Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
– Mark Twain
Last week, I was unable to go to bed, captured by the unfolding events of election night in the US. The next morning there seemed to be a feeling of hope and optimism imported from across the Atlantic. There was a new joy in the air.
Something has changed. The cynical have been willing to lay aside their cynicism and dare to hope. This election result felt similar to the 1997 Labour victory, the hope of something new.
It is all too easy to become disillusioned. How can we hold on to this optimism, this hope, in a way that is grounded for us? Continue reading
Secure jobs have been rendered shaky and insubstantial by the uncertainty of the current economic climate. Where once you might have thought that security was a fair exchange for a sense of dissatisfaction, that often no longer applies. Many are questioning whether they want to stay put if there is no longer security. This could be an opportunity to think afresh.
Is it time to leave your job?
With every venture, every task, every activity, every relationship there is the possibility of failure, of it ‘not working out’. This possibility is more likely with new ventures and new activities.
Am I alone in finding this scary? Of wanting the future to be known and certain before I even start?
I’ve now written the story of my escape from corporate life and posted it as a page here – link https://rosalynclare-coaching.co.uk/about-me/story-of-an-escape
I can honestly say I’ve never regretted that initial ‘rash’ decision to hand in my notice. Despite things not always been easy or going the way I wanted since that date.
I have a similar decision at the moment; whether or not to reduce hours or leave my part-time job completely in order to concentrate more fully on coaching. This feels equally scary, despite there being less to lose and more to gain! Continue reading
Even if you think you’ll be leaving your present work, being positive about it now is the best possible platform for change. This sounds counter-intuitive.
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.
I came across this great short quiz compiled by Pamela Skillings, who has written of her own escape from corporate America.
http://electricpulp.com/corporatecasualty/
How did you do?
I am looking to interview 50 women who want to find work that better meets their values and passions. They may be working in the corporate sector and want to escape.
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? Continue reading
I’ve come across this handy little tool for looking at a problem another way. It’s an online wizard (!) with a tool for asking questions, the Unsticker. Sample question (I love this) – what part of the problem is the most ticklish? Continue reading
I’ve compiled a very short survey to gather research information of what it’s like for women working in a corporate setting. Continue reading
What are you tolerating?
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.
by Dr. Paul
“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.” Continue reading
I spent three and a half months in South America in 2003. I travelled south from Rio to the tip of Argentina at Ushuaia, then back up the other side through Bolivia and Peru to Quito in Ecuador.
One of the best quarter years of my life. We saw glaciers, icebergs, rainforest, beach, waterfalls, fjords, tropical parrots, llamas and Incan ruins. Ate guinea pig and drank mojitos.
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. Continue reading
Last Easter I made a big leap. Physically. Off a (small) cliff and into a deep blue river by a waterfall. In hot hot Cuban sunshine.
Well, maybe it was just a ledge. But I am scared of heights, so it was a big deal. A big leap, in fact. Continue reading
If you were not afraid of anything or anyone, what would you do? Who would you be? What would you say? How would you live? Where would you live? How would you dress?
‘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.
Rosalyn Clare - coaching 