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Tag: opportunity

3 simple ways to bring serendipity into your life

Some of the best connections happen when you least expect it. Call it luck, fate or serendipity, there’s something magical about meeting the right person at the right time. The secret lies in getting out of your comfort zone and letting serendipity lead the way. 3 tips to get you started:

1. Force yourself to be social.

The moments you don’t feel like meeting new people… I swear, if you can get yourself out of the house, you’re going to have the time of your life. Chances are you will meet someone who will blow your mind. Think of it as Murphy’s Law for connection.

2. Haven’t been to the library since high school? Go now.

Place yourself in new environments and step outside of your typical routine. Go to a different coffee shop. Skip the gym and exercise in the park. STOP DOING THE SAME THINGS.

3. Throw caution to the wind.

Say yes. More often. Accept party invites. Accept any invite. Go to coffee dates, lunch meetings, conferences — just go. If you’re on the fence, say yes. Let go of your schedule and intentionally disrupt your routine. You will be rewarded.

Talk serendipity and more during today’s #cxchat (2pm EST) and read summaries from past chat events here.

19 things you can do instead of grad school

I’ve witnessed firsthand the business our education system has become.

I strongly advise anyone considering graduate school to carefully consider whether this investment is necessary in order to obtain the position and professional satisfaction they are looking for.

Many of the skills needed to thrive in our economy are not obtained in classrooms. You may want to consider these learning experiences before you sign your letter of intent:

  1. Volunteer. Help your local farmers’ market, assist the neighborhood school, sign up for an overseers program. A simple google search should yield a few options.
  2. Find an apprenticeship. The Department of Labor lists registered offerings and you can search by your state.
  3. Be an intern. They’re not just for undergrads. Offer your services to a company whose mission and values you admire.
  4. Get a mentor. Ask for introductions to industries you’re interested in. Identify individuals who have the kind of career trajectory you want.
  5. Be mentor. This is one of the best ways to solidify what you do know. You may surprise yourself.
  6. Take a Skillshare class.
  7. Join the General Assembly community.
  8. Check out classes at a community college. Find one near you here.
  9. Take advantage of free online education: Coursera‎, Khan Academy, Academic Earth, GCF Learn Free, Open Courseware Consortium, iTunes U, Textbook Revolution.
  10. Travel. (I wish this was mandatory for all graduating students.)
  11. Start a blog. Get into the habit of putting your thoughts into words.
  12. Get yourself a library card. Read and read and read some more.
  13. Place yourself in new environments and experience new things. Go on an adventure, learn a trade, take a woodworking course.
  14. Show initiative and take on new projects at work.
  15. Organize groups through Meetup or other social platforms (TabUp, Kitchen Surfing).
  16. Spend time in your local art studio.
  17. Submit op-ed articles to your newspaper.
  18. Ask for informational interviews from a variety of professions and roles.
  19. Take time off. Don’t rush into any decision. That graduate program will [most likely] be there next year.

Did you attend or skip grad school? Was it “worth it” and are you using your degree now? Send me a note with your thoughts.

Tipping the scale

The first [move, action, event, product, decision] is always the scariest, most anxiety provoking, most intimidating. Getting beyond that initial hump becomes a matter of mettle and courage as you muster the courage you need to leap over fear.

Can you build a framework that sets you up so that if you don’t do x-y-z, you can recognize that fear has won? Fix your gaze, define your goal, and work backwards to develop concrete steps that corner you into action. Make it impossible to do nothing.

Once you have a plan in place and you’ve deliberately chosen to ignore it (develop excuses or suddenly become “too busy”), your work is then to name your fear and dive headfirst into your beliefs about yourself and the world.

Get out of your own way. You can always choose to do nothing, but I dare you to tip the scale. Let me know what steps you’re taking to move the needle.

Get out of a career that isn’t working for you

Several years ago, I made the transition from social worker to social curator. My time spent working in courtrooms and jail cells paved the way for boardroom negotiations and architecting group dynamics. When I tell people my story, questions ultimately focus on how I made this transition. Part curiosity, part plea for guidance, people want to know how it’s done, the best way to make the change, and why one might forfeit investment and status in an preexisting career.
The fact is most of us have found ourselves in positions we don’t care for — stifling work environments, tedious responsibilities, redundant tasks, meaningless contributions. Baby Boomers reportedly hop from as many as fifteen (or more!) jobs during their working prime, and over half of college graduates are unable to land opportunities in their preferred fields.

It’s not your job. It’s your industry.

After spending years and precious dollars on education and training, the time and commitment you dump into your career is sacred. Changing industries seems daunting. It’s tempting to stay in a position because you’ve invested so much of yourself to get there.

Changing careers could lead to meaningful work.

A career change may not only benefit your wellbeing but also jump start your professional trajectory. The skills you’ve acquired in your current role may provide that extra edge you need to supercharge and lead a new team. Your unique perspective and approach could be a perfect addition to the innovative company looking for a competitive edge.
I won’t lie. The process of positioning yourself to land this new gig might be slow, gradual, even painful. You’ll have to plot deliberate steps until you’re able to carve a niche in a new industry.
I’ve found the risk and the work to be absolutely worth it, so I’ve pinpointed concrete steps to help others looking to make a change:
1. Meaningful conversations lead to meaningful relationships.

  • Talk. And talk a lot. Talk with people in the industry you’re leaving. Talk with people in the industry you’d like to enter. Talk with a counselor, a friend, a trusted advisor. Ask questions and get the good, bad, and the ugly of the move you’re looking to make. Leave no stone unturned and gather as much information as possible.
  • While you’re still in your present industry, focus your attention away from the work you’re dissatisfied with and onto the people who surround you. Schedule twenty-minute informational interviews to learn more about the opportunities within your dream industry and build rapport with role models.
  • Follow up emails and thank you notes to individuals who have helped you along your career journey build trust and credibility as you travel from one industry to the next. You never know when your paths may intersect, and positive recommendations during transitions are always a plus.

2. Get strategic.

  • Don’t make changes before clarifying your end goal. Your new career choice is now your research project. Work backwards until you develop a plan that makes sense.
  • Take time to honestly assess your strengths, skills, and talents before setting concrete goals. Start identifying transferable skills and look for ways to leverage these skills in various industries. Are you a master negotiator? Think about how these skills might apply within your intended field. Wanting to enter a position that requires skills you don’t have? Sign up for classes through Skillshare or General Assembly.

3. Actively seek opportunities.

  • Make the most of your after-hours: find freelance work, an apprenticeship, a new hobby. Spending time on things that bring you joy will infuse positive energy into your existing role and will help make your career change more manageable.
  • Look for additional work streams within your current position. Divert your focus away from your present job dissatisfaction and onto projects that excite you. By placing yourself in environments that can refine your talents and skills, you will attract the connections and opportunities that align with your career goals.
  • Schedule regular coffee dates with people you admire. Learn about their work habits, how they structure their days, how they got to where they are. Ask how they confront challenges and where they go to find inspiration.

4. Just do it.

  • Once you’ve decided a career change is the right move for you, carry applicable experience with you and confidently move forward.
  • Your industry transition will mostly likely feel intimidating: lost titles, less stability, a lower position on the hiring chain. Keep your eye on the prize.
  • Yes, it’s scary. You have to start somewhere.

5. Savor Beginner’s Mind.

  • Once you’ve made the leap, start slowly and take time to learn. You’re only a beginner once; enjoy your first entry into a new world.
  • Savor the ups and downs, the moments of exhilaration and frustration. Use your passion to propel a sharp learning curve and revel in your accomplished career change. You’re a traveler, an adventurer. Reflect, write, acknowledge your journey.

Have you you’ve ended up in an unexpected professional role? Did your education prepare you for the role you’re presently in? What skills have accompanied you along your career journey? I want to hear about your career change. Send me a note.

27 reasons to put yourself on a sabbatical

  1. Reevaluate your current goals and aspirations
  2. Consider what you wish you would have learned sooner (and teach yourself)
  3. Update your story so it accurately reflects who you are
  4. Take time to build and nourish your relationships
  5. Write thank you notes to those who have played important roles in your life
  6. Think about what risks you’ll take in the coming months
  7. Meet someone new
  8. Let serendipity work for you
  9. Read a book (or two) you keep meaning to
  10. Find new sources of inspiration — a different coffee shop, a nature trail, a hidden park bench, a museum exhibit, an antique store
  11. Set coffee dates without specific objectives
  12. Gift yourself time to do whatever you want, no pressure
  13. Contribute to the communities and tribes that are important to you
  14. Dedicate time to your health
  15. Cook from a new recipe with ingredients from your neighborhood farmers market
  16. You deserve it!
  17. Ask what you’re afraid of
  18. Savor a slower, more intentional pace
  19. Be alone with your thoughts and dreams
  20. Connect with nature
  21. Rediscover your favorite neighborhood
  22. Wander aimlessly
  23. Travel someplace you’ve never been (it could be the next town)
  24. Listen — really listen — to a favorite album, from start to finish
  25. Watch an old movie
  26. Enroll in a class (Skillshare, GA, etc.)
  27. Write. Write every day.

Success + generosity = no accident

Observation #1: The most successful people I know are also the most generous.

  • Leaders who give their time and of themselves endear those around them, building trust and respect among teams.
  • “Scarcity mentality” repels and detracts from passion, energy, and fulfillment.
  • Altruism and great financial success are not mutually exclusive.

Observation #2: Some of the best connections arise from places of abundance and giving.

  • When you are focused on “the other,” conversations are more meaningful, authentic energy is exchanged, better solutions can be brainstormed.
  • Folks can sense greed and selfishness; it is not attractive.

Observation #3: By giving to others, you can more clearly identify what brings you joy.

Thanks to Pictomins for The Generosity Spiral!

  • True growth comes from helping others, encouraging someone’s dreams, furthering their project.
  • Helping may be learned as a practiced skill but can emerge as a core element of your being.
  • Most artists, creators, and makers are givers — they share physically, mentally, and emotionally of themselves. Dedicated to their craft, they put their art into the world expecting little (if anything) in return. The emphasis is on the work, the sharing, and not necessarily the outcome.
  • Meaningful dreams evolve from a special sauce of individual enthusiasm, passion, sweat — and the generosity of others.

Tweet at me. I’d love to hear your thoughts on generosity and success.

This post was inspired by this week’s #cxchat Q3: How has generosity helped build your network? You can read a summary of responses here or join our next #cxchat Monday (6/17) at 2pm ET.