We love helping people find fulfilling careers. We wanted to share a few more success stories with you along with key takeaways and tips so you can learn from their journeys and apply those insights to your own path.
Client Success Story – Gwen N.
Gwen, a former project manager at a telecommunications company, has found her path and recently accepted a job she truly enjoys. She now works as a program manager at a leading grid computing company, a position that is in alignment with her values and priorities. Here’s her story:
How did you uncover your dream job?
I actually used a process of elimination. I have had enough company experience to know what has and has not worked for me so I started there, with my supportive coach cheering me on from the sidelines!
What steps have you taken to make this happen?
During the last six months, I’ve spent a lot of time learning about me. I saw some things I wanted to change. I read a lot of books, including Empowering Women, Younger Next Year, The Power of Now, Laws of Attraction, and several books by Louise Hay. The common message I received from these books is the importance of focusing on what I can change about me, which eliminated a lot of my negativity. I also eliminated or reduced the impact of negative people and their effect on my self-esteem.
What challenges have you encountered along the way, and how have you handled them?
In trying to reshape yourself you find that people can sometimes be like crabs in a barrel. They see you changing and they unconsciously do what they can to try to get you to revert back to the person they know, because if you change they, too, may have to adjust one way or another. My challenge was to identify the triggers that others used to get me to revert back to the negative, unmotivated person that I was—the person who was in so much pain.
What has helped you most in this process?
Anyone reading this might wonder what eliminating negative thoughts and influences has to do with finding a dream job. That was my question when I started the coaching process. I quickly realized that you cannot separate the two. Without doing work on myself, I risked potential detrimental “leakage” of unresolved issues during networking meetings, interviews, etc. It was important for me to work on my “issues” and resolve them prior to my search for my dream job.
How have you managed to deal with the naysayers and stay the course?
This was a challenge. Prior to landing my dream job, I accepted a job that was a poor fit and ended up only working there for a month. When the right opportunity did come along, my negative thoughts went to work on me about only being in that job for a month, how it would look to others, what people would think, etc. In the end, I stuck with my decision to leave the job that was a poor fit. I knew from the pain that I was in that the job was not the one for me and I needed to move on.
What lessons have you learned? What surprises have you discovered?
Trust yourself, and be prepared to accept the consequences (challenges as well as opportunities) that go with doing so. I was prepared to accept them; I took the risk and it has worked beautifully. As a spiritual person, I truly believe that what happened in my situation is what was meant to happen, because I let go.
How has this experience changed you?
I trust myself, my instincts, and my reactions. I can step back and ask what is going on prior to getting “caught up” in the emotion of the situation.
Any words of wisdom to share with others who are taking steps to create their own paths?
As I learn I try to pass my knowledge on, which reinforces it in me. I also keep a Learning Journal to document the things in each book that I read that have a special meaning. Knowing that I may not re-read a specific book, I will take my Learning Journal on trips to remind myself of the changes I want to continue to make. I focus on incorporating one or two things at a time, and once I have mastered those I go back for others.
Tips from Gwen’s Story
- Use a process of elimination: If you’re unsure what you want in a job, start with a process of elimination.
- Read for inspiration and education: Learn about yourself and what you want to improve or change.
- Trust yourself. Follow a path that works for you, not what others think you should do.
Client Success Story – Kate B.
Kate most recently worked at Starbucks in Seattle as a business systems manager. She recently relocated to Atlanta. I got to interview her sitting on my front porch! It was her first week in her new role as business owner. I see in her face that she has found what she loves. It’s like she has “come home” and is grounded in who she is. Through working with us, Kate’s determined that her dream job is owning a cleaning franchise. She just started this month and is already getting into being a business owner and entrepreneur. Here’s her story:
How did you uncover your dream job?
I always knew I wanted to own a business but never felt creative or innovative enough to do so. I had the entrepreneurial spirit, however, and I learned I had everything it takes to run a business from working at my corporate jobs. Going through a visualization process with Create Your Career Path helped me decide to pursue this path. I discovered my “future self”, the person I want to be both inside and outside of work. In doing so, I also learned that I needed a career that would fit this vision. I went in search of a business franchise that would fit my values, my purpose, and my dream of owning a business. I looked at opportunities and found The Cleaning Authority.
What steps have you taken to make this happen?
Oh man — the biggest thing I had to do was secure the financing to get started. I got a small business loan. It takes time and persistence to do that, but I made it happen. Other steps were managing mental challenges — overcoming fears, doubts, insecurities, acknowledging my negative voices and overcoming them to make my dream a reality.
What challenges have you encountered along the way, and how have you handled them?
Handling my negative inner voices was huge for me. Through coaching, what really sunk in for me was to think about what’s true about these voices, what’s not, and how they can propel me forward or hold me back. Now when I hear those voices, I can ask myself why this is happening and what I need to do to turn it into a problem to solve. Another obstacle was that housecleaning is not an exciting or glamorous career. But for me, I look at it as a local service to the community, a growth opportunity, and it’s simple. Keeping it simple has made me a better person. Being connected in the community is also important to me; it’s one of my values.
What has helped you most in this process?
Having the coaching appointments is like going to the gym and having a trainer. I was held accountable and responsible to look at myself, take care of myself, and think about my future. It also made me realize how important it is to continue this kind of personal development and growth. As life changes, you need to re-evaluate your goals and what you want from time to time. Working with Create Your Career Path enabled me to do that.
How have you managed to deal with the naysayers and stay the course?
A lot of people asked why I wanted to clean houses. They said, “So many people are already doing it.” Or, “Why not do it on your own?” I would tell them why I was doing it and why I thought it was a good idea. When I told them, they’d say they hadn’t thought about it that way. Now some of my biggest naysayers are my biggest supporters. I got through this by focusing on what was going to work best for me. People could sense my commitment to it, and my belief in it. They could hear that, and it changed their minds. I stuck with what I believed.
What lessons have you learned? What surprises have you discovered?
This is my first week with employees (Big grin). I found that I like my job! It shouldn’t be such a huge discovery but it is! It will be stressful and there will be hard times but it’s simple and it fits me and feels good. I know I can handle the challenges.
How has this experience changed you?
I’ve changed so much through coaching and this process. I’m more confident and self-assured, it’s like I’m more myself. I can be myself and not worry about others judging me. (Smile and laughter.)
Any words of wisdom to share with others who are taking steps to create their own paths?
Let it happen. Throw away the machismo, the superiority complex, and just get to what you really want — whatever it is. Who cares if it’s not glamorous, and if it is and that’s what you want, then look at why you want it. If that’s one of your values and it’s important to you, great. As long as you understand your values, and do something that meets them, you’ll be happy. Do something that matters to you.
Tips from Kate’s Story
- Values: Find a career path that fits your values.
- Keep growing and learning, personally and professionally.
- Manage the naysayers: Do something that matters to you and stick with what you believe is right for you.
If you need help discovering what you want in a job or identifying your values, schedule a free consult today.
