Turning Your Confusion Into Clarity
Understanding who you are, what you'd love to do next and mapping a path to your professional destination
Who am I and what is my story?
We all have defining moments in our lives. Mine started in 2001 in the wake of September 11th. When I wrapped my head around what had happened, and gripped my new reality, it was too late.
What happened? The job I had at the time ended with a “corporate workforce reduction program” on an innocuous Wednesday. Did I mention this was the week before Thanksgiving?
Even in those circumstances, I had a moment of clarity. Life is too short and precious to be working unfulfilling jobs. In the wake of this situation, I traveled into a new world.
That world included something I had never heard of before: outplacement services. In my case, that was service delivered by Right Management. I jumped head first into the learning programs, resume writing, assessments, workshops, and setting up my future plans.
I networked like it was going out of style. That’s when I discovered The Breakfast Club – more on that later. Needless to say, I’ve seen first hand the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between. I’ve taken survival jobs, sometimes 2 and 3 at a time. I’ve gotten fired from jobs. Laid off from jobs. Built a real estate sales business. I’ve tried, failed and succeeded.
Each experience I had along the way, shaped who I am today.That means the lows – I have seen those. The highs – been there. Building a real estate business – not easy. Changing careers – meant sacrifice.
An avalanche of things happened at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015. The real estate clients I was representing all had “bad” things happen one after another. Then in January, my father passed away. Trauma and circumstance allowed me to reevaluate.
It was then that I realized that my fathers legacy was me. You can read more about that here.
Fair warning on my #1 influencer. In 2008, I made a decision to put my faith in Jesus Christ. That one decision changed everything for me.
I began asking questions. What’s my impacting legacy of tangible significance? Am I doing things that would be pleasing to God?
Breakfast Club Networking Group
In the years since 2001, when I first was laid off from a corporate sales job, I ran into a group of people. Those people were going through what I was, a really tough job search during a recession. We all wanted a support mechanism.
From that group, I received a new appreciation of what a professional relationship means and how important it was to your life, not just your career. People I first met in that group are still solid friends and connections years later. Some I have even done real estate business with, shocking I know.
When I was 5 years into my real estate career and things were going really well, I offered to have the group hosted in my Lake Oswego office. A logistical and professional change for the group.
Little did I know–that offer changed my life. Again. The moderator of the group surprisingly obtained a job. A replacement moderator led the group for a period of time and then also found work. The turnover was threatening the survival of the group, so I offered to moderate. My intent was 100% noble. I wasn’t doing it for personal gain.
I moderated the group, and still do. It’s different in some key ways: we believe in holding each other accountable to networking goals and supporting the development of branding statements. I was hooked on coaching. This is where I developed and refined my 3-Steps Formula with amazing results. Tested on 800+ professionals. I supported this group for free for 10 years until taking on coaching full time.
Where should I start?
Job Seekers Radio
Listen to the podcast that Scott Pickard and I co-host for job seeking professionals.
Free Resources
Check out the powerful resources on my site that are no cost to you. Checklists and even free coaching calls.
Coaching Services
Areas of focus include leadership development, career planning, professional branding and effective networking.
Check out my profile and connect. Tell me how you heard about this site and what ways I can help you.
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