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Career-Map©
tools for designing a career path that fits your life
Career-Map©
tools for designing a career path that fits your life
Mickey Parsons, M.Ed., CEAP, PCC
Marilee CrockerEditing
Craig CombsGraphic Design
© 2004 Parsons Associates Coaching, LLC. All rights reserved.
TTable of Contents
Introduction 4
SESSION 1: Rediscovering Success 6
SESSION 2: Reclaiming Your Strengths 13
SESSION 3: Reorienting Around Your Values 18
SESSION 4: Resurfacing Your Needs 23
SESSION 5: Re-energizing Your Goals 29
SESSION 6: Realizing Your Mission 36
APPENDIX A
Career Worksheet 42
APPENDIX B
Power-packed Tips 43
APPENDIX C
Resources 46
APPENDIX D
Working With A Coach 51
Parsons Associates Coaching, LLCAtlanta, Georgia
Phone 770.451.0505 • Fax 404.529.4484
PDF Page
If you’re like me, you want to make the most of
your life. You have a lot you want to accomplish
including, perhaps, exceeding your own
expectations. But, how do you reach these
goals? For most of us, it’s hard enough to
complete the tasks on our daily to-do lists, much
less fulfill our dreams of building a successful
career or thriving business while enjoying
healthy personal relationships. Whether you’re
considering changing careers, an over-achiever
who’s ready to enjoy more balance in life, or an
entrepreneur who wants to move out of
survival mode, this workbook can help you
break free of whatever is holding you back so
you can begin doing what you love and getting
what you want out of life.
In my experience, developing a clear vision about the direction you want
your life to take is the first and most critical step in achieving long-term
career success. To do this, most of us need to spend quality time peeling
back the layers of our public personas in a program of self-discovery.
Through this process you come to know who you are and what type of life
you want to create. Many of us have friends or colleagues who are
accomplished at work and financially successful yet who complain that
they feel incomplete and lack passion in their work. Why? Most often the
reason is because their career or business choices have been based on
someone else’s definitions of success or on motivations that are not true
to their core selves or to their unique strengths, values and needs. Taking
the time to know yourself better will give you clarity about your goals.
This in turn leads you to make decisions that are right for you as you move
confidently toward fulfilling your dreams.
IINTRODUCTION
My own search for career fulfillment has led
me from jobs in traditional counseling roles
to business development, executive
leadership and finally professional coach
and business owner. In navigating these
varied jobs and roles, I have come to view
career planning in holistic terms — that is, I
see career success as a key ingredient in
overall happiness. Regardless of our “check
it at the door” attitudes about work, in
today’s culture it is difficult, if not
impossible, to separate career from the
other key areas of our lives.
The exercises in this workbook (illustrated
by real-life case studies) are designed to
give you the clarity and self-knowledge
essential to creating a career plan that fits
you perfectly. Through the process of
redefining success for yourself, refocusing
on your strengths, reorienting around your
values, resurfacing your needs and re-
energizing your goals, you will create an
individualized litmus test you can use to
make near-perfect career — and life —
decisions every time!
Are you ready to realize your mission?
Let’s get started!
IINTRODUCTIONContinued
Let’s begin with a small exercise. Quickly, without
giving it too much thought, jot down your definition
of success. (There are no wrong answers.)
To me success is
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Here are some definitions of success I’ve heard from
clients over the years:
• growing my business aggressively
• doing what it takes to achieve my goals
• owning a great house and car
• having the time and money to travel widely
• experiencing freedom and flexibility
• attaining balance and simplicity
• making a difference
• having a purpose
The New American Heritage Dictionary defines
success as, “The achievement of something desired,
planned or attempted.” My personal definition of
success is this: “Success is getting what you want and
taking time to enjoy it.” No doubt, there are as many
definitions of success as there are people to ponder
them. And, indeed, perhaps the difference between
success and failure is in the eye of the beholder.
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
“To laugh often and lovemuch, to win the respectof intelligent persons andthe affection of children,to earn the approval ofhonest critics and endurethe betrayal of falsefriends, to appreciatebeauty, to find the best inothers, to give of one’sself without the slightestthought of return, toleave the world a bitbetter, whether by ahealthy child, a rescuedsoul, a garden patch or aredeemed socialcondition, to have playedand laughed withenthusiasm and sung withexaltation, to know thateven one life hasbreathed easier becauseyou have lived is to havesucceeded.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
When I ask new clients, “How do you define success at this
point in your life?” their initial answers usually center around
material possessions and finances. When they dig deeper, many
often discover that in striving to build or achieve “the good
life” they have fallen into the trap of overwork or of
measuring their success against other people’s standards. After
years of sacrificing their hobbies and personal pleasures,
neglecting self-development and, in some cases, living with
mediocre relationships, they feel frustrated, depressed and
STUCK.
Among the behaviors, habits and attitudes that lead people to
become stuck are these:
• putting yourself under constant pressure
• believing you can’t have what you want or cynicism
• spending time with people who are negative,
struggling and problem-oriented
• allowing fear of the unknown to dominate your
perspective
• doubting your competence.
Are any of these familiar to you? Do you see a connection
between these behaviors and your beliefs about yourself and
about your ability to heed your life’s calling?
Here are three great strategies for transforming these patterns
and crafting a new definition of success that fits you uniquely.
Take time to dream. I often ask clients to spend time each
week daydreaming, even if it means doing nothing and being
bored. I make this request because I have learned that quiet
time and daydreaming allow us to see beyond the clutter of
our daily roles and activities and begin imagining new
possibilities. Once you begin to get clear about what you really
want, you can set goals, develop action steps and cultivate
environments that support you along your path.
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
Reframe failure. Most of us would agree that we learn something from each
failure we experience. The important questions to ask are:
• Did I learn a positive or negative lesson?
• Did the experience lead me to be a better employee, manager,
leader or person?
• Did I draw conclusions that lead to self-blame, worthlessness and
a lack of ambition?
Reframing failure is like taking a photograph out of a tattered old frame with
broken glass and putting it in a shiny new frame made of gold. Reframing failure
means you transform your references from those that hold you back to those that
serve you. For example, “I’m an idiot, I couldn’t do it!” is reframed as, “I didn’t
have the skills and knowledge at the time; now, I can learn what’s needed and
improve results.” This reframing helps positions you for success by fine-tuning
your belief system so it stays healthy and serves you well.
Keep the goal posts steady. In Session 5 you will begin setting goals for career and
life success. For now, it is sufficient to say that once you achieve a goal (for
example: earning a promotion or bonus, winning a new account, updating your
resume, buying a new home, investing your savings, organizing your office,
completing a time management course), be careful not to shift your focus onto the
next hurdle too quickly. Don’t get me wrong — ambition is a great thing. But it is
important to mark and celebrate your achievements along the way. That way,
instead of sending messages to your brain that you can never be good enough,
you experience success at each step of your path. This prepares you mentally for
even more success.
One important note about success: When you take time to define success for
yourself, you avoid the trap of letting your life be run by someone else’s definition
of success (including your parents, cultural conditioning, consumer advertising,
etc.). Only after you define success for yourself can you chart a path toward doing
what you love and having the experiences that are most important to you.
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
Leo was a successful engineer who had
spent most of his 40-something years
pleasing everyone but himself — parents,
teachers, wife, boss and so forth. He hired me as his coach to help
him find a job closer to home so he could spend more time developing
a home-based Web design business. As we explored career options it
became obvious that Leo really wasn’t interested in engineering. He’d
fallen into the industry because his father had encouraged it and he did
well at the coursework. During our first months together, Leo explored
what success meant to him. At my suggestion, he re-framed his self-talk.
For example, instead of saying, “I’m stuck and I’ll never be happy at
work,” he said, “Though I’m unhappy at work now, I’m exploring
options that fit me better.” Leo began listening to and following his
heart by looking inside for answers. He regularly made time to
daydream and began writing down his goals and dreams. Using his new
self-knowledge, he wrote out a personal mission statement. Based on
that, he began making decisions that supported this vision for his
future.
Leo’s self-discovery process led to a clarity that made it easy for him to
create and implement action plans. This produced RADICAL life changes.
He ended an unhealthy relationship, relocated to the West Coast and
pursued a new career path that he feels passionate about. Nearly every
aspect of his new life fits his new definition of success for himself, which
goes something like this: “I am successful when I stretch myself every day
in some area of my life, when I give love and appreciation to others, and
when I exceed my financial expectations and listen to my gut.” Today, Leo
is tackling a new hurdle — fear of success — and learning to be
comfortable in his new skin. Overall, his self-confidence is at an all-time
high. He takes great care of himself and is building healthy relationships.
In every way, Leo is one of the most successful individuals I’ve had the
honor of coaching.
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
Your Turn
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
Take time for your own self-discovery, so you canbecome clear about what success means to you.
1. List the five most successful people you know:
a. ___________________________________________
b. ___________________________________________
c. ___________________________________________
d. ___________________________________________
e. ___________________________________________
2. What is it about each person that makes them successful in
your eyes? Be specific.
a. _________________________________________________________
b. _________________________________________________________
c. _________________________________________________________
d. _________________________________________________________
e. _________________________________________________________
3. Use the above information to craft a statement about what success
means to you in each of the following areas:
a. Relationships: To me, a successful relationship __________________
________________________________________________________________
b. Work/Career/Business: Being successful in my work means _______
________________________________________________________________
c. Wealth: My definition of financial success is ____________________
________________________________________________________________
d. Health: ______________________________________________________
e. Spiritual: ____________________________________________________
4. To create your personal definition of success, combine these
statements, or find the common theme in them. Refine your
definition until it resonates with you:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Now create a personal benchmark or two to keep you on track daily.
Here are sample benchmarks:
a. I know I’m successful when I am enjoying
intellectual stimulation.
b. I know I’m successful when I feel deeply connected
with other people.
c. I know I’m successful when I am playful and 100% me.
d. ________________________________________________________
e. ________________________________________________________
f. ________________________________________________________
Here are a few more questions to consider
when crafting your personal definition of success.
6. If you could wave your magic wand and do absolutely anything in
the world what would it be? _____________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Why?___________________________________________________________
7. How does money tie in with your definition of success? What are
your beliefs about money? _______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Do these beliefs hold you back or spur you forward? _______________
_________________________________________________________________
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
SSESSION 1: REDISCOVERING SUCCESS
8. List 5 reasons that you work (other than money).
1. _________________________________
2. _________________________________
3. _________________________________
4. _________________________________
5. _________________________________
9. List 10 activities you would LOVE doing every day, whether you were
paid or not. Include hobbies, recreation, etc. Anything goes!
1. ___________________________
2. ___________________________
3. ___________________________
4. ___________________________
5. ___________________________
Congratulations! You’re on your way to gathering
information about yourself that will guide you to making
great choices about your career path and overall life. Now,
take a moment to choose an enjoyable activity or activities
(from #9) to do every day. Put these on your calendar for
after work, so you have something to look forward to.
Activities to add to my calendar:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Resources Follow Your Heart: Finding Purpose in Your Life and Work by Andrew Matthews
Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life’s Calling by Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro
6. ___________________________
7. ___________________________
8. ___________________________
9. ___________________________
10. ___________________________
Your Reward
Here’s a question you’ve probably thought about before:
What are your greatest weaknesses?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
I’m willing to bet you answered my question about your
weaknesses much more easily than you answered the
questions about success at the beginning of Session 1. For
some reason we have been trained to identify and focus on
the negative, particularly our own faults, failings and
shortcomings, rather than on positives such as our natural
strengths, talents and abilities. Similarly, we tend to believe
that identifying and conquering our greatest weakness will
enhance our chances for success.
This approach is widely evident in business. For instance,
according to the Gallup organization, only 20% of
employees working in large organizations feel they use
their strengths every day in the workplace. Most
companies, it seems, fail to take full advantage of their
employees’ natural abilities. Instead they spend hundreds
of millions of dollars every year on training and education
to help employees overcome or compensate for poor skills
or weaknesses. While some weaknesses (such as poor social
or communication skills) may indeed merit improvement
through training or education, we often spend entirely too
much time, energy and money striving to correct
shortcomings while failing to make full use of natural
strengths. The result is mediocrity, at best.
SSESSION 2: RECLAIMING YOUR STRENGTHS
What does this have to do with you? Just as
businesses can improve performance
dramatically by cultivating employee
strengths rather than working to overcome
their weaknesses, you will be far more
successful in your career (and your life!)
when you refocus your attention on
developing and making full use of your
innate talents, strengths and interests.
Recent research indicates that our inherent
strengths remain relatively stable
throughout our lives. True greatness, it
turns out, is a byproduct of identifying
these unique talents or strengths,
developing them and building your work
and life around them.
When you reorient your life around your
strengths, you position yourself for greater
success and fulfillment. One reason is
because when your work engages your
natural strengths and talents, you gain
confidence and mastery. As a result, you
struggle less, which frees up your energy.
You’re actually pulled forward by the
process! You also begin making life choices
that ensure your needs will be met and
career goals achieved. Using your strengths
as the foundation of your success formula
also helps you craft a clear vision for the
future. It is a simple yet powerful tool
that’s key to building an incredible career
and life — one that fits you perfectly!
SSESSION 2: REDISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS
Kim’s story is a great example
of the power of turning your attention to
developing your strengths. As president
and co-owner of her own research and
development firm, Kim was growing tired of the day-to-day hassles of
running a business. After deciding to sell her firm, she hired a coach to
help her identify what her next step should be. We worked together for
a few months before discovering that Kim’s real passion was in
marketing. Yes, she could manage, she could lead, and she could do the
books. But those activities left her tired, bored and overwhelmed. Give
her a marketing task or a new product to develop and she sprang to
life! With my encouragement, Kim began concentrating on those areas
she was naturally good at. She delegated project management,
bookkeeping and other responsibilities that had bogged her down, so
she could focus on improving her marketing skills. The result? Kim
began to enjoy her work again. Kim may never be the world’s best
manager, but because she reinvented her business to suit her, she was
able to excel at what she does best. In the end, she decided she didn’t
want to sell her business after all.
Refocus your attention on your greatest strengths by completing the
following exercises.
1. What talents or special abilities do you have? What do you do
really well?__________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
SSESSION 2: REDISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS
Your Turn
2. Do you spend time every day doing what you’re good at and
enjoy doing?
3. What activities do you engage in that zap your energy?
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
4. What are your secret passions or desires?
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. What are your favorite pastimes and/or hobbies?
_____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
6. Write down your top 5 personal & professional achievements.
(Professional)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
(Personal)
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
7. Write down those activities and skills that come naturally to you,
that you do easily, without having to think about them. These are
your strengths. (Examples include: organizing your surroundings,
listening to others, seeing creative solutions, maximizing
productivity, encouraging or mentoring others, building
relationships and connecting with others, or working the numbers).
SSESSION 2: REDISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS
YES NO
8. Now compare your strengths to your list of achievements.
Chances are you will see common themes. These linkages point
the way to your life’s mission or calling. When you begin taking
steps every day to fulfill your life’s mission, you’ll be incredibly
successful!
Make room for your strengths to flourish by taking
care of the energy-drainers in your life. Make a list of
situations, projects, tasks, things and people in your
life that you are tolerating and that do not build on
your strengths. (Examples include: bothersome
neighbors, relationship problems, disorganization, etc.)
Develop a plan to deal with or remove them from your
life. You’ll be amazed at the energy you free up!
Situations, projects, tasks, things and people that drain my erergy:
1. _____________________________________
2. _____________________________________
3. _____________________________________
4. _____________________________________
5. _____________________________________
Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton
SSESSION 2: REDISCOVERING YOUR STRENGTHS
Your Reward
Resources
Clients who have placed their dreams on hold, or
who have not managed their careers or businesses
effectively, often tell me they simply don't have
the time. "I don't have time to network." "I don't
have time to follow-up." "I don't have time for
informational interviews." "I don't have time to
learn that new skill." And so forth. While it's easy
to feel trapped by the game of life and time
management hassles, the good news is we have
more control over our time and our lives than we
realize. After all, we make choices every day about
how to use our time. Of course, poor planning
and other variables do come into play. But I have
found that when individuals understand their
values and explore how those values interact with
their personal or professional mission, they
invariably find the time to create a life that is both
successful and fulfilling.
What are values? They are those preferences,
activities and behaviors an individual is naturally
drawn to and the attitudes, traits and ideals he or
she considers most important. When you become
aware of your values, you begin making clear
choices that are consistent with your top
priorities. I know of no more powerful step on
the path to success in career and life than
clarifying your values so you can use them as a
guide in creating the career, business and/or
lifestyle that fits you perfectly and brings you
immense satisfaction.
SSESSION 3: REORIENTING AROUND OUR VALUES
John had spent most of his adult life jumping
from job to job — computer salesman,
industrial products salesman, police officer,
insurance adjuster and so on. He would fall
into a position, do well for a year or so, and then
become bored and unfulfilled and ready for his next leap. Over time these
leaps grew tiresome so, at age 38, John decided he wanted to identify his life’s
passion and start on a career path that suited him. When John hired me as his
coach, he told me he was willing to return to school or to relocate, almost
anything that would give him a sense of purpose and connectedness.
We began our work by using assessments to uncover what motivated John. Next
we compared these factors to his personal interests, attitudes and values. Finally
I gave John a needs-clarification exercise to use as a basis for building a strategic
plan. Each step gave John information that helped him clarify his goals while he
explored areas of interests and possible job matches. Eventually, he narrowed his
search to three areas — becoming a corporate trainer or university professor or
starting his own high-adventure tour guide company. Then he implemented a
weekly action plan that included informational interviews with individuals in
each of his three areas of interest. Following each interview, he wrote up his
discoveries, specifically noting the aspects of each job that did or did not match
his values.
Throughout the coaching process, John kept a close eye on the five core values
he had identified. He used those values as litmus tests in his research, during the
informational interviews and when evaluating career path opportunities. If a
prospect allowed John to honor three or four of his core values, he would
continue pursuing it as he gained more specific information and made
additional contacts. However, if the opportunity did not match, John would re-
assess its importance and eventually let it go.
Today, John is working to complete a PhD in organizational psychology and has
a job as a trainer with the human resources department of a well-known
company. He also plans at least two outdoor adventure trips per year with
friends. He still has a couple of steps to go before he realizes his dream of
becoming a tenured professor, author and motivational speaker, but he’s well
on his way and I know he will make it!
SSESSION 3: REORIENTING YOUR VALUES
To begin identifying your core values, answer the followingquestions as honestly as you can. No shoulds allowed.
1. What people, activities, things or environments are most important to
you? _____________________________________________________________
2. If you learned you had less than one year to live, how would you plan
to spend that time? _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What activities do you enjoy sharing with other people?
__________________________________________________________________
4. When you feel energized and at the top of your game what are your
doing? __________________________________________________________
5. What do you often think about doing “someday”? _________________
_________________________________________________________________
Using these answers as a guide, write down your top 5 values. (Examples of
values include: educating others, encouraging others, having influence, freedom
and flexibility, good health, creating joy, making a difference, raising a family,
living purposefully, being an expert, having peace, building relationships, etc.)
Value 1: _________________________________
Value 2: _________________________________
Value 3: _________________________________
Value 4: _________________________________
Value 5: _________________________________
Now, list the ways you currently honor each value in your life.
How can you honor this value more fully?
Value 1: _______________________________
How I honor this value today:________________________________________
SSESSION 3: REORIENTING YOUR VALUES
Your Turn
SSESSION 3: REORIENTING YOUR VALUES
Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:
______________________________________________________________________
Value 2: _______________________________
How I honor this value today: _________________________________________
Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:
_____________________________________________________________________
Value 3: _______________________________
How I honor this value today: _________________________________________
Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:
_____________________________________________________________________
Value 4: _______________________________
How I honor this value today: _________________________________________
Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:
_____________________________________________________________________
Value 5: _______________________________
How I honor this value today: ________________________________________
Steps I will take and choices I will make to honor this value more fully:
______________________________________________________________________
To reinforce your work, create a treasure map or collage
that represents your values and hang it in your office or
personal space at home. Enjoy!
Taking It Further
SSESSION 3: REORIENTING YOUR VALUES
Pick your favorite activity from Session 1 and give yourself
extra time to enjoy that activity. Perhaps even plan an entire
weekend to immerse yourself in your favorite activities.
What Matters Most: The Power of
Living Your Values by Hyrum W. Smith; forward by Ken Blanchard
The Portable Coach: 28 Sure Fire Strategies For Business And Personal Success
by Thomas J. Leonard
DiSC for Personal Interests, Attitudes & Values. An online behavioral
assessment tool and personal/professional development resource.
(www.disc4success.com)
Your Reward
Resources
Psychologist Abraham Maslow was right: We are
motivated by our unsatisfied needs. It’s only after
we’ve met the basic survival needs for food, shelter
and love that we can shift your attention to
fulfilling the “higher” needs that drive us to be our
best in life. These higher needs are different for
everyone. One person’s highest need may be to give
to others. Another may have the need to be an
authority. For another, the need to be praised may
be very important. Whatever your list includes (and
usually there’s more than one), once you have
identified your higher needs, you can begin to drop
self-limiting patterns and organize your life so your
needs are met consistently. This allows you to create
a life rich in success, joy and meaning.
Of course, if you’re dealing with a major career change or
life transition — maybe you’re about to leave your job or
your health is suffering because of overwork — it’s natural
for survival instincts to take over, leading to fear, anxiety
and worry. It’s not easy to think about higher needs when
you’re in survival mode. One way to navigate this phase is
to use your imagination. Imagine what your life would
feel like if all your needs were met — not just your survival
needs, but your need for success, mastery and confidence,
for a job that allows you to be yourself and that uses your
talents every day. You’d stop suffering and live happily in
each moment, instead of wishing for some future time
when you felt fulfilled.
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
You’ll begin by identifying your core 3 to 5 higher
needs. Then you can set up the systems, processes
and personal supports that will help you satisfy
these needs regularly. For example, my top needs
are to achieve, to be heard and to be independent.
Looking back over the career choices I’ve made, I
see that they make perfect sense in light of my
higher needs. I pursued new jobs every 3 to 5 years
because this fulfilled my need for new challenges
and new opportunities for achievement.
Each job also afforded me creative
freedom and independence and
gave me new audiences
to influence.
Since learning how my needs and values influence
my choices, I have purposefully crafted ways to
have my needs met regularly. For example,
I build in plenty of daily, monthly, quarterly
and annual goals so I can mark my achievements
and celebrate them. To meet my need for
independence, I have become my own boss. Finally,
I’ve developed a group of fantastic friends,
colleagues and mentor coaches who understand my
needs. I speak to one of them every single day. They
listen, support me and hold me accountable. This
frees me to enjoy my work more. Instead of my
feeling needy and incomplete, I can help my clients
reach for their stars.
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
Here’s another reason to focus on fulfilling your higher needs. According to the
Universal Law of Attraction, if your needs go unmet you’ll attract people with similar
complaints or in similar frustrating situations. Do you really want to spend your time
with needy people or in situations that feed feelings of being stuck and unfulfilled?
Truly, satisfying your higher needs is not a luxury. It is essential to your continued
growth, happiness and development. What better reason to start work today on
getting your needs met!
Jamie’s number one goal in coaching was to
“get a life.” A successful career woman, Jamie
had spent most of her working life climbing
the corporate ladder while also taking care of
family. Now in her late-40s, she held a senior level position with a Fortune
500 technology company. In addition to her job, she cared for her aging
parents and grandparents, a role that came naturally to her since, as the
eldest child she had always been the family “hero.” But Jamie was reaching a
breaking point. Between her demanding career and her caretaking roles, she
had pushed aside her personal needs almost completely. She was stressed and
overwhelmed, every night collapsing into bed with worries about how she
would accomplish the next day’s tasks.
We began our work by evaluating Jamie’s relationship to time and stress
management and introducing basic self-care principles. Jamie was over-
extended, so in the first four months we worked primarily on crisis
management and moving toward longer-term problem-solving strategies.
That’s when Jamie began to understand that taking better care of herself
and getting her needs met would free up energy. This in turn would better
equip her for her dual roles as family caregiver and corporate executive.
Identifying her needs was an important step. Once Jamie established her
personal priorities, she was able to eliminate, delegate or reframe many of
the tasks that were draining her energy. We then worked to set up structures
to help her get her most important needs met every day. For example, she
arranged to have a good friend call her every morning to get her day off to a
positive start. She also obtained respite care from professional caregivers so
she could take mini-vacations. Once Jamie saw that having needs was
perfectly natural and not a sign of weakness, she was able to embrace them,
honor them and meet them 90% of the time. The result was a huge increase
in her overall stamina, which freed her up to enjoy, rather than resent, the
time she spent with her parents and grandparents.
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
2. Now, prioritize these needs in order of importance to you.
1._____________________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________________
3._____________________________________________________________
4._____________________________________________________________
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
Your Turn
1. Excluding the basic physiological needs of food, water and shelter,
what are your highest needs? What do you need to be at your best
consistently on a daily basis? (Examples include: approval, praise,
respect, encouragement, touch, being heard, being noticed, being
fully informed. For more ideas, see below.)
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
(Coach U’s complete Needless Program is a dynamic success tool It’s provided free tocoaching clients of Parsons Associates.)
• be accepted • to accomplish • be acknowledged• honesty • to control • be loved• order • be needed • be right• peace • be free • be cared for• power • recognition • safety• work • be comfortable • to communicate• certainty • duty
Top Need Categories Identified in Coach U’s Needless Program © 2001
3. What would you need to have each need met consistently? For each need
ask yourself: How can I get this need satisfied, regularly and forever?
Who can help?
Here’s an example:
Need: To be cared for and encouraged
How can I get this need met? Ask a friend to send me a card or handwritten
note every month. Schedule a lunch appointment with a dear friend who
listens well once per month
Who will help? Debbie, Craig, Pat (cards/notes); Debbie, John, Mike (lunch)
Other ways of getting your needs met might include:
• Leave a voicemail for your coach or a friend daily (need = be heard)
• Send yourself an email, reminder or voice mail to focus on a certain task
(need = to accomplish)
• Host a monthly BBQ, dinner party or event (need = to communicate and
relate, to be in control, to be loved and valued, to receive attention)
• Ask clients, friends, family to give you feedback when you do something that
has a positive impact on them. A great alternative for parents — ask your kids
to greet you at the door with a BIG hug every day. (need = appreciation)
Need 1: _______________________________________
How can I get this need met?______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Who will help? ___________________________________________________
Need 2: _______________________________________
How can I get this need met?______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Who will help? ___________________________________________________
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
Need 3: _______________________________________
How can I get this need met?______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Who will help? ___________________________________________________
Need 4: _______________________________________
How can I get this need met?______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Who will help? ___________________________________________________
(1) Create a new morning habit that nourishes you (and
perhaps meets a need).
(2) Plan a “ME DAY” where you spend the entire day doing
ONLY what you want to do.
Use a notebook or an electronic journal to keep track of
the self-discovery insights and ah-ha-moments you are
gaining as you answer the questions in this workbook.
:
NEEDLESS PROGRAM: A list of 200 needs developed by Coach University with
additional instructions on how to become need-free. (Contact Parsons
Associate Coaching for a copy of this proram )
Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts by Regena Thomashauer. (Mostly for
women, but a fun read for men too.)
SSESSION 4: RESURFACING YOUR NEEDS
Your Reward
Resources
Taking It Further
It seems that every January a newspaper,
magazine or work group asks me for tips on
how to achieve New Year’s resolutions. Year
after year, so many of our important goals —
whether it’s to quit smoking, lose weight,
spend more time with family, get more
education, exercise or similar — fall by the
wayside by January 31. But, why? Perhaps it’s
because New Year’s resolutions are merely
fanciful — grand, bold statements meant to
impress friends, but lacking commitment and
heart-felt motivation. More likely, it’s our
failure to develop and stick to a plan that
stands in our way.
To me, setting goals is like building a bridge
between where you are today and your dreams
for tomorrow. Goals lend motivation and focus.
If you pay close attention, they also teach
important lessons about how to control events,
how to make choices that encourage you to
think big and how to build a successful life that
honors your deepest self. Of course, setting
goals alone does not ensure success. However
establishing realistic, specific and measurable
goals — goals oriented around values and
aligned with your strengths — will make your
life journey infinitely more rewarding. And a
lot easier too!
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Linda describes herself as a free spirit. She’s
also a college professor who struggles with
deadlines. When we first met she estimated that she only accomplished
about a third of her daily to-do list. Normally, that wouldn’t worry her.
But a recent 25th high school reunion was an eye-opening reminder
that she wasn’t any closer to attaining many of her most-important life
goals, like starting a family and writing a book, than when she
graduated from high school.
We quickly set to work on re-assessing and clarifying Linda’s current
goals. In short order, Linda discovered that many of her earlier goals no
longer fit her aspirations or lifestyle desires. She then prioritized the
goals that remained, plus a few new ones, and linked them to short-
and long-term motivators and rewards.
For example, one of Linda’s goals was to get more exercise, but she
really didn’t like using her treadmill or going to a gym. However, she
loves music, so I suggested she take a dance course with a friend (to
hold her accountable for attendance). Linda agreed, since dancing and
music felt like fun, creative expression instead of work, so she signed up
for belly dancing and ballroom dance classes. We took it a step further
by setting up rewards. After attending dance classes for one month, she
could stop the treadmill routine; at three months, she could go on a
mini-shopping spree for a tropical vacation she would reward herself
with after reaching a 6-month milestone. Did it work? You bet!
This was a huge step for Linda. It boosted her confidence, and she
began going after her other goals with zest. Creating an action strategy
and setting up a weekly accountability system helped Linda stay on
track. Within a year, she had reoriented her life by regularly creating
space for what she valued most. Setting goals and creating action
strategies had become a way of life for her. In fact, she has since
achieved a few more goals, including an outline for a book proposal,
and she has begun the process of adopting an overseas child.
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Working through the previous exercises in this workbook has given you
excellent self-discovery knowledge. Use this as a basis for building your goals.
Let’s jump right in.
The first step in goal setting is to WRITE DOWN YOUR GOAL. I’m always
surprised by how few people actually do this! It’s a powerful action. Give
yourself permission to think BIG here.
1. Write down the immediate goals you would like to achieve in the next 90 days.
1.________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________
4.________________________________________________________
5.________________________________________________________
6.________________________________________________________
7.________________________________________________________
8.________________________________________________________
9.________________________________________________________
10.________________________________________________________
What longer-term goals do you want to achieve in the next
12-18 months?
1.________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________
4.________________________________________________________
5.________________________________________________________
6.________________________________________________________
7.________________________________________________________
8.________________________________________________________
9.________________________________________________________
10.________________________________________________________
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Your Turn
What else would you like to accomplish in your lifetime?
1.________________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________
4.________________________________________________________
5.________________________________________________________
2. Consider each goal individually. Is it specific? Measurable? Time-
bound? Does it fit your values, strengths and who you’re working to
become? If so, give yourself a hand. If not, back to the drawing
board!
3. For each goal, or at least the long-term ones, write down why it is
important to you. Will achieving it be rewarding in itself? On a scale
of 1 to 10, how motivated are you to reach for it? What happens if
you don’t reach the goal?
4. Identify possible obstacles, risks or personal beliefs that could
prevent you from achieving your goals. Outline a plan to help you
avoid these pitfalls.
5. Break down larger goals into smaller steps. Plan daily or weekly
actions that will allow you to reach your goal within a reasonable
amount of time. For support, accountability or strategy development,
solicit the help of trusted friends, family members or a professionally
trained mentor/coach.
6. Evaluate your goals regularly for progress and fit. When you achieve
a goal, MARK it. Celebrate! For large goals that will take months or
years to achieve, set up mini-celebrations to mark milestones on your
path to success. Implementing a rewards system that is personally
meaningful will provide focus and persistence.
That’s it! You’re a goal setting pro.
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Short-term Goal #1: Exercise at least 3x per week
ObstaclesLong cold winters that confine exercise to indoors;
my tendency to procrastinate; lack of a workout
partner to hold me accountable; my belief that I’m
not that out of shape physically.
Plan
Join 2 dance classes (ballroom dance with best friend
Sam, belly dance with Sheila); get into the music and
enjoy the movement; whenever possible, plan dinner
or socialization time for a half hour after each class.
Who will keep meaccountable?
Sam, Sheila and Coach Mickey; plus I’ve asked the
instructor to call me if I miss more than one
consecutive class.
RewardsStop nightly treadmill drudgery, shopping spree,
vacation to Jamaica
Here are two examples that show
how setting a goal, identifying
obstacles, creating a plan and
establishing rewards can work.
GOAL SETTING IN ACTION
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Short-term Goal #2:Find a new job in an environment that will allow me to thrive.
ObstaclesTendency to be satisfied with status quo; bored
easily; lack of focus and direction; lack of
confidence that my skills are transferable.
Plan
Work with a coach to discover my strengths and value
to an organization and practice articulating it; identify
my ideal work environment and begin exploring
possible matches as well as ways to improve my
current situation. Make a list of 20 companies and
gather information about them via Internet resources,
personal/professional contacts, association staff, trade
journals, networking, informational interviews, etc.
Also, plan a dialogue with my CEO about restructuring
my role within the division.
Who will keep meaccountable?
Weekly coaching sessions and daily pop-up reminders
from my calendar.
Rewards A great job; sense of accomplishment; also, each week
that I work my plan, I will plan a boating excursion
with my family.
(1) Spend extra time developing a powerful reward system
for each area of your life. You’ll be amazed at how
celebrating your successes can beef up your confidence and
attractiveness as well as your zest for achieving even more.
Your Rewards
(2) Write yourself a love letter, or
a letter of affirmation telling
yourself how wonderful you are.
Be very descriptive. Note all the
important personal and
professional goals you have
achieved. Be sure to include value
statements about what you give
to others and to your company. As
your letter evolves into a
compelling living document, read
it aloud as often as possible (like
you might an affirmation). This
will help you celebrate your
achievements continually as well
as provide a gratitude list and
generate spin-off goals to keep
you moving ahead.
SSESSION 5: THE ART OF GOAL SETTING
Goals: Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule by Zig Ziglar
(audio cassette or video)
The Power of Visualization by Lee Pulos, Ph.D.
(Audiocassettes and workbook)
Resources
My first real-world exposure to the power of mission came
while working for a nonprofit agency where mission
(statement of purpose) was paramount. At this agency,
every single decision about services, every management
team meeting, marketing campaign and special event
centered around and supported the organization’s
mission. While many companies and organizations have
adopted mission statements, this agency stood out
because management and employees routinely used its
mission to guide everything from day-to-day operations to
major policy decisions. This mission-driven approach
provided a solid foundation and an inspiration — two
elements that every company, and every individual, needs
to be successful.
It wasn’t until training to be a life coach that I was
introduced to the idea of personal mission. I soon learned
that a personal and/or professional mission (usually the
two are closely linked) is essential if you want to develop
and follow your own roadmap for success. How do you
find your personal mission? Your mission represents the
culmination of everything discussed in this workbook so
far — all your roles, values, strengths and goals rolled up
into one or two sentences that describe who you want to
BE and what you want to ACCOMPLISH in life. Your
mission encompasses all areas of your life: social, family
life, work/career/business, and spirit. While finding the
exact words to describe your unique and wonderful life is
challenging, it is worth the effort. Your personal mission
will give you a solid foundation and provide ongoing
inspiration for success, even when times are rough. As
Friedrich Nietzsche said, “He who has a why to live for can
bear almost any how.”
SSESSION 6: REALIZING YOUR MISSION
Looking back on my own education and early career decisions, I regret that I
didn’t know about the concept of personal mission sooner, and I wonder why
the concept of personal mission isn’t introduced to all high school and college
students. What a powerful tool it would be for young people facing important
decisions about career, finance, relationships and lifestyle. Instead, we are
taught a dry pro-con decision-making system that fails to take into account an
individual’s core values and often leads to inappropriate career decisions. Is it
any wonder that so many highly motivated people seek out career coaching?
With countless options available to them, these talented individuals choose
coaching as a sounding board and self-discovery tool that helps them uncover
their personal missions and use them as roadmaps to success.
Chad initially hired me to help him decide
between four job offers. After an intense 90-
minute session, we eliminated two options,
narrowing the field to his top two job
possibilities. He made the final decision by comparing benefit packages and
stock options. I soon learned that Chad is the type of guy executive
recruiters love. In fact, it was not uncommon for him to receive several calls
per month about exciting opportunities. While this was great for his ego, it
was also distracting, making it difficult for him to give 100% to his current
employer. He also was stressed by his fear that he wouldn’t choose the
“best” option for he and his family.
I asked Chad to review each and every job and achievement on his resume,
outlining the activities that he enjoyed and why. We soon identified
recurring themes. Chad was a big-picture leader who thrived on closing deals
and mentoring others. This became his temporary mission statement, which
he later refined after testing it against his values and an executive
assessment. Eventually, Chad was able to craft a few simple questions that he
could use to quickly assess whether an opportunity matched his
personal/professional mission. This saved him time and energy and lowered
his stress level. He also knows that his current position is where he really
wants to be (for now).
SSESSION 6: REALIZING YOUR MISSION
Begin thinking about your mission by re-reading the personal definition of
success you wrote in Session 1. Review what you’ve discovered about your
strengths, values, needs and goals. Then do the same thing Chad did — print
out your resume and examine every work or volunteer activity you’ve enjoyed
immensely and why you enjoyed it, highlighting recurring themes.
Next, ask yourself the following:
1. To what ideals, causes, goals, values or people am I most deeply
committed? (Examples: education, the homeless, job training,
bringing beauty into people’s lives, creating peace, excelling in
technology, living each day with purpose)
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. What image do I want to convey to others? (Examples: professional,
personable/approachable, creative, traditionalist, non-conformist)
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. What roles do I most like to play? What roles feel most natural?
(Examples: coordinator, leader, negotiator, encourager, collaborator,
parent, etc.)
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. What do I want to be remembered for? What impact do I want to
have on the world?
______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
SSESSION 6: REALIZING YOUR MISSION
Your Turn
Use your answers and your work in previous sessions as the basis for writing
your personal and professional mission. (You can write these as two separate
missions or combine them into one.) Very important: Be true to yourself! Do not
copy or craft your mission statement based on someone else’s expectations.
Also, keep your statement short and specific so you can commit it to memory.
My personal mission:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
My professional mission:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Below are sample mission statements:
• My mission in life is to live my convictions and lead by example.
• My mission is to create music that inspires people.
• My mission is to be a loving partner and teach simple truths to my children.
• My mission is to encourage others and help them find answers.
• My mission is to be a positive force in the lives of others.
• My mission is to always do my best and to give attention, time and
enthusiasm to everything I do.
Do something BIG to celebrate all the work you’ve done! Buy
yourself a new interview suit. Give yourself a makeover to
match the new you. Plan a weekend of celebration.
First Things First: To Live, to Love, to Learn, to Leave a Legacy by Stephen R.
Covey, A. Roger Merrill (contributor), Rebecca R. Merrill (designer)
SSESSION 6: REALIZING YOUR MISSION
Your Reward
Resources
Your final action in this workbook is to collect everything you’ve learned aboutyourself and create a quick reference sheet to use for decision-making. Begin byprinting out the Putting It All Together worksheet in the appendix and logging all theinformation you’ve gathered while completing this workbook.
Keep this completed worksheet handy so you can use it as a litmus test and decision-making tool whenever you’re making career decisions and other life choices. Forexample, if you are deciding which of two industries to enter or choosing fromamong three job opportunities, use the worksheet to compare each option againstwhat you know about yourself. This will make it clear which is the best match for you.(If none fits, consider creating your own opportunity through self-employment --perhaps by starting your own business or taking on freelance work or contractventures.) When you use your self-knowledge to guide your choices, each step ofyour journey will be far more purposeful and rewarding.
GTHE GRAND FINALE: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
In closing, I hope this workbook has providednew tools and insights that will allow you tonavigate your career path with renewedpurpose and energy. If you find you needadditional support in the process, I encourageyou to get it. Hire a coach. Find a mentor.Develop new networks. Do whatever it takes.This is your life – make it GRAND!
If you‘d like to learn more about coaching, besure to read An Invitation to Explore Coaching(Appendix D). You are also invited to takeadvantage of the 25% discount on apersonalized DISC assessment.
I leave you with this final wish (with apologiesto Henry David Thoreau): Go confidently in thedirection of your mission. Live the life you’veimagined. Live a life that honors you!
Here’s to your success!
Mickey Parsons, M.Ed., CEAP, PCCProfessional Coach
AAPPENDIX
Career-Map Worksheet
1. My definition of success: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. My top strengths: 1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________
3. My Values:1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________4.__________________________________________
4. My Needs:1.__________________________________________2.__________________________________________3.__________________________________________4.__________________________________________
5. My goals: (immediate, short-term & long-term) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. My personal/professional mission:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. What resources do I require to take the next step?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Who will help? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What BIG action step will I take TODAY to start the process?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AAPPENDIX
BAPPENDIX B
Power-Packed Tips for Managing Careers,Transitions & Job Searches
10 Tips for Managing Your Career Path
The latest job trend analyses indicate that employees switch jobs about every
three years. This means many of us will work for more than 10 different
companies over the course of our careers, and today’s college graduate can plan
on a minimum of 15 jobs during his or her lifetime. Is it any wonder that
managing your career path has become a frightening proposition? In today’s
world, managing your career requires your ongoing attention. Below is a list of
tips for defining and navigating your career path successfully. Note that you’ve
already completed steps 1 and 2!
1. Identify and gain an understanding of your values, interests, skills and
life goals.
2. Formulate a personal mission statement or purpose and use it as a standard
for making decisions, especially job-related decisions.
3. If your current skills don’t support your mission and values, develop a plan to
learn new ones.
4. Define your future from a big picture perspective and use that as a road
map in formulating a job search.
5. Explore all your options. Conduct research, prioritize targets, assess your
resources and develop an action plan.
6. Accentuate the positive. Focus on your strengths and what
comes naturally.
7. Prepare for success by brushing up on interview and networking techniques.
8. Polish your communication and negotiation skills. Not only will they help
you negotiate your BEST OFFER, they will help you be more effective in
every area of life.
9. Don’t be shy. Learn to market and promote yourself to your target audience.
10. Believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion or help
from a coach.
BAPPENDIX B
10 Tips for Managing Transition
Transitions and change create stress. Even exciting, positive changes shock our
systems and cause anxiety. When you find yourself experiencing frustration, anger
or depression over a job loss or frustrating change, remember those feelings are
part of the natural healing and growth process. Here are tips to help you navigate
transitions gracefully.
1. Keep a journal where you review your days and your feelings.
2. Reach out to others and get more support than usual. Let family and
friends know how to help you.
3. Manage your time. Set realistic priorities and delegate whenever possible.
4. Make a list of ways you can simplify your life and do it!
5. Slow down. Take a temporary time out.
6. Think of this time as an adventure, an opportunity to design the life
you want.
7. Create new habits that nurture your mind, body and spirit.
8. Make a list of things you are tolerating right now and develop a plan to
reduce or eliminate them.
9. Make a list of everything you feel is missing from your life. Consider what
you need to experience fulfillment and balance, then develop a plan
to GO FOR IT!
10. For additional support and accountability consider hiring a coach.
(See Appendix D: “An Invitation to Explore Coaching.”)
BAPPENDIX B
10 Tips for Successful Job Search Campaigns
Finding your ideal job can take from three months to three years. The
following action steps will maximize your efforts.
1. Use your networks to connect. Ask for job leads from family, friends,
colleagues, associations, chambers of commerce, college staff —
anyone and everyone you can think of.
2. Knock on a potential employer’s door and ask about vacancies. (With
your professional resume in hand).
3. Grab the Yellow Pages and cold call employers to ask about
opportunities.
4. Join a job hunters group.
5. Contact recruiters, search firms, employment agencies.
6. Answer ads in local newspaper ads and professional journals.
7. Visit trade shows. Get to know the people staffing vendor booths and
ask for contacts.
8. Request informational interviews.
9. Volunteer for a local charity or business group. This will help you
connect on a personal level, which can be especially effective.
10. Answer Internet ads.
CAPPENDIX C
Career Management Resources
RECOMMENDED READINGFor a more complete list, visit http://parsons-associates.com/pac_books.htm.
• 169 Ways to Score Points with Your Boss by Alan R. Schonberg
• Best Resumes for $100,000+ Executive Jobs by William Mongag
• Do What You Are (Discover Perfect Careers based on your Myers-Briggs TYPE Indicator Scores) by Tieger & Barron-Tieger
• Don’t Send A Resume by Jeffrey J. Fox
• Follow Your Heart —Finding Purpose in Your Life and Work by Andrew Matthews
• Masters of Networking by Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D., and Don Morgan
• Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham andDonald O. Clifton
• The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional Peopleby Carol Eikleberry
• What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard N. Bolles
• Whistle While You Work by Leider & Shapiro
Web Resources
JOB SEARCH SITES
americasjobbank.com -www.americasjobbank.com/
One of the largest job boards, America’s Job Bank is the combined effort of the
US Department of Labor, state employment offices and the private sector.
Bestjobsusa.com - www.bestjobsusa.com/
Archived jobs from over 300 major newspapers’ employment sections.
CAPPENDIX C
CareerBuilder - www.careerbuilder.com/
Large database of jobs is accessed through flexible, detailed search criteria —
a great site for generating multiple job leads.
careerexchange.com - http://www.careerexchange.com/
Excellent resource for searching job titles and descriptions. Keyword searching
is excellent and the job matching accuracy is 100%. Jobs are dated and
include salary ranges.
careerjournal.com - www.careerjournal.com/
An excellent resource put out by the Wall Street Journal; primarily for
management professionals.
Careermag.com - www.careermag.com/
Online employment magazine.
Careershop.com - www.careershop.com/
Allows easy search of multiple locations.
Direct Employers - www.directemployers.com/
Large database of jobs, mainly from companies hiring directly. You can search
the database by industry, company and location and link directly to job
listings on hundreds of individual company websites.
DiSC 4 Success - www.disc4success.com
Excellent career planning assessment includes reports and detailed feedback
on personal interests, attitudes and values and time management skills; useful
for executives, managers and others. (Because you have purchased this
FailSafe Career Tactics workbook, you are entitled to a 25% discount on DISC
assessments. See coupon on Page 53.)
Employment Guide - www.employmentguide.com/
Easy to navigate; offers good job search criteria. Searches multiple locations
at once.
Employmentwizard.com - www.employmentwizard.com/
A database of employment classified ads from local newspapers that can be
searched geographically or by newspaper name.
Flipdog - http://flipdog.monster.com/
A powerful web crawler that sources jobs directly from over 58,000
employer websites.
CAPPENDIX C
GLPCareers.com - http://glpcareers.com/
A job search engine providing employment opportunities and resources for
gay, lesbian and bisexual job seekers.
Grassisgreener.com - jobsearch2.jobinthebox.com/gig2/monetizegig/home.asp
Collects jobs from job boards, community boards and employer sites,
searching more than 100,000 websites. Registration is free.
Hotjobs.com - http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/
Most jobs listed are from companies hiring directly, allowing job searchers to
sidestep recruiting firms.
International Assessment Network, Inc. - www.assessment.com
The industry standard for assessing your work-related motivations.
Job Bank Usa - www.jobbankusa.com/
A popular job search engine that offers a variety of other services, such as a
resume broadcaster and moving/relocation resources
Joboptions.com - www.spherion.com/corporate/careercenter/home.jsp
For professionals and managerial job seekers in a variety of industries,
including: computer/technology, consulting, engineering, internet/new media,
accounting, manufacturing, financial services, health/medical, banking, civil
service, and government.
Jobfiler.com - www.jobfiler.com/
Job search portal that helps jobseekers centralize all search data & contacts.
Monster.com - www.monster.com/
Extremely popular career site lists jobs in all industries and functions.
Net-Temps - www.net-temps.com/
Originally a site for temp jobs, this site now lists a large number of
permanent jobs too.
Recruiters Online Network - www.recruitersonline.com/
Lists jobs from recruiters, headhunters and professional staffing firms; a good
place to connect with recruiters.
Salary.com - www.salary.com/
Best known for its salary data, this site recently added a job-listing database
that has grown quickly.
CAPPENDIX C
Truecareers.com - www.truecareers.com/
Focuses on college-educated professionals, offering opportunities largely from
companies hiring directly.
Vault.com - http://www.vault.com/
Known as the “insider career network,” vault.com provides an insider’s look at
life in over 3,000 companies and 70 industries.
SOCIAL SERVICE AND NON-PROFIT SITES
www.execsearches.com/exec/default.asp
www.socialservice.com/
www.opportunitynocs.org/index.jsp
www.nonprofitjobs.org/
BUSINESS INFORMATION SITES
Hoover’s Online - www.hoovers.com/free/http://www.hoovers.com/free/
Corporate Information - www.corporateinformation.com/
D&B Small Business Solutions - http://sbs.dnb.com/
TGRNet, Thomas Global Register - www.tgrnet.com/
ThomasRegister.com - www.thomasregister.com/
BizWeb - www.bizweb.com/
JobWeb Career Fair Employer Search - www.jobweb.com/employ/fairs/default.asp
IndustryLink - www.industrylink.com/
OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
America’s Career InfoNet - www.acinet.org/acinet/default.asp
Part of the America’s Job Bank network, this is a tremendous source of
information on hundreds of occupations and industry trends.
Occupational Outlook Handbook - www.bls.gov/oco/
Biannual handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a wealth of career
information for a wide range of occupations.
CAPPENDIX C
O*NET Resource Center - www.onetcenter.org/
Provides access to a large database of occupational information, including
information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests
associated with occupations.
RECRUITING FIRMS DIRECTORIES
Association of Executive Search Consultants - www.aesc.org/
Represents retained executive search consulting firms worldwide. Allows you
to preview a short list of members for free, and refers you to a partner site for
fee-based searchable directory.
NAPS - www.napsweb.org/
The National Association of Personnel Services Association for staffing and
personnel services has over 1,800 members covering contingency and
retained search, direct hire, temporary staffing, employee leasing and
contract positions.
RecruiterLink Online Database - www.recruiterlink.com/
RecruiterLink Online is an Internet-based site that takes key data elements
from a three-volume Executive
FindARecruiter.com - www.findarecruiter.com/
FindARecruiter is a free searchable database of network of third-party
recruiters, headhunters, executive search firms, and staffing agencies.
GOVERNMENT WAGE SURVEYS
Bureau of Labor Statistics - www.bls.gov/
Data on wages, unemployment and other employment trends.
Occupational Employment Statistics - http://stats.bls.gov/oes/
Produces employment and wage estimates for over 700 occupations.
CAPPENDIX C
DAPPENDIX D
BUSINESS STARTUP RESOURCES
Starting Your Own Business - www.sbaonline.sba.gov
US Small Business Administration site provides a step-by-step personal
evaluation, market research and business start-up tutorial.
Business Resale Network - www.br-network.com/
Searchable directory of thousands of businesses for sale.
International Franchise Association - www.franchise.org/
Database of franchise opportunities that can be searched by name, category or
investment amount.
Morebusiness.com - www.morebusiness.com/
Site offers entrepreneurs numerous articles on starting a business,
incorporating, building a website, finding funding, marketing, and managing
your company.
An Invitation to Explore Coaching
What Is Coaching?
“Professional Coaching is an on-going professional
relationship that helps people produce extraordinary
results in their lives, careers, businesses or
organizations. Through the process of coaching,
clients deepen their learning, improve their
performance and enhance their quality of life.”
— International Coach Federation
DAPPENDIX D
A coach will help you:
• Design and implement a plan of action
• Pursue your dreams
• Reach your goals
• Make decisions
• Stay focused on your needs, values and vision
• Maintain a healthy balance between personal and professional life
• Solve problems
• Overcome obstacles.
How does coaching work?
1. You set up two to four phone
appointments with your coach each
month. Each phone session lasts
from 30 to 50 minutes, depending
on your needs and goals.
2. As your coach, I’ll ask thought-
provoking questions and guide you
in exploring your goals and
aspirations and in developing
strategies for success.
3. Your responses form the basis of a
meaningful and eye-opening
dialogue. You’ll begin to see new
things about yourself, your business
or career, your dreams and your
relationships.
4. I will advise you based on my training and experience as a coach,
entrepreneur and counselor, and my knowledge, personal
experience and intuition.
5. The coaching process naturally leads you to new and exciting
ideas. You’ll discover new ways to overcome obstacles. Along the
way, your individual action plan will become obvious to you.
6. After listening closely to what you say (and don’t say), I will
encourage you to move forward, challenging you to “play a
bigger game” so you achieve more than you thought possible.
7. You will be asked to commit to the coaching process for a
minimum of three months. Once they discover the benefits of
coaching, most clients stay with coaching beyond this initial
commitment. After all, any change worth making takes time.
8. My goal is to help you experience long-term sustainable success
so you create the career or business and lifestyle that allows you
to express your true potential. I guarantee you will have a fun
and rewarding journey!
To learn more, visit us on the web at www.parsons-associates.com.
DAPPENDIX D
Atlanta, Georgia • Phone 770.451.0505 • Fax 404.529.4484
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