Reflecting on that experience, I see that leap as being a metaphor for my life. Or my life as I want it to be. Too often, I clamber over the rocks into the shallow end, wincing as I tread on the sharp rocks, taking one small step at a time. Sometimes, a big leap is called for. And can be easier than the gradual approach. A wise friend Merron pointed out that a small step can take as much energy as a big leap.

ACTION CHALLENGE: Where in your life would you like to take a big leap? What is stopping you? What is the cost to you, the equivalent of feet cut on the rocks, from not taking that leap?

If you’d like some support in taking a big leap, drop me a line via Contact-me/.

‘If I was not afraid, I would…’

One life coaching exercise I have found dramatically effective is to answer the above. Daily. For a week or two. And notice what items come up again and again. Little things and big things.

I have met people who do not admit they are fearful. Yet something is holding them back from the life they truly want.

As you answer the question, notice how your mind expands to think of new possibilities for your life. This question can reveal your true desires.

ACTION CHALLENGE: Open a new document on your computer and answer the question ‘If I was not afraid, I would…’ Make a list of everything you would be and do. Answer the question every day for a week and look at the opportunities you have listed.

Coaching is about getting excited about looking beyond the easy and glimpsing the new and the thrilling. Contact me if you would like to talk about moving beyond fear.