I love recommending reading for clients. It’s like cooking up a recipe for the brain. Add the right ingredients and your mind can nourish the biggest dreams and sustain you through the worst days. So I thought I’d post a little recipe for anyone whose job just doesn’t work for them anymore, but the road ahead looks too tough.
Step 1: Identify something to love about your work life right now.
I love this take on finding what you love in a job. A heartfelt post from a fellow career coach, it shows how one person uncovers what they still love about their job. It’s something I ask people about when they talk about transitions.
Example: I used to be a supermarket clerk, and I didn’t like it. My friend worked the next checkout line over, and she told ghost stories about the area between customers. Sometimes the customers added their own. I bugged her all summer for more stories. She was the greatest part of that job.
Step 2: Do one small thing.
“Take just one step, any step, a tiny step. Movement begets movement,”writes Leo Babauta. So simple. You can do it. It springboards off Seth Godin’s “dip” principal, which is also worth reading. Start moving in the direction you want to go, and things will begin to happen. Buy the paper for the printer and load it up. Find that old resume on your hard drive and open it on your screen. Then walk way. That’s one small thing. Congratulations. For more on this, I love Babauta and Godin.
Step 3: Identify your season. I was introduced to Carol Vecchio’s work at a conference this year, and I think she’s nailed it. We go through cycles in life, especially in our careers. What season are you in? Are you out of energy? Feeling lonely? You could be in a career “winter.” Being kind to yourself means taking the time to understand where you are in life, and what you need. Don’t try to jump to the job hunt right away if you can manage it.
Taking the time to read may seem like a luxury, but it’s so helpful. If you can manage it, try just one of these. One small step. Good luck!
